Did you know that all plumbing and drainage products listed on the WaterMark Schedule of Products must be WaterMark certified, before it can be installed by a licensed plumber? This is required by law in Volume Three of the National Construction Code (NCC).
If a product is listed on the Schedule and is to be installed in Australia, including those purchased via online stores like eBay and Amazon, the product must be:
- WaterMark certified
- marked with the WaterMark trademark, WaterMark licence number and the applicable product specification
- listed on the WaterMark product database, and
- provided with a Scope of Use statement specifying its intended use.
Any associated product packaging and promotional material must also be marked with the WaterMark trade mark and licence number.
WaterMark product certification protects community health and safety. A certified product is fit for purpose and authorised for installation by a licensed plumber. It’s also guaranteed to be suitable for use by you, your family and your friends.
Installation
It should be noted that it is legal to sell non-WaterMark certified plumbing and drainage products in Australia. However, if the product type is listed on the Schedule of Products but is not WaterMark certified, a licensed plumber is not permitted to install it.
Also, if a non-WaterMark certified product is installed where a WaterMark certified product is required by Volume Three of the NCC, your local plumbing authority may not accept the installation.
Some consequences of not using WaterMark certified products where required include:
- costs of replacing materials
- product failure resulting in building damage and loss, and
- possible voided insurance.
For these reasons it’s important that you look for the WaterMark on products and packaging before purchasing, to ensure the product is certified and authorised for installation. If you’re buying online, ask the supplier for this information if it’s not available on the website.
You should also have the product installed by a licensed plumber so that the installation complies with Volume Three of the NCC. Check with your local plumbing authority to ensure your plumber is appropriately licensed to undertake the work. Plumbing work undertaken by unlicensed providers can attract penalties from your local plumbing authority.
Need to confirm WaterMark certification before you buy?
Search the WaterMark product database to confirm the product you want to buy is WaterMark certified.
You can search by:
- WaterMark licence number
- product type, brand name, model name or model ID, or
- licensee name.
Can’t find the product?
Request the certification information from the supplier before you buy it.
Found something illegal?
If you suspect that a product is not WaterMark certified or is labelled incorrectly, report it.
Need more information?
Find out more from our short WaterMark explainer videos.
