Master Plumber May/June 2018

M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 8

Celebrate In this edition

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contents 2

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1

INSTALL A

4 contents

contents

8

Editor’s Note

5

Perspective, President’s Message

6

MPAQ Member Benefits

7

Industry News

8

Super and the Gender Gap

11

Contributions 12 Fire Hydrant Commissioning

14

Researching Legionella

16

$121,000 Penalty Imposed for “Outrageous Exploitation of a Young Person” 17

24 26

Feature: Leading the Way for World Plumbing Day

18

Installation of Safety-Critical Fasteners Attracts Attention

21

Chemical Termite Barriers and PE Pipe

22

How to Market Your Plumbing Business

23

Women’s Plumbing Alliance

24

Training Calendar

25

100% Depreciation Could End at 30 June 2018

26

Events Calendar

27

New Products

28

Adjustable Leak Control Flange

29

Queensland Foodie Tours

30

50 Year Flashback

32

Vale Jim Graham and Michael Crouch AC

33

Social 34 Member News

35

MPAQ Milestone Achievements & New Members

37

MPAQ Corporate Supporters

38

The Supporters of Our Industry

39

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MAY / JUNE 2018

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M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 8

PUBLISHED BY Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland: 243 Bradman Street, Acacia Ridge Q 4110 P: 07 3273 0800 F: 07 3273 0873 E: info@mpaq.com.au W: www.mpaq.com.au

THE TEAM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Penny Cornah P: 07 3273 0800 E: penny.cornah@mpaq.com.au EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Lisa Hilton P: 07 3273 0800 E: lisa.hilton@mpaq.com.au PRINT & DESIGN Foyer Printing P: 07 5598 1005 E: info@foyerprinting.com.au

MPAQ COUNCIL PRESIDENT Kent Vickers P: 0418 883 999 E: kvickers@qigs.com.au VICE PRESIDENTS Don Nunn P: 0418 717 470 E: donnunn1950@yahoo.com.au Patrick Robertson P: 07 3276 8833 E: info@rpgs.com.au PAST PRESIDENT Kelvin Slade P: 0417 787 284 E: sales@sladebrosplumbing.com.au TREASURER John Salmon P: 07 3862 2777 E: john@salmonplumbing.com.au COUNCILLORS Dennis Yarrow P: 07 3277 5742 E: admin@yarrowplumbing.com.au Michael Ryan P: 3630 4744 E: mryan@beavisbartels.com.au Rob Brouwers P: 0411 413 400 E: rob@backflow.net.au Sam Hannant P: 0405 647 046 E: sam@yesfire.com.au Harle Gall P: 0437 768 409 E: h.gall@laserplumbing.com.au Ben Crew P: 0400 364 665 E: ben@bcprojectindustries.com

TRUSTEES Bill Watson P: 07 3273 2333 E: bill@connectorsgroup.com.au Bob Kimlin P: 07 4772 6308 / 0419 744 383 E: bobk@live.com.au

LIFE MEMBERS G Cottee, F Huysing, B McGrath OAM, MJ Moor, T Morris, J Porter, GC Richardson, NF Sharman, BD Wallace, WB Watson, R Kimlin

MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEMBERS A Chapman, B McGrath OAM, T Morris, D Powell, B Wallace, R Weaver, M Wilshere

DISCLAIMER Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the MPAQ, nor does the MPAQ guarantee the accuracy of statements made by contributors or advertisers or accepts responsibility for statements they may express in this publication.

The MPAQ does not accept liability to advertisers, which may be held contrary to the Trade Practices Act 1974. The MPAQ reserves the right to refuse, cancel, amend or suspend any advertisements or inserts without reason.

Editor’s Note Lisa Hilton Editor Welcome to the May/June edition of the Master Plumber Magazine!

It’s so great to see how much our industry is embracing World Plumbing Day and getting more awareness to the general public about the importance of this lifesaving profession. Since starting my journey within the plumbing industry nine years ago, it’s been clear to see that within the trade this important day has had better promotion, involvement and celebration over the last few years.

The World Plumbing Council did a write-up about the celebrations conducted across the world, which included skills competitions, industry breakfasts, school visits and awareness seminars, workshops, custom designed cupcakes handed out to plumbers, drawing competitions and many other activities across the globe. MPAQ’s event at the Mercure, Brisbane was also a great celebration of the day and included the announcement of our new plumbing ambassadors, as well as our member chosen charity of the year, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. Read more about our celebrations on pages 18 – 19.

There have been quite a few trending technical topics as of late, including the legal risks for plumbers in chemical termite barriers and PE Pipe. MPAQ sought McKays’ Solicitors advice on this topic as we know how it will affect a lot of our members, and the concerns have been noted and addressed on page 22. Make sure you take a look and seek further legal advice if required for your own individual circumstances. The MPAQ Technical Team will also be able to assist where possible, so feel free to call the office if you need clarification or assistance on this matter.

The MPAQ Board Members and some MPAQ staff are travelling out on the road in the coming months to begin our biennial Road Trips and regional training courses. Take a look at pages 25 and 27 for any upcoming events or courses in your area. We’d love to see you upskilling at the courses, or catching up with fellow members at one of the regional dinners!

Congratulations to any of our members reaching membership milestones with MPAQ recently and a huge welcome to our new members in this edition. I hope to see you out and about!

Lisa MASTER PLUMBER MAGAZINE

6 executive

Perspective Penny Cornah Executive Director

I was given the opportunity to attend the Master Plumbers, Drain Layers and Gasfitters conference in Hamilton, New Zealand at the end of March. This three day event was hosted by Master Plumbers in New Zealand and, apart from the conference sessions and the trade, there were evening functions each night as well.

The conference sessions covered a range of topics including safety risk assessments, scaffolds, insurance, training, skills, apprentices, technical sessions, an economist and the Plumbers and Drainers Board of New Zealand.

In New Zealand, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is mandatory in order to renew a plumber’s licence. A CPD workshop was hosted by the Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board of NZ on the first day, and over 100 plumbers attended.

This training was facilitated by an external training provider, but the content for the session was determined by industry professionals. Topics presented in the workshop were: •

Working at heights, confined spaces and fire protection considerations

•

Insurance considerations

•

Customer complaints and how to handle them

•

Common mistakes and concerns relating to backflow, vaporization and pipe sizing

•

Innovative products

Each delegate that attended the workshop was required to sign in and sign out at the end of the session to ensure all attendees stayed for the duration of the workshop.

