Australian Plumbing - Autumn 2020

plumbing AUSTRALIAN

A U T U M N

After the fires: Plumbers put in Protect your tools Cost-effective hiring Your industry magazine

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IMPOSTER ALERT

PLUMBERS Don’t be fooled!

On the surface, plumbing products may look the same, BUT OFTEN ARE NOT.

Inferior imported look alike

Genuine

INFERIOR WELDING Breaks Easily, Subject to Rusting INSUFFICIENT Galvanise Coating Mass LOW GRADE & STRENGTH Base Metal (BMT) INFERIOR Powdercoating INFERIOR Nuts and Bolts LITTLE Local Support NO Guarantees

With a flood of cheap look-alike imports, the adage ‘you get what you pay for’ certainly rings true.

An alarming trend has seen the importation of sub-standard products that don’t comply with NCC codes. Greedy importers lack the expertise and buy with little regard to satisfying these standards, blatantly putting the safety and lives of Australians and their families at risk.

Look at the coating on this cheap import.

Brand new, out-of-thebox, the inferior coating is already showing signs of corrosion. Sold at the same price as a Genuine Quality Abey product.

LOOK FOR THE ABEY STAMP

AUSTRALIAN

OWNED & MADE

The examples shown here are the tip of the iceberg and typical of inferior, imported, non-conforming rubbish that is being passed off as genuine quality Abey products. This is a misrepresentation.

Plumbers need to be aware that imported products are not the same quality as genuine Australian Made Abey Clips.

THE TRADESMAN’S CHOICE abeytrade.com.au

DON’T GET CLIPPED… INSIST ON GENUINE ABEY CLIPS!

TCC 20298

THE BUCK STOPS WITH YOU! No one wants call-backs or re-do’s. Abey products cost no more than sub-standard imports that are sold at premium prices. Abey products provide superior, long-term performance that won’t bite plumbers in the bum.

Contents

11

28

Features

Regulars

8 Are you compliant?

19 Snapshot around the nation

Gary Bath investigates roofing compliance and how to make sure your work is by the book

24 Industry news

11 When tragedy strikes The unprecedented bushfire crisis that has raged through our country will change us all forever

28 Swipe culture Don’t miss the money by not being where your customers are – we explore the problems of not being part of the party

36 Australian Plumbing Industry magazine

30 Marsh Insurance

15/306 Albert Street Brunswick VIC 3056 australianplumbingindustry.com.au

34 Member news

Subscription changes

38 Product news

To change your details or to unsubscribe, call 1800 133 871 or email info@plumber.com.au Print post number: PP100019076

Robert Quick provides expert independent advice and report services

See page 26

Contacts Publisher The Master Plumbers’ and Mechanical Services Association of Australia (MPMSAA) E australianplumbing@plumber.com.au

Advertising Marc Wilson T 0419 107 143 E advertising@plumber.com.au

Suppliers It will be looked back on as the summer that changed Australia forever. The devastating bushfire season of 2019-20 has had a profound impact on Australian communities, wildlife, infrastructure, our economy and ultimately, our way of life. Full story, page 11.

Disclaimer API is published for the plumbing industry and Master Plumbers Members by the Master Plumbers’ and Mechanical Services Association of Australia (MPMSAA) ABN: 56 296 473 997. Responsibility for comment in respect of elections in Master Plumbers is taken by Peter Daly of 15/306 Albert Street, Brunswick, VIC, 3056. Advertising: No responsibility is accepted by the publisher for accuracy of information contained in advertisements in API. Publication of any advertisements does not constitute endorsement by the publisher of any product, nor warrant its suitability. Advertisements are published as submitted by advertisers. Copyright: No part of this magazine may be produced without the publisher’s written permission Contributors: The views of external contributors and advertisers are not necessarily the views of Master Plumbers. Master Plumbers supports green printing initiatives. This magazine has been printed on FSC® certified paper using vegetable based inks by Southern Colour under ISO 14001 environmental certification.

4 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Autumn 2020

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Welcome

from the President and CEO

Our industry can do better

Stronger together

We all know of instances where projects have been delayed, buildings left unsafe or expensive time-bombs buried due to non-compliant, sub-standard plumbing. Plumbing failure comes in different forms and can occur in all stages of the project lifecycle. It is a significant cause of dispute and an added, unwelcome burden to clients, consumers and the taxpayer.

One of the great joys in our association is witnessing the generosity of the plumbing community when it comes together in the face of adversity. Master Plumbers’ members responded immediately and with great human kindness as Victoria and New South Wales experienced the tragedy of bushfires this summer.

Many of our members, as well as running plumbing businesses, are CFA volunteers, active in groups such as Rotary and Lions and give back to the communities in which they live and work. We tell some of these stories in this edition and through our online newsletter.

It is disappointing that our great industry still sees too many instances of non-compliant and poor work. This happens across all sectors, from new domestic builds to large-scale commercial building projects where the potential impact and cost is huge.

Plumbers in Victoria work under a self-certification scheme that had its origins in a system primarily set up for domestic plumbing work. The scheme is no longer working, especially in areas such as complex plumbing, where adequate audit and inspection regimes do not exist.

Consider, rainwater harvesting; off-site manufacturing; prefabricated buildings and bathroom pods; incomplete or non-compliant third-party independent hydraulic designs; water authority connections for sewer, water and fire services; passive fire; modern construction practices and compressed construction programs. These present a high risk, which few people could have imagined in simpler times.

Master Plumbers is lobbying all stakeholders on this very important issue. We need to establish a regulatory gateway and only let through plumbers who are licensed, qualified, competent and experienced in the field in which they are legally able carry out the work. Ongoing professional development and training is critical to maintaining competence and should be mandatory. Master Plumbers’ CPD program is making inroads in this regard.

But without a regime of rigorous audit and inspection undertaken by a knowledgeable, well-resourced and respected regulator, the system will remain without the necessary checks and balances. We are working to ensure that appropriate licensing and controls are brought into place. And in high-risk occupational license fields such as hydraulic design, TMV, backflow, passive fire, complex gas installations and gas appliance servicing, it’s critical that we have clear visibility of what work is being done by whom, without saddling consumers or licensed plumbers with additional compliance costs.

Throughout this disaster, Master Plumbers made personal contact with our members in the fire-affected areas to ensure they were safe and to get their input to our response. We have supplied equipment such as fire pumps to worst-hit areas to help with transfer of water and we made significant cash donations to CFA and BlazeAid on behalf of members.

At your AGM in March Master Plumbers will report to members on the year past and plans for the year ahead.

In 2019, Master Plumbers returned more than $1 million to members through savings on training courses, apprentice and labour hire and member deals on Australian Standards and vehicle fleet purchase and operations.

Members utilised the benefit of Master Plumbers’ advice, with almost 1,200 calls taken by our experts in workplace relations, OH&S and technical advice.

More than 1,000 attended our industry events and forums through the year.

We introduced our next-generation website as part of our new digital strategy and we are engaging with, better understanding and supporting members in more ways than ever. Our new Find-a-Plumber is live and as members start to use the new platform, we will undertake an advertising campaign to put consumers in touch with an expert, committed and professional Master Plumber.

If government is not willing or capable of stepping up to this challenge, perhaps it’s time for your plumbing industry association to play a greater role.

I encourage you to come along to the Annual General Meeting on 26 March, find out more about how membership is adding value to your business, and have a drink and bite to eat with your fellow plumbing professionals.

Scott Dowsett President, Master Plumbers

Peter Daly CEO, Master Plumbers www.plumber.com.au | 7

Are you compliant?

Gary Bath, plumber by trade and now Master Plumbers’ technical advisor, investigates the difficulties of roofing compliance and how to make sure your work is by the book.

Where a plumber wanted to work outside of what was required either by the Installation Standard or use a product not yet certified, they were required to get permission from the technical regulator for that jurisdiction usually by way of a Modification.

It’s understandable that many plumbers have not come to grips with what is required to achieve the performance requirements set out in Volume 3 of the National Construction Code, also known as the Plumbing Code of Australia.

What we know In Victoria, plumbers are aware that they work in a ‘self-certifying’ compliance regime where the Licensed Plumber is wholly responsible for the installed plumbing system, including design, and is additionally responsible for ensuring that any product used within that system is appropriately certified.

For much of what we do, compliance is limited to making sure the installed system meets the appropriate installation standard (AS/NZS3500 series) and the products used have the Watermark certification.

A number of States and Territories have adopted a similar system or are moving towards it.

