NCC 2022 Volume Three - Plumbing Code of Australia
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B3

Part B3 Non-drinking water services

Part B3 Non-drinking water services

Introduction to this Part

This Part sets out the requirements for any part of a non-drinking water service of a property. It covers from the point of connection to the points of discharge.

Rainwater is not classified as a non-drinking water service.

Objectives

The Objective of this Part is to—

  1. safeguard people from illness, injury or loss (including loss of amenity) due to the failure of a non-drinking water installation; and
  2. ensure that a non-drinking water installation is suitable; and
  3. conserve water and energy; and
  4. safeguard the environment; and
  5. safeguard public and private infrastructure; and
  6. ensure that a non-drinking water installation throughout its serviceable life will continue to satisfy the requirements of Objectives (a) to (e).

Functional Statements

Sanitary fixtures, sanitary appliances and supply outlets provided with non-drinking water must be adequate.

Non-drinking water must be supplied through plumbing installations in a way that avoids the likelihood of inadvertent contamination of any drinking water service, minimise any adverse impact on building occupants, the Network Utility Operator’s infrastructure, property and the environment.

Performance Requirements

A non-drinking water service must not have a cross-connection with a drinking water service.

(1) Pipes, pipe outlets, fittings, storage and holding tanks that are part of a non-drinking water service must be clearly identified.

(2) A non-drinking water service must only be connected to outlets clearly identified for non-drinking use.

Non-drinking water service pipework must ensure that pipework water velocity does not exceed 3 m/s for more than 1% of the time that the water is required during the annual peak hour.

VIC B3P3 Velocity2019: BP3.3

Delete subclause B3P3(1) and insert B3P3(1) as follows:

Non-drinking water services must ensure that pipework water velocity does not exceed 3 m/s for more than 1% of the time that the water is required during the annual peak hour.

Explanatory information

During the hour of heaviest usage in reticulated non-drinking services, a water velocity of 3 m/s must not be exceeded for 99% of the time that any downstream fixtures are in use.

(1) A non-drinking water service must ensure access for maintenance of mechanical components and operational controls.

(2) A non-drinking water service must ensure the system, appliances and devices can be isolated for testing and maintenance.

The points of discharge for a non-drinking water service must—

  1. have—
    1. a working pressure of not less than 50 kPa; and
    2. a static pressure within the building of not more than 500 kPa: or
  2. have water pressures suitable for the correct functioning of the fixture or appliance where water pressures outside of (a)(i) and (a)(ii) are required.

A non-drinking water service must avoid failure or uncontrolled discharge.

A non-drinking water service must ensure the efficient use of non-drinking water by—

  1. limiting water usage from—
    1. a cistern or flushing device for a urinal, to a flush volume of not more than 2.5 litres for each—
      1. single urinal stall; or
      2. 600mm length of a continuous urinal wall; and
    2. a dual flush cistern or flushing valve that is connected to a water closet pan, to a flush volume of not more than—
      1. 6 and 3 litres; or
      2. 4.5 and 3 litres; or
  2. water saving measures equivalent to or greater than those described in (a).

Applications

The flush volumes of B3P7 may be within a tolerance of—

  1. ±0.5 litres for the full flush of a 6/3 litre cistern; or
  2. ±0.5 litres for the reduced flush of a 6/3 litre cistern; or
  3. ±0.2 litres for a 4.5/3 litre cistern.

Exemptions

The requirements of B3P7 do not apply to a vacuum drainage system.

Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions

(1) Where a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution is proposed, Performance Requirements B3P1 to B3P7 are satisfied by complying with B3D2 and B3D5.

(2) Where a Performance Solution is proposed, the relevant Performance Requirements must be determined in accordance with A2G2(3) and A2G4(3) as applicable.

