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AS 3718:2021 Water supply – Tap ware, adopted

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See below notice from the ABCB

The WaterMark Administration has recently adopted a new version of the following Australian Standard: AS 3718:2021 Water supply – Tap ware.

The current 2005 version of this Standard is a listed WaterMark Specification and the ABCB wishes to inform you of the adoption of the 2021 version into the WaterMark Certification Scheme (Scheme) and subsequent listing on the WaterMark Schedule of Products and the WaterMark Database.

Clause 8.7.2 of the Manual for the WaterMark Certification Scheme states that when there has been a change in the applicable specification the Approved User has 12 months to renew certification of their products to comply with the amended applicable specification. The clause also states this period may be extended in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the ABCB.

In response to concerns raised by industry during public consultation the ABCB has extended the transition timeframe to comply with the requirements of AS 3718:2021 until 1 May 2024.
This extension will align with the existing transition arrangements for compliance to AS/NZS 4020:2018. AS 3718:2005 will remain on the WaterMark Database from the date of this correspondence until 1 May 2024.

WaterMark Certification Scheme Risk Assessment Notification 2021/R56

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See below notice from the ABCB

Product Assessed: Water conditioner

Assessment

The WaterMark Administration advises it has reviewed a risk assessment submitted for the above mentioned product. This product is for use within a cold and/or heated water supply system at its point of entry or at a point of use for the purposes of water conditioning to reduce scaling.

The WaterMark Administration verifies that the risk assessment for this product has identified risks requiring mitigation through the WaterMark Certification Scheme.

Outcome

The Risk Assessment identified the overall risk rating being medium for nominated health and safety consequences incidences. In accordance with the Manual for the WaterMark Certification Scheme, Appendix 3, Table D, any product with an overall risk rating of medium requires WaterMark Certification.

Approved WaterMark Conformity Assessment Bodies will now need to evaluate these products to the most applicable specification. If the identified risks are unable to be satisfactorily addressed through an existing Specification, then a new, or amended Specification shall be proposed. A submission to the ABCB shall be undertaken in accordance with the Manual for the WaterMark Certification Scheme, Appendix 4, Protocol for Developing Product Specifications.

Upon receipt of the proposed nominated Specification the WaterMark Administration will review and verify the proposed nomination which may include a public consultation period as outlined in clauses 1.7.2 and 2.7.2 of the Protocol for Developing Product Specifications.

Issued

28 July 2021

https://certmark.org/downloads/wm-risk_assessment_notification/R56%20-%20Risk%20Assessment%20Notice%20Water%20conditioner.pdf

WaterMark Certification Scheme Risk Assessment Notification 2021/R31

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See below notice from the ABCB

Product Assessed: Prefabricated pressure boosting unit

Assessment

The WaterMark Administration advises it has reviewed a risk assessment submitted for the above mentioned product. The primary function of this product is for pressure boosting of drinking water and for maintaining constant pressure to locations where supply pressures are low or for high rise buildings.

The WaterMark Administration verifies that the risk assessment for this product has identified risks requiring mitigation through the WaterMark Certification Scheme.

Outcome

The Risk Assessment identified the overall risk rating being medium for the nominated consequence incidences. In accordance with the Manual for the WaterMark Certification Scheme, Appendix 3, Table D, any product with an overall risk rating of medium requires WaterMark Certification.

Approved WaterMark Conformity Assessment Bodies will now need to evaluate these products to the most applicable specification. If the identified risks are unable to be satisfactorily addressed through an existing Specification, then a new, or amended Specification shall be proposed. A submission to the ABCB shall be undertaken in accordance with the Manual for the WaterMark Certification Scheme, Appendix 4, Protocol for Developing Product Specifications.

Upon receipt of the proposed nominated Specification the WaterMark Administration will review and verify the proposed nomination which may include a public consultation period as outlined in clauses 1.7.2 and 2.7.2 of the Protocol for Developing Product Specifications.

