Plumbing compliance is monitored and enforced by the Plumbers Licensing Board (the Board) through the designation of plumbing compliance officers employed within the Plumbing Inspectorate for the Building and Energy division of the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.
The Plumbing Inspectorate is responsible for carrying out inspections and investigations pursuant to the provisions of the Plumbers Licensing and Plumbing Standards Regulations 2000 (the Regulations).
Inspections are both reactive and proactive, which are carried out in a compliance risk based and intelligence led approach.
Investigations are carried out following the submission of a complaint from internal or external sources.
Random inspections of plumbing work
Plumbing inspectors carry out proactive inspections of plumbing work on behalf of the Plumbers Licensing Board. Approximately five per cent of water supply, sanitary and drainage plumbing work is proactively inspected based on minimisation of risk to public health and safety and the environment.
This means that while the Board has an interest in all plumbing work carried out, plumbing work that poses the greatest risk to public health, safety and the environment is the main focus of the inspection program.
Inspections of water supply and sanitary plumbing work
Water supply and sanitary plumbing work can be selected for inspection from notices of intention and certificates of compliance. It is also possible that an inspection could arise from a compliance inspection of the licensed plumbing contractor responsible for the work.
The plumbing inspector will discuss any issues or concerns that may arise because of the work with the licensed plumbing contractor or an appropriately licensed representative subsequent to the audit.
Drainage plumbing work notifications (r. 70 notice)
Drainage plumbing inspections are carried out by plumbing inspectors while the work is under construction. Most drainage plumbing inspections will arise from notifications (r.70 notice) made by, or on behalf of, the licensed plumbing contractor responsible for the work. A drainage plumbing inspection can also arise at random from a notice of intention or certificate of compliance.
In accordance with regulation 70(1) of the Plumbers Licensing and Plumbing Standards Regulations 2000, licensed plumbing contractors are required to notify the Plumbers Licensing Board when the drainage plumbing is ready to be inspected.
How to notify the Board of drainage plumbing work ready for inspection
eNotice submissions
Complete an r.70 notice within the required time of drainage plumbing work completed by choosing ‘Notify Drainage Work Completed’ from the main menu.
AMR plumbers paper certification only
As determined by the Board, the notice is to be given either:
(a) by telephone on 08 6251 1377
(b) in writing by SMS to 0417 209 818; or
(c) in writing by email to plumbinginspections@demirs.wa.gov.au
The r.70 notice given may be in relation to drainage plumbing work referred to on multiple notices of intention and must include:
- the notice of intention numbers
- the property addresses
- the dates the work was carried out
- a description of the work; and
- the licence number of the responsible plumbing contractor.
The Board would like to remind licensed plumbing contractors that it is their responsibility to test drainage plumbing work in accordance with Section 15 of AS/NZS 3500.2 prior to the placement of trench fill (backfill).
It is the licensed plumbing contractors responsibility to ensure that the drainage plumbing notice is submitted by the required time.
Download the PDF form here:
Notification of drainage plumbing ready for inspection
How long will an inspection or investigation take?
The Plumbing Inspectorate will endeavour to commence and complete all matters promptly; however, due to the priority of matters and resourcing available this may not always be possible. You will be notified of investigation outcomes upon completion.
Possible outcomes of inspections and investigations
An inspection or investigation may result in one, or a combination of, the following outcomes:
- No further action – Where the inspection or investigation has resulted in the complaint not being substantiated, insufficient evidence is available to commence further action or other imposed restrictions exist such as being out of time to prosecute or being out of time to issue rectification notices.
- Educational notice – Under this process the Plumbing Inspectorate will deem it appropriate to bring the matter to the respondent’s attention with the intent of deterring the respondent from further possible breaches of the Regulations, including plumbing standards.
- Verbal warning –The plumbing inspectorate may issue a verbal warning considering the circumstances of the matter i.e. the seriousness of the breach and co-operation of the respondent.
- Rectification Notice – A plumbing compliance officer may give a rectification notice in respect of plumbing work completed within six years if the officer is satisfied that the plumbing work was not carried out in accordance with the plumbing standards that applied to the work at the time it was carried out; or
- the plumbing work was not carried out in accordance with the plumbing standards that applied to the work at the time it was carried out; or
- the plumbing work:
- did not comply with the deemed-to-satisfy provisions in the Plumbing Code as modified in accordance with regulation 49 at the time the work was carried out; and
- a notice of intention to include a performance solution was not given under regulation 45A for the work.