I spoke with a few plumbers in the room and they were very supportive of a continuing professional development program.

The employers also encouraged their employees to attend to ensure a continued focus on competency of those practising in industry and to maintain the highest standards.

The Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board is very proactive in New Zealand and has a real focus on a targeted compliance and enforcement program. The board is focussed on reducing unauthorised plumbing, gas fitting and drain laying. As part of this, they run a number of different campaigns, such as Report a Cowboy, Sort the Pros from the Cons, and request consumers ask for a copy of the licensee’s card.

The final event concluded with the Plumbing Industry Awards Evening, held at the Hamilton Convention Centre. The presentation dinner recognised the important work of plumbers, apprentices and those companies working in the industry. It was an excellent finish to an enjoyable three day event. Special thanks to Master Plumbers New Zealand for hosting me.

If you would like any further information please contact me on 07 3273 0800 or via email penny.cornah@mpaq.com.au.

President’s Message Kent Vickers

Is it Approved?

One of the most frequent questions I am asked as a Gas Fitter would be “Is this appliance approved?”

It is common knowledge that every gas appliance must be approved prior to it being connected to the gas supply. In the majority of domestic situations, the appliance is a mass-produced device that has been type tested by an approval facility to make sure it passes a number of rigorous tests to ensure it is safe to install and use.

Most Gas Fitters are under the assumption that if an appliance does not have an Australian Gas Association (AGA) sticker on it somewhere, then it cannot be installed. Although this statement is correct to a degree, the AGA is only one of five approval facilities that can undertake the type testing of an appliance. The other four facilities are SAI Global, IAPMO R&T Oceanic, Global Mark, and VIPAC. What this means is that an appliance that displays an approval label with any of these company logos and a device approval number, has passed the rigorous testing process and has been deemed fit for use in Australia. Identifying these labels is one key process that a Gas Fitter must complete prior to installing any gas appliance.

Don’t forget that all gas devices must be approved, including portable devices such as camping cookers using Butane cylinders.

If you are unsure if an appliance is approved, you can look it up on the Gas Technical Regulators Committee (GTRC) website (equipment.gtrc.gov.au) and search by model number, approval number and sometimes manufacturer.

While 95% of gas appliances installed in Australia are type tested and approved by one of the five companies mentioned, there is that 5% that fall into the individual appliance category that are not mass produced and have not been type tested. Typically, these are limited to imported domestic, one off commercial and Type B devices.

If an appliance does not carry an approval, all is not lost. In Queensland we cover this area with a Type “A” Appliance Approval Scheme (previously called a Type A Certification). This scheme allows one-off or individual appliances to be evaluated by an independent approval person, to decide if it meets the minimum requirements set down by the relevant Australian Standards. The independent person is governed by a strict code of practice and is overseen by the Queensland Gas Association (QGA) and the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy.

In Queensland, there is a second group of independent Approval Authorities that evaluate the safety and operation of a Type B Gas devices. A type “B” device is any device that is not a type “A” device and falls outside of the scope of the evaluation process covered under the code of practice that governs the Queensland Gas Association. But that is a discussion to have at another time.

Life’s Good!

MAY / JUNE 2018

member benefits 7

MPAQ Member Benefits Get into gear for the next financial year with the below benefits from many of MPAQ’s benefit providers. Visit www.mpaq.com.au for full information about all the benefits available as an MPAQ Member.

Employee Management Services & Support BUSY At Work is an established and trusted not for profit organisation providing career opportunities to job seekers through apprenticeship, employment and community programs, as well as employee management services.

MPAQ members have access to personal assistance from a BUSY at Work representative with the apprentice employment process.

Apprentice Advice and Support Apprenticeship Support Australia deliver skills development advice and solutions to businesses and job-seekers across Australia. They offer employers holistic business-wide training advice and can assist in recommending suitable qualifications, advice on how to access Government funding for training, help with matching and recruitment of new staff, as well as ongoing coaching, mentoring and support of apprentices and trainees.

MPAQ members have access to FREE workplace appraisals and FREE mentoring support to apprentices.

For more information call 1300 363 831 and quote your MPAQ membership number.

Call the MPAQ Workplace Relations department on 07 3273 0800 for more information.

Discounted Fuel Offers Save 3 cents per litre off all fuels at any BP location. Members will need to sign on to BP Plus Card and hold a current MPAQ membership to receive the discount.

Fast-Track Financial & Lifestyle Success Lifestyle Tradie’s focus is to ‘Help Trade Business Owners Fast-Track Financial and Lifestyle Success‘.

It’s all about understanding, accepting and making POSITIVE CHANGES in your business so you can: • Work fewer hours; • Make more money; and • Create a better lifestyle.

They want to help make sure that you are owning a trade business that you’re proud of, that makes you good money and allows you the freedom to choose!

As an MPAQ member, if you join Lifestyle Tradie you will receive a rebate towards your MPAQ membership.

• Lifestyle Tradie Gold Member - $100 rebate • Lifestyle Tradie Platinum Member - $200 rebate Andy and Ange from Lifestyle Tradie run FREE events throughout the year. Why not see them at one of their events and learn more about how they can help you?

Visit www.mpaq.com.au/membership/member-benefits to find out more and access this benefit.

Note: BP currently has a flat monthly card fee of either $4.95 per card, per month for 1-2 cards, or $2.20 per card, per month for 3 or more cards (subject to change in accordance with BP’s standard terms and conditions).

• •

•

Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland and Caltex are getting behind Australian businesses with StarCard, a fuel card that delivers great discounts, and MPAQ members not only save at the bowser, they save time on admin with all their expenses on one ATO-approved report.

Save money - Save 3c per litre on Vortex Premium fuels and 3c per litre on regular petrol and diesel.

Save time - Capture your fuel, servicing and other expenses in one place. And access a range of standard vehicle reports online 24/7 through myCaltex.

Add Caltex Roadside Assistance - Enjoy peace of mind with a service that’s there for you when you need it most, from just $3.25 a month.

Visit www.mpaq.com.au/membership/member-benefits to find out more and access these benefits.

