Plumbing Code of Australia & WaterMark update Peter Cheers Director – Plumbing Australian Building Codes Board 28 July 2016
Today’s topics • A bit about the ABCB • A bit about the NCC & the PCA • Key initiatives underway • Readability/Usability • A focus on backflow prevention controls • An improved WaterMark Scheme • PCA Acceptable Solutions • Changing the PCA & having your say
Regulatory Framework State/Territory Act State/Territory Regulations National Construction Code Referenced documents ABCB (Australian Standards) Standards Australia
Australian Building Codes Board • The Board is a joint initiative of all governments and exists by way of an Inter-governmental Agreement • The Mission is to address issues of safety and health , amenity and sustainability in the design, construction and performance of buildings • 8 State and Territory Governments • Commonwealth Government • Local government • 5 Industry Representatives (incl. 1 plumbing) • 2 supporting committees – Building Codes Committee – Plumbing Code Committee
National Construction Code One code – three volumes
NCC Objectives • Minimum necessary requirements to efficiently achieve the Mission • Requirements rigorously tested to ensure they are effective and proportional to an identified problem • No non-regulatory alternative • Need to be Performance -based and verifiable • Need to be consistent across the States and Territories – as far is practicable • Need to be clear, concise and drafted to promote consistent interpretation
How to comply – three volumes PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS (Mandatory) PERFORMANCE DEEMED-TO-SATISFY and/or Solution Solution (Alternative Solution)
PCA coverage Section B-F Section A Performance Requirements How to use the PCA & DtS Provisions B - Water Services Structure C - Sanitary Plumbing & Definitions Drainage D - Stormwater Standards E - HVAC Building Classifications F - On-site Wastewater
Changes to amendment cycle • Up to NCC 2016 – annual cycle – Changes to content and references occurred every year – Industry constantly chasing to keep up • From NCC 2016 – 3 year cycle – Content and deemed-to-satisfy references will remain static for 3 years – Stability for industry generally – Performance solutions are always an option to cater to innovation
PCA 2016 – Key changes from 1 May 2016 • Increased focus on ‘Performance Solutions’ • Consolidation of WaterMark requirements – Terminology changes generally – Removal of Table A2.1 – Changes to A2 – Removal of Part G – Transitional use of PCA 2015 (A2.0) • Adoption of AS/NZS 3500.1, 2, 3 & 4 – 2015 editions • New cross-volume consideration boxes • New overflow requirements for eaves gutters introduced through the BCA
Key initiatives underway • Improved access, education and training • Increased use of performance • Readability/usability • PCA/BCA Harmonisation • Consolidation of S & T NCC-related requirements • Variation reduction • PCA development research • WaterMark improvements • Acceptable Solutions for the PCA • Support review of Standards development process
PCA development research • Warm water systems – Consultation document – current practices – Informative guide likely to follow • Fixture unit ratings review – Consultation document – origins and international practice • Rainwater capture and use – Consultation document – current practices – PCA changes; informative guide expected • Backflow prevention – Consultation document – current practices – PCA and other changes expected
Backflow prevention – research report • Concerns raised by regulators and industry – inconsistent application of requirements potentially putting community at risk • Research report initiated and approved in 2014 • Report developed based on desktop survey and preliminary targeted consultation – local government, fire authorities, WSAA, vocational educators, etc • Report released in 2015 for public consultation • 15 submissions received
Backflow report – key findings • Registration and testing are not consistently enforced • Cross-connections generally occur in industrial or agricultural situations. They are also under reported • No evidence of widespread failure • Causes – lack of awareness, poor design or mistakes • No ‘probability’ or ‘likelihood’ in the risk assessment (consequence based assessment insufficient) • Inconsistent application of Appendix F (now G) • Unclear application to non-drinking water installations • Containment protection application and responsibilities unclear
Recommendations 1. Containment protection should continue to be set by the NUOs, where they currently do so, while also being retained within the PCA. 2. ABCB set up a dialogue with the NUOs/water entities, for the purpose of raising awareness of the PCA (including AS/NZS 3500), supporting its consistent adoption where appropriate, and otherwise achieving consistency between it and the separate backflow prevention requirements set under NUO regulations.
