Plumbing warning

Press, 15 September 1977, Page 14

Plumbing warning

According to the law as it now stands in New Zealand it is generally illegal for anybody other than a registered plumber to do plumbing work except in a few exceptional circumstances when special approval can be obtained. The reason for this is because of the potential health hazards that may result from faulty or illegal plumbing. These are so great that in addition to the Drainage and Plumbing Regulations which prevent people from doing their own plumbing work, the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act was passed in 1976 which amended and consolidated the law relating to the registration of plumbers and gasfitters. The Drainage and Plumbing Regulations prohibit anybody from establishing, installing, ex-

tending, repairing or removing, any drain, sewage tank, disposal system or fitting or doing any sanitary plumbing without first obtaining a permit from the local authority in the area. Sanitary plumbing includes the fixing or unfixing of any bath, shower, lavatory. sink, basin, vanity unit, tub or washing machine, and some amenities in commercial buildings. It also includes any work done on a trap, pipe, or ventilation pipe connected to, or intended to be con-

nected to any sanitary fitting, appliance, drain or sewer. In comparison with othet countries. New Zealand has a good public health record attributed mainly to the high standard of service provided by the plumbing industry. Permits for sanitary plumbing will only be issued to registered plumbers, or in special cases to the person who is entitled by law to do the work. Only in a few areas specially gazetted by the Minister of Health, are owner-occupiers permitted to do their own sanitary plumbing. This has to be done under the supervision of the plumbing inspector and a permit must be obtained first. Even in these circumstances it is preferable to employ a registered plumber and remove the risk of a faulty connection being made.

One of the main reasons why unqualified people are prevented by law from doing their own plumbing and drainlaying work is because of the danger of faulty connections which could lead to the pollution of water supplies. One of the most dangerous and common faults made by amateurs are cross connections and back-flow connections, through which it is possible to contaminate pure water.