TRANSITION TO LEAD FREE PLUMBING PRODUCTS STARTS NOW

A three-year transition period to support Australia’s path to reducing allowable lead levels in many plumbing products has commenced.

The lead free WaterMark trademark has been registered and WaterMark Notice of Direction 2021/4.2 Certification transition arrangements for lead free plumbing products has been published on the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) website.

Clause A5G4 of NCC 2022 Volume Three (Plumbing Code of Australia) specifies that copper alloy plumbing products in contact with drinking water must limit the allowable lead content to a weighted average lead content of not more than 0.25 percent.

Manufacturers and suppliers of impacted products should contact their WaterMark Conformity Assessment Body to arrange certification to these requirements.

All relevant plumbing products being installed must meet the new requirements by 1 May 2026.

WaterMark Notice of Direction 2022/1.1 Acceptable copper alloys for the manufacture of lead free plumbing products provides information about alternative materials for use in the manufacture of lead free plumbing products.

WaterMark Notice of Direction 2022/2.0 Marking requirements for lead free plumbing products provides information about product marking requirements for lead free WaterMark certified products.

For more information, visit www.watermark. abcb.gov.au/news/2023/update-advice-new-leadrequirements.

Article from the Australian Building Codes Board

Disposal Of Heat Pump Water Heaters

When a heat pump water heater is removed or replaced, what is the proper way to dispose of the old units that may contain refrigerant gases?

Plumbers performing maintenance on water heaters often replace faulty or malfunctioning units. Old units such as old steel or copper tanks may be easily disposed of at the local scrap dealer or tip as there may be scrap value to these units. This isn’t a complicated job as most scrap merchants and tips will take the unit as is, although some will pay a higher scrap value if the case and insulation are removed from the tank prior to scrapping. This is all well and good for your average storage cylinder, but it is not as straightforward with heat pumps.

Heat pumps are comprised of a storage cylinder and refrigeration unit. Some units are integral and some are split (remote) from the cylinder. Either way, the refrigeration unit cannot just be dumped or scrapped since it contains refrigerant gas.

If the heat pump hot water system contains refrigerants that come under the ARCTick licence scheme, then there is a legal obligation for this gas to be recovered by an appropriately licensed person before the systems are discarded or recycled since there is a risk for the gas to leak out. The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) recommends plumbers engage an ARC-licensed technician first to recover the gas prior to disposal of the system to a landfill or waste transfer station.

Discharging fluorocarbon refrigerant is illegal under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 and potential penalties of up to $54,000 for individuals and $270,000 for corporations may apply.

The recovery of refrigerant gases can be performed by someone with either of the following Refrigerant Handling Licences:

• RRR12 Restricted refrigeration and air-conditioning licence – RAC Recovery

• RSS03 Restricted heat pump – split systems – installation and decommissioning licence:

• RAC01 Full refrigeration and air conditioning licence

There are different types of Refrigerant Handling Licences available, and the type you require will differ depending on what you are working with. Visit the ARC website at www.arctick.org/refrigerant-handling-licence/licence-types for the full list.

Updated Building Inspection Guidelines

The inspection guidelines, made under section 258 of the Building Act 1975 (BA), provide certifiers with valuable information about how to perform their building certifying functions.

When performing building certifying functions under the BA, a building certifier must have regard to the guidelines.

The inspection guidelines form part of a large suite of guidelines produced by the Department of Energy and Public Works. A person inspecting and certifying aspects of assessable building work complies with the Building Regulation 2021 (BR) if they inspect and certify the work in accordance with the guidelines.

The following inspection guidelines have been updated to address common enquiries received from building certifiers, incorporate feedback from peak industry bodies, and reflect the BR:

• Guidelines for inspection of class 1a and 10 buildings and structures

• Guidelines for inspection of class 2 to 9 buildings

The updated guidelines include details about:

• aspects and stages of building work;

• mandatory and recommended forms for aspects and stages;

• roles and responsibilities of certifiers, competent persons, and QBCC licensees; and

• documentation for owners, clients, and councils.

The guidelines also update legislative references to match the BR. They are effective from 29 March 2023.

For the full changes to the guidelines, visit www.mpaq.com.au/article/building-inspection.

Article source: Building and Plumbing Newsflash 616, Department of Energy and Public Works