The Plumbing Code of Australia has three ways of meeting a Performance Requirement: • Complying with the ‘deemed to satisfy’ (DTS) conditions, such as those referenced in the Australian Standard; • Formulating a ‘Performance Solution’ that complies with the Performance Requirements, or is at least equivalent to the DTS provisions; or • A combination of the above.

The overwhelming majority of installed plumbing systems are DTS. Those systems that are not are usually confined to complex, commercial systems, which incorporate a design from a hydraulic engineer or similar.

Those engineers provide the

Providing for overflow of external eaves and gutters (20mm)

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3 20mm

20mm

Example 4

20mm

Example 5 20mm

20mm

10mm

8 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Autumn 2020

Example 6

necessary calculations and specifics to show how the system was meeting its Performance Requirements.

Targeting domestic roofing jobs About five years ago, the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) began to target non-compliant domestic external eaves gutter installations that had failed to meet the overflow provisions – AS/NZS3500.3 Stormwater Drainage.

The DTS provisions suggested that this required either having a 10mm space at the rear of the eaves gutter and the fascia or locating the eaves gutter on the fascia so that the front of the gutter (bead) was at least 12 to 19mm below the top edge of the fascia.

This resulted in an outcome that either created housing opportunities for spiders at the back of the gutter or that the edge of the roof sheets terminating into the gutter was visible, not a great look for your home.

Many manufacturers of eaves gutters developed alternative solutions that included spacers as part of the support system or overflow openings in the eaves gutter itself. These were seen by the Regulator as a Performance Solution and plumbers were required to indicate on their lodged Compliance Certificate that they had used a Performance Solution and would be required, should an audit be carried out on that work, to provide the information required to show how the installation was at least equivalent to the DTS provisions.

This information was usually supplied by the manufacturer to the installing plumber on request.

So, it would seem that a problem was solved, the roof plumber could either choose to meet the overflow provisions within AS/NZS3500.3 or install to a Performance Solution with the accompanying documentation.

But in a world where there are always unintended consequences it created other broader issues. The building surveyor who ultimately ensures that the construction meets the required standards has similar choices to make, a building can be built to a DTS outcome, e.g. the majority of domestic housing or to a Performance Solution, which usually incorporate more complex designs.

In Victoria, the Building Surveyor does not oversee works undertaken by the plumber other than to have a Compliance Certificate/s for all plumbing work completed, including the roofing work.

When a house design is approved, it will generally be approved under DTS conditions. When the surveyor sees (on the completion of the construction) that the plumber has installed a Performance Solution, they would require re-certification as it is no longer DTS, possibly leading to lengthy delays for Occupation Certificates at the time when the home owner wants to take ownership of their house.

Another example of complicated compliance issues has to do with changes to building design that result in concealed gutters within the roofing system that are nearly impossible to install to a DTS outcome for the plumber.

AS/NZS3500.3 requires that a box gutter must be straight, not diminish in width and terminate either into a rainhead or a sump, both of which must have provision for overflow.

There is provision for the box gutter to be a minimum width of 200mm for a domestic roof (300mm minimum for all others), and

dependant on a calculation based on the average rainfall intensity and the catchment area; usually a minimum of 75mm deep at the upper end of the gutter.

When a domestic house is certified by the surveyor for construction, seldom will that roof design be looked at from the eyes of someone with the knowledge of the DTS requirements within AS/NZS3500.3.

What we end up with is a roof plumber having to make the installation comply, or in some cases, a performance solution is necessary.

What can you do?

It’s all about the right expertise at the right time; the earlier the roofing plumber can be involved in the design of the roof system, the easier it can be to make appropriate structural changes to ensure that any box gutters can be installed to DTS conditions.

The parapet wall, common to a lot of townhouse development these days, can be installed to ensure that it complies simply by ensuring that a minimum width of 200mm is maintained along with a termination into a rainhead.

This can be a costly exercise, in some cases requiring a hydraulic consultant, for what will be a minor part of the roof system.

Suggested transition from lear gutter to rainhead chute

This gap in the certification process creates enormous issues for the roof plumber who may not realise that they are leaving themselves open to rectification notices from the Regulator, or in the worst cases, costly damage bills from failed roof systems.

Rainhead overflow provisions are also a minefield, with many variations designed to meet the necessary ‘local aesthetics’ whilst still being able to perform their intended function of protecting the building from any blockages in the downpipe/stormwater system.

There is significant confusion with what is actually DTS with the drawing in the Standard indicating something similar to this (see diagram below).

Remember, should a performance solution be required, you will need to have developed a methodology for how you have achieved an equivalency to the DTS provisions.

This needs to be done before the system is installed.

Box gutter

Top of rainhead level not higher than 50% flow depth of gutter

Flow depth

Rainhead

Overflow provision (the overflow provision needs to be adequately sized and to prevent surcharge needs to be 25mm below the sole of the box gutter

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When tragedy strikes The unprecedented bushfire crisis that has raged through our country, will change us all forever.

Kathyrn Kernohan reports. www.plumber.com.au | 11

It will be looked back on as the summer that changed Australia forever.

The devastating bushfire season of 2019-20 has had a profound impact on Australian communities, wildlife, infrastructure, our economy and ultimately, our way of life.

The sheer size, scope and impact of the crisis can only be summed up by the numbers.

Since September 2019 when fires began to spark, more than 18.6 million hectares of land have been burned, most significantly in Victoria and New South Wales but also in Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia.

To put the size of the impacted land in context, it is larger than the entire land area of England which is home to around 55 million people (13 million hectares). It’s more than twice the size of Belgium and more than 14 times the size of Japan.

Tragically, the biggest loss has been that of human life. At the time of publishing, 34 people had died as a direct result of the bushfires, the number including people who died trying to defend their properties and a number of paid and voluntary firefighters from both Australia and the US. A staggering one billion animals are estimated to have perished, a figure that does not include fish, bats or frogs. Experts predict that many more animals will die in coming months as a result of the loss of their habitat and food sources, and also fear that some of Australia’s most loved species including the koala and quokka will be under severe threat when the final toll of the bushfires is known.

Over the summer, most Australians saw footage from bushfire-impacted communities that was difficult to reconcile with what we usually associate an Australian summer with – barbecues, the beach and sport.

12 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Autumn 2020

Footage like that from the small Victorian coastal fishing town of Mallacoota, where residents and holidaymakers huddled together on the beach, wearing facemasks under an apocalyptic orange-black sky.

Closed roads as a result of bushfires meant people had to be evacuated to safety by navy ships. In the aftermath of the evacuation, Mallacoota remained isolated from the rest of Victoria for weeks due to the closure of the Princes Highway.

There was also unprecedented and unthinkable destruction to the usually picturesque Kangaroo Island in South Australia, which had been home to 150 species of native Australian wildlife. In January, about half of the island was burned.

An estimated 30,000 koalas – roughly half the island’s population – didn’t survive.

Adding to the heartache was the fact that Kangaroo Island’s koalas are free from chlamydia, which greatly impacts wild koala populations in other parts of the country and is the most significant disease-causing death among the species. Kangaroo Island’s koalas had been previously cited by experts as key to saving the species.

As of mid-January, over 10,000 buildings including more than 2,300 homes had also been destroyed around the country. The full extent of the damage is not yet known but it is clear that schools, businesses and other vital infrastructure have been lost.

The currently known and expected impact is so great that US climatologist Michael Mann from Pennsylvania State University told Time magazine that this bushfire season may result in people and communities becoming “climate refugees”.

“We’re seeing the beginning stages of monumental, catastrophic climate changes that will ultimately drive people away from large inhabited regions of this continent,” he said.

A number of campaigns and initiatives were established early in the year to support people and families who had been displaced by bushfires. One example was find Find A Bed, launched on New Years Eve with the aim of connecting people in need of emergency accommodation with free temporary or longer-term accommodation.

In a short period of time, more than 6,500 people across Australia registered to open their properties to assist.

Private drinking water in bushfireaffected areas has also been severely impacted. Dr Brett Sutton, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, issued a public warning that tank drinking areas in impacted communities where fire retardant and water bombing had occurred could be contaminated with fire retardant, debris, ash or even dead animals.

In towns such as Eden, Boydtown, Cobargo and Bermagui in New South Wales, residents were advised to boil their water before utilising it for household tasks like brushing teeth, cleaning and cooking in the immediate aftermath of the fires.

In other areas like the Victorian towns of Buchan and Omeo, tap water was deemed unsafe for consumption altogether and residents were advised to only drink bottled water.

Experts also say that, moving forward, the loss of and damage of farmland and associated infrastructure will impact dairy, meat, wool and honey supplies. By early January, more than 50 dairy farms across southeastern Australia had

been impacted by fire, restricting or ending their ability to produce.

