If you’re in the business game then you will already be well aware of the importance of staying compliant. You’ll also know it’s not just about fulfilling some legal red tape, but actually about ensuring the safety of your commercial plumbing systems and property. Whether we like it or not, the law is there for a reason: to protect us and our customers.
To keep you on the right side of the law and help you safeguard your business, we’ve put together a few tips for ensuring compliance.
Important Plumbing Compliance Standards
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of the tips and what you need to be doing, we should first take a look at what standards actually apply to businesses in Australia. Here in the great Down Under, most of our plumbing is regulated on state levels.
The Queensland Government has a variety of plumbing codes and laws that regulate how property owners, plumbers, drainers, builders and water service providers manage commercial plumbing systems and drainage works. These laws state that plumbing work should be completed by a QBCC-licensed plumber to ensure you receive a Plumbing Certificate of Compliance. Depending on the work required, you may also need to acquire a permit or notify your local government office for inspection.
South Australian legislation requires plumbers and gas fitters to hold relevant licenses to prove they can safely provide plumbing services. Only registered plumbers are legally able to provide Plumbing Certificates of Compliance in South Australia.
How to Ensure Commercial Plumbing Compliance
Now that you have a general understanding of the laws and regulations that govern commercial plumbing and the work you get done, we can dive into those nitty-gritty details about how you can stay on the right side of them.
Regular Professional Inspections & Maintenance
Regular check-ups are essential for maintaining safe and compliant commercial plumbing systems. While state laws don’t set specific timelines for plumbing inspections, it is recommended that you have your systems inspected and maintained annually or biannually.
This ensures any dodgy plumbing issues are caught and fixed early, before they can turn into full-blown plumbing emergencies, causing a whole range of health and safety concerns.
Additionally, laws state that Thermostatic Mixing Valves and backflow devices need to be tested annually to guarantee proper function for workplace and customer safety. It is good practice to have your whole plumbing system inspected when you get these devices checked for ease of scheduling.
Always Use Licenced & Insured Plumbers
These plumbing inspections and any other plumbing work need to be completed by licensed and insured commercial plumbers. This not only ensures you’re following the legal red tape but also guarantees that the work is high-quality and fully compliant.
Plumbers who are fully licensed and insured will be able to provide top-notch plumbing services and issue a Plumbing Certificate of Compliance upon completion. This provides peace of mind that your commercial plumbing system is safe and functional and that your business is protected from legal penalties.
Keep Clear Documentation
Clear and up-to-date documentation is crucial for ensuring and proving your plumbing systems are compliant. All Plumbing Certificates of Compliance, permits, receipts and any other documentation relating to your commercial plumbing, need to be organised and easily accessible.
This ensures that you can easily put your hand on any important documents for health and safety inspections or disputes and prove everything is above board and safe.
Ensure Proper Emergency Plans
Plumbing emergencies are always a potential, no matter how well maintained or certified your plumbing is. That’s why businesses need to have clear guidelines for how they will manage events such as burst pipes or sewage backups while prioritising the safety of staff and customers.
This can include having an emergency plumber on speed dial and having a clear evacuation plan that all staff are aware of. Businesses should also have regular emergency drills to ensure all staff can safely and effectively evacuate the premises according to the plan.
Stay Up-to-Date with Regulation Changes
Laws and regulations are constantly changing, and your business needs to keep up. Make sure you’re setting aside adequate time to check commercial regulations and expirations on your documentation regularly.
Staying aware of news updates in your industry and commercial building requirements will allow you to know when regulations are changing and adapt accordingly. You can also speak with a local licensed commercial plumber for expert advice.
Stay Compliant to Protect Your Business
While all the legal red tape for businesses may make your head spin, it’s not that hard to stay compliant. With these simple tips, you can keep your commercial plumbing safe and protect your customers and staff all while adhering to the law.
And if you’re concerned about your compliance you can always give our licensed commercial plumbers at Mario’s Plumbing and Drainage a call. Our experts will provide tailored advice for businesses in QLD and SA and can complete professional inspections to ensure that everything is above board.
