IAPMO Oceania has celebrated the first day of construction of its Narre Warren-based Energy Efficiency and Appliance Safety Laboratory at a sod turning event last week, marking a significant milestone in the organisation’s commitment to high-quality plumbing systems.

Funded by the Victorian Government’s Industry R&D Infrastructure scheme, the laboratory will be dedicated to testing and certifying new renewable energy technologies to ensure they meet efficiency standards and are safe for installation across homes and businesses.

During the event, IAPMO Oceania managing director Paul Bonsak expressed great enthusiasm for the new facility and the impact that it will have on quality assurance within the plumbing industry as a whole.

“We need to make sure that by developing new technologies and ensuring [their safety and viability], we [also] do testing to ensure the safety of our community and the safety of our installers. This laboratory that we are constructing will do that,” he said.

IAPMO Global chief executive Dave Viola mentioned the importance of the laboratory, stating that the “unique facility” is “special” and “the only place like it in the world”.

With this new facility, IAPMO Oceania will be equipped to expand on its testing and certification work.