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8 news

Industry News Labour Hire Licensing Regulations The Queensland Labour Hire Licensing Act 2017 (Act) commenced in April 2018.

Under the Act, a business provides “labour hire services” if the business supplies a worker to another person to do work. This very broad definition would, on its face, impact a whole range of businesses that would not, in the usual course, be considered labour hire providers.

As an example, this definition would impact a business such as an electrical or plumbing business that employed its employees through a service company, but had those employees do the trade work through a separate company.

The Act provided particular exemptions from this broad definition. One of the important exemptions was that if the employees were “prescribed employees” under the Regulations.

The Regulations are welcome news for many Queensland businesses who otherwise faced meeting the labour hire licensing obligations.

If you are still unsure if your company may be caught under the new Act or if you need more information about the commencement of the labour hire licensing scheme, please contact one of the team at McKays on 07 3223 5942.

Plumbers Able to Work on Heat Pumps Following consultation with the Electrical Licensing Committee, the Electrical Safety Office (ESO) wishes to advise plumbers holding restricted electrical work licences endorsed Water heaters up to 250Vac (excluding heat pumps) that the heat pump exclusion will no longer be applied.

Licence holders are now permitted to perform the similar range of electrical work currently permitted on all other types of water heaters.

New licence cards and cards issued at renewal of existing licences will no longer have the exclusion stated on the card. If you hold a current licence and wish to have the restriction removed before your next renewal, you can contact the ESO on 1300 632 993 for a replacement card.

A $25 replacement card fee will apply.

For further information, contact the Electrical Safety Office on 1300 632 993.

MPAQ’s Plumbing Specific Contracts - Now Available for MPAQ Members!

MPAQ recently released newly created MPAQ Plumbing Specific contracts, created in partnership with McKays Solicitors. These contracts have been created with plumbers in mind and have undergone extensive industry consultation and testing to ensure they are specifically suited to Queensland Plumbers.

The suite of documents available include employment contracts and work contracts that cover everything from domestic work, regular engagement of a subcontractor and ongoing work with a client.

Employment Contracts - These templates provide an extended range of important employment related information to help you in managing your employer-employee relationship. The templates have been developed to cover full time, part time and casual employees, and cover tradespersons and clerical.

Work Contracts - Whether you’re building a house, carrying out a renovation, or you just need a written agreement between you and your subcontractors, you can purchase digital and, for the Contract for Domestic Works, printed contracts in the MPAQ Online Shop.

Contracts available include: •

Contract for Domestic Works - for once-off domestic work completed by an MPAQ member, this can be used when completing work for a home owner.

•

Contract for Plumbing Services - for once-off nondomestic works completed by an MPAQ member, this can be used when completing work for a builder or real estate for an example.

•

Master Contract - for MPAQ members supplying ongoing plumbing services for a client (multiple jobs for one client like a builder or a real estate). This contract comes with a contract, which gets filled out once per client, and a purchase order, which gets filled out once per job for the client you have the Master Contract in place with.

•

Master Subcontract - for the ongoing engagement of a subcontractor by an MPAQ member. This contract comes with a subcontract, which gets filled out once per subcontractor, and a purchase order, which gets filled out once per job that the subcontractor you have the Master Subcontract in place with completes.

For further information, visit www.mpaq.com.au or contact the MPAQ office on 07 3273 0800.

MAY / JUNE 2018

contents 9

DRIVE SAVINGS HOME

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SPECIALISTS IN INSPECTION EQUIPMENT

superannuation 11

Super and the Gender Gap Research* shows that, on average, women are more likely to have less super when they retire than men.

There are several factors that contribute to this. Women are more likely to take more time out of paid work to have families; they’re more likely to work part-time; and, generally, they’re paid less. Women also live longer than men^, which means it’s even more important that they have enough super to last their retirement.

What Can You do to Reduce the Gap? First and foremost, make sure your employer is paying your super. The amount your employer pays is usually at least 9.5% of your regular pay.

You can also: Combine all your super together into one account – This will make it easier to manage and you’ll save on fees.

Find your lost super - If you’ve been paid super into many different funds and your details have changed, your old super fund may have lost touch with you and transferred your super to the ATO. This money is called ‘lost super’, but it’s super you can still claim.

Top up your super by putting in extra yourself - You can do this by paying more from your before-tax salary (salary sacrificing) or from your after-tax salary.

An after-tax super contribution may see you eligible for the Government’s contribution of up to $500. Remember, adding a small amount to your super now can make a big difference later on.

Ask your partner or spouse to make a spouse contribution - They’ll receive a tax offset of up to $540 if your assessable income and total reportable fringe benefits for the financial year are less than $40,000.

A not so super fact In 2015/16 the average super balance at retirement for men was $270,710* For women, this figure was $157,050*

There’s a lot you can do to boost your super and retirement income and improve the quality of your retirement.

If you need help, you can call CBUS Superannuation on 1300 361 784 or visit www.cbussuper.com.au.

This information is about Cbus. It doesn’t take into account your specific needs, so you should look at your own financial position, objectives and requirements before making any financial decisions. Read the relevant Cbus Product Disclosure Statement to decide whether Cbus is right for you.

Contact 1300 361 784 or visit www.cbussuper.com.au for a copy.

References ^Australian Bureau of Statistics, Female life expectancy continues to climb Media Release, 18 October 2017, http://abs.gov.au/ ausstats/abs@.nsf/latestProdu cts/3302.0.55.001Media%20 Release12014-2016, viewed 15 March 2018.

MASTER PLUMBER MAGAZINE

* C. Ross, Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia, Research paper Superannuation account balances by age and gender, October 2017, http://www. superannuation.asn.au/policy/ reports, viewed 6 March 2018.

12 contributions

MARKETING

LEGAL

Labour Hire Licensing

Are You a Plumber or a Marketing Expert?

Written by Cheryl Jowitt Director, Rebel Digital

Years ago it was okay just to be a plumber. Word of mouth kept you busy. Your overheads were low and you were home in time for dinner. Now small business operators are living a life in the fast lane.

There’s more choice than ever before, we’re all fighting for the consumer dollar and our customers are getting harder to find. Bigger companies with bigger marketing budgets are data mining our customers, spending the big bucks on SEO, Google Adwords, radio, social media and TV. So where does that leave the local Tradie who works from home?