Many Australians also noticed increases in the cost of fresh produce at the supermarket during and after the bushfire crisis.

It wasn’t just communities directly affected by bushfires where the impact was felt – demonstrated by the hazardous bushfire smoke that blanketed cities including Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra for long periods as fires raged hundreds of kilometers away.

The smoke drifted across the Tasman to impact parts of New Zealand and, according to the World Meteorological Organisation, also made its way across the South Pacific Ocean to Argentina and Chile.

In January, Canberra measured the worst air quality index of any major city in the world, with people breathing air a staggering 22 times the hazardous rating. Melbourne’s air quality was also the worst in the world in mid-January, and the Australian Medical Association (AMA) warned that the length and density of smoke exposure was a new and possibly fatal health risk.

Pharmacies and hardware stores in smoke-impacted cities sold out of protective P2 masks and Australia’s busy summer events schedule was also affected. Victoria’s annual Falls Festival which draws more than 17,000 music fans to Lorne over New Years Eve was cancelled after it began, due to extreme weather conditions.

Horse races and cricket matches were also relocated, rescheduled or cancelled. The smoke also impacted qualifying matches for the Australian Open, with Slovenian tennis player Dalila Jakupovic forced to retire after a coughing fit on the outdoor courts in Melbourne and later telling the media “it’s not

Rebuilding Australia – both literally and metaphorically – will be a long journey

healthy for us, I thought we would not be playing today but we don’t have much choice.”

The impact of the toxic smoke was also felt in ambulance call-out numbers – with Ambulance Victoria reporting that on one particularly hazardous day, it received more than 160 requests for callouts compared to less than 90 on an average day.

Rebuilding Australia – both literally and metaphorically – will be a long journey.

On January 6, the Federal Government established the National Bushfire Recovery Agency to lead and coordinate the national response to rebuilding communities.

The agency is led by former Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police Andrew Colvin, and will administer a $2 billion National Bushfire Recovery Fund in the next two years.

A range of initiatives and supports are available to impacted communities including one-off disaster relief payments and 13 week allowances for eligible individuals, emergency relief delivered by the Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul Society, payments for volunteer firefighters, concessional loans of up to $500,000 for affected small businesses and grants of up to $75,000 to primary producers to assist in responding to the impact of bushfires.

Additional funding is also being allocated for mental health services to support people to navigate the trauma commonly associated with natural disasters like bushfires.

This funding includes mental health liaison officers facilitated by Beyond Blue to work with schools and early childhood services in bushfire impacted communities and access

to 10 free mental health support sessions for affected individuals and families, as well as additional Medicare rebates for further sessions.

The Federal Government has also made an initial commitment of $50 million to support wildlife and habitat recovery. Funds will support on-ground wildlife rescue, protection and care services and increase the supply of seed and native plants. Up to $3 million will be provided to Taronga Zoo, Zoos Victoria and Zoos South Australia to treat injured wildlife and establish insurance populations of at-risk species.

Australian tourism, too, is suffering.

The Australian Tourism Export Council estimates that the number of international tourists booking holidays to Australia is down by up to 20 per cent which will result in around $4.5 billion of revenue by the end of 2020.

In response, the Federal Government has allocated $76 million to a tourism recovery package including $25 million for a global marketing campaign and $10 million to support events, concerts, festivals and other attractions in bushfire-affected regions to encourage and promote regional tourism.

Community members have also started online campaigns, including Buy from the Bush and Spend With Them, to encourage people to support small businesses in impacted communities and help them regain lost income. In less than two months, Spend With Them has gained almost 200,000 followers on Instagram, providing a valuable platform to promote regional businesses.

Holidaying locally in bushfireimpacted communities throughout 2020 and beyond will also foster recovery efforts and aid small businesses. www.plumber.com.au | 13

Ensuring the best outcomes The devastation of the Australian bushfires will continue to evolve for some time. Shayne La Combre, Chief Executive of the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre, says that the issues we face across the country are all too familiar.

“I was at the Plumbing Industry Commission (PIC) 10 years ago during the Black Friday Fires when we had to deal with an eerily similar set of circumstances. It’s a time in my life that I will never forget,” Shane says.

“Coincidently, this experience for myself and others that were involved at the time is going to be invaluable when considering the fires that continue to burn across the country.”

The phenomenal response to this disaster has come thick and fast with individual and company-backed donations of cash, in-demand items like food, clothing and other household items.

These gestures of goodwill have been matched by individuals and

businesses putting their collective hands up to aid the recovery and rebuild effort of bushfire-affected areas across Australia.

“Australians are a very compassionate people and are quick to jump to the aid of someone in need, but it’s extremely important in a case like this that we resist the urge to go in all guns blazing and instead approach things with a strategic mindset to ensure that we’re getting the best return on our efforts and minimising the possibility of any further damage to property or injury to people.”

During the Black Friday Fires, the then Building Commission (Now Victorian Building Authority) set-up a bushfire recovery team for this very reason.

“Our initial conversations as a group was to establish a three-phase plan.

The first phase was discovery: gather as much intelligence as we could from the various fire authorities and locals who could provide educated recommendations on what we were

going to need and the immediate safety issues that we had to consider.

This assessment documented safety hazards like damaged homes that contained asbestos, exposed electrical wiring, half-burnt and fallen trees, damaged infrastructure, and adulterated water supply. The list was quite extensive but was important for us to know to ensure the safety of the people who would be part of the recovery effort.”

The second phase focused on addressing these safety hazards and making the areas safe to enter.

“This involved everything from workers on the ground cutting through fallen trees, earth moving equipment and other trained professionals who could identify, isolate and make safe any aspect of the environmental risks including any plumbing infrastructure that was damaged.

Many people wouldn’t immediately comprehend some of the dangers that may still be present even if there were no visible signs of fire damage.

Counting the cost of Australia’s bushfires, by Peter Daly In February, when we went to print, Australia remained in the grip of devastating fires with some still blazing. While there is a lot to report on in the case of devastation we can see, it will be some time before we can accurately count the cost of damage to property and critical infrastructure that we rely on.

some houses and sheds remain intact, the intense heat created by the fires has melted valves used to control the flow of water to and from the properties and exploded polyethylene pipe networks below ground level by turning contained water into steam.

For example, we have already had reports from members in bushfire affected areas returning to their properties to find that although

There is also the case of ash, debris and firefighting effluent contaminating water supply and compromising filtration systems.

14 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Autumn 2020

As we wait for a time when it is safe to begin the challenging task of rebuilding these communities, we are supporting those with immediate needs as best we can.

Master Plumbers has been in contact with members who are in the fire affected areas, some of whom are directly involved in the emergency response to these fires. We have relied on their ‘on the ground’ advice to ensure that our response matches their immediate needs.

For example, we came across many instances of adulterated water supply where fire retardant and ash had made its way many kilometers downwind from where it originated.

Also, the extreme heat generated by the fires even caused damage to underground PVC pipe networks and valves resulting in the entry of ground water and other pollutants.”

The last of the three phases was rebuild.

“After we had made the areas safe, we turned our attention to rebuilding the communities to enable people, who at that time had made do in temporary accommodation and living away from home, to return to their town and communities to begin rebuilding their lives.

This was a very sensitive aspect of the project as we had to ensure that all works being completed were built for purpose and in line with requirements set out by the VBA. There was also a concerted effort to build resilience into the process and plan for future changes in regulations.”

Overall, the process was a valuable lesson in dealing with wide-spread disaster and reminded us all just how quickly and easily we can find ourselves at the mercy of a raging bushfire.

to assist in any way to relieve the effects of the fires. What we need to ensure is those rebuilding and making the first steps in recovery have all the protections anyone else would in less disastrous When discussing the Even if there’s no circumstances. next steps for those physical damage Even if there’s no in bushfire-affected to your property, physical damage areas across it’s worth having to your property, Australia, Shayne someone conduct it’s worth having shared a someone conduct few points for an inspection to an inspection to consideration. make sure there’s make sure there’s no hidden hazards “Don’t rush into no hidden hazards. anything. Make sure It’s also advisable to anything you do in divert any first flush from water regard to your home or catchments (roofs) to stop business that requires a qualified contamination with ash and/or fire tradesperson…make sure it’s retardant. Better yet, disconnect it exactly that, these people have and hold off for new rainfall to the knowledge and expertise to begin collecting water again.” make-safe, inspect and repair anything that could potentially cause harm to you or others who may be present in the area.