Issued

28 July 2021

https://certmark.org/downloads/wm-risk_assessment_notification/R31%20-%20RA%20Notice%20Prefabricated%20pressure%20boosting%20unit.pdf

Risk Assessment Notification – 2021/R74

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R74 – Risk assessment Notice geothermal water heating system.pdf

Product Assessed: Geothermal energy heat pump system for home air conditioning and supplementary potable water heater

Assessment
The WaterMark Administration advises it has reviewed a risk assessment submitted for the above mentioned product. The product is a geothermal system for air conditioning and storing energy in the water contained in a storage tank. During the cooling period, heat extracted from the ambient by the system is stored in water, and the heat transfer is facilitated by a stainless steel heat exchanger. The water is stored in an electric storage water heater. When the temperature in the tank gets to 600C, heat transfer from the refrigerant to the waterside is stopped by de-energizing a pump that transfers water from the storage tank to the heat exchanger and back to the storage tank.
The WaterMark Administration verifies that the risk assessment for this product has identified risks requiring mitigation through the WaterMark Certification Scheme. The Water Mark Certification is only for the components covered under the Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA). The WaterMark Certification shall not be used to cover off on components that may lie outside the PCA scope, such as refrigeration equipment.

Outcome
The Risk Assessment identified the overall risk rating being high for the nominated health and safety consequences incidences. In accordance with the Manual for the WaterMark Certification Scheme, Appendix 3, Table D, any product with an overall risk rating of high requires WaterMark Certification.
Approved WaterMark Conformity Assessment Bodies will now need to evaluate these products to the most applicable specification. If the identified risks are unable to be satisfactorily addressed through an existing Specification, then a new, or amended Specification shall be proposed. A submission to the ABCB shall be undertaken in accordance with the Manual for the WaterMark Certification Scheme, Appendix 4, Protocol for Developing Product Specifications.

Upon receipt of the proposed nominated Specification the WaterMark Administration will review and verify the proposed nomination which may include a public consultation period as outlined in clauses 1.7.2 and 2.7.2 of the Protocol for Developing Product Specifications.

Issued
9 June 2021.

Revised WMTS-051 adopted

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See below notice from the ABCB

The WaterMark Administration wishes to advise that the following WaterMark Technical Specification has been approved for publication and adoption into the WaterMark Scheme:

Revised WMTS-051:2021 – Toilet douche seats
The objective of this revision was to align the product specification with the PCA in relation to backflow prevention requirements for toilet douche seats

The 2016 version of this Specification is listed in the WaterMark Product Database and will remain for 12 months from the date of this correspondence to provide sufficient time for products to be re-evaluated to the new 2021 version

WMTS-051:2021 has now been published on the ABCB Website, and will be included in the next revision of the Schedule of Products.

If you require any further clarification regarding the publication of this WMTS please do not hesitate to contact the WaterMark Administration.

WaterMark Certification Scheme Risk Assessment Notification 2021/R71

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See below notice from the ABCB

Product Assessed: Hydrogen hybrid battery storage system

Assessment

The WaterMark Administration advises it has reviewed a risk assessment submitted for the above mentioned product. The primary function of this system is to convert water into storable hydrogen energy via electrolysis.The WaterMark Administration verifies that the risk assessment for this product has identified no risks requiring mitigation through the WaterMark Certification Scheme.

Outcome

The Risk Assessment identified the overall risk rating being low for the nominated health and safety consequences incidences. In accordance with the Manual for the WaterMark Certification Scheme, Appendix 3, Table D, any product with an overall risk rating of low will be listed on the WaterMark Schedule of Excluded Products and will not require WaterMark Certification.

Issued

25 May 2021

https://certmark.org/downloads/wm-risk_assessment_notification/R71 – WaterMark product risk assessment notice for hydrogen storage

system.pdf

New WMTS-530 & revised WMTS-040

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See below notice from the ABCB

The WaterMark Administration wishes to advise that the following WaterMark Technical Specifications have been approved for publication and adoption into the WaterMark Scheme:

•             New WMTS-530:2020  – Water meters with integral shut off valve

                This Scope of this technical specification sets out the requirements for a inline water meter with an integral shut off valve for installation into an existing service valve. The meter may be installed in cold or hot water service pipelines.

A water meter that complies with this standard is intended for installation downstream of the network utility operators property water meter.