It’s becoming increasingly more difficult to fight back and for the smaller owner operator business who is being told that the digital world is where they need to be, the idea of putting a foot in, let alone fully immersing themselves into a rabbit hole with Alice is beyond comprehension.

Let’s look at the number one problem facing small business: cash flow.

There’s only a couple of ways to fix that, aside from pulling in outstanding accounts, and that’s to get more customers or upsell to the ones you already have.

To get more customers, you need to get your name out there, so that when people need you, they can find you. How many customers are you missing out on because they don’t know about you?

• Google is the new yellow pages • Your website is your new on line shop front • Facebook is that gossipy neighbour next door.

You need all three.

Then you need to get your name out there. This can be anything from dropping a few business cards at the pub to social media advertising (and we’re not talking about posting to your mates on your personal Facebook page). If you’re starting to get a headache and looking longingly at the beer fridge, then you are not alone.

Getting in front of your customers is getting more confusing every day.

It’s not going to happen overnight, but with slow, steady planning, business success can be yours.

About the author: Cheryl Jowitt is the director of Rebel Digital, a division of Rebel Radio Network - owner of regional radio stations Rebel FM and the Breeze across Queensland.

They partner small and medium size businesses work through the digital marketing minefield, and build their digital platforms, including websites and Facebook for business.

Contact Jacob Davis on 07 566 566 00 or email jacob.davis@rebelmedia.com.au for a free consultation.

Written by Ian Heathwood Principal, McKays Solicitors

The hottest current legal issue facing plumbers is that many will be caught by the new Labour Hire Licensing Act 2017, which started on 16 April 2018.

Also the new Security of Payment Laws.

For example, if one of your entities employs the staff but they do work in another, such as the QBCC licensed entity, the first entity will need to be registered and if not, both will be committing an offence with big potential fines. This has financial, administrative and time costs.

It also means a lot of private information about your business will be on a government webpage for the world to see – like how many employees you have, where they work and what they are doing – all interesting to unions I expect. Some plumbers are already restructuring their affairs to avoid the need to register.

The second hottest issue, is that the new security of payment laws (other than phase one of project bank accounts) have been pushed back, likely now to start in July. So the “old” rules still apply. But, when the new laws start, there are many changes, one of the biggest being that an invoice will not need to state it is a Payment Claim.

Many invoices and progress claims, which would not be Payment Claims under current law, will be payment claims under the new laws. They still need to relate to a valid “reference date”, etc., but anyone who does not deliver Payment Schedules as standard practice when not paying in full and on time will be at significant risk.

More MPAQ/McKay’s Workshops surrounding these topics will be held soon. If you haven’t been already, don’t miss the next ones. You can register your interest in attending these seminars by sending an email to mdunne@mckays.com.au.

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MAY / JUNE 2018

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contributions 13

HR

INDUSTRY TRENDS Plumbing Apprentices – A Snapshot

Workplace Relations Service Written by Kym Campbell Senior Human Resources Advisor, MPAQ

Written by Robert Sobyra Director of Evidence and Data, Construction Skills Queensland

Often MPAQ Contracting members ring through to the MPAQ office for specific workplace relations advice, and work out that their membership entitles them to many more services within the workplace relations sector that they could have been utilising since the beginning of their membership.

Plumbing services are a key input to any construction job. Around 11,000 plumbers work in Queensland’s construction industry – about 8% of all trades. Only carpentry and electrical employ more people in construction.

As a contracting member (excluding Sole Operators for some information), your MPAQ membership covers anything to do with workplace relations, industrial relations and employment issues, and it’s also free of charge for most of these services as we try to include as much as possible in your yearly membership.

If you cast a wider net to include maintenance, repairs and other non-construction work, the number of plumbers in Queensland reaches above 13,000.

So what can we help you with?

• • • • • • •

Wages advice (for all employees whether they fall under an Award or are Award free); Interpreting clauses in an Award (this covers all Awards not just the Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award); Apprenticeship information (from how to find an apprentice to what to pay them as well as incentives); Performance management and disciplinary issues with employees; Recruitment enquires; Termination of employees; and Any Fair Work issues – including representation in unfair dismissal claims and underpayment of wages claims.

Our Workplace Relations Team can also work with you on more specialised assistance, such as: • Reviewing and drafting of employment contracts, policies and procedures (MPAQ have recently launched a suite of Employment Contracts and associated employment documents, available on the Workplace Relations page of the MPAQ website (www.mpaq.com.au); • Negotiation, review and approval of workplace agreements; • Representation in proceedings of unfair dismissal, workplace discrimination or harassment, or other workplace relations and equal opportunity matters; • Coaching on performance management and disciplinary matters, the management of ill and injured workers and recruitment selection; • Assistance with termination of employment, including redundancy and transmission of business issues; • Incident investigations (e.g. responding to complaints of harassment or bullying); and • Provision of onsite HR/IR resources.

There has been an undersupply of plumbers in Queensland’s construction industry since around 2013.

Only now are we starting to gain some ground. But Construction Skills Queensland’s (CSQ’s) modelling suggests it won’t be until 2022 that the plumbing labour market gets back to balance.

This will be helped by plumbing’s strong apprentice pipeline.

The plumbing sector has been recruiting new apprentices with gusto since 2014, and completion rates are running five percentage points above the wider industry. This will eventually translate into a larger qualified workforce.

It’s also good to see plumbing remains a strong choice for apprentices throughout Queensland.

28% of plumbing apprentices work in regional Queensland, compared to only 25% of all construction workers. The regions around Toowoomba and Townsville, in particular, are carrying above-average numbers of plumbing apprentices.

Overall, the plumbing sector is in pretty good shape.

Numbers are still short, but the trend is in the right direction. Most importantly, the apprenticeship pipeline is strong.

Contact Construction Skills Queensland on 07 3846 8700 for further information.

For any queries or advice, contact the MPAQ Workplace Relations Team on 07 3273 0800 or email kym.campbell@mpaq.com.au.

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14 hydraulics

Fire Hydrant Commissioning Hydraulic testing and certification Before a building can be occupied, the on-site hydrant system has to be commissioned to ensure the system has been designed and installed in accordance with Australian Standards.

If you have any questions about a job you are working on, feel free to get in touch with Daniel Barwick, Director of Hydraulic Testing and Certification on 0429 000 302 or email dan@hydranttesting.com.au.