At times like these there is an outpouring from across the country

This has included the provision of new portable fire pumps and hoses

by Master Plumbers to the worst hit areas to transfer water for stock and fire requirements. We note and thank Elliot Bros of Bendigo and Fire Industry Supplies for their generosity in assisting us to do this. We have also made donations to CFA and BlazeAid on behalf of our members.

rebuilding phase through technical

Looking forward, Master Plumbers will play a significant role in helping members and our industry with the

Peter Daly is the CEO of

advice and liaison with regulators authorities and government to ensure red tape doesn’t impede efforts.

We have established a hotline for those in need to contacts us at disasterresponse@plumber.com.au or on (03) 9329 9622.

For all those out there who find themselves in some stage of response to the bushfires, be careful, stay safe and always use a licensed professional where required.

Master Plumbers will play a significant role in helping members and our industry with the rebuilding phase

Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association

www.plumber.com.au | 15

Pumps delivered Peter Jensen is a Master Plumbers Life Member who spoke to us in February as the fires were still blazing.

I have just returned from Bairnsdale in Gippsland having delivered four Onga petrol fire/water transfer pumps. These pumps will go directly to families in the district affected by the recent bushfires for future protection and to give them the ability to transfer water around their properties to water stock.

In addition to the uncomfortable 42 degrees, the heavy smoke cover in the area from flare ups and the Marlo fires created a very eerie feeling.

We tripped up to Bruthen for lunch and checked out the BlazeAid Camp there.

Something that was hard to understand was the grass regrowth and the sprouting on the burnt and blackened trees. Even the bracken bushes had started pushing up through the now bare forest floor with the help of some recent rains.

Still it’s a long way to go as these families rebuild their lives.

Talking to people in the towns it’s not just the property owners that are affected, it’s also the rest of these communities that are left struggling.

The man on the ground down there in Bairnsdale is plumber Bernie Farquhar, long-time member of the Master Plumbers Association. He is the catalyst in providing direct help to families affected in Gippsland.

Photos, clockwise: Bush fence line burnt; Bush regrowth; Pumps and tanks being delivered

There are more pumps on order to be delivered to this area and some to other parts of the state.

The pumps were ordered and paid for by the Master Plumbers Bendigo Charity Golf Day Committee headed

by Geoff Moroney, Phil Kelly and Brett Crapper who run the annual fundraiser. Special thanks to Onga Pumps on pricing.

16 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Autumn 2020

Bernie is the president of the Bairnsdale Mitchell Rotary Club and represents a committee for fire relief consisting of four other Rotary clubs working together to support the affected families. This group has secured funds from several organisations to provide products and goods.

One of their first priorities is to arrange for the delivery of up to 500, 40-foot shipping containers to go directly to properties as storage sheds and potential temporary accommodation units.

Some special conditions and red tape will have to be overcome first with councils and authorities.

Some containers may be fitted out with basic services/amenities with the appropriate council approvals to provide some comfort for the families while being able to stay, live and work on site on their properties.

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Snapshot

from around the nation Master Plumbers Association of South Australia Plumbers give to recovery Earlier this year, Master Plumbers Association of South Australia delivered 200 wildlife water stations and star droppers to bushfire affected areas of South Australia to provide a safe water source for animals including Koalas, Kangaroos, Wombats, Birds, Possums, Reptiles and Insects.

Relief & Recovery Bushfire Fund.

100% of these funds will be distributed directly back into the community of Kangaroo Island.

MPASA Executive Officer, Andrew Clarke and Group Training Field Officer, Troy Swan delivered the stations to bushfire affected areas including the Adelaide Hills and Kangaroo Island.

MPASA has also donated $5,000 to the Kangaroo Island Mayoral

Master Plumbers Association of Tasmania A massive build underway Tassie members are aware that the association’s biggest single project for 2020 is getting the new Centre of Excellence for Trades and Water underway. Our location at TasTAFE Clarence is primed and ready. We are receiving architect briefs and have established several working groups comprising of members who will be focusing on cutting-edge technologies and science to deliver us the best training facility. So, a lot is on the go and huge thanks to all our members who are participating in this exciting project.

Grant is giving back We caught up with Grant Chugg, long time Master Plumber and more recently, Board Member.

Grant gives us an insight to a pretty exciting career that has taken him around the world – literally!

Grant, a Launceston resident, has been in plumbing for 37 years. Grant chose plumbing as a career after helping out a mate and discovering the diversity and rewards of plumbing. Grant said, “I have never wavered from that thought of being a plumber and I’m still passionate about our industry and the service we provide to the community.”

After working several years as a plumber, Grant decided to go it alone and he established Grant Chugg Plumbing (GCP) in 1994 as well as getting married and building a new home.

One thing led to another and Grant now runs two companies – Grant Chugg Plumbing and My Build, which has won multiple housing and design awards. Grant employs 36 staff including his two sons.

Grant said “I have always been

focused on developing the people working with me. I know that people are my biggest asset, biggest challenge and also, my biggest reward. We have a strong culture focusing on ethics, having fun at work and giving our customers a great experience every time.”

Grant has been a member of the MPAT for 16 years and joined to be able to contribute to improving the plumbing industry through collective power and representation.

Grant then joined the Board of Management three years ago and has been a fabulous and dedicated representative of Tassie.

Grant was operating successful businesses and giving back to the plumbing community when something special happened in 2016.

“New Year’s Eve 2016 changed my life and put my on a different life path. www.plumber.com.au | 19

Snapshot

from around the nation Master Plumbers Association of Tasmania More VBA scrutiny for non-compliant plumbers The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) is warning plumbing practitioners that if they are found to have done non-compliant plumbing work, their work will to come under increased scrutiny by the regulator.

I made a New Year’s resolution and was challenged to say ‘yes’ to some things rather than saying ‘one day I will get around to it’.

I needed to say ‘yes’ because life, as we all know, can pass us by very quickly and the following day I was asked if I want to go to a country called Burundi in Africa. Not knowing a thing about this country and having no interest in going to Africa…

I said yes.”

Burundi is in central Eastern Africa, has a population of about 12 million and is less than half the size of Tasmania. It’s the second poorest country in the world and is rated by the UN as the unhappiest and the hungriest.

Civil war has rocked this country between 1993 and 2000, and 300,000 people were killed with 1.2 million displaced. In 2015 things flared up again with an attempted coup.

On Grant’s first trip to Burundi he was shocked that people were dying of hunger when they had fertile ground, warm weather and plenty of water.

“There was a disconnect; they weren’t pumping the water though a basic irrigation system onto their crops.”

20 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Autumn 2020

Grant then joined an organisation called Villages of Life which, in 2017, implemented Burundi’s first irrigation system which increased crop yields by 300%.

Grant has been back each year since teaching the locals about irrigation and giving them skills to provide the basics for their community. “In March this year I will be heading back with a group of 14 tradies to help build our senior school and a trades training centre.

This will be an exciting addition to our project and the first of its kind in Burundi. Once the trades training buildings and classrooms are completed the students that complete year 9 can have the opportunity to continue their education through a trade such as carpentry, furniture making, electrical, mechanical, sowing and plumbing.”

“I have a wonderful group of people working with me at GCP. I love what I do and the plumbing industry.

Once you understand your why in life and tap into it, your life will be changed forever. I found myself going through the motions of life, now I am living a life that I was created for. I am experiencing life to the full and I focus on the things that matter.”

In order to prioritise the risk associated with licensed plumbers doing non-compliant plumbing work and to encourage behaviour change and upskilling where required, the VBA has announced that: • If, during the course of assessing a complaint, the VBA identifies that a licensed plumber has done non-compliant plumbing work, the practitioner will be referred to the VBA’s Plumbing Audit Team for a plumbing audit of their subsequent work. The VBA will select a recently lodged compliance certificate by the licensed plumber who will generally be contacted for a scheduled audit within four to eight weeks of the complaint being finalised.

• If a licensed plumber fails a plumbing audit, in addition to receiving a rectification notice that requires the noncompliance to be corrected, they will be scheduled for another audit generally within four weeks of the failed audit being rectified.

Plumbers can avoid a complaint to the VBA by ensuring that all plumbing work is compliant, or if a mistake does occur, by returning promptly to rectify the problem.

This is undoubtedly the best outcome all round.

For more information on the VBA’s plumbing audit program, visit the VBA website.

Find your local association

Master Plumbers & Gasfitters Association of Western Australia T (08) 9471 6661

Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia T (03) 9329 9622

Master Plumbers Association ACT Inc T (02) 6112 8630

Master Plumbers Association of Queensland T (07) 3273 0800

Plumbing Industry Association of SA & NT Inc T (08) 8292 4000

Master Plumbers Association of Tasmania T (03) 6272 2199

Master Plumbers & Mechanical Contractors Association of New South Wales T (02) 8789 7000

Master Plumbers Association of Victoria CPD toolbox is live Did you know Master Plumbers has a new CPD program to help you maintain and improve your knowledge and skills?