Recommendations 3. Develop a freely available non-regulatory ‘Cross - Connection Control Manual’ similar to the US-EPA manual. 4. Clarify in the PCA that above ground or partly buried domestic rainwater tanks are to be classified as Low Hazard installations, including a definition of the term ‘partly buried’. 5. Develop a probability and consequence based risk assessment Verification Method for determining appropriate backflow prevention and to support the PCA Performance Requirements.
Recommendations 6. Develop new Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions (DtS) for inclusion in the PCA 2019 Public Comment Draft to replace Appendix F (G) of AS/NZS 3500.1. The new DtS would provide a regulatory solution for assigning a Hazard Rating to different installations or sites (i.e. not informative). Any changes to application would be subject to a regulatory impact assessment process.
Recommendations 7. Amend Part B3 of the PCA (Non-drinking water services) to clarify the requirement for backflow prevention to protect non-drinking water supplies, as well as drinking water supplies. 8. Develop a proposal for consideration by Standards Australia to amend AS/NZS 3500.1 to provide a more specific, prescriptive and minimum necessary technical solution for clearances and access for maintenance around backflow prevention devices.
Recommendations 9. Continue to work with the States and Territories and assist them in consolidating relevant relevant backflow prevention (containment protection) regulations set by NUOs/water entities into the PCA. 10.Engage with NUOs/water entities, as users and beneficiaries of the WaterMark Certification Scheme, as stakeholders in the scheme insofar as it applies to backflow prevention devices and the like.
WaterMark Implementation LAUNCH SCHEME Published draft scheme rules and new fee structure 1 July 2016 PUBLISH RULES Implement fee structure 1 January 2017 IMPLEMENTATION (transition arrangements) from 1 July 2017
WaterMark Implementation • New product database • Cost recovery arrangements • Product status in improved Scheme • Current WM certificates, licences and product • Exempted products and PCA Part A2 • Testing requirements • Education and awareness initiatives and resources • Further info at Watermark@abcb.gov.au
PCA Acceptable Solutions • NCC – optional means of compliance – Performance Solutions – Deemed-to-satisfy Solutions • Referenced document (as in Vol 1, 2 & 3) • Acceptable Solution (as in Vol 2) • Direct content (as in Vol 1, 2 and some of 3) • NCC Volume Two – Housing Provisions – ‘Acceptable Construction Practice’ – Limited to Class 1 and 10 (housing and sheds etc) • New Zealand Building Code – ‘Acceptable Solutions’ compliance option – Simple, limited solutions (3 stories for plumbing)
Summary of PCA 2019 – Current proposed inclusions • Harmonisation changes – Boilers and pressure vessels – Microbial control – Stormwater? – HVAC, firefighting water services? • Consolidation matters – plumbing outside the PCA • Acceptable Solutions – new PCA deemed-to-satisfy • Backflow prevention requirements – Report outcomes • Rainwater capture requirements – Report outcomes
Changing the PCA Changes to the NCC can be initiated through government policy direction, project work of the ABCB, Proposals for Change (PFC) or request from Standards Australia to amend/revise a reference Proposals must contain supporting information and be of sufficient merit to warrant consideration The Plumbing Code Committee (PCC) provides technical advice on proposed changes Proposed changes are released for public comment Comments are considered by the PCC, the changes are finalised and submitted to the Board for endorsement
NCC 2019 – Key Dates • 1 September 2017 – Proposals for change close • 1 February 2018 – Public comment opens (10 weeks) • 13 April 2018 – Public comment closes • 1 May 2018 – closing date for NCC referenced docs • February 2019 – NCC 2019 preview available • 1 May 2019 – NCC 2019 adopted into legislation
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