Plumbing sanitary drainage system policy

This policy specifies the standards applicable to the design and installation of plumbing and sanitary drainage.

All plumbing and drainage works must be compliant with this policy, relevant legislation, standards and codes.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to:

set a standard for PEER Construction to confirm and clarify standards necessary to achieve industry best practice, compliance and the intent of relevant legislation where differing interpretations may exist.
align with the standard set by legislative requirements, especially the Work Health and Safety Act 2012, AS/NZS 3500.2:2018 Plumbing and Drainage – Sanitary Plumbing and Drainage Plumbing Code of Australia.

Scope

This policy applies to all PEER Construction employees. It applies to new installations as well as alterations, additions, or repairs to existing installations within PEER Construction.

This policy has been written for work completed in South Australia, if working in another jurisdiction please refer to the local requirements.

Requirements

The following requirements must be met.

Legislative requirements

Plumbing certificates of compliance verifying plumbing work and equipment must meet the requirements of the Water Industry Act 2012 and South Australian Public Health Act 2011, and applicable regulations and standards.

Plumbing work must be done according to the plumbing standard published by the Technical Regulator under Section 66 of the Water Industry Act 2012.

Licensing requirements are covered under the Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995.

Requirements for customers to maintain plumbing and equipment on their property is covered under Section 69 of the Water Industry Act 2012.

Licensing requirements

Only licensed or registered plumbers can:

perform plumbing work.
legally complete and submit a plumbing certificate of compliance. Plumbers must give certificates of compliance to customers that detail the plumbing work done at a property.

Penalties for not supplying a plumbing certificate of compliance include warnings, disciplinary interviews, and potential legal action, and are detailed in the Water Industry Act 2012.

Onsite wastewater works application

Under the SA Public Health (Wastewater) Regulations 2013, all on site wastewater systems and alterations to on site wastewater systems are subject to a wastewater works approval. Refer to the South Australian Department for Health and Wellbeing On site wastewater systems code (the Code) for further information.

Each application must include 2 copies of a detailed sanitary plumbing and drainage layout (refer to Section 8 of the Code), a site and soil report (refer to Section 3.6.1 of the Code) and the appropriate fee as determined by the relevant authority. Applications where necessary, must include a detailed assessment of the land capability of the site via a soil report (i.e. the suitability of the site for treatment and disposal/reuse of domestic wastewater).

Where a property has an issue with the SA Water pipe, plumbers must complete a SA Sanitary Plumbing Application before work begins.

Refer: www.sawater.com.au/building,-developing-and-plumbing/for-plumbers/forms-for-plumbers (opens in new page)

Alternate solutions

Alternative solutions to plumbing systems must be made in accordance with the Plumbing Code of Australia.

Plumbers who want to use an alternative solution for either a new plumbing system or for alterations to an existing plumbing system must submit a proposal for the solution to the Office of the Technical Regulator (OTR) for review prior to installation.

Plumbers can design plumbing systems using either:

a deemed to satisfy provision complying with the performance requirements of the Plumbers Code of Australia (PCA). Deemed to satisfy provisions for plumbing and drainage systems are set out in sections B, C and F.
an alternative solution to the deemed to satisfy provisions, which meets the performance requirements of the PCA.

Onsite work related to the alternative plumbing solution cannot commence until the proposal is assessed by the OTR and letter of acknowledgment is received by the applicant.

Certificates of Compliance

Plumbers must provide a certificate of compliance to the customer and the Office of the Technical Regulator (OTR) within 7 days of finishing plumbing work, except for:

changing tap washers
clearing blocked sanitary drainage pipework not exceeding 50 mm in diameter
replacing, altering, repairing, maintaining, or disconnecting domestic tapware.

If the plumber has installed or altered in ground sanitary drainage pipework, they must also give the customer and the OTR an ‘as-constructed drainage plan’ showing the positions and dimensions of pipework, fittings and equipment that make up the sanitary drainage system, within 7 days of finishing the work.

