Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board (Plumbing Registration and Licensing) Notice 2016
Pursuant to sections 28 and 30 of the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006 (“Act”), the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board (“Board”) designates the following classes of registration for sanitary plumbing and prescribes the following matters relating to plumbing registration and licensing.
1. Title—This notice is the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board (Plumbing Registration and Licensing) Notice 2016.
2. Commencement—This notice comes into force on 6 December 2016.
3. Revocation—This notice revokes the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board (Plumbing Registration and Licensing) Notice 2010 (published in the New Zealand Gazette, 21 October 2010, No. 143, page 3611).
The Board designates the certifying plumber class of plumbing registration.
A certifying plumber who holds a current annual practising licence issued by the Board:
(a) may carry out sanitary plumbing;
(b) may supervise sanitary plumbing undertaken by the following people:
(i) tradesmen plumbers;
(ii) journeymen plumbers;
(iii) holders of provisional licences to do or assist in doing sanitary plumbing pursuant to section 38 of the Act;
(iv) trainee plumbers who hold limited certificates to do or assist in doing sanitary plumbing pursuant to section 14 of the Act (“Trainee Plumbers”); and
(v) persons doing or assisting in doing sanitary plumbing pursuant to section 19 of the Act (“Exempt Persons”);
(c) may test sanitary plumbing; and
(d) must verify sanitary plumbing where verification is required.
(1) To be registered as a certifying plumber a person must have:
(a) held a licence as a licensed or tradesman plumber (or registered plumber under the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 1976) for an aggregate period of not less than 24 months under the supervision of a certifying plumber (or a craftsman plumber under the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 1976), and passed the examination specified in paragraph 6(2) below; or
(b) where applying on the basis of an overseas plumbing qualification:
(i) submitted a completed pre-registration application form to the Board that includes the following documentation:
A. an international qualifications assessment report from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority concluding that the applicant’s plumbing qualification is equivalent to, or greater than level 4 on the National Qualifications Framework;
B. unless the applicant has already been granted New Zealand residence, police certificates that are no older than six months from the applicant’s country of citizenship (unless they can provide satisfactory evidence they have never lived there), and from any country the applicant has lived in for 12 months or more (whether in one visit or intermittently) in the last 10 years, that the Board assesses as meeting its fit and proper person requirements; and
C. evidence that the applicant has worked full-time in the plumbing trade for six years or more; and
(ii) passed the Board’s plumbing advanced proficiency assessment (this practical assessment must be undertaken in New Zealand).
(2) The examination a person must pass in order to register as a certifying plumber is Examination 9195 set by the Board.
(3) Examination 9195 will be set by the Board so that, in order to pass the examination, the applicant must demonstrate the ability to design, manage the installation of, and verify sanitary plumbing systems through possessing competencies in the areas of:
(a) Trade calculations and trade science used in the design and installation of sanitary plumbing systems. Descriptors include, but are not limited to:
(i) estimation, measurement, and calculation using management systems;
(ii) application of formulae including transposing;
(iii) laws of physics and their application as they relate to sanitary plumbing;
(iv) hydraulic principles;
(v) expansion and contraction;
(vi) corrosion protection;
(vii) water quality;
(viii) density; and
(ix) energy transfer.
(b) The selection of materials, their properties, applications, and how they are used in the design and specification of sanitary plumbing systems. Descriptors include, but are not limited to:
(i) compatibility, testing, and commissioning procedures; and
(ii) alternative materials, approval regimes, and protection of material.
(c) The drawings and specifications for sanitary plumbing. Descriptors include, but are not limited to, the preparation of plans and specifications.
(d) The design, specification, and verification of water services for sanitary plumbing systems. Descriptors include, but are not limited to:
(i) pipe sizing principles;
(ii) hot and cold water reticulation systems;
(iii) water storage systems;
(iv) domestic fire sprinkler systems;
(v) rain water harvesting;
(vi) pumps;
(vii) sanitary appliances and fixtures;
(viii) backflow prevention;
(ix) heating systems that relate to sanitary plumbing, including hot water systems, and solar water heating; and
(x) alternative water supplies.
(e) The design and specification of foul water systems for sanitary plumbing. Descriptors include, but are not limited to:
(i) principles of sizing and venting for foul water plumbing systems;
(ii) pumps;
(iii) sanitary appliances and fixtures;
(iv) backflow prevention; and
(v) irrigation systems.
