Technical library

Prevent Legionella growth and spread

The Centers for Disease Control prevention (CDC) have developed a tool to help assess if your building needs a water management program. Or, if certain devices within the building need a water management program.

Answer the 8 (tick-box) questions to get a free assessment and guidance.

Free training on creating a water management program.

TA18004 Supplementary Heat Sources And Risk Of Legionnaires TA19001 Dead Legs In Water Pipes TA19006 Showing Products Comply TA20001 Considerations For Empty Buildings TA21006 Hot Water Thermal Efficiency

Plumbing technical datasheets

TA22014 Redundant Water Pipes TE20004 Waste Systems Check Sheet Te20005a Cold Water Pipe Sizing Testing Te20005b Cold Water Pipe Sizing Testing TE20012 Aavs TE20013 Backflow Prevention TE20018 Hot Water And Dead Ends

Gasfitting technical articles

TA21003 Portable Gas Appliances TA17008 Certified Design TA18008 Changes In LPG Cyclinder Compliance TA19003 Dangers Of Carbon Monoxide TA19009 Ignition Sources TA19011 Imported Caravans TA20006 Gully Clearances

Gasfitting technical datasheets

TE20019 Over Pressure Protection TE20001 Flue Clearances TE20002 Domestic Gas Cooking Appliances TE20003 What Is A Negative Pressure PC TE20007 Gas Applicance Database TE20016 Caravan Gasfitting Checklist TE20017 Allowable Gas Leakage

Gasfitting certificates are a legal document required under the Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations 2010. A gasfitting certificate is the gasfitter’s verification that the gasfitting work is lawful and compliant.

What are the obligations in relation to gasfitting certificates?

There are different certification requirements depending on the risk category of the work.

A certifying gasfitter must provide a signed gasfitting certificate where they or someone under their supervision, have done gasfitting work at the consumer’s property.

The certifying gasfitter that provides the certificate must be satisfied that the work was carried out in accordance with the law with and compliance documents that specify how gasfitting work must be done.

The gasfitter is required by law to issue a gasfitting gas safety certificate within 20 working days of the gasfitting work being connected to the gas supply.

The gasfitter must also keep a copy of any gasfitting certificate they issue for seven years.

WorkSafe links

Gas certificate templates

Guidance on gas certification

COV Example COV-example-spreadsheet

Drainlaying technical articles

TA18007 Safe Excavating TA19002 Bedding TA20004 Excavations Near Buildings

Drainlaying technical datasheets

TE20011 Audit Stormwater TE20008 Overflow Relief TE20010 Below Ground Sewer

Business and tradespeople may want to consider ways to diversify their skill set and provide new earning opportunities. Here are a few opportunities businesses and tradespeople may want to consider.

Associated Tradesperson 

Become an Associated Tradesperson. This class of registration sits under the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB).

It allows registered plumbers and/or gasfitters to do a limited amount of restricted electrical work relating to their trade.

Those that hold this registration can do maintenance and replace fittings that have an electrical rating of not more than 250 volts and 16 amperes on a limited amount of appliances.

For example, an Associated Tradesperson Plumber can replace an element in a storage water heater; an Associated Tradesperson Gasfitter can replace electrical fittings that form part of gas fired equipment; or an Associated Tradesperson Plumber/Gasfitter can do both.

Find out more at www.ewrb.govt.nz

Independent Qualified Person (IQP) backflow prevention

Become an IQP for testing backflow prevention devices. An IQP can test backflow prevention devices, but only an authorised plumber can install and repair them.

Becoming an IQP allows plumbers to expand the work, which they are authorised to do. Testing is required every 12 months for many backflow prevention devices.

Therefore, becoming an IQP can add a regular income stream to a business. The territorial authority (e.g. your local council) determines who can become an IQP. Generally, a territorial authority will require training in backflow prevention then registering with them.

For more information, contact your local council.

Become registered in all three trades 

Become registered in all three trades (plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying). Having an extra registration vastly increases your value to a company and the work, which you can do.

This can save your business and your client money by not having to outsource to other tradespeople in order to complete work that requires the different authorisations.

In the last few years, the Board has worked hard to create new pathways for people to become registered. This includes – the opportunity for oral examinations for people with learning difficulties; and the Skills Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) assessment for people that have been working in the trade for many years but never completed the formal training.

If you are not registered in all three trades (plumbing, gasfitting or drainlaying) contact the Boards registration team for advice on what pathway would be most suitable for your situation or the Skills organisation for information on training.

In some cases, the training for the national certificate in another trade may take as little as 2-2 ½ years.

Contact 0508 Skills (0508 754 557)

Contact the Board 0800 743 262

Service Agent

Becoming a service agent opens up the earning potential for a tradesperson and/or company.

Many manufacturers require people to be a service agent in order to do maintenance on their products.

A person may be legally authorised to do maintenance on some products but in many circumstances, unless they are a service agent they void the warranty on the product.

If a person or company are wanting to upskill and become a service agent, they should contact the manufacturer of the products they would like to service.

The manufacturer can guide them on what they require for someone to become a service agent for them.

As mentioned in the CPD 2024 presentation, to help with as-builts the Board has developed some resources. Specifically:

• Example of as-built plan for wastepipes
• Example of as-built plan for drainage
• Template for an A3 as-built plan
• Template for an A4 as-built plan
• As-built checklist

A3 Drainage Asbuilt Plan Final A4 Drainage Asbuilt Plan Drainage Example A4 Drainage Asbuilt Plan Final A4 Drainage Asbuilt Plan Wastepipes Example As Built Checklist As Built Guidance Document