Each year, we ask participants to complete 12 points of ‘learning activities’ which can include technical learning, or learning related to business, workplace relations and OH&S. To help you keep track of your points, we’ve introduced an online CPD toolbox. After you’ve created an individual toolbox account, you can add any learning activities you’ve completed to your profile.

You can also see the full list of learning activities which have been approved by our industry-based CPD Advisory Group.

Activities which earn CPD points* include: • Training courses, run by Master Plumbers, CEPUTEC, RMIT, Centre for Environmental Training or Fire Industry Training; • Industry meetings, expos and conferences; • Trade events or workplace learning sessions; • Reading technical information sheets and trade publications; and • Listening to approved podcasts or watching online technical or training videos. *NB: Some restrictions apply see the toolbox or plumber.com.au/cpd for details

Get started with CPD Go to plumber.com.au/cpd to find the link to create your own CPD profile.

New website for Master Plumbers

2019 Victorian Premier’s Volunteer Champions Awards

Master Plumbers launched their new look website toward the end of last year, the 12-month project culminating in another step on their journey of digital transformation set out in the 2018 business plan.

Congratulations to the 58 recipients of the 2019 Premier’s Volunteer Champions Awards who were honoured at Government House on 1 December 2019 for their unwavering passion, commitment and dedication to others.

Conscious of industry trends and the speed at which web technology continues to evolve, Master Plumbers enlisted experienced design experts to ensure that the website was being built with a user focus and constructed on a platform that allowed the site to evolve in parallel with the Association.

The new site addresses many pain points raised by current visitors to the site and builds on the valuable information that members and the general public have come to expect from the Master Plumbers.

Master Plumbers’ CEO Peter Daly said “This new site is part of our ongoing commitment to provide more value to our members and give them the tools they need to grow their businesses.”

Some of the key features of the new site include a completely rebuilt find-a-plumber, integrated continuing professional development (CPD) portal and new personalised member home page and member site that help deliver greater personalisation and easier access to all the benefits that come with being a member of Master Plumbers.

Master Plumbers Vice President and Life Member Kevin Shinners was among those honoured, receiving a Service Award for his contribution to the plumbing industry.

The Service Award pays tribute to community minded people who have made persistent and selfless contributions to a community, people, group, organisation or cause in Victoria.

Kevin is the soul and conscience of the plumbing industry in Victoria and the embodiment of the Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia motto – expert, committed and professional.

He was part of the executive committee for 13 years and continues as the Association’s Vice President to this day. A quiet force in the plumbing industry, Kevin has selflessly served, taught, mentored, improved and led the industry since he joined in 1960.

You can check it out for yourself at plumber.com.au

www.plumber.com.au | 21

Snapshot

from around the nation National Plumbing news Apply for $30k grant Rheem Australia is encouraging Australian apprentice plumbers and gas fitters, both current and those who are this year starting their TAFE/ RTO course, to apply for a share of the $30,000 in grants available from the scheme.

Ten deserving apprentice plumbers from around Australia will be rewarded with a grant of $3,000 to support the progression of their study and help kick-start their career.

Now in its eighth year, the Rheem Apprentice Plumber Grants program was established to alleviate the financial strain felt by many apprentice plumbers, and to invest in the skills of future plumbers and provide training assistance.

“Since launching the Rheem Apprentice Plumber Grants program in 2012, we’ve awarded $240,000 in grants to apprentice plumbers around Australia,” says Chief Operating Officer at Rheem, Chris Taylor.

“Rheem is engaged with, and committed to, the plumbing community and our involvement doesn’t stop with products and innovation. One of the most valuable ways we can support the future of our industry is by championing the education and training of Australia’s next generation of plumbers,” adds Chris.

Grant recipients will receive $2,000 to assist with their TAFE/RTO fees and textbooks, and $1,000 to help newcomers build their all-important trade toolbox.

“Following feedback from apprentices, plumbing teachers and employers, we’ve determined that the greatest financial hardships are associated with tuition and tools.

22 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Autumn 2020

The grant provides recipients with the opportunity to commit to further study, such as continuing the optional fourth year where apprentices can earn their tradesman license and dream of one day operating their own business,” he says.

Applications close at 5pm on Monday 30 March 2020. Successful grant recipients will be announced on Friday 8 May 2020.

Applicants must submit the completed form via the website at www.rheem.com.au/apprentice.

Get the gear that works In an Australian industry first, Bisley Workwear is paving the way for diversity in the workplace by consulting with female tradies to create an innovative new range of protective clothing and workwear, designed specifically for women.

The range has been created following Bisley Workwear’s ongoing industry research that revealed female tradies may be putting themselves in danger on the worksite due to a lack of protective clothing options available to them.

Nearly half of female tradies surveyed for the report have stated that they have worn casual, or non-safety clothing on-site due to a lack of options available to them, with (40%) saying that they feel less safe at work as a result of ill-fitting garments offered to them.

A startling 9 in 10 (87%) female tradies surveyed also reported experiencing difficulties when trying to find protective clothing or workwear.

“We’re proud to be at the forefront of this design innovation in our industry to help reduce on-site safety inequalities.” Scott Cam, Bisley Workwear’s Ambassador for the past 20 years said, “We need to provide all genders with the right equipment.

Until now, the future of Australian industries has been overlooked by ignoring the fact that different tradies have different needs. There is no one-size-fits-all approach and Bisley Workwear recognises this.”

Bisley Workwear Tradies Report 2020 – Findings Snapshot A third (33%) of female tradies feel like they can’t work as hard as they want to when wearing poorly fitting workwear.

71% of female tradies reported that the most common area of difficulty when trying to find suitable workwear is the fit of the clothing available.

Female tradies are nearly three times as likely as male tradies to experience difficulties finding something made for their shape (37% / males 13%).

BisleyWorkwear.com.au

www.plumber.com.au | 23

Industry news

Protect your tools Tool theft is on the rise, remaining one of the most commonly reported crimes. Victoria alone has had a 4% increase in the past 12 months.

Tradespeople are often targeted by opportunistic criminals on

24 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Autumn 2020

the lookout for unsecured tools that can be sold for quick cash online or at second-hand dealers.

The cost and inconvenience for an individual when the tools vital to their trade are stolen is significant.

These offences can have a real

flow-on effect for both individuals and business owners.

So let’s get smart. Make vehicle security your top priority and if you are keeping your tools in your ute, truck or van, make sure you keep them safe.

In Victoria in the past five years…

Fast Fact

32%

increase in theft from motor vehicles

31%

thefts from vehicles parked on the street

TOP 4 Four top tips to stop theft of tools and equipment from vehicles

Lock your car.

Close all window including sunroo s – f.

Lock external to and equipment ol boxes can’t be removedif they .

Park in a locked garage if possible .

Park off the stre your driveway if et in don’t have a garayou ge.

Park in a well-lit area – thieve caught bsredaokninogt want to be so increase the ri into cars, others will detec sk that t them.

Install a car ala rm.

FOR ALL TRADIES

Lock them up!

Keep them out of sight

Lock your vehicle when it is unattended, even at work sites and even if it’s just for a few minutes.

Even when your tools are inside a locked vehicle, secure them with visible locks. Use hardened steel padlocks, shackle protectors and chains. Large, visible locks on toolboxes can be a deterrent.

If you drive a ute, consider investing in a sturdy, lockable ute toolbox and bolt it to the vehicle’s tray.

When leaving tools in your vehicle overnight, park it in a garage where possible and avoid dark, unlit or isolated areas. Don’t park your vehicle out on the street where it is easily accessed and secure your trailer so it can’t be broken into or removed. If you have a driveway, use it! Also, wherever possible keep tools out of sight so that thieves are not tempted.

ID your property and record an inventory

Quick checklist

TIPS

Keep a list of all your tools, including model and serial numbers (photos are a great reference too). Engrave or mark your tools for easy identification – Victoria Police recommend the letter V followed by your Victorian licence number.

Other commonly stolen items from cars include:

And of course, help the local authorities by reporting any suspicious behaviour to police.

If you see people loitering on site or around vehicles and believe they are stealing or up to no good, ring Triple Zero (000) or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. You’d hope that anyone would do the same for you.

Keep them properly insured Your tools are a big part of your ability to earn an income as a tradesperson, so it is worth making the effort to protect your investment. Have peace of mind that if you do fall victim to theft, it’s not going to affect your business too much. There are plenty of options to insure your tools and equipment.

