Building Officials Institute of New Zealand: Feedback on the Review of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 2006

By Tony Conder, Technical Manager, Building Officials Institute of New Zealand

1) How safe is the work carried out by Licensed Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers?

Normally safe as only Licensed tradesman are undertaking the work that is inspected by the Local Authority Inspectors. The work is generally of a high standard with lowering levels of re-work required due to failed inspections. However, it is the Institute’s view we are not ready for complete self-certifying in Plumbing and Drainage disciplines as we have in gas fitting. Non-qualified tradesmen do not appear to be doing the work, but we acknowledge there are and will be exceptions. The Show Me the Card campaign has had a positive effect in respect of public awareness and has been actively supported by the Institute and promoted to BCA’s.

2) How compliant with the relevant legislation is work by Licensed Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers?

Work done is generally compliant. There does need to be more interaction at design of Plumbing and Drainage systems, between the Designer and the Plumber/ Drainlayers. Many plumbing layouts that are approved by Council are never installed on site because the Plumber or Drainlayer has a more practical compliant system than the one consented. This is not ideal and creates more work for everyone as an amendment to the consent is normally required to be done by the designer from the as-built plans and
subsequently approved by the Inspector.

3) How well is non-compliant Plumbing, Gas fitting and Drainlaying work reported on and followed through by enforcement action?

The current Board is very proactive in taking action, prosecuting and sending out the results of any prosecution. They publish both the names of those prosecuted and fines imposed on a regular basis through media outlets and to members via email. This includes people with and without licenses and sends a strong message that non-compliant work will not be tolerated in the Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying industry. The Board also sends representatives to building sites checking cards to make sure the tradesman have one and that it is current. Television advertising is also carried out with the ‘check the card’ campaign.

4) How appropriately supervised is the work by Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers that has to be done under supervision?

This area may need tidying up. The Board Deputy Registrar has endorsed supervision from a remote location by using phones, digital cameras, videos and other technology. It was maintained that compliance could be demonstrated to a remote supervisor by use of this technology. We believe that this does not provide the level of training that the supervisory role implies, and ask, “Is this supervision as defined by the Act in section 4, interpretation?”

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