The Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) has found one third of drains failed a statewide inspection across Victoria.

The BPC conducts random below-ground sanitary drainage inspections of plumbing work to ensure work complies with the relevant standards, regulations and local laws. It’s mandatory for plumbers to book a drainage inspection with the BPC and all work must be available in its entirety for viewing prior to backfilling.

The BPC is warning plumbers to ensure drainage work is compliant and ready for auditing after 440 inspections were conducted over two weeks on below ground sanitary drainage work. Drains that either failed to meet standards or were not ready for inspection as required totalled 146.

BPC inspectors handed out 35 on-the-spot fines totalling more than $20,000 and issued 51 rectification notices for non-compliant work. Four unregistered workers were caught working on site and 14 more cases have been referred to the BPC’s investigations team for possible disciplinary action.

The most common non-compliances found were failures to meet minimum gradients required for efficient water flow, incorrect alignment and a lack of openings and fittings needed for maintenance and future inspections.

If a BPC inspector doesn’t attend the site in within 30 minutes of the scheduled inspection time, the plumber is permitted to backfill the drain. A $611 fine may be issues on the stop when the drain isn’t ready for the drainage inspection at the scheduled time.

For serious non-compliance, suspension, disqualification and fines may apply, and unregistered workers can be prosecuted.

“Getting underground drainage right is critical to preventing long-term problems for homeowners and that’s why BPC inspectors will continue to be out in force,” State Building surveyor Steven Baxas says.

“Drainage inspections are mandatory for a reason and plumbers must comply.”