• Money • Wallets • Sunglasses • Computers

• Mobile phones • Electronic devices • Jewellery • Tools

Victoria alone has had a 4% increase in the past 12 months

Tool theft is on the rise

Source: Crime Statistics Agency www.plumber.com.au | 25

Right side of the law When he was in school Robert Quick harboured, in some capacity, an ambition to work “I’ve always been interested in legalities and the law,” Robert Quick says.

These days, Robert brings his expertise from a lengthy and successful plumbing career to QP Consulting, where as Principal Consultant he provides a range of arbitration and dispute resolution services to property owners, managers and owners corporations.

“When I was managing major plumbing projects, I always had to deal with the legal and technical side of things and that’s what initially made me interested in the idea of consulting one day,” he says.

“Later on, when I started to investigate alternatives to running a plumbing business, I realised that there was a gap in the industry for what I do. There were people who focused on expert consulting, mediation and arbitration in the building industry, but not the plumbing industry.”

26 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Autumn 2020

In his own words, Robert was born to be a plumber.

major Grocon projects across Melbourne, like 101 Collins Street, the Park Hyatt, Rialto Towers and Crown Casino.”

“My father was a plumber; he started his business in the early 1950s. He worked on the first The business also managed imported housing commission countless other smaller commercial estate in Victoria and and residential then progressed to projects over Robert spent school other parts of more than two holidays working with Melbourne, and he decades during his father and went eventually moved in Robert’s time as to residential and on to complete an Principal. commercial work.” apprenticeship At one stage, he Robert spent school was managing holidays working more than 100 plumbers on site on a with his father and went on to single project. complete an apprenticeship.

“During this time I was spending When his father retired, Robert and days arguing with builders and I his brother took over the business developed my interest in becoming and developed a key relationship involved in the mediation and with the Grollo family, managers of arbitration industry one day.”

Australia’s largest privately owned development and construction So when Robert and his brother later company. closed the business, he decided it “Through our relationship with the Grollos, we worked on many of the

was time for a career change. Robert became an accredited mediator and

in the legal sector. Kathryn Kernohan finds out what happened next. completed a Professional Certificate in Arbitration – Advanced and General at the University of Adelaide.

“There was a definite need for a business like this because not many others do what I do.”

QP Consulting provides new building or renovation inspections, and investigates issues, including plumbing problems in water leaks, water ingress, pre-building waterproofing, waterproofing of facades and balcony installations, piping and roofing problems.

Robert is also highly experienced as an expert witness, including in VCAT hearings for plumbing, roofing and drainage issues – and says it is important plumbers do everything they can to avoid finding themselves in court.

“I do residential, commercial and industry jobs – the majority are residential jobs, particularly with new residential towers constantly being constructed, and I also carry out a lot of roof investigations in the commercial sector.”

“The number one piece of advice I give to plumbers is that if someone complains, fix the problem! Don’t put things off because they will cost you three times as much in the future if you end up going to VCAT or potentially to the County Court, and paying legal fees.

Robert’s range of services also includes providing expert independent advice and report services, which can include technical reports, cost estimates and support with insurance claims that are court compliant.

“So often I speak with people where issues could have been resolved fairly easily but they end up having to pay exorbitant fees. Communication is the most important thing to be conscious of.

“For all plumbers, it’s also very important to fully understand all the requirements of the plumbing code.

Don’t do work that doesn’t conform with the code because you’ll be required to rectify it at your expense – and make sure you communicate this to your client.”

Robert, a Master Plumbers’ life member, is an example of how plumbers can adapt their knowledge to a different industry with great success.

If someone complains, fix the problem! Don’t put things off because they will cost you three times as much in the future

“This job is not full-time so I have time to travel and do other things I enjoy – however it remains an interest and keeps my mind and body active.

“The most satisfying thing for me is when I put together a tradesperson and a client to resolve an issue – it’s a win-win for both parties before a problem escalates any further.” www.plumber.com.au | 27

Swipe Culture Don’t miss the money by not being where your customers are.

Matt Reynolds explores the problems of not being part of the party.

28 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Autumn 2020

I first started looking for technology to use in my plumbing business in the early 2000s after I missed a party that was organised among friends on Facebook. I didn’t have an account at the time, so the party took place and I never knew about it.

Missing that party really got me thinking about leveraging the power of technology and the possibilities it had to transform a small company like mine. If it was beginning to change the way we communicate socially, I thought at the time, could the future of plumbing look different?

Almost two decades on and it turns out that technology has changed many more sectors than just plumbing. While we all still change tap washers the exact same way, the path we trek to get those taps repaired is very different.

We now run ads on the internet, spend more hours each day on our mobile devices than we do talking to real people and can manage our jobs in the cloud. It’s virtually impossible to complete a job without swiping an electronic device somewhere in the process.

For a long time it has been both difficult and expensive to implement technology into a plumbing business. The plummeting cost and evolution of mobile technology has changed that for the better. We have now crossed that cost barrier and opportunity is everywhere. The race to reduce costs and increase profits while offering a superior level of service is on.

In basic terms, the reason that party was organised on the Facebook platform was not only because it was easier and cost less than previous methods, it’s actually a much better way of completing the task. It’s the same reason you use email instead of carrier pigeons.

It’s easier, cheaper and delivers a more reliable outcome.

The more interesting part to me however, was not that I missed the party, it was that I didn’t even know it was happening! That’s particularly challenging for those of us who are trained with manual skillsets because technology is, for the most part, invisible.

Employees fall into this same category too. If you take the time to understand who they are and collect data on what they do, rather than thinking of them as holes to plug in your leaky bucket, you’ll probably find yourself with a more committed and higher performing team.

The business of plumbing as we know it, has changed. The skills required to run a modern day efficient and professional plumbing business are therefore changing too.

It’s a huge task but the evidence is clear, if you’re not using technology to get ahead, technology will leave you behind.

We live in a mobile world. Almost every aspect of our lives can now be accurately measured, tracked and critiqued with a mobile device and a single finger. Plumbing businesses are very quickly becoming the same.

It goes without saying that the businesses who collect the best data can make the best decisions.

So, where do we start? There must be two fundamental shifts in our thinking.

Vetting and implementing technology solutions is rarely a walk in the park. But, in the long run the challenge and possible frustration is a lot easier to endure than the cost of getting left behind.

Firstly, forget about your own problems and move your focus to solving the problems of your customers. As a customer standing at the trade counter, we never worry about internal issues with the supplier’s business. We want and appreciate good service. Your customers are the same and care only about their issues, not yours, so work on solving them first.

If you solve your customer’s problems first, you may also find that many of your own mysteriously go away in the process.

Secondly, don’t think about technology, think about better ways to communicate. Most of the digital advances in our industry are simply improved methods of communication. It’s about sending and receiving information in the most efficient way.

To do that most effectively, you need to know who you are communicating with. This means building a 360-degree view of your customers. Essentially, the more you know about them, the more effectively you can communicate with and then serve them.

Swiping, for the foreseeable future, is the easiest and most efficient way of communicating, leading to a solution for most of our problems.

It’s time to think about swiping as culture because that’s exactly what it is. We’ve seen it too many times now, iconic companies who think they can outrun the tech tidal wave.

Unfortunately, you can’t win a new game following outdated rules so the fast companies very often beat the big ones.

Swiping, for the foreseeable future, is the easiest and most efficient way of communicating, leading to a solution for most of our problems

From the trenches Matt Reynolds is an award winning plumber who writes about the game as an industry insider. You can find him at xrm.com.au or as the Director of XRM Plumbing Services on LinkedIn. www.plumber.com.au | 29

Back to Basics Plumbers Public Liability Insurance Have you ever said “Don’t worry, it won’t happen to me” Of course you have!

Every single day, each one of us makes seemingly unbiased decisions, which are influenced by our positivity for the future.

While this is not necessarily a bad thing, it can lead us to risky situations. For example, you may choose to skip on the sunscreen even though skin cancer in Australia is highly prevalent or you may cross a street before the pedestrian light has finally gone green. You may even decide to put the business you worked hard for at risk by not ensuring you have the appropriate level of insurance, or worse yet, any insurance at all.

Besides being a mandatory licence requirement in Victoria, Plumbers Public Liability Insurance is essential for businesses and provides protection against damage or injury to a third party and their property.

Whether it’s water damage and flooding that unfortunately occurs, or injuries from slips and falls on wet surfaces, these are all common occurrences that can be costly to your business and that you need to be prepared for.

Still not convinced? From welding, to cutting, to excavations for drainage, each day your worksite has numerous risks that could have a significant financial impact should something go wrong. With the New Year flowing smoothly, it’s time to get back to basics by making sure you’re covered for potential risks you may face.