Penalties for not supplying a plumbing certificate of compliance include warnings, disciplinary interviews, and potential legal action, and are detailed in the Water Industry Act 2012.

Alternate solutions

Alternative solutions to plumbing systems must be made in accordance with the Plumbing Code of Australia.

Plumbers who want to use an alternative solution for either a new plumbing system or for alterations to an existing plumbing system must submit a proposal for the solution to the Office of the Technical Regulator (OTR) for review prior to installation.

Plumbers can design plumbing systems using either:

a deemed to satisfy provision complying with the performance requirements of the Plumbers Code of Australia (PCA). Deemed to satisfy provisions for plumbing and drainage systems are set out in sections B, C and F.
an alternative solution to the deemed to satisfy provisions, which meets the performance requirements of the PCA.

Onsite work related to the alternative plumbing solution cannot commence until the proposal is assessed by the OTR and letter of acknowledgment is received by the applicant.

Planning, layout and clean up

Sanitary plumbing system design

When designing sanitary plumbing systems consider:

Lay sanitary pipes into the ground by the side of a building rather than in walls or underground to allow for easy maintenance.
Keep vertical pipes in buildings outside and accommodated in shafts.
Lay horizontal pipes straight and at grade between inspection chambers.
Avoid sharp bends and junctions and make through inspection chambers.
Ventilate the entire plumbing system.
Connect the house sewer to the street sewer, keeping the outfall level of the house sewer sufficiently higher than the water level of the public sewer to avoid back flow.
Ensure the system has enough traps to avoid evolution of foul smells.
Lay laterals at sufficient slope to develop self-cleaning velocities.
Make the joints of the pipes watertight.
Ensure the layout allows easy cleaning in case of blockage.
Use high quality sewer pipe.
Check for the formation of air locks, siphon age, deposits, etc. and alter the design to avoid them.
Do not allow rainwater from roofs or open yards to mix with house sewage.

Location of sanitary drains

To comply with AS/NZS 3500.2.2018 and PEER Construction standards, drains must be located external to the building wherever practical. Decisions regarding the interpretation of ‘wherever practical’ are made by inspectors, on a case-by-case basis.

The site supervisor will:

hold pre work meetings/discussions with apprentices, and subcontractors to discuss health and safety project issues
conduct site specific inductions
request and explain the work method statement expectations and the expectations of the principal contractor
formally review work method statements, provide feedback and request additional information as required
prepare and maintain the Demolition safety plan and associated documentation
forward the plan or relevant sections to subcontractors doing work on the project, do periodic documented inspections of the site and subcontractor activities, and provide feedback and direction to subcontractors as a result
respond to any query, incident, injury, or emergency report as forwarded by any worker on site or concerned member of the public.

Plan system layout

To plan a good layout, you will need to study the plans and specifications for the development and understand the relevant standards.

Steps

Visit the site to establish the site conditions.
Determine the discharge point. A gravity discharge point may not be available.
Establish the invert level of the point of connection.
Establish if the whole site will drain to the point of connection. If not, how will discharge reach the point of connection?
Design the layout ensuring direct access to soil fixtures, treatment of any trade waste, and materials best suited to discharge and environment.
Determine the fixture unit loading for the job and size accordingly.
Size the service.

Site conditions and materials

There are a number of site conditions that will require special consideration when laying sanitary drainage and plumbing services. Refer: AS/NZS 3500:2.

Materials used for sanitary plumbing stacks and discharge pipes must comply with AS/NZS 3500.2:2018 Plumbing and drainage Sanitary plumbing and drainage, and the manufacturer’s installation instructions.