(f) The ability to access and apply relevant documentation relating to sanitary plumbing to meet compliance requirements, and an understanding of the regulatory environment. Descriptors include, but are not limited to:
(i) Acts and regulations;
(ii) standards;
(iii) codes; and
(iv) manufacturers’ instructions.
(g) Management of the effect on the integrity of structures relating to the design and installation of sanitary plumbing systems, including weather tightness considerations as they relate to penetrations to the building envelope and the coordination with other services. Descriptors include, but are not limited to:
(i) preservation of structural integrity;
(ii) prevention of damage to property including weather tightness; and
(iii) positioning and protection of services along with the coordination with other building services.
(h) Responsibilities relating to managing health and safety. Descriptors include, but are not limited to, health and safety systems, and the preparation of safety plans.
(i) Responsibilities relating to the supervision of persons who do, or assist in doing, sanitary plumbing.
(4) Any person who, at 4 July 2013, had passed Examination 9195 but has not passed the certifying common Examination 9194 that a person was required to pass from 1 April 2010 to 3 July 2013 is required to successfully complete one or more competence programmes focused on assessing the competencies previously covered in Examination 9194, as directed by the Registrar, before that person will be considered to meet the minimum standards for registration as a certifying plumber.
(5) Any person who, at 4 July 2013, has passed Examination 9194, that a person was required to pass from 1 April 2010 to 3 July 2013, but not Examination 9195, is required to pass Examination 9195 before that person will be considered to meet the minimum standards for registration as a certifying plumber.
(1) A certifying plumber must pay any monies owing to the Board as they become due, subject to any exceptions agreed to by the Board.
(2) A certifying plumber must provide the Board with all information required for the public register.
(1) For the purposes of paragraph (2) below:
Approved continuing professional development course means a course of training of up to six hours duration on continuing professional development topics as set out on the Board’s website and delivered by an approved provider either in person or online.
Approved provider means a provider approved by the Board to deliver an approved continuing professional development course and notified on the Board’s website.
(2) To be eligible to renew their annual practising licence, all certifying plumbers applying to renew their licence for the licensing years beginning on 1 April 2017 and beyond must satisfy the Registrar that they have completed any approved continuing professional development course that has been notified as applying in the 12 month period prior to renewal.
(3) All certifying plumbers that hold a current annual practising licence are issued with an authorisation card by the Board.
(4) At all times when undertaking sanitary plumbing, a certifying plumber must be able to produce their authorisation card on demand.
(5) A certifying plumber must pay the prescribed fee for, and notify the Board of the name, address and telephone number of, every Exempt Person working under their supervision.
(6) A certifying plumber must notify the Board in writing if their supervision of any person ceases.
(7) A certifying plumber remains responsible for all sanitary plumbing undertaken by a person under their supervision until the Board has received written notification from them that they are no longer supervising that person.
(8) A certifying plumber must ensure that sanitary plumbing undertaken by persons under their supervision:
(a) is performed competently;
(b) is subject to appropriate safety measures; and
(c) complies with the requirements of all relevant regulations, including regulations made under the Building Act 2004.
(9) A certifying plumber must ensure that all persons under their supervision:
(a) are competent to perform the tasks undertaken;
(b) are adequately supervised while carrying out sanitary plumbing;
(c) comply with all relevant regulations, including regulations made under the Building Act 2004; and
(d) can produce their current authorisation card issued by the Board on demand.
(10) A certifying plumber may nominate another currently licensed certifying plumber or tradesman plumber (“Nominated Person”) to provide physical supervision of any person working under their supervision.
(11) A certifying plumber remains responsible at all times for all aspects of the work done by a person under their supervision even where they have nominated another certifying plumber or tradesman plumber to provide physical supervision of that work.
(12) A certifying plumber who is nominated to provide physical supervision of a person must promptly notify the person’s supervising certifying plumber of any concerns they have about the work done by that person or the safety measures in place in respect of the work done by that person.
(13) A certifying plumber must ensure that, during the first 12 months of holding a limited certificate to do or assist in doing sanitary plumbing, a Trainee Plumber under their supervision works at all times in their presence or in the presence of a Nominated Person.
(14) A certifying plumber must ensure that, during the first 24 months of doing or assisting in doing sanitary plumbing under an exemption under section 19 of the Act, an Exempt Person under their supervision works at all times in their presence or in the presence of a Nominated Person.
