National Water Week: Are your plumbing products certified and safe?

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BuilderConsumerHome buyer / ownerPlumber

WA’s plumbing regulator has issued a reminder that taps, toilets, showerheads and most other plumbing products must have WaterMark certification to show they have passed safety and quality checks to meet specific Australian standards.

As National Water Week (19-25 October) gets underway, Building and Energy is joining with the Australian Building Codes Board to highlight the national WaterMark scheme, which is mandatory for almost all plumbing and drainage products, particularly those in contact with drinking water.

Building and Energy Executive Director Saj Abdoolakhan said a quick check for WaterMark certification should be carried out by anyone purchasing or selling products to be installed in plumbing systems, as well as by plumbers who carry out the installation.

“The item should be stamped with the WaterMark certification trademark – a W with an upwards arrow – and a licence number. You can also do a quick check online via the WaterMark Product Database (watermark.abcb.gov.au) to confirm if a product has been certified,” he said.

“A simple check will help ensure that your plumbing and drainage systems work properly and the water you use and drink is safe.”

In WA, only a licensed plumber can carry out water supply, sanitary or drainage plumbing work, but the WaterMark scheme recognises that home owners, builders and other parties may select and source plumbing products for installation.

“From manufacturers and suppliers to purchasers and installers, everybody in the chain plays a role in recognising the WaterMark and ensuring only certified products are used in plumbing and drainage environments, where health and safety are paramount,” Mr Abdoolakhan said.

“WaterMark certification means that a material or product has been tested and evaluated to an approved product specification and certified by an accredited organisation.”

For more details about the WaterMark Certification Scheme go to watermark.abcb.gov.au/look. Key resources include the database, the Schedule of Products requiring WaterMark certification and the Schedule of Excluded Products deemed not to require WaterMark certification.

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High-resolution images available. Building and Energy media contact: BEmedia@dmirs.wa.gov.au

Building and Energy
Media release
19 Oct 2020

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