Use of tools and equipment

Plumbers shall ensure that all items of plant or equipment that have been in contact with hazardous materials are decontaminated prior to transportation or repair.
Plumbers shall provide all safety equipment required for the protection of their employees and for the safe completion of the work.
Plumbers shall ensure that all safety equipment used in the performance of the work, including personal protection equipment, complies with the PEER Construction standard and the appropriate Australian Standards.
Plumbers shall ensure that each employee has been trained in the correct fitting and use of all safety equipment.
Employees who are incapable or unwilling to comply with Personal Protection Equipment requirements are to be removed from site.
PEER Construction shall provide an area, space or facilities available to plumbers for storage of materials or equipment.
Plumbers must keep areas, spaces or facilities made available by PEER Construction, clean, tidy and safe.
Plumbers shall disassemble and remove all redundant equipment, piping, valves, etc. associated with the work, from the immediate work area.
Plumbers shall deliver and neatly stack all redundant equipment in the storage area nominated by the site manager on the day the equipment is removed from the plant.
Plumbers shall notify site manager if they identify faults in any plant or equipment.

Restore work area

You must clean the work area before you leave the site.
Keep entry to the site to a minimum with only one entry to the site for all vehicles.
Do not hose footpaths and gutters into street drains.
Use a broom and make sure all sediment and debris is retained within the property.
Separate equipment, components, and materials for reuse from waste items and materials.
Store reusable materials and equipment in appropriate locations.
Dispose of waste materials.
Carefully backfill to make sure proper compaction as voids or areas not fully compacted will result in ground subsidence.
Report completion of works to site manager.
Keep materials to be recycled or materials not used in the job in a separate area ready for collection.

Communication

The following communication strategies are required.

Toolbox talks

The contractor shall hold a toolbox talk with workers before starting work each day until completion of work, unless otherwise directed by the project manager.

Minutes of these meetings shall be recorded by the contractor and the signatures of all persons attending the meeting shall be added to the minutes.

A copy of the minutes shall be forwarded to PEER Construction within 2 days of the meeting.

Progress reports

PEER Construction expects employees to record all worksite progress clearly and accurately every day. This includes all events and activities that could affect the construction progress.

Progress reports must provide:

documentary proof of adherence to relevant statutory Acts and Regulations
documentation of work performed and any issues that arose during the completion of the works
feedback that can be used to improve operations
completed JSA or SWMS
site diaries and machinery prestart records, detailing the work each day
toolbox meetings to relay important information and advise of recent updates to procedures.

Progress reports should be:

site diaries and machinery prestart records, detailing the work each day
completed JSA or SWMS
toolbox meetings to relay important information and advise of recent updates to procedures.

Other reports

Report the following to the site manager or manager

faulty tools, equipment and materials
hazardous spills
housekeeping issues
injuries and near misses.

Roles and responsibilities

The following roles and responsibilities apply.

Site supervisor

Hold pre work meetings/discussions with subcontractors to discuss health and safety project issues.
Conduct site specific inductions.
Request and explain the work method statement expectations and the expectations of the principal contractor.
Review safe work method statements, provide feedback and request additional information as required.
Prepare and maintain the demolition safety plan and associated documentation.
Forward the plan or relevant sections to subcontractors doing work on the project.
Periodically inspect the site and subcontractor activities, and provide feedback and direction to subcontractors.
Responding to query, incident, injury, or emergency reports.

Plumbers

Only licensed or registered plumbers can:

perform plumbing work
legally complete and submit a plumbing certificate of compliance. Plumbers must give certificates of compliance to customers that detail the plumbing work done at a property.

Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA)
Water Industry Act 2012
South Australian Public Health Act 2011
Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995
SA Public Health (Wastewater) Regulations 2013
AS/NZS 3500.2:2018 Plumbing and Drainage – Sanitary Plumbing and Drainage
Plumbing Code of Australia.
Plumbing certificates of compliance verifying plumbing work and equipment meet the requirements of the Water Industry Act 2012 and South Australian Public Health Act 2011, and applicable regulations and standards.
Plumbing work must be done according to the plumbing standard published by the Technical Regulator under Section 66 of the Water Industry Act 2012.
Licensing requirements are under the Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995.
Requirements for customers to maintain plumbing and equipment on their property is under Section 69 of the Water Industry Act 2012.

WHS Policy
Site induction checklist

Version 1.0 – Last updated 6/2/2022