The commissioning test consists of three main checks: the hydrostatic pressure test, hydrant flow test, and coverage, clearance and materials checks.

Article supplied by Dan Barwick on behalf of the AHSCA Qld Chapter.

The hydrostatic pressure test involves pumping the hydrant system to 1700kPa. This exceeds the pressure rating of the PN16 pipe typically used. As the pressure is increased the bolts in flanged fittings stretch, which often causes the joint to leak.

It is good practice to increase the pressure to 1500kPa before reducing the pressure, tightening the bolts and then proceeding to 1700kPa. All joints should be visible for inspection and tightening during the test. Filling trenches and pouring concrete prior to testing often results in the need to remove the concrete to identify and replace fittings. Conducting the commissioning test prior to pouring concrete can prevent headaches at a time when the property owner is only concerned about getting the building approved to occupy.

The hydrant flow test involves checking the most hydraulically disadvantaged hydrant(s) achieve the required flow rate and pressure. The design flow rate depends on several factors but is typically 10L/s for small buildings under 1000m2, and 20L/s for buildings above 1,000m2. Feed hydrants are required to provide a pressure of 200kPa at the desired flow rate and must be located more than 10m from the building. Attack hydrants are required to provide 350kPa and can be positioned close to the building. Problems meeting these requirements typically originate in the water main supply and hydrant design, but can also be due to installed pipe runs being different to the design drawings.

The most common problems encountered with hose coverage, clearance distances and materials checks include hydrants not having bollards to protect against physical impact and not having identification on 003 locks and isolation valves.

MAY / JUNE 2018

contents 15

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To find out more, call 131 292 or email auontrack@hilti.com.au

16 legionella

Researching Legionella A Master Plumbers Churchill Fellowship During my term as President of Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland (MPAQ) I have said in this publication on more than one occasion, that if you are prepared to put in the effort, opportunities pop up that allow you to experience something different and very special.

In late 2017 I was fortunate enough to have one of those experiences when I travelled to the northern hemisphere during my Churchill Fellowship, researching legislation and best practice in managing and treating Legionella bacteria in water systems within buildings, and associated training. During the tour I visited Atlanta, Belfast, Manchester, Bradford, Leeds, Halifax, Liverpool, Bristol, Rome, London and Singapore.

The following recommendations are summarised from my evidence based research. Each item has been considered against current proven practices in the UK and the EU.

The Fellowship is offered by The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. One of the great aspects is that the Fellowships are open to people from all walks of life, all you need is some passion for what you do within your chosen field.

I recommend the adoption and implementation of the following items nationally in Australia:

Having completed the research, my primary aim is to develop and establish an appropriate training package to educate and train the plumbing industry about Legionella and other harmful water borne bacteria.

2. Introduce the mandatory periodical cleaning of aerators and shower roses in high risk areas

So what did I learn? Quite a lot indeed. I have written a 47 page report which can be downloaded from The Churchill Trust website (link provided below).

To put my findings into the briefest summary possible: • The USA - Have no legislation on Legionella control or management. It is all sorted out in court after the event.

They have three primary advisory documents to assist with water risk management and managing the Legionella risk, again they are not legislated.

• The UK – My research indicates the UK are perhaps the world leaders in Legionella management, treatment and training. The UK has a suite of comprehensive documents backed by legislation, which also mandates training for anyone tasked with any responsibility at any level with regards to Legionella. There are many organisations facilitating anything from one day to five day courses. I attended a five day course at a facility near Bristol. It was hard going but very worthwhile.

• Germany – The Germans also recognise and deal with the Legionella risk very well. They have a suite of regulations/ ordinances, regulating water hygiene within building water systems. Not being satisfied with what they have, they are looking to make the regulations even tighter. Another point of interest for Germany, they are investigating and researching how they can store hot water below 55 degrees Celsius!

1. Ban the use of aerators on tap spouts and outlets in high risk patient/resident areas

3. Point of use thermostatic tapware should be encouraged in healthcare 4. TMV blended pipe length limitations should be regulated 5. Training should be mandatory for anyone involved in Legionella control or water safety 6. Legionella training should be a licence endorsement for plumbers 7. Adopt the AS/NZS4032.3 nationally. This will align the risk acknowledged in the requirements mandated in AS/NZS3500.4 Cl 1.9.2 8. The adoption of a National Approved Code of Practice for Legionella Control 9. Develop and adopt definitions of dead legs and capped ends 10. Water Risk Management plans should be mandatory in all aged care facilities 11. Entities, consultants or people undertaking water risk assessments should not undertake any required remedial work to avoid conflict of interest It is a hard task, but I sincerely hope that some of this information can be brought before the politicians and a discussion started on how to protect the most vulnerable people in our community.

You can download my full report from The Churchill Trust website: http://qldcfa.churchilltrust.com.au/fellows/detail/4168/ Kelvin+Slade

By Kelvin Slade, Slade Brothers Plumbing and MPAQ Past President

• Australia – When compared to the UK and Europe, we are about 15 years behind in Legionella management practices and supporting guidelines. My personal view on this is that some bureaucrats are more concerned with regulatory impact than the health and wellbeing of the vulnerable people in our community. Quite simply, if you don’t test for the bacteria, you will not find it. The statistics around Legionellosis in Australia are low because of miss-diagnosis and a lack of testing. We need a dramatic shift in our paradigm. This has been proven many times the world over and it cannot be disputed.

Mandy and Kelvin Slade at the Legionella Conference in Rome

MAY / JUNE 2018

human resources 17

$121,000 Penalty Imposed for “Outrageous Exploitation of a Young Person” Michael Patrick Pulis, a business operator who told his employee to, “seriously, f**k off…” when the worker asked when he would receive money owed to him, has been penalised $21,500.

Judge Grant Riethmuller also penalised Mr Pulis’ company, Pulis Plumbing Pty Ltd, a further $100,000 after a plumber’s labourer, who was 20 years old at the time, was underpaid by $26,882 over just three months.

Judge Riethmuller described the conduct as “outrageous exploitation of a young person”, adding that the behaviour was “such to arouse much emotion” and “nothing short of avarice”.

The worker was underpaid when he was employed by Pulis Plumbing to perform work in the Melbourne, Geelong and Bendigo areas between September and December 2014.