Having public liability insurance is important protection against property damage or third party injuries.

Should you find yourself liable to property damages or third party injuries, it is vital that your business is able to effectively respond to the situation. Having a plumbers public liability policy will help to cover

damage costs and potential legal costs if they arise, which means you can take the necessary steps to manage the situation without leaving your valued customers in hot water.

With our extensive knowledge and 20 years of experience working with Plumbers, Marsh Advantage Insurance can arrange Public Liability Cover offering you and your business much needed protection should you find yourself liable for third party damages or injury.

Be prepared and get back to basics now!

For more information on Plumbers Public Liability Insurance or to get a quote for your business, head to trades.marshadvantage.com.au/ plumbers, or contact our expert plumbers team at 1300 300 511.

Notice: Master Plumbers Insurance Brokers (Aust) (MPIB) is a trading name of Marsh Advantage Insurance Pty Ltd (ABN 31 081 358 303, AFSL 238 369).

MPIB arranges the insurance and is not the insurer. This article contains general information, does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs and may not suit your personal circumstances. Any statements concerning actuarial, tax, accounting, or legal matters are based solely on our experience as insurance brokers and risk consultants and are not to be relied upon as actuarial, accounting, tax, or legal advice, for which you should consult your own professional advisors. For full details of the terms, conditions and limitations of the covers and before making any decision about whether to acquire the product, refer to the specific policy wordings and/or Product Disclosure Statements available from Marsh Advantage on request. The Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia (MPMSAA) receives a financial benefit when a policy is arranged by Marsh Advantage, enabling it to continue to provide further services to the plumbing industry. LCPA 20/026

30 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Autumn 2020

Plumbers Insurance without the effort As a plumber, you have a lot on your plate. From juggling multiple jobs and clients, managing and training staff or making sure you are keeping up with new industry standards, the last thing you need to be bogged down thinking about is insurance.

Let us help take the hassle out of insurance and arrange cover that’s been designed with the unique risks faced by tradies in mind.

Visit trades.marshadvantage.com.au/plumbers and arrange public liability cover online in minutes or call us on 1300 300 511 to speak to one of our experienced team members today.

Marsh Advantage Insurance is endorsed by the Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia.

Disclaimer: Marsh Advantage Insurance Pty Ltd (ABN 31 081 358 303, AFSL 238 369) (‘Marsh Advantage’) t/a Master Plumbers Insurance Brokers (Aust) a trading name of Marsh Advantage, arranges the insurance and is not the insurer. This advertisement contains general information and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. For full details of the terms, conditions and limitations of the covers, refer to the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) which is available from Marsh Advantage. Marsh Advantage uses the Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia (MPMSAA) logo under license from MPMSAA (ABN 56 296 473 997). MPMSAA receives a financial benefit when a policy is arranged by us, enabling it to continue to provide further services to the plumbing industry. LCPA 20/025. S20-0150

Cbus Promotion

A small sacrifice now; a big difference later

As the leading industry super fund for the construction, building and allied industries, Cbus is committed to helping you manage your employees’ super payments and maximising their retirement outcomes.

One of the ways that your employees could boost their retirement nest egg is to make regular salary sacrifice contributions.

Salary sacrificing is an agreement between an employer and an employee whereby the employer pays a set amount of before-tax salary into the employee’s super account, so that their contributions are taxed at a rate of 15% which is generally less than their marginal income tax rate.

The government places limits on the amounts which can be contributed to superannuation therefore it is important for an employee to monitor the amount being contributed to their super fund.

To find out more about salary sacrifice, contribution limits and other ways employees can make additional contributions to their super, talk to our dedicated team of Cbus advisors on 1300 361 784, or visit cbussuper.com.au/boostsuper

This information is about Cbus. It doesn’t take into account your specific needs, so you should look at your own business needs, objectives and requirements before making any financial decisions. Read the relevant Cbus Product Disclosure Statement and related documents to decide whether Cbus is right for you. Call 1300 361 784 or visit www.cbussuper.com.au for a copy. Cbus’ Trustee: United Super Pty Ltd ABN 46 006 261 623 AFSL 233792 Cbus ABN 75 493 363 262

Cbus makes super easy for your business We are here to meet your business’ super needs by providing: simple and easy super administration reliable service and support a strong super fund for you and your employees Contact Daniel for your business super needs Daniel Tentser Business Development Manager, VIC

0439 372 365

daniel.tentser@cbussuper.com.au

Read the relevant Cbus Product Disclosure Statement and other related documents to decide whether Cbus is right for you. Call 1300 361 784 or visit www.cbussuper.com.au for a copy.

Cbus’ Trustee: United Super Pty Ltd ABN 46 006 261 623 AFSL 233792 Cbus ABN 75 493 363 262.

32 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Autumn 2020

www.plumber.com.au | 33

Member news Find a new way to hire Plumbco Plumbers found cost savings and flexibility the top two advantages of group training apprentices. Kate Jones Reports.

Hiring an apprentice used to be a more complicated task for Troy and Audra Morris at Plumbco Plumbers. From the time-consuming recruitment process through to the ongoing training requirements, the Morris’ knew there had to be an easier way.

They trialled the Master Plumbers group training scheme and found it took the hassle and expensive costs out of hiring apprentices.

The Port Melbourne-based company now relies solely on the scheme for all its apprentice hiring.

“We don’t hire any of our apprentices directly anymore, we only hire through the Master Plumbers,” Audra explains.

“The benefit is Master Plumbers controls the paperwork that needs to go through to get the apprentices through schooling and communicate with their training organisation. Also, they pay their school fees.”

How does it work?

Master Plumbers is a Group Training Organisation (GTO) that employs apprentices through its Plumbing Apprenticeships Victoria (PAV). As part of the GTO, Master Plumbers finds host employers who can give apprentices opportunities to work while also building their skills.

Any Victorian plumbing business can become a host employer.

34 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Autumn 2020

Hiring apprentices through Master Plumbers is fast, flexible and cost-effective.

Cost efficient When compared to hiring an apprentice independently, the cost savings are significant. Thanks to the costs paid by Master Plumbers, including trade school fees and superannuation, businesses can save more than $19,000 on first year adult apprentices and $7000 on first year junior domestic apprentices. Master Plumbers also supplies tools and protective clothing to its apprentices and meets payroll tax obligations.

For businesses like Plumbco, it all means a massive savings when compared to the traditional way of hiring apprentices.

“It’s cost effective because if you hire directly and say you’ve got a fourth year apprentice who still needs to go to school, they cost you more than a plumber because their wages are quite high and you’ve got to take out the weeks they’re at school and divide that by how many weeks they’re at work,” Audra says.

Host employers also stand to reap $4000 in government incentives. Plumbing apprentices

attract an Additional Identified Skills Shortage payment paid directly to host employers who keep an individual apprentice throughout their apprenticeship. The employer receives $2000 at the end of the first year and $2000 at completion.

Red tape reduction The reduction of paperwork is a big win for host employers. Not only does Master Plumbers manage the recruitment of apprentices and the associated costs such as advertising, it manages and distributes wages, allowances, superannuation, workers compensation, sick pay, annual leave and other employment benefits.

Host employers also don’t need to worry about contracts or training agreements. “It cuts out all of the hassle of recruitment, onboarding and contract administration,” explains Natalie Reynolds, Master Plumbers General Manager Business Development and Operations.

Our staff are highly skilled, motivated, and ready and willing to work

The Port Melbournebased company now relies solely on the scheme for all its apprentice hiring

The apprentices have a varying degree of experience, from first year to fourth year, with a broad array of skills

Fast and flexible

Benefits for apprentices too

Importantly for employers called upon to start jobs quickly, apprentices and qualified staff can be hired in 24 hours.

Master Plumbers employs 150 apprentices it can loan to host employers for short or long term periods. The apprentices have a varying degree of experience, from first year to fourth year, with a broad array of skills.

“When plumbers find themselves in the ebbs and flows of work, they can get jobs given to them at the last minute and be expected to make an almost immediate start,” Natalie says.

a maintenance plumbing company for 14 months.

“I learned a hell of a lot in my time there, but I wanted to do more,” he says.

“The use of quality labour hire, whether it be for apprentices or qualified staff, can be a flexible solution.

In a win-win for employers and apprentices, Master Plumbers Apprentices benefit from work placements in a variety of plumbing streams, including water, sanitary, drainage, mechanical services, roofing and gas.

“Our staff are highly skilled and motivated. They are ready and willing to work.”

