Gumtree
Have you checked if the plumbing and draining products you are buying or installing are certified for use in Australia?
In Australia most plumbing and drainage products must be WaterMark certified. But, what does this mean?
The WaterMark Certification Scheme is a mandatory national scheme for plumbing and drainage products to ensure they are fit for purpose and appropriately authorised for use in plumbing and drainage installations. This means that a material or product has been tested and evaluated to an approved product specification and certified by an accredited organisation.
How do I know if a plumbing product is WaterMark certified?
Certified products can be identified by the WaterMark certification trademark, which must appear on a product or its packaging, along with its WaterMark licence number and the applicable product specification. Certified products are listed on the WaterMark Product Database.
The WaterMark Product Database provides consumers, industry professionals and regulators an access point to confirm if a product has been certified before purchasing or installing the product. This simple check helps ensure that your plumbing and drainage systems work properly and the water you use is safe.
All products that are intended for use in a plumbing and drainage installation must undergo a risk assessment to identify any likely risk of manufacturing faults and installation failures. Products with identified risks that require mitigation through the Scheme are listed on the WaterMark Schedule of Products. Likewise, products with identified risks that don't require WaterMark certification are listed on the Schedule of Excluded Products. Both schedules can be found on the WaterMark website, found here.
How does the Product Database work?
A certified plumbing or drainage product that has been evaluated to the applicable product specification is issued with a WaterMark certificate of conformity, including a WaterMark licence number. The product and its certification details must also be listed on the WaterMark Product Database.
The WaterMark Product Database allows users to search for certificates and products by WaterMark licence number, brand and/or model name, model ID, licensee name or product description.
The search filter options provide refined search results that allow you to search by product category, product specifications or brand name. From the search results, you can select a specific certificate/product to view more detailed information.
The WaterMark Product Database is located on the WaterMark website and can be viewed on portable devices. A short video, Using the Product Database, is also available to help you navigate the WaterMark Product Database, search for certificates or products, and download key information.
What does it mean if you can't find a WaterMark or licence number on either the product, its packaging or on the WaterMark Product Database?
It could mean one of three things:
1. Not all plumbing and drainage materials or products require WaterMark certification. Check the Schedule of Excluded Products to see if the product is listed there.
2. It could be that a new product that has not yet had a risk evaluation undertaken to determine whether it is required to be WaterMark certified or not.
3. It has not been WaterMark certified, which means it may not be authorised for use. If in doubt about whether a product needs or has WaterMark certification, you should check with your plumbing practitioner or approving authority.
Remember, a simple check of the WaterMark Product Database next time you are considering purchasing or installing tapware, toilets, showerheads or any other plumbing product, can go a long way to ensure the health and safety of you, your family and even your neighbours.
For more information, or to check the WaterMark Product Database, click here.
Safety information about bidet products
When buying or selling bidet products online (toilet seat bidet douches, handheld bidet sprays and trigger sprays, and other bidet type products that are connected to toilet water supply outlets), it's important to make sure the installation is undertaken by a licensed plumber.
To be legally installed in Australia, bidet products must be certified through the WaterMark Certification Scheme which ensures they are certified to the appropriate product specification, fit for purpose and authorised for use in plumbing and drainage installations.
Sellers are required to ensure that the bidet products they are listing on Gumtree, or its packaging, is marked with the WaterMark certification trademark and a licence number.
Listings relating to bidet products cannot be false or misleading suggesting they are suitable for Do It Yourself (DIY) installation if they are not and require installation by a licensed plumber. DIY installations of plumbing and drainage work, including bidet products, could put the health and safety of you and your family at risk and are illegal.
Please note that this does not apply to portable products such as bidet douche bottles and sitz baths that are not connected to drinking water supply.
Please refer to the links below for more information:
- Product safety information on supplying and installing bidet products
- WaterMark Certification Scheme
- WaterMark information brochure