(1) The Board designates the tradesman plumber class of plumbing registration.
(2) All plumbers registered as licensed plumbers under the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board (Plumbing Registration and Licensing) Notice 2010 are now deemed to be registered as tradesmen plumbers.
A tradesman plumber who holds a current annual practising licence issued by the Board:
(a) may carry out sanitary plumbing under the supervision of a certifying plumber;
(b) may physically supervise, as a Nominated Person, sanitary plumbing undertaken by a person under supervision; and
(c) may test sanitary plumbing.
Registration requirements
(1) To be registered as a tradesman plumber a person must have:
(a) obtained the National Certificate in Plumbing and passed the examination specified in paragraph 11(2) below; or
(b) where the person is applying on the basis of an overseas plumbing qualification:
(i) submitted a completed pre-registration application form to the Board that includes the following documentation:
A. an international qualifications assessment report from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority concluding that the applicant’s plumbing qualification is equivalent to, or greater than level 4 on the National Qualifications Framework;
B. unless the applicant has already been granted New Zealand residence, police certificates that are no older than six months from the applicant’s country of citizenship (unless they can provide satisfactory evidence they have never lived there), and from any country the applicant has lived in for 12 months or more (whether in one visit or intermittently) in the last 10 years, that the Board assesses as meeting its fit and proper person registration requirements; and
C. evidence that the applicant has worked full-time in the plumbing trade for four years or more; and
(ii) passed the examination specified in paragraph 11(2) below, which they may sit in their home country by arrangement with the Board.
(2) The examination a person must pass in order to register as a tradesman plumber is Examination 9192 set by the Board.
(3) Examination 9192 will be set by the Board so that, to pass the examination an applicant demonstrates knowledge, and the experience and practical ability to install, test, commission, fault-find, and maintain sanitary plumbing systems through possessing competencies in the areas of:
(a) Trade calculations and trade sciences. Descriptors include, but are not limited to:
(i) estimation, measurement, and calculation using measurement systems;
(ii) application of formulae;
(iii) laws of physics and their application as they relate to sanitary plumbing;
(iv) hydraulic principles;
(v) expansion and contraction;
(vi) corrosion protection;
(vii) water quality;
(viii) density; and
(ix) energy transfer.
(b) Limitations in and the application of material used in sanitary plumbing, including material protection and jointing methods. Descriptors include, but are not limited to:
(i) copper;
(ii) polyvinylchloride (PVC);
(iii) polybutylene (PB);
(iv) polyethylene (PE);
(v) mild steel;
(vi) stainless steel;
(vii) acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS);
(viii) polypropoylene;
(ix) cross-linked polyethylene;
(x) brass/bronze;
(xi) cast iron;
(xii) sheet metal;
(xiii) lead;
(xiv) glass; and
(xv) the use of tools and equipment.
(c) Drawings and specifications for sanitary plumbing. Descriptors include, but are not limited to:
(i) interpreting plans and specifications;
(ii) drawing as-built plans; and
(iii) development of patterns.
(d) The installation, testing, commissioning, fault-finding and maintenance of water services for sanitary plumbing. Descriptors include, but are not limited to:
(i) pipe sizing principles;
(ii) hot and cold water reticulation systems;
(iii) water storage systems;
(iv) domestic fire sprinkler systems;
(v) rainwater harvesting;
(vi) pumps;
(vii) sanitary appliances and fixtures;
(viii) backflow prevention;
(ix) heating systems that relate to sanitary plumbing, including hot water systems, and solar water heating; and
(x) alternative water supplies.
(e) The installation, testing, commissioning, fault-finding and maintenance of foul water systems for sanitary plumbing systems. Descriptors include, but are not limited to:
(i) principles of sizing and venting for foul water plumbing systems;
(ii) pumps;
(iii) sanitary appliances and fixtures;
(iv) backflow prevention; and
(v) irrigation systems.
(f) The ability to access and apply relevant documentation relating to sanitary plumbing to meet compliance requirements, and an understanding of the regulatory environment. Descriptors include, but are not limited to:
(i) Acts and regulations;
(ii) standards;
(iii) codes; and
(iv) manufacturers’ instructions.
(g) The effect of the installation of sanitary plumbing systems, or their components, on the integrity of structures, including weather tightness considerations as they relate to penetrations of the building envelope. Descriptors include, but are not limited to:
(i) preservation of structural integrity; and
(ii) prevention of damage to property including weather tightness.
