Transfer of policy oversight of the Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA) to the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has brought with it responsibility for the WaterMark Certification Scheme.
WaterMark is a mandatory certification scheme called up by the PCA that 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), and 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.
Until a full review of WaterMark has been undertaken, and to facilitate a smooth transition, the ABCB will continue to operate WaterMark essentially as it is.
A formal review of the policy objectives and Scheme Rules, as requested by the BMF, will now commence and the ABCB will prepare 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.
