Plumbing products & the pathways to compliance - NCC, WELS & WaterMark

Non-conforming and non-compliant plumbing products in construction demand attention. This whitepaper explores the National Construction Code (NCC), WaterMark, and WELS regulations while clarifying 'non-compliant' and 'non-conforming' distinctions. Responsibilities extend across the supply chain, and the consequences of negligence are significant. Geberit, an industry leader, provides support to navigate these complexities, ensuring compliance and quality in plumbing product installations.

In 2014, Master Builders Queensland conducted a survey into the use of non-conforming products in the construction sector.^[i] The results were a cause for concern, particularly when it comes to plumbing products – 40% of those surveyed said they had found non-conforming products in their projects and, of that figure, the highest percentage (21.6%) involved plumbing products.^[ii]

To put that another way, while non-conforming products are a problem across the construction sector, the worst offenders in this sense are plumbing products. The blame for this situation lies not just with those who install these products. Everybody in the building product supply chain, including architects, is responsible for ensuring they comply with regulations and are fit-for-purpose.^[iii]

So, what are the regulations surrounding plumbing products? What is the difference between ‘non-compliant’ and ‘non-conforming’ sanitaryware products? What are WELS and WaterMark and how do they relate to the National Construction Code (NCC)? And most importantly, how can specifiers ensure they are meeting all their regulatory responsibilities

This whitepaper is intended to answer all these questions and more. Beginning by defining all the above-mentioned terms, it goes on to identify the potential ramifications of installing inappropriate products, explain the regulations that apply to the installation of plumbing products, and outline the ways architects and designers can ensure they don’t become part of the problem.