(h) Responsibilities relating to health and safety. Descriptors include, but are not limited to:
(i) personal and public safety;
(ii) site safety;
(iii) electrical safety; and
(iv) environmental considerations.
(i) Limitations on persons who do, or assist in doing, sanitary plumbing.
Transitional provision
(4) Any person who was approved under the Board’s Immigrant Qualification Assessment System prior to 4 July 2013 must pass Examination 9192 before that person will be considered to meet the minimum standards for registration as a tradesman plumber.
(1) A tradesman plumber must pay any monies owing to the Board as they become due, subject to any exceptions agreed to by the Board.
(2) A tradesman plumber must provide the Board with all information required for the public register.
(1) For the purposes of paragraph (2) below:
Approved continuing professional development course means a course of training of up to six hours duration on continuing professional development topics as set out on the Board’s website and delivered by an approved provider either in person or online.
Approved provider means a provider approved by the Board to deliver an approved continuing professional development course and notified on the Board’s website.
(2) To be eligible to renew their annual practising licence, all tradesmen plumbers applying to renew their licence for the licensing years beginning on 1 April 2017 and beyond must satisfy the Registrar that they have completed any approved continuing professional development course that has been notified as applying in the 12 month period prior to renewal.
(3) All tradesmen plumbers that hold a current annual practising licence are issued with an authorisation card by the Board.
(4) At all times when undertaking sanitary plumbing, a tradesmen plumber must be able to produce their authorisation card on demand.
(5) A tradesman plumber must work at all times under the supervision of a certifying plumber.
(6) A tradesman plumber must notify the Board of the name and registration number of their supervising certifying plumber.
(7) A tradesman plumber who is nominated to provide physical supervision of a person must promptly notify the person’s supervising certifying plumber of any concerns they have about the competency of the work done by that person or the safety measures in place in respect of the work done by that person.
The Board designates the journeyman plumber class of plumbing registration.
A journeyman plumber who holds a current annual practising licence issued by the Board:
(a) may carry out sanitary plumbing under the supervision of a certifying plumber; and
(b) may test sanitary plumbing.
To be registered as a journeyman plumber a person must have successfully completed one of the following:
(a) the National Certificate in Plumbing;
(b) the third stage block course in plumbing; or
(c) the practice trade certificate in plumbing.
(1) A journeyman plumber must pay any monies owing to the Board as they become due, subject to any exceptions agreed to by the Board.
(2) A journeyman plumber must provide the Board with all information required for the public register.
(1) For the purposes of paragraph (2) below:
Approved continuing professional development course means a course of training of up to six hours duration on continuing professional development topics as set out on the Board’s website and delivered by an approved provider either in person or online.
Approved provider means a provider approved by the Board to deliver an approved continuing professional development course and notified on the Board’s website.
(2) To be eligible to renew their annual practising licence, all journeymen plumbers applying to renew their licence for the licensing years beginning on 1 April 2018 and beyond must satisfy the Registrar that they have completed any approved continuing professional development course that has been notified as applying in the 12 month period prior to renewal.
(3) All journeymen plumbers that hold a current annual practising licence are issued with an authorisation card by the Board.
(4) At all times when undertaking sanitary plumbing, a journeyman plumber must be able to produce their authorisation card on demand.
The licence period is from 1 April to 31 March of the following year, provided that:
(a) a licence is issued for a maximum period of one licensing year only;
(b) all licences expire on 31 March irrespective of when in the licensing period they were issued subject to section 50 of the Act; and
(c) a licence issued after 1 April is valid only from the date on which it is issued until its expiry on 31 March.
The Board must provide the following forms:
(a) Application for registration as a:
(i) certifying plumber;
(ii) tradesman plumber; and
(iii) journeyman plumber.
(b) Application for licence as a:
(i) certifying plumber;
(ii) tradesman plumber; and
(iii) journeyman plumber.
(1) Where the term “sanitary plumbing” is used it refers to “sanitary plumbing” as defined in section 6 of the Act.
(2) Where the term “supervision” is used it refers to “supervision” as defined in section 4 of the Act.
(3) Where the term “verify” is used it refers to formal verification for the purposes of any Act or regulations that apply to the work.
Dated at Wellington this 18th day of October 2016.
WILLIAM HENRY MARTIN SAWYERS, Registrar, Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board.