Plumbing Act

The Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018  aims to regulate the carrying out of plumbing and drainage work in a way that reduces risks to public health and safety, and the environment.

The Plumbing and Drainage Act aims to achieve this by:

• Establishing a licensing scheme to ensure all plumbing or drainage work, other than unregulated work, is carried out by persons who are qualified to carry out the work
• Requiring plumbing or drainage work to be carried out in compliance with the code requirements for the work
• Establishing a framework for approving particular plumbing work.

The Plumbing and Drainage Act allows a streamlined and flexible regulation, resulting in shorter times for plumbing approvals. It also introduces new mechanical services occupation license classes and increased penalties for offences with the aim of protecting.

The Department of Housing and Public Works oversees the Plumbing and Drainage Act, while Queensland's Plumbing website offers some useful resources for understanding the legislation.

Under the legislation:

• A person must not undertake regulated plumbing work without an appropriate licence (approx. max fine $46,707 or 1 year’s imprisonment)
• A person must not use plumbing or drainage unless an inspection certificate or final inspection certificate has been issued stating that the work is operational and fit for use (approx. max fine $32,637)
• This penalty will apply to the person who uses the plumbing and drainage.