The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) is now responsible for policy oversight of the Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA) as well as the WaterMark Certification Scheme (WaterMark). The ABCB is a joint initiative of all levels of government in Australia, with the building and plumbing industry.

WaterMark is a mandatory certification scheme called up by the PCA, which requires certain plumbing and drainage materials and products to be certified and authorised for use in a plumbing or drainage installation.

Administration of WaterMark has been managed by Standards Australia Limited (SA). In accordance with the decision of the Building Ministers’ Forum (BMF), administration of WaterMark was transferred to the ABCB on 25 February 2013.

SA and the ABCB have worked closely over the past year to enable the ABCB to administer the WaterMark website, database, financial system and call centre from 25 February 2013.

A formal review of the policy objectives and Scheme Rules as requested by the BMF will now commence, with the ABCB preparing a discussion paper to inform the development of a Terms of Reference in consultation with the Commonwealth, States and Territories. Stakeholders will be consulted as part of the review and the findings will be reported to the Board and the BMF for consideration.