STAGES OF PLUMBING

Before you start:

• All plumbing and drainage work undertaken in NSW must be completed by a licensed plumber
• The Notice of Work must be completed by the licensed plumber undertaking the work on your behalf
• If your plumbing and drainage work does meet the required standards you will be provided with a certificate of compliance
• This process only certifies that the plumbing and drainage work meets the required standards
• Before you undertake the proposed plumbing and drainage work you must gain approval to do so from the relevant authorities (e.g. the relevant local Council, Sydney Water and / or Hunter Water corporations).

See the Australian Business Licence and Information Service page on plumbing and drainage for more details. 

Internal Drainage: Pre-slab / Storm water

During the Internal Drainage phase, the plumbers role is to connect all water and waste connections from the building to public utilities (sewer, storm and water). This is also where the connections for all toilets, showers, taps and wastes are put into place, and usually along lines that lead to stacks where the pipework is hidden behind the walls in voids. 

This is the most crucial stage of plumbing, because once the slab is down, it cannot be fixed without tearing it up. All lines should be tested at this stage to ensure that all pipes have been glued properly and there are no leaks between the house and the water or sewer connections. 

Rough in 

Rough in comes once the frames have been installed, and before the walls have been sheeted. This is a general term, and done around the same time as other services, such as electrical and HVAC. Pipes will be run in the walls and welded or glued, with end points capped off ready for the final fit off stage. 

Have you ever heard a loud thumping noise, known as water hammer, when turning on a tap in your house? This can happen when the pipes are not secured at proper intervals with brackets. It seems like a small thing, but it's the little things that can make a big difference. 

Once the plumbing has been roughed in, pressure tests should be conducted once again before the walls are sheeted to ensure the lines are sealed and free of leaks. Inspection to ensure that installation of pipework and fittings meets manufacture guidelines. These requirement are often higher than the PCA. 

Fit Off 

Fit off is the final stage and is also known as the "finishing stage" this is when the plumber will come back at the end of the build and install all external fixtures such as sinks, taps, showerheads, toilets, and connect items such as dishwashers, instantaneous gas and hot water systems. 

After this is done, a final test for leaks should be undertaken to ensure that all water coming through the fixtures is coming through with the correct pressure, and is not leaking at the point of fixing.