Mr Pulis and his company told the employee he was being hired as a second-year apprentice, but never formally signed the employee up as an apprentice.

The Fair Work Ombudsman’s ‘Record My Hours’ smartphone app is aimed at tackling the persistent problem of underpayment of vulnerable young workers by using geofencing technology to provide workers with a record of the time they spend at their workplace. The app can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.

Employers and employees seeking assistance can visit www.fairwork.gov.au or contact the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94.

MPAQ Members can also contact the Workplace Relations Team on 07 3273 0800 for assistance in ensuring they are compliant with the relevant laws.

Mr Pulis and his company also paid the employee an apprentice rate of $12.18 an hour, despite knowing they were lawfully obligated to pay the employee much higher rates because they had not signed him up to an apprenticeship.

Noting that the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) had previously advised Mr Pulis that labourer rates must be paid if an apprenticeship arrangement is not registered, Judge Riethmuller found that the underpayment of the employee was deliberate.

Under the applicable Enterprise Agreement, the employee should have been paid rates of $37.08 for ordinary hours and up to $74.16 for overtime work.

Leave and termination entitlements, and meal and travel allowances, were also underpaid.

Mr Pulis and his company also breached record-keeping and pay-slip laws and failed to comply with a Notice to Produce records issued by a Fair Work inspector.

Judge Riethmuller relied on the employee’s diary entries to determine the hours he had worked and said: “In a case such as this, I would have been prepared to accept even generalised estimates from the employee as to his hours”.

“I also note that the FWO has recently released an application for smart phones called ‘Record My Hours’ to assist employees in a practical way to keep records from which they may verify their payslips are correct,” Judge Riethmuller said.

Judge Riethmuller also noted that the Fair Work Act has recently been amended so that “in future, if the employer fails to keep timesheets and provide payslips, the employer has the burden of disproving an employee’s claim about hours worked and payments made.”

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MASTER PLUMBER MAGAZINE

18 feature

Leading the Way for

Celebrate

Celebrating the Industry The Hon. Mick de Brenni MP, Minister for Housing and Public Works opened the event with an acknowledgment and thanks to everyone in the room. He stated that he believes the first and most fundamental human right of every person is to a standard of living that supports health and wellbeing, which is directly connected to the importance of plumbers and the work they do. He highlighted the satisfaction plumbers must feel at the end of a day’s work and how society sometimes doesn’t truly understand how important plumbers are until you need one in a hurry!

The Minister discussed a number of key issues within the industry that the government has already addressed this year, such as re-introducing the Plumbing and Drainage Bill and the deliverance and implementation of reforms on building industry fairness.

With the World Plumbing Day event falling in The Hon. Mick de Brenni MP Queensland Women’s Week, and a day after International Women’s Day, The Hon. Mick de Brenni MP also provided a thank you to all the partners and ladies in the industry who provide support, day in and day out.

Celebrating 11 March, Every Year, Everywhere This year MPAQ once again celebrated World Plumbing Day by hosting the industry’s biggest breakfast on Friday 9 March at Mercure, Brisbane. With over 300 attendees from the plumbing and gas industry, it was humbling to see the support and appreciation that

Women in the building and construction industry were at the forefront, with discussions of a concrete and quantifiable commitment to increasing the number of women entering frontline roles. There is a commitment and identifiable target for raising women in these roles from 6% to 11%. The Minister believes this increase will be a huge step forward to achieving parity in the building and construction industry.

Apprentices are the Future MPAQ Executive Director, Penny Cornah, spoke at the event and detailed the exciting development of the Plumbing Centre of Excellence and how this world leading training facility will not only be for plumbing apprentices, but for all pre and post trade training students. MPAQ hopes to train the most productive, industry ready and industry relevant apprentices in the world.

Penny and the Hon. Mick de Brenni MP announced the appointment of MPAQ’s 2018 Plumbing Ambassadors: David Keys, a licensed plumber from Obsidian Plumbing; and

•

Sarah Condie, a current plumbing apprentice with The Tradettes

individuals have for their industry.

There were a number of government representatives in attendance, with special guests including the Honourable Mick de Brenni MP, Minister for Housing and Public Works, Digital Technology and Sport; Michael Hart, Shadow Minister for Housing and Public Works, Energy, Innovation and Digital Technology; and Stephen Bennett, Shadow Minister for Child Safety, Youth, Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence and Veterans.

MAY / JUNE 2018

Sarah Condie - 2018 MPAQ Apprentice Ambassador

•

David Keys - 2018 MPAQ Plumbing Ambassador

The two ambassadors will actively promote the trade and encourage students and the public to consider it as a future career path, by attending schools, career expos and try-a-trade events. The ambassadors will play an important role in partnership with MPAQ throughout 2018, with David and Sarah passionate about attracting more people to consider plumbing for their career. MPAQ are looking forward to collaborating with David and Sarah as we continue to promote and increase awareness of this invaluable trade.

feature 19

MPAQ would like to sincerely thank Carlie Low, the 2017 ambassador for all her efforts last year.

2017 MPAQ Ambassador Carlie Low with Penny Cornah

Peter took us on a journey, describing the conditions that the team faced aboard the Heli-med One. Whilst circling and hovering above the stranded yachtsmen, the altitude of the helicopter was 80 feet above the surface of the ocean with waves within 10 feet from the helicopter. Before commencing the rescue, they already knew that the men were injured (one had a broken leg, some had severed fingers, and others had reported head injuries).

Peter’s take home message is purely team based and a memorable one. To be successful in high pressure situations you need faith, confidence and trust in one another’s ability that they can, and will, do their job at the highest possible level.

Thank you to the partners of this event Event Partner

Guest Speaker Partner

Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) Kent Vickers, Sarah Condie, Hon. Mick de Brenni MP, David Keys, Penny Cornah

A Message of Faith, Confidence and Trust At the World Plumbing Day Breakfast was an inspirational guest speaker, Peter Davidson who worked as a Critical Care Paramedic, employed by Ambulance Victoria for 28 years. Peter was aboard the first rescue helicopter to reach survivors in the ill-fated 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht race decimated by a hurricane where six sailors lost their lives.

