Plumbing

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.

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.

WaterMark WMTS-101:2020 Public Consultation

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See the following from the ABCB

REQUEST FOR COMMENT – SPECIFICATION DEVELOPMENT

Dear WMCABs’ and JAS-ANZ,

WMTS number: WMTS-101
Title: Appliances (low hazard rating)
Type of project: Amended Publication – Public Consultation
Comment closing date: October 28 2020 23:59
Please review the proposed amended WMTS and submit your comment via Consultation Hub.

Consultation Hub link – https://consultation.abcb.gov.au/engagement/wmts-101-2020-public-consultation-draft 

Please ensure that you notify any of your Licence holders who may be impacted by this amended specification. Also note that responses will be published, where consent has been given, once the consultation period has closed. The ABCB Office will endeavour to review and publish responses within 10 business days. You will be able to view responses through the Consultation Hub.

WaterMark WMTS-522:2020 Public Consultation

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See the following from the ABCB

REQUEST FOR COMMENT – SPECIFICATION DEVELOPMENT

Dear WMCABs’ and JAS-ANZ,

WMTS number: WMTS-522
Title: Fixture and floor wastes-supplementary protection devices
Type of project: Amended Publication – Public Consultation
Comment closing date: October 28 2020 23:59

Please review the proposed amended WMTS and submit your comment via Consultation Hub. Consultation Hub link –https://consultation.abcb.gov.au/engagement/wmts-522-2020-public-consultation

Please ensure that you notify any of your Licence holders who may be impacted by this amended specification. Also note that responses will be published, where consent has been given, once the consultation period has closed. The ABCB Office will endeavour to review and publish responses within 10 business days. You will be able to view responses through the Consultation Hub.

AS/NZS 1260 PVC DWV Fittings

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PVC gravity sewer systems have been in use in Australia since the early 1970s and are the predominant option for collection sewers up to size DN 375. Water industry consensus is that PVC-U gravity systems have performed satisfactorily and that correctly installed PVC-U systems have better resistance to tree root penetration, whether rubber ring jointed (RRJ) or solvent weld jointed (SWJ).  However, mechanical failures of some DN 100 and DN 150 injection moulded fittings with both rubber ring joints (RRJ) and solvent weld joints (SWJ), used within sewer property service connection assemblies, have been commonly experienced by Water Agencies for many years due to ground movement, subsidence and settlement related issues.

The Australian Standard for PVC-U pipe and fittings for drainage waste and vent applications is AS/NZS 1260:2017. A minimum wall thickness of 3mm for DN100 fittings and 4mm for DN 150 fittings is specified for injection moulded fittings. Tests indicate that fittings manufactured to the minimum requirements of AS/NZS 1260 have stiffnesses ratings between SN16 and SN80, depending on the size and configuration of the fitting. Clearly the ability of fittings to withstand ground movement is not related to their stiffness rating alone.

In response to Water Agency concerns  a limited range of “heavy duty” injection moulded fittings with additional wall thickness and in some cases additional strengthening ribs have been introduced to the market. These heavy duty fittings remain compliant with AS/NZS 1260 as the Standard specifies a minimum wall thickness only, however there are currently no guidelines for manufacturers or users to determine the definition of a heavy duty fitting and no industry consistency for clear identification of these fittings.

WSAA has amended their Product Specification WS PS 230 to allow an option for Water Agencies to specify heavy duty fittings. Minimum wall thicknesses for heavy duty fittings have been nominated based on Water Agency experience over the last 18 months or so and the requirement for a minimum stiffness rating for fittings has been removed.   The minimum wall thicknesses for heavy duty fittings have been nominated as RRJ DN 100: 4mm, RRJ DN 150: 5mm, SWJ DN 100: 5mm, SWJ DN: 150 6mm. (The additional wall thickness for SWJ is justified by their reduced joint flexibility). A requirement to mark the fittings “heavy duty” is also included. WSA PS 230 is available at the following link:  https://www.wsaa.asn.au/shop/product/35716

WSA PS –230POLYVINYCHLORIDE, UNPLASTICISED(PVC-U) PIPES AND FITTINGS FOR NON-PRESSURE APPLICATIONS –SEWERAGE AND DRAINAGE
WSA_PS_230_Iss_7.2_PVC_DWV_Pipes_and_Fittings.pdf

WMTS:040-2020 (Round 3) Public Consultation

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See the following from the ABCB

Dear WMCABs’ and JAS-ANZ,

  • WMTS number: WMTS-040
  • Title: Waste pipe connection outlets and gratings, separate or integral
  • Type of project: Amended Publication – Round 3 Public Consultation
  • Comment closing date: August 05 2020 23:59
  • Reason for further consultation: In undertaking resolution of the previous public comments substantial changes were identified which required redrafting. The ABCB wishes to consult again on the proposed changes to WMTS-040 prior to final publication.

