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PLUMBING CONNECTION
SPRING 2015
DAMNED IF YOU DO ...
DAMNED IF YOU DON’T
O
n June 25 2015, the Federal Government’s Senate
referred an inquiry into non-conforming building
products (into which plumbing supplies naturally form
part of that inquiry) to the Senate Economics References
Committee for inquiry, with particular reference to:
The economic impact of non-conforming building products
on the Australian building and construction sector;
(a) the impact of non-conforming building products on:
(i) industry supply chains, including importers,
manufacturers and fabricators,
(ii) workplace safety and any associated risks,
(iii) costs passed to customers, including any insurance
and compliance costs; and
(iv) the overall quality of Australian buildings
(b) possible improvements to the current regulatory
frameworks for ensuring that building products conform
to Australian Standards, with particular reference to the
effectiveness of:
(i) policing and enforcement of existing regulations,
(ii) independent verification and assessment of
systems,
(iii) surveillance and screening of imported building
products,
(iv) restrictions and penalties imposed on non-
conforming building products; and
(v) restrictions and penalties imposed on non-
conforming building products; and
(c) any other related matters.
That’s all good and well but what, if anything, will it mean
to local manufacturers/distributors of product that are
already trying to do the right thing but are hampered by
archaic processes and regulation?
At times you can’t blame some non-conforming product
supply culprits for turning a blind eye to regulatory
requirements – not that that’s an excuse for ignoring the
law. We’ll come back to that regulatory complexity issue
further along in this article.
In the meantime, if you had hoped to express your views to
the Senate Review, you’ve missed the deadline already.
The inquiry was announced on June 23, submissions
closed August 3 and the report date to the Senate is October
12, 2015 – all over in a flash unless the report back date is
extended.
What will be interesting to see is the depth and quality of
submissions from the expected industry sector groups.
Then, what will the Senate review committee actually
say? And can what they say be effectively achieved?
We already know we have too many laws in this country
that cannot be effectively policed. And what of the new
hyped-up free-trade agreement – will that be the next thing
people hide behind?
AS NON-CONFORMING PRODUCT CONTINUES TO INFILTRATE THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET AT A RATE OF KNOTS, THE
NEED FOR CERTIFICATION BODIES TO STEP UP AND TAKE ACTION HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER. AS LONG AS THEIR
EFFORTS ARE FOCUSED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION THAT IS.
PLUMBING CONNECTION
TAKES A LOOK AT A CASE
STUDY WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE EXTENT SOME REPUTABLE BRANDS GO TO FOR CERTIFICATION AND THE RINGS
THEY ARE MADE TO LEAP THROUGH TO GET OUTDATED REGULATIONS CHANGED.
Outdated Standards inhibit the introduction of innovative
products such as the above into the Aussie market.
CERTIFICATION