Described as one of the worst maritime disasters in ocean racing history, there a number of chilling stats that came from the tragedy - of the 115 yachts that started the race, only 44 finished. There were 12 yachts left abandoned and five sank altogether. A total of six men lost their lives with over 50 of the yachtsmen needing to be lifted to safety.

The event offered raffle tickets throughout the breakfast, to raise money for MPAQ’s Charity of Choice for 2018, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA). Over $2,200 was raised at the event! Thank you to everyone who donated, your contributions are going to a very worthy cause. A special thank you also to Peter Duffy, Queensland General Manager at PCFA, who attended and spoke about the importance of spreading awareness and education.

Breakfast Supporting Partners

Association of Hydraulic Services Consultants Australia QUEENSLAND CHAPTER INC.

Association of Hydraulic Services Consultants Australia QUEENSLAND CHAPTER INC. Association of Hydraulic Services Consultants Australia QUEENSLAND CHAPTER INC.

Visit the Events Page on the MPAQ website (www.mpaq.com.au) for more information about the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia or to find out how you can contribute.

MPAQ would like to acknowledge and thank all of our partners for supporting this important event, in particular our Event Partner, the Plumbing and Pipe Trades Employees Union.

Thank you to everyone who attended and supported this special event, we should be thankful for plumbers every day, but in particular on World Plumbing Day! MASTER PLUMBER MAGAZINE

qbcc 21

Installation of Safety-Critical Fasteners Attracts Attention Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) has recently shared information with the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) about sub-standard installation of safety-critical fasteners in concrete substrates.

Inspectors from the QBCC and WHSQ work closely together and regularly exchange information about concerns or deficiencies observed on building sites.

If a safety-critical fastener fails, it may result in the collapse or partial collapse of a structure, endanger human life and/or cause considerable economic loss.

Insert-type fasteners such as expanding anchors, chemical anchors or concrete screws are commonly used now, whereas products such as cast-in anchors or through bolts were once the norm.

Whilst these ‘new age’ insert-type fasteners have many benefits, their performance can diminish by incorrect installation techniques, and many failures have been attributed to these poor practices.

Some building designers, contractors and tradesmen are not ensuring that these fasteners are correctly specified and installed to sustain the loadings intended to be applied to them over the life of the building/structure.

In recent years, WHSQ has investigated several significant collapses of building elements, including, tragically, one incident on the Gold Coast where a man was killed and several people were injured when an awning collapsed onto a footpath.

Expert evidence provided to the subsequent Coronial Inquest in 2016 highlighted concerns about the performance (when not specified or installed correctly) of the expansiontype insert fasteners used to secure the building’s footpath awning frame to its reinforced concrete masonry support beams.

The expert evidence highlighted the following deficiencies in the original installation of the insert-type fasteners, which were viewed as factors related to the failure: • Inadequate embedment depth of fasteners; • Fasteners not sufficiently penetrating into the structural concrete-filled cores of masonry blockwork (rather, they had been installed largely into the nonstructural blockwork shell; and • Inadequate durability of fasteners to resist corrosion.

The failure of safety-critical fasteners due to either poor installation or inadequate durability of the fixings is worthy of consideration by building contractors.

Contractors must ensure that the fasteners are of the appropriate size, type, durability and, above all, installed strictly in accordance with the fastener manufacturer’s recommendations.

Designers and builders should also consider the benefits of providing access points to enable the viewing of safetycritical fastener points within buildings and structures, to help facilitate future inspection.

The ability to observe safety-critical fastener points both during construction and throughout the life of a building is a sensible and prudent measure to maintain building occupant and public safety. Such access allows checks of issues such as corrosion, embedment and structural soundness.

The QBCC would recommend that on safety-critical applications, building designers and fastener installers are properly trained and competent to ensure that the specification, selection, design and installation of insert-type fasteners are appropriate.

The Australian Engineered Fasteners and Anchor Council (AEFAC) has developed an Anchor Installer Certification program to promote best practice for installation and to safeguard human life.

To be accredited by the AEFAC, an installer must demonstrate the ability to understand and execute a manufacturer’s installation instructions on properly installing anchors. The certified installer must be capable of assessing ambient conditions, concrete condition, materials, equipment, and tools for installing mechanical and chemical anchors. The certified installer must also demonstrate when it is necessary to consult a supervisor or project engineer during installation.

For more information on AEFAC’s Anchor Installer Certification Program, visit their website at www.aefac.org.au/certification. php.

Designers and builders are reminded of amendments that came into effect on 1 May 2016 to the Building Code of Australia, which adopts by reference SA TS 101:2015 Design of post-installed and cast-in fastenings for use in concrete, as the objective measure to design fasteners that will be used to transmit loads to concrete for safety-critical applications.

When considering specifying or purchasing safety-critical fasteners to be used in concrete, practitioners should ensure that the manufacturer/supplier of such fasteners can provide you with documentary evidence, such as assessment reports evidencing compliance with SA TS101:2015.

The QBCC trusts that going forward, industry participants will properly consider the selection and installation of fasteners used in concrete for safetycritical applications to ensure the ongoing structural performance of buildings and structures.

Contact the QBCC on 139 333 for further information.

Article provided by Gary Stick, Manager, QBCC Technical Standards Unit

An example where safety critical fasteners have failed in adjoining tilt-slab panels

An example of an awning failure

MASTER PLUMBER MAGAZINE

22 technical

Chemical Termite Barriers and PE Pipe The legal risks for plumbers MPAQ has sought McKays’ advice as to the liability of plumbers when they have installed PE pipe in the vicinity of termite barriers.

What follows is a general statement only. Anyone who is concerned about their particular situation should seek specific legal advice.

State and Local Governments’ Position On 13 March 2018, the Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works issued a newsflash recommending the use of pipes made of non-permeable materials (like copper) in the vicinity of termite barriers. Prior to that, the Brisbane City Council (BCC) had a policy requiring the installation of copper pipe within the last metre of a water service to a dwelling.

How Can a Plumber be Liable?

The liability of a plumber will be primarily determined by reference to the terms of their contract with the client and the principles of negligence.

Generally, a plumber’s contract (whether written or not; including where there is only a quote) will require them to carry out work in a tradesperson like manner. A plumber’s duty in negligence is generally the same.

In this article, we are assuming there is a contract with the usual duty to carry out work in a tradesperson like manner and to supply materials that are fit for purpose and compliant with the duty of care in negligence.