- the plumbing work included the installation of a pipe, fixture or fitting in respect of which regulation 52(1) applied and
- the installation specifications specified by the manufacturer of the pipe, fixture or fitting were not complied with; or
- the operating conditions specified by the manufacturer of the pipe, fixture or fitting were exceeded; or
- the plumbing work was not carried out in a tradesman like manner.
- Official warning – When the Plumbing Inspectorate has an appropriate level of evidence (or availability to the evidence) to formally warn the respondent regarding apparent breaches of the Regulations. If the respondent has previously been issued with an official warning regarding similar matters, a higher level of enforcement may be likely.
- Infringement notices – When sufficient evidence exists, and the use of education/warning is not sufficient to address non-compliance, infringement notices may be issued. A fixed modified penalty must be applied to infringement notices as set out in the Regulations.
- Prosecution – Proceedings are usually heard in a Magistrates Court and may result in the respondent being fined if convicted of the offence.
- Disciplinary action – A disciplinary complaint may be lodged to the Board in the approved form. Based on the type of disciplinary conduct and strength of the evidence, the Board may deal with the matter or make an allegation to the State Administrative Tribunal concerning the conduct of a licensed plumber. In the most serious of cases the plumber’s licence may be cancelled and fines up to $5,000 imposed.
Rectification notices
If at some stage, you have carried out plumbing work that does not comply with the prescribed plumbing standards and one of the plumbing inspectors confirms that your work does not adhere to these standards you may be issued with a rectification notice.
Rectification notices are issued to licensed plumbing contractors to ensure that standards of workmanship and the integrity of plumbing systems in Western Australia are maintained. A notice can be issued up to six years after the completion date for the work.
Please note the following if you have been issued with a rectification notice:
Rectify the work by the date and time given on the notice
The date on the notice is binding. If you do not rectify the work by this date, penalties can be applied. If unforeseen circumstances arise that prevent you from completing the work on time, you must advise prior to the rectified by date on the notice the plumbing inspector who issued the notice. In some cases, an alternative arrangement can be made. The notice will also tell you which standard(s) you have breached. If you are unsure as to the best way to proceed, call the officer who issued the notice.
Complete and return the compliance statement attached to the rectification notice
It is important that as soon as possible after completing the work, you notify the plumbing inspector who issued the notice, or if he or she cannot be notified, Building and Energy. Complete the statement that comes with the notice.
You cannot charge for rectification work
It is your responsibility to pay for the cost of rectifying non-compliant work. The owner of the property where plumbing work is to be rectified will be given a copy of the rectification notice. They will also be informed that you are not entitled to any form of payment for rectification work and that you can be penalised for requesting payment.
Re-inspection fees may be applicable
Where a plumbing inspector needs to return to the site to confirm the plumbing work has been rectified, a re-inspection fee may be charged. The fee is charged per hour or part hour, plus GST, and is calculated from the time an officer must spend onsite inspecting the plumbing work, plus the travelling time.
For most plumbers, receiving a rectification notice is not a regular occurrence. If you are issued a notice and have any questions about the process, contact the plumbing inspector or the Building and Energy.
Plumbing disputes
Building and Energy receives complaints from consumers about faulty building and plumbing work. These matters can be resolved quickly through discussion with the contractor, and this must be considered in the first instance. If building work is affected by faulty plumbing work e.g. floor tiling over drainage plumbing, then consumers will need to consider lodging a building service complaint. Such plumbing disputes involving other building work can be lodged via the building dispute resolution page.
If only plumbing work is in dispute, and the plumbing work was completed within the last six years and the plumber has failed to rectify the plumbing work a complaint may be lodged using the Plumbing complaint form.
Receipt of a complaint
On receipt of a plumbing complaint form, the form will be assessed by plumbing inspection manager, and you will be contacted within seven days. You may be requested to provide additional information.
The Plumbing Complaint Form is provided to assist consumers to lodge a complaint of unsatisfactory plumbing work. In the first instance complainants are encouraged to discuss matters directly with the responsible contractor prior to lodging a complaint with Building and Energy.
The Plumbing Complaint form may be submitted for workmanship related issues only and does not include complaints of a contractual nature such as monetary disputes.
For contractual complaints, please contact Consumer Protection to discuss their dispute resolution process on 1300 304 054 or at consumer@demirs.wa.gov.au.
