The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) is reminding consumers and practitioners about the importance of Plumbing Compliance Certificates, especially if something goes wrong.
State Building Surveyor at the VBA, Andrew Cialini said Compliance Certificates helped protect consumers against faulty workmanship.
“If the work carried out is poor or faulty and you make a complaint to the VBA about the practitioner’s work, we can use the Certificate of Compliance as part of our investigation,” Mr Cialini said.
“Plumbing Compliance Certificates provide Victorians with a level of confidence that their plumber has the experience, qualification and insurance protection to complete the works,” he said.
“If you’ve engaged a licensed plumber to do work for you, ask for your Compliance Certificate.”
Mr Cialini said when plumbing work was valued at $750 or more, plumbers were required to issue their customers with a signed Compliance Certificate within five days of completing the work.
The State Building Surveyor said a Compliance Certificate was a form of evidence that proved specific plumbing work had been carried out, or certified by a licensed practitioner, and certified that the work had been carried out properly.
“More than one-third of plumbing complaints received by the VBA last financial year were about a Compliance Certificate issue,” he said.
Mr Cialini said a licensed plumber was also required to lodge a Compliance Certificate with the VBA within five days of completing certain works related to below-ground sanitary drains, any gas-using appliance, gas piping and cooling towers, regardless of the works’ value.