Please review the proposed amended WMTS and submit your comment via Consultation Hub.

Consultation Hub link – https://consultation.abcb.gov.au/engagement/wmts-040-2020-round-3-public-consultation

Please ensure that you notify any of your Licence holders who may be impacted by this new specification. Also note that responses will be published, where consent has been given, once the consultation period has closed. The ABCB Office will endeavour to review and publish responses within 10 business days. You will be able to view responses through the Consultation Hub.

WaterMark Complement to AS 4775 – Public Comment

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See the following from the ABCB

REQUEST FOR COMMENT – SPECIFICATION DEVELOPMENT

Dear WMCABs’ and JAS-ANZ,

WaterMark Complement to AS 4775

Title: WaterMark Technical Requirements for Certification – Emergency shower, eyewash and eye/face wash equipment

Type of project: New Publication – Public Consultation

Comment closing date: September 02 2020 23:59

Please review the proposed Complement and submit your comment via Consultation Hub.

Consultation Hub link – https://consultation.abcb.gov.au/engagement/watermark-complement-to-as-4775

Please ensure that you notify any of your Licence holders who may be impacted by this amended specification. Also note that responses will be published, where consent has been given, once the consultation period has closed. The ABCB Office will endeavour to review and publish responses within 10 business days. You will be able to view responses through the Consultation Hub.

WMTS:530 Water meters with integral shut off valve

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See the following from the ABCB

REQUEST FOR COMMENT – SPECIFICATION DEVELOPMENT

Dear WMCABs’ and JAS-ANZ,

WMTS number: WMTS-530

Title: Water meters with integral shut off valve

Type of project: New Publication – Public Consultation

Comment closing date: September 09 2020 23:59

Please review the proposed new WMTS and submit your comment via Consultation Hub.

Consultation Hub link – https://consultation.abcb.gov.au/engagement/wmts-530-2020-public-consultation-draft

Please ensure that you notify any of your Licence holders who may be impacted by this new specification. Also note that responses will be published, where consent has been given, once the consultation period has closed. The ABCB Office will endeavour to review and publish responses within 10 business days. You will be able to view responses through the Consultation Hub.

ACCC Alert – COVID-19: Supplying and installing bidet products

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See below notice from the ABCB.

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has seen an increase in the purchase by those performing do it yourself tasks, of plumbing products such as toilet seat bidet douches, handheld bidet sprays and trigger sprays, and other bidet type products that are connected to toilet water supplies.

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has just published an alert, COVID-19: Supplying and installing bidet products on the Product Safety Australia website: https://www.productsafety.gov.au/news/covid-19-supplying-and-installing-bidet-products.

The ACCC has prepared the alert for suppliers and consumers in consultation with the ABCB.

The key message of the communique is that the installation of bidet products connected to the drinking water supply must be undertaken by a licensed plumber and hold WaterMark certification. The alert will also be posted on the ABCB website.

If you have any questions, please direct them to me.

Kind regards

Anne-Maree Campbell
Director – WaterMark NCC Management and Product Certification
Australian Building Codes Board

Important Notice – AS/NZS 4130 Polyethylene (PE) pipes for pressure applications – January 2020 (update)

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This is a follow up to post https://certmark.org/articles/2020/03/important-notice-as-nzs-4130-polyethylene-pe-pipes-for-pressure-applications-january-2020/

The WSAA Codes and Appraisals Group have met and included within their Agenda was a joint meeting with Mark Heathcote from PIPA to discuss the status and feedback relating to the recently introduced WSAA specification amendments to BRT procedures for AS/NZS 4130 PE pipe production. 

The outcome was that WSAA’s specifications were amended to extend the maximum frequency for OIT testing from 12 hours to 24 hours.

The revised Clause in WS PS 207 and WS PS 215 is now:

Clause 2 (c)

The manufacturer’s quality plan shall include within their  batch release test procedures a thermal stability test to ISO 11357-6 to be completed on a sample taken from the inside surface of the first pipe manufactured in a batch of a particular DN and PN and at an ongoing frequency not exceeding 24 hours of production for that pipe batch or when a new raw material compound is introduced.

Updated versions of the specifications can be accessed at: https://www.wsaa.asn.au/shop/product/35716