A non-drinking water service must not be connected to any outlet that supplies water for—

  1. human consumption; or
  2. food preparation; or
  3. food utensil washing; or
  4. personal hygiene.
NCC Blurbs

A non-drinking water service must be in accordance with AS/NZS 3500.1, subject to the following:

  1. Substitute the text of clause 9.7.1(a) as follows: (a) be of a type that has a removable handle.
  2. Substitute the text of clause 9.7.1(c) as follows: (c) have a non-standard inlet connecting thread and a standard hose connection outlet.
NCC Title

General requirements

NCC State
VIC
NCC Variation Type
Replacement
NCC SPTC Current
General requirements
NCC Blurbs

A non-drinking water service must be in accordance with AS/NZS 3500.1 with the following additions to clause 10.3—

  1. 10.3(d): Top up from a drinking water supply shall be by an indirect trickle top up with a visible air gap external to the tank; and
  2. 10.3(e): There shall be no connection between treated greywater systems and drinking water, rainwater or other sources of supply.
NCC Title

General requirements

NCC State
NSW
NCC Variation Type
Replacement
NCC SPTC Current
General requirements

A non-drinking water service must be in accordance with Section 9 of AS/NZS 3500.1.

Explanatory information

Requirements for a non-drinking water service used for fire-fighting purposes are contained in Part B4.

A non-drinking water service in designated bushfire prone areas must be in accordance with AS 3959.

(1) Cisterns or flushing devices for water closets must—

  1. have a dual flushing mechanism; and
  2. be a minimum 3 Star WELS rating, discharging not more than 6 litres or 4.5 litres for a full flush.

(2) Cisterns or flushing devices for urinals must—

  1. be a minimum 2 Star WELS rating, discharging a volume of not more than 2.5 litres for each—
    1. single urinal stall; or
    2. 600mm length of continuous urinal wall; and
  2. not be set-cycled or activated by any method other than manual or use activation.

Applications

The flush volumes of B3D5(2) and B3D5(3) may be within a tolerance of—

  1. ±0.5 litres for the full flush of a 6/3 litre cistern; or
  2. +0.5 litres for the reduced flush of a 6/3 litre cistern; or
  3. ±0.2 litres for a 4.5/3 litre cistern.

Exemptions

  1. The requirements of B3D5(2) and B3D5(3) do not apply to a vacuum drainage system.
  2. The requirements of B3D5(3)(b) do not apply to a programmed solenoid operated flushing system if programmed to shut down during extended periods of non-occupancy of a building.

Explanatory information

  • Prior to installing a programmed solenoid operated flushing system, further advice should be sought from the Authority having jurisdiction.
  • Where sensor control is used for urinal flushing, sensors should be located to avoid unnecessary ‘nuisance’ flushing triggered by pedestrian traffic.
  • AS/NZS 6400 Water Efficient Products - Rating and labelling, provides the basis for the rating and labelling of a range of products under the mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme.
  • B3D5 Water efficiency outlines the minimum level of water efficiency for certain plumbing products and fixtures, however the adoption of products and technologies of greater efficiency should be considered.

Explanatory information: Cross-volume considerations

NCC Volumes One and Two deal with a number of areas of on-site construction which are relevant to non-drinking water services. These include, but may not be limited to, those listed in Table B3.

Table B3 Cross-volume considerations
Item NCC Volume One Class 2 to 9 buildings NCC Volume Two Class 1 and 10 buildings
Excavations for pipework adjacent to a building and footings B1 Structural provisions H1 Structure
Termite management for attachments to buildings and penetrations through a slab B1 Structural provisions H1 Structure
Penetrations for pipework through a vapour barrier B1 Structural provisions H1 Structure
Pipework in timber bearers and joists of solid timber or engineered wood products B1 Structural provisions H1 Structure
Fittings, fixtures and pipework installations in steel framed construction B1 Structural provisions H1 Structure
Penetrations through a fire-resisting wall or floor C1 Fire resistance Performance Requirements and C4 Protection of openings H3 Fire safety
Fixtures and fittings in a wet area F2 Wet areas and overflow protection H4 Health and amenity
Flues, chimneys, pipes, gas storage, domestic fuel tanks, cooling or heating appliances or other services C4 Protection of openings H3 Fire safety
Service pipework external to the building and penetrations through roof cladding in a bushfire prone area G5 Construction in bushfire prone areas H7 Ancillary provisions and additional construction requirements
Pipework sound insulation F7 Sound transmission and insulation H4 Health and amenity