When Do You Need a Licensed Plumber in Albert Park?

If you're looking for a licensed plumber in Albert Park, it helps to understand when Victorian law requires plumbing work to be carried out by a licensed plumbing practitioner. 

In Victoria, regulated plumbing work includes water supply, sanitary, drainage and gasfitting work.

Key Takeaways:

• Water supply, sanitary, drainage and gasfitting are different regulated plumbing classes in Victoria. 
• The type of plumbing work determines who can legally carry it out.
• Whether you need a licensed plumber depends on the type of plumbing work.

Table of Contents:

• When Plumbing Work Involves Water Supply Work
• When Plumbing Work Involves Sanitary Work
• When Plumbing Work Involves Drainage Work
• When Plumbing Work Involves Gasfitting Work
• When in Doubt, Check First 
• Frequently Asked Questions

When Plumbing Work Involves Water Supply Work 

Installing or replacing a hot water system may involve water supply work. 

According to the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC), water supply work is the construction, installation, replacement, repair, alteration, maintenance, testing and commissioning of heated and cold water services. 

And since installing or replacing hot water systems involve water supply work, it must be carried out by a plumbing practitioner who is:

• licensed by the BPC
• registered (or provisionally registered) and working under the supervision of a licensed plumber, or
• in training under the supervision of a licensed plumber.

When Plumbing Work Involves Sanitary Work

If your plumbing work involves sanitary work, it's best to hire a licensed plumber. Generally, this means work on the plumbing that carries wastewater from fixtures like your toilets, sinks, basins and showers. 

Under the Plumbing Regulations 2018, the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) defines sanitary work as the:

• Construction
• Installation
• Replacement
• Repair
• Alteration
• Maintenance
• Relining
• Testing or 
• Commissioning 

of any part of an above-ground sanitary plumbing system that connects sanitary fixtures and appliances to a holding tank, wastewater treatment system or a below-ground sanitary drainage system.

So, if you're installing, replacing, repairing or maintaining the plumbing that carries wastewater away from your home's sanitary fixtures, the work will generally fall under the BPC's sanitary work class.

The BPC also states that sanitary work doesn't include water supply work, drainage work, or installing a bath or shower base (other than connecting the waste outlet).

When Plumbing Work Involves Drainage Work 

Not every blocked drain involves drainage work. Some blockages can be cleared without repairing the drainage system.

However, if fixing the problem requires repairing, replacing, altering or relining any part of the underground drainage system, the work will generally fall under the BPC's drainage work class.

Drainage work covers more than just clearing blockages. It includes the construction, installation, replacement, repair, alteration, maintenance, relining, testing or commissioning of:

• a below-ground sanitary drainage system from the above-ground sewage or waste pipes to and including:
  • the land application system
  • the connection to a holding tank
  • the connection with the discharge reticulation system exclusively vested in an authority that has a sewerage district under the Water Act 1989
• a below-ground stormwater drainage system from the above-ground stormwater pipes to the point of discharge
• any design work that is incidental to, or associated with, sanitary drainage work.

Most homeowners come across drainage work when underground drains need to be installed, repaired or replaced, or when stormwater or wastewater drainage systems need to be connected or altered.

Drainage work doesn't include subsoil drains used solely for collecting subsoil water, stormwater pits, grated channels, below-ground storage or retention tanks, or excavation work using trenches, trenchless technology or directional boring.

When Plumbing Work Involves Gasfitting Work 

If your plumbing project involves gas pipes or a gas appliance, it's generally considered gasfitting work. Because gas work carries significant safety risks, it's important to hire a licensed gasfitter.

Gasfitting work includes the construction, installation, replacement, repair, alteration, maintenance, testing or commissioning of any pipe, appliance, flue, fitting, apparatus, control or other item involved with the supply or use of gas that is fitted downstream of the gas supply point.

It may also include:

• gas appliances installed in caravans or vessels
• roof sheeting and roof flashing required to complete the work
• design work that is incidental to, or associated with, the installation.

Gasfitting work doesn't include:

• Type A specialised gasfitting work
• Type B gasfitting work
• cleaning or painting gas pipes or joints where they aren't being connected, disconnected or altered
• connecting or disconnecting a gas storage container for filling, refilling, exchange, storage or disposal
• work on gas systems used to power motor vehicles or vessels.

When in Doubt, Check First 

Not every plumbing job falls under the same class, and it's not always obvious where the line is. A simple repair can sometimes involve regulated plumbing work depending on what's being repaired, replaced or altered.

If you need a licensed plumber in Albert Park, contact Blue Diamond Plumbing. 

We'll explain what's required, answer your questions and ensure your plumbing work is completed in accordance with Victoria's plumbing requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a licensed plumber to replace a tap? 

It depends. Replacing a tap may involve regulated plumbing work, depending on the scope of the job. If you're unsure, it's best to check with a licensed plumbing practitioner. 

How can I check if a plumber is licensed in Victoria? 

You can search the Building and Plumbing Commission's public register to check whether a plumbing practitioner is registered or licensed, what classes of work they're accredited for, and whether any conditions apply.

What's the difference between a registered plumber and a licensed plumber? 

A registered plumber can carry out plumbing work in the classes they're registered for, while a licensed plumber has additional responsibilities, including supervising other plumbers in those classes and issuing compliance certificates where required. 

Can one plumber carry out different classes of plumbing work?

Yes. A plumber may be registered or licensed in one, multiple or all plumbing classes, provided they meet the registration or licensing requirements for each class. They can only carry out work in the classes they are registered or licensed for.