Third-year apprentice Max King began his GTO experience at Master Plumbers by working with

“So I went to my field officer with Master Plumbers and he put me with Plumbco Plumbers, doing commercial work. I’ve loved the work with Master Plumbers, they help you learn as much as you can.”

For second-year apprentice, Simon Indirinella, constant on the job learning is a huge bonus.

“There’s a lot of perks to it because you’re always learning and you learn a lot more with MP than you do with ordinary little companies,” he says.

For more information about the Master Plumbers GTO please call 9329 9622 or visit plumber.com.au/labour-hire

Cost comparison (1st year adult apprentice)

Award Rate costs

Do-it-yourself employer annual costs

PAV annual costs (Member pay on time)

$26,056.80

$34,861.20

Fares and travel

$3,536.75

$2,922.34

Annual leave (taken in same year, higher if rolls to 2nd year)

$3,823.92

$0

Sick leave

$1,627.20

$0

Public holidays

$1,789.92

$0

$2,000.00

$0

$800.00

$0

Trade school fees

$2,500.00

$0

Time at trade school

$7,322.40

$0

$813.60

$1,056.40

Superannuation

$4,347.45

$0

Payroll tax

$2,430.34

$0

40-hour week x (say) 33 weeks per year

Onboarding expenses (PPE, WWC Check, advertising and medical) Safety tickets

Inclement weather (assume five days per annum)

Other risks and cost Total cost

–

$0

$57,840.37

$38,839.94

Total savings PAV annual cost – Member pay on time and based on Award Rates at the time of printing

$19,000.43

*

*

www.plumber.com.au | 35

Member news Training spotlight

Type A appliance servicing What is it?

To service Type A gas appliances in Victoria, plumbers need to hold the specialised class of ‘Type A appliance servicing’ endorsed as part of their current license or registration with the VBA. The approved competency required for license or registration is CPCGS4022A Service Type A gas appliances.

It is important for employers to understand that plumbers that completed training after 2008 would not have been automatically granted this specialised class when they initially gained registration.

Master Plumbers encourages all members to check the credentials of your employees to ensure that only suitably qualified plumbers are carrying out servicing work.

This course will provide learners with the skills and knowledge required to diagnose and repair faults on domestic and commercial Type A gas appliances. The importance to be able to carry out service work appropriately is paramount to the safe operation of gas appliances and that of the community.

Appliances such as hot water services, space heaters, ducted heaters, wall furnaces and cookers can fall into this category.

This course is for anyone who holds gasfitting registration or license and wants to service Type A gas appliances

36 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Autumn 2020

As defined in the Plumbing regulations 2018: Type A appliance servicing work is the internal cleaning, maintenance and adjusting of a Type A appliance and includes the adjustment, repair or replacement of a component of the Type A appliance.

The qualifications required to be able to be licensed to carry out Type A appliance servicing work under section 221N(1)(b)(i) of the Building Act are: (a) a Restricted electrical worker’s licence (Class 2); and (b) the successful completion of: (i) the approved competency units for licensing in Type A appliance servicing work; and (ii) the Authority’s examination of licensing competencies for Type A appliance servicing work.

The qualifications required to be able to be registered to carry out Type A appliance servicing work under section 221OA(1)(b)(i) of the Building Act are: (a) a Restricted electrical worker’s licence (Class 2); and (b) the successful completion of: (i) the approved competency units for registration in Type A appliance servicing work; and (ii) the Authority’s examination of registration competencies for Type A appliance servicing work

Who is it for?

This course is for anyone who holds gasfitting registration or license and wants to service Type A gas appliances.

How do I get involved?

Master Plumbers delivers training in Type A appliance servicing throughout the year. You can find more information about the program and course availability by logging onto www.plumbing.com.au and searching under the training tab or contacting the Master Plumbers Training Team on 9356 8920. It is a requirement for people attending this program to hold a REL (restricted electrical license) with ESV.

The day aims to spread awareness of the importance of plumbing and plumbers in protecting public health and improving amenity

Plumbing improves the world World Plumbing Day is an initiative by the World Plumbing Council and is celebrated around the world every year on March 11.

The day aims to spread awareness of the importance of plumbing and plumbers in protecting public health and improving amenity.

the link between good quality plumbing, health, environmental sustainability and, increasingly, economic prosperity.

The international plumbing community, as represented by the Council, has a vital role in promoting

Plumbing is a major part of everyday routine such as having a shower, getting a glass of water from a tap

and flushing the toilet. All of these tasks are possible thanks to trained plumbers and advances in plumbing.

How will you celebrate?

ntest 2019

tice Skills Co

WPD Appren

Fast Facts

Clean water Over 1 billion

People gained access to piped water supplies between 2000 and 2015

900 million

School children across the world have no handwashing facilities – a critical barrier in the spread of deadly diseases

www.plumber.com.au | 37

Product news

The IAPMO gas testing laboratory The most modern gas appliance testing laboratory in the southern hemisphere is available to assist you with all your testing needs.

You can rely on IAPMO to test your gas appliances in an efficient and timely manner.

Get certified faster with IAPMO As a manufacturer or distributor of gas appliances for the Australian and New Zealand markets, you need to get your products certified and get them to market fast. We get it. After all, every minute your product is not on the shelves, you’re potentially losing money!

Working directly with you, we: • Apply our experience to address issues others miss

What are the benefits of working with IAPMO? Partner with IAPMO to test your gas appliances and you’ll enjoy these benefits: • Complete compliance with NATA accreditation

What IAPMO can test The gas testing laboratory is accredited by NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia) one of the leading accreditation bodies worldwide, to ISO/IEC 17025.

• Peace of mind in competitive marketplaces with total confidentiality and security

Our NATA scope of accreditation includes testing of:

• Cost effectiveness with independent, competitively priced testing

• Water heaters and boilers

• High-quality outcomes produced by expert testing staff and methodologies • Get to market sooner with faster turnaround and prompt reporting of test results

• Cookers and ovens • Pool and spa heaters • Space heaters • Log fires • Patio heaters • Overhead radiant heaters • Laundry dryers • Refrigerators

• Work with you to resolve difficult challenges quickly

• Ducted heaters

• Leverage our robust team to manage short lead times, scale when needed, and help you achieve compliance faster

• Commercial catering equipment

• Do it all at a competitive price 38 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Autumn 2020

• Barbecues • Flue cowls and more For more information, visit iapmooceana.org or call +64 8684 9580.

Aussie’s jetters reach further

Plumbers finance packages

Introducing RIDGID® K-5208 drain cleaner

The new Class A machines from Aussie Pumps are now available as a special package to get plumbers who haven’t converted to this safer, more efficient product. “Aussie’s Class A Cobra comes with a 4000 PSI pump performance, 20 lpm flow and is powered by a Honda twin cylinder GX630 electric start engine.

The unit comes in a heavy duty galvanised steel frame,” said Aussie Pumps Chief Engineer John Hales.

“These Class A machines come with a free safety plate, complete nozzle toolbox and washdown gun as part of the package. Further information is available from Reece, Tradelink or other authorised plumbing distributor of the Aussie Cobra range.

Been looking for a jetter package but just don’t want to use your own hard-earned cash?

The RIDGID® K-5208 is the most powerful and compact sectional drain cleaner on the market.

Power meets portability as this machine is 35% lighter and 71% smaller than previous RIDGID sectional drain cleaners. Clear 2 inch to 8 inch (50 – 200 mm) drain lines faster and cleaner with the K-5208.

Combine with the K-5208 Transport Cart to create an all-in-one mobile work station.

Join the hundreds of plumbers across Australia that finance their jetter packages and keep ahead of the industry.

What are the advantages of financing?

• Not tying up needed cash • Weekly repayments from $146/week – one job per week can often cover repayments • Stop having to contract out jetting work to your competitors and losing revenue

For more information, visit www.ridgid.com.au or phone 1800 743 443.

• Take advantage of the Government’s ‘Instant write-off’ on capital purchases Phone Sewerquip, 1800 816 830.

All plumbers should seek financial advice that is right for their business.

www.plumber.com.au | 39

PAID

AUSTRALIA

POSTAGE

Taylor 3rd Year Apprentice Area: North-West Melbourne Water Sanitary Gasfitting Drainage Roofing Mechanical

PP100019076

PRINT POST

Experience:      

Alex Qualified Plumber Area: South-East Melbourne Experience: Water Sanitary Gasfitting Drainage Roofing Mechanical

     

Who can we help you find?

Hiring on your terms

For subscription changes, call 1800 133 871 or email info@plumber.com.au

PO Box 214 Brunswick VIC 3056

If undeliverable, return to

Call Natalie or Jeff on (03) 9329 9622 to find your labour hire solution