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Industry News
Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace has approved Queensland’s new Managing respirable crystalline silica dust exposure in construction and manufacturing of construction elements Code of Practice 2022.
The new Code is Australia’s first silica dust code of practice for the construction industry and will commence in Queensland on 1 May 2023. It applies to all construction work as well as the manufacturing of materials such as bricks, blocks, tiles, mortar, and concrete.
The Code outlines how duty holders can meet the requirements of Queensland’s work health and safety legislation, including eliminating or minimising exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) at work, by: • using tried and tested dust control methods that prevent silica dust from being generated or being released into the air, including water suppression and on-tool dust extraction; • using appropriate respirable protective equipment to safeguard at-risk workers; • using exposure data from air monitoring to check dust controls are effective; • providing health monitoring to at-risk workers, with clearly defined triggers for testing based on level of risk; and • consulting with workers, as well as training, education, instruction, and supervision of workers.
The Code was developed in close consultation with workers, employers, and technical experts across Queensland, building on international best practice to ensure silica dust is managed safely and workers are protected in the construction industry and the manufacturing of construction materials.
Visit https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/laws-and-compliance/codes-of-practice to find out more.
Article source: www.worksafe.qld.gov.au
ELECTRICAL LICENCE DISCIPLINARY ACTION
In October 2022, the Electrical Licensing Committee took disciplinary action against five licence holders.
Commissioner for Electrical Safety and Chair of the Electrical Licensing Committee, Keith McKenzie has a message for electrical workers based on the committee’s review of recent cases: • Electrical workers must only work to the requirements according to the type of licence they hold. If you have a restricted electrical work licence, no installation work can be carried out. • If you supervise electrical apprentices, you must ensure they are competent to perform the work tasked to them and offer clear and concise instructions. Involve apprentices in the lockout/tagout of equipment process. • Several failures to test were a result of jobs being rushed, not enough time at the end of the day, and pressure demands placed on workers and contractors. • Prior to the most important task of the installation, testing, stop for a short break, read your company’s testing requirements, and refer to section 8 of the wiring rules and AS/NZS:3017. • Failure to test correctly can result in electrical shock, fatality, and fire. It can also result in an electrical licensed worker and electrical contractor losing their licence or being disqualified from holding a licence. • An electrical licensed worker or contractor could face prosecution in court. • If you don’t feel confident in the requirements of testing, or have not undertaken a testing course lately, a number of registered training organisations offer the unit of competency called ‘Apply currency of safe working practices and compliance verification of electrical installations’.
On page 8 of the Summer 2021 edition of the Master Plumber magazine, we published the article Changes in the Electrical Safety Standard and Marking Requirements of Submersible Pumps, which highlighted the new electrical safety requirements for the importing, manufacturing, and sale of submersible pumps that came into force from December 2021. You can access this edition at www.mpaq.com.au/news/magazine.
MPAQ members with any questions can call the MPAQ technical team at 07 3273 0800.
WET WELLS
It is not uncommon for a plumber to be confronted with the challenge of connecting sanitary plumbing fixtures where they are to be located below the level of the utility provider’s gravity sewer. This may involve the collecting and pumping of the combined black and grey water waste from multiple fixtures including whole of house or granny flat-type installations.
A “wet well” is defined under AS/NZS 3500.0 as “a below-ground chamber for the collection of sewage and/or wastewater and fitted with a pumping device to raise the contents to a suitable disposal point”. This type of installation is commonplace in commercial projects; however, there appears to be some confusion regarding a “wet well” being approved to be installed in a domestic application, particularly where such a facility would need to be installed internally such as in a basement.
A “wet well” can be installed internally in a basement of a Class 1a dwelling subject to any limitations stated in the NCC, AS/NZS 3500.2:2018, and the Queensland Plumbing and Waste Water Code.
The installation shall be subject to the following: • The installation shall comply with AS/NZS 3500.2:2018, Section 12 and Clauses 12.5 and 12.6. • The outlet pipe from the sanitary pump shall discharge to an approved connection point in accordance with Clause 12.7. • The pump discharge pipe shall comply with the relevant sections of AS/NZS 3500.1:2018 and AS/NZS 3500.2:2018. • The sanitary drainage system upstream of the “wet well” shall be vented in accordance with AS/NZS 3500.2:2018 Clause 3.9 and shall incorporate provision for overflow relief in accordance with Clause 4.6.6.
The pumped discharge downstream of the “wet well” shall be protected from potential sewer surcharge in accordance with Clause 4.5 where the installation conditions necessitate such protection.
Before installing a “wet well” we recommend that you consult with the relative local authority regarding any specific local specifications that may need approval. Furthermore, consideration should be given to the provision of alternative sanitary facilities in the event of power outages.
MPAQ members with any questions can call the MPAQ technical team at 07 3273 0800.
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Australian Pump (02) 8865 3500 aussiepumps.com.au On 26 August 2022, building ministers agreed to introduce new ‘Modern Homes’ standards for both energy efficiency and accessibility in the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022. These standards reflect community expectations for modern homes.
NCC 2022 is available on the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) website and commences on 1 May 2023, with a transition period for the Modern Homes standards ending on 1 October 2023. This transition period gives the industry time to familiarise itself and make any necessary adjustments to adopt these changes.
It is anticipated that guidance material to support the industry to transition to the NCC 2022 requirements will be published by the ABCB.
What You Need to Know about Modern Homes Standards
The ‘Modern Homes’ standards apply to new houses and units and include: • Energy efficiency: a seven out of 10-star requirement for the building shell and a new ‘whole-of-house’ assessment method to determine the energy budget of the dwelling’s major appliances and any on-site renewable energy e.g. solar photovoltaic (PV); and • Accessible housing: at least one step-free entry into the home, wider internal doors and corridors, and a toilet on the ground (or entry) level. There will be sensible exemptions for new homes on steep slopes and small lots, as well as for traditional designs like the iconic Queenslander.
The NCC 2022 provisions represent the first change to energy efficiency requirements for homes in over a decade.
The introduction of the accessible housing standards in the NCC 2022 reflects the Silver-level specifications in Livable Housing Australia’s Design Guidelines. These guidelines have evolved since the 2009 National Dialogue on Universal Housing Design between industry, community, and government organisations.
The accessible housing standards will ensure new homes are designed to meet the changing needs of occupants throughout their lifetime, as well as people with mobility challenges, and promote more inclusive communities. New dwellings will also be more naturally comfortable and will reduce the cost of living by minimising energy bills over the life of the home.
The ‘Modern Homes’ standards support Queensland’s commitment to meet emission reduction targets and create more inclusive communities, which benefits all Queenslanders.
The Department of Energy and Public Works will consult with industry and community stakeholders on Queensland’s existing energy efficiency variations to the NCC as provided through the Queensland Development Code MP 4.1–Sustainable buildings to determine their suitability.
For more details, go to www.epw.qld.gov.au/about/ initiatives/modern-homes/modern-homes-standards.
MASTER PLUMBER SPRING 2022 ADVERTISEMENT UPDATE
An advertisement was run in the Spring 2022 edition of the Master Plumber magazine for the Aqueous MK2 Water Heater. While this product was previously WaterMarked, it has been brought to our attention that the WaterMark licence has expired. This product will no longer be featured in the magazine and all efforts are being made to confirm that products have a current WaterMark certificate where applicable.