•             Revised WMTS-040:2021  – Waste pipe connection outlets and gratings, separate or integral

            The revision of this technical specification was made to include additional materials and to amend references to secondary specifications.

The 2018 version of this Specification is listed in the WaterMark Product Database and will remain for 12 months from the date of this correspondence to provide sufficient time for products to be re-evaluated to the new 2021 version.

Both WMTS-530:2020 and WMTS-040:2021 have been published on the ABCB Website, and listed in the WaterMark Product Database, and will be included in the next revision of the Schedule of Products. 

If you require any further clarification regarding the publication of this WMTS please do not hesitate to contact the WaterMark Administration.

A new look for NCC 2022

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Please see the following statement from the ABCB

As part of the Australian Building Codes Board’s (ABCB) commitment to delivering a National Construction Code (NCC) that is user-friendly and modern, important changes are being implemented for the 2022 edition of the code.

In moving from what was historically a print-based publication, to what will become an innovative and agile digital product, the next phase of improvements are primarily to the code’s structure and format. These improvements are being implemented following considerable analysis, research and consultation with key industry groups, and do not change the intent of the code in any way.

The changes form part of the ABCB’s overall long-term strategy to improve useability of the code, and have been designed with NCC users in mind. This needs to have regard to those who are relatively new to the industry and becoming familiar with the NCC as a technical regulatory instrument, those who are using it in their studies and will therefore be future users of the product, as well as those who have been in the business for some time and are therefore familiar with how things have been done up to this point.

To guide users through the changes, the ABCB has developed a range of supporting material, which will be released in stages leading up to the release of the NCC 2022 Public Comment Draft (PCD) on 10 May 2021.

The first stage of supporting materials are being released (see below), which cover NCC 2022’s:

These changes are essential to ensure the NCC:

  • Is easily digested and comprehended by users, encouraging greater adoption across industry. Higher rates of use and comprehension will help lift compliance and improve building outcomes.
  • Can be converted into a range of digital formats, enabling features such as personalised filtering of content.
  • Encourages digital innovation such as integration with commonly used industry software and digital systems.
  • Facilitates contemporary education and training opportunities, incentivising new entrants to the building and plumbing industries to familiarise themselves with the NCC.

What will result is an NCC that is more usable and accessible to as many practitioners as possible, knowing that it will require some adjustment for those who have used it in its current form for many years.

The ABCB will be releasing a range of supporting material and useful resources prior to the NCC 2022 PCD. To ensure that you are kept up to date with these important changes please ensure you are subscribed to ‘ABCB Connect’ in your NCC profile.

https://www.abcb.gov.au/Connect

Technical Resource – Product Certification – External Contract Resource

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CertMark International (CMI) is looking for an experienced person to provide Technical Review Services as an External Contract Resource covering our Product Certification Scheme for Product compliance to relevant Australian (AS or AS/NZS), New Zealand (NZS), NFPA & ISO Standards.

CMI is accredited by JAS-ANZ to provide Product Certification Services to specific Standards and we need an additional Technical Expert who can join our Team as an External Contracted Resource.

The position will involve the review of a Clients Product Technical Data and Test Reports against:

  • Relevant Australian, New Zealand, NFPA or ISO Standards
  • CertMark International Product Certification Scheme Manual, Procedures & Processes
  • ISO/IEC 17065:2012(R2018)
  • ISO 10005:2018

The position will provide additional contracted resource capabilities on an as required basis to meet CMI’s growing Client base.

This is an ideal position which allows you flexibility to work from your home, office or other remote locations. You can still have your other work or business interests and undertake this work for CMI outside of those hours.

CMI will need you to supply the following information:

  • Current CV detailing your work, experience and qualifications with particular emphasis in the areas that we are seeking such as Building Products / Fire System Products / Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) / Safety Products
  • Additional information regarding your specific knowledge and understanding of the any of the areas above.

If you are successful will need the following:

  • Australian Drivers Licence
  • As a minimum hold an Australian Sole Trader ABN

For more information on the CertMark Product Certification scheme see https://certmark.org/scheme-certmark-product-certificate/

If you have these skill sets and would like to be involved in the exciting area of providing Product Certification Services please send your information to office@certmark.org