For further information, contact McKays Solicitors.

MAY / JUNE 2018

What is the Standard Plumbers are Required to Meet?

Clause 2.3 of AS3500.1: 2015 requires plumbers, when selecting materials and products in contact with water that is intended for human consumption, to ensure the products and materials selected are fit for their intended purpose, taking into account the nature of the environment, the ground, the possibility of chemical attack and permeation therefrom. This requires plumbers to consider the risk that chemicals may leach from nearby sources through a pipe into the water that is being carried through the pipe.

Subject to any specific terms of the contract between a plumber and their client, a Court is likely to give weight to any applicable Australian Standard when considering whether a plumber has complied with their obligations.

The information available to us at the time of writing this article suggests it has only recently become known that there is a risk of chemicals leaching from termite barriers through PE pipe.

Given the wording of the standard and the above information, a plumber could be liable if they did not take steps to ensure that the pipes they used would not allow the chemicals to permeate into the water inside the pipes.

Ian Heathwood P (07) 3223 5942 E iheathwood@mckays.com.au

Michael Cope P (07) 3223 5939 E mcope@mckays.com.au

Brent Turnbull Ph – 3223 5912 E- bturnbull@mckays.com.au Tony Murphy Ph – 3223 5932 E – tmurphy@mckays.com.au

What Affect Would Council Policies like the Brisbane City Councils have on Plumbers’ Liability?

The case against the plumber would be even stronger if the installation was carried out after the BCC issued its policy.

McKays considers that the liability of a plumber would not necessarily be different even if an installation were to be carried out outside of the BCC area; because a Court would expect plumbers to keep up to date with the latest developments/ issues in their field. As the policy from BCC becomes more widely known in the industry, a Court is more likely to give it weight in other places in Queensland. That would be particularly so if the policy is adopted by other Councils.

The same might be said of the Department’s news flash.

We recommend that plumbers give due consideration to Clause 2.3 of AS3500.1: 2015, the BCC policy and the Department news flash when selecting materials for use. If a plumber does not use copper piping (or other nonpermeable pipe) in the vicinity of a termite barrier, and if chemicals were to leach into the pipes, such a plumber would be at great risk of being held liable for any personal injuries suffered by a person who ingests the contaminated water.

If you would like the specific legal advice in relation to your situation or to discuss the matter more generally, please do not hesitate to contact the Building and Construction Law Team at McKays.

marketing 23

Marketing

for Your Plumbing Business With all of the marketing channels available to us today, creating a marketing strategy for your plumbing business can be overwhelming. As technology evolves, many of the platforms and options available to business owners for marketing their products and services also evolve at a (sometimes) frighteningly fast pace - staying on top of (and implementing) the latest trends can be a full time job! Thankfully, there are ways to be successful while keeping it simple.

MPAQ have compiled 12 steps to help you successfully market your plumbing business.

Listed below are the first five steps to your businesses marketing success.

1

3

Marketing Plan One universal small business goal is to sell the business’s products and services.

This is usually best accomplished by positioning the business in front of the target audience and offering something that solves a problem, something they can’t refuse or something they can’t find elsewhere. One of the smartest things a small business owner can do is take the time to develop a marketing plan that will set them apart from the competition. A marketing plan should clearly outline how you will reach your ideal customers by effectively implementing your marketing strategy.

2 Branding

Branding is a way of identifying your business. It is how your customers recognise and experience your business.

A strong brand is more than just a logo; it’s reflected in everything from your customer service style, staff uniforms, business cards and premises to your marketing materials and advertising.

Your brand should reflect what your business stands for and what sets it apart from your competitors - it expresses the qualities, strengths and ‘personality’ of your business. To put it simply, your brand is your best means to form relationships with your customers.

Having consistency in your brand across all your marketing creates stronger brand awareness.

Customer Experience Responsive and effective communication is one of the number one reasons why clients will stay loyal and refer your business to their friends and family. Do you know how much business you’re missing out on because of poor communication? How can you ensure that the same customer experience you provide is also being provided by your employees?

Communications tools to consider: • Live phone answering • 1300 and 1800 phone numbers • Automated responses to online enquiries • Responsive quoting • Electronic calendar management systems • Survey your customers • Referral programs • Customer experience

4

Marketing Collateral Many plumbers either aren’t using their marketing collateral effectively or don’t have any at all. Effective marketing collateral is about reaching out to your target audience with a clear message and call to action. By utilising marketing solutions like service labels, direct mailouts and even business cards, you can provide your business with an effective way of promoting your plumbing services.

Some easy marketing collateral ideas include: • Business cards • Fridge magnets • Direct mail • Brochures and referral cards • Service labels

5 Website

A website is a must have tool for all plumbers. It is estimated that 81% of shoppers research online before making a purchase decision, which includes contracting a tradesperson. If you can’t be easily found online, or if you’re website doesn’t showcase a level of professionalism, chances are you are missing out on a lot of new business. A good trade-based website doesn’t need to be complex.

Majority of the information that consumers need include your contact information and the services you offer.

For further information and to see the full 12 steps to assist you in successfully marketing your plumbing business, visit www.mpaq.com.au/members/membership/marketing-your-business.

Contact the MPAQ Office on 07 3273 0800 for assistance.

MASTER PLUMBER MAGAZINE

24 women’s plumbing alliance

Advancing Women in Business Project As the sole female leader of a representative association within the male dominated sector of building and construction, Penny Cornah, MPAQ Executive Director, is passionate about advancing females within our industry. Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland (MPAQ) has for the last three years held a bold vision of increasing female participation in the plumbing and gas industry.

With resources provided through the Queensland Government’s Advancing Women in Business initiative, MPAQ has been able to develop a whole scale strategic initiative to increase female participation not only in plumbing, but across the entire building and construction industry.

This project included an expansion and rebranding of the Women’s Plumbing Alliance (formerly Partners in Plumbing), as well as a holistic approach to participation that included recognition, networking, mentors, workshops and real capacity building.

New Connections Made with Mentoring Program Success Two ladies who participated in the program - Fiona Vickers (Mentor) & Stacey Parker (Mentee)

In November 2017, the Women’s Plumbing Alliance launched its mentoring program, which officially concluded on 30 April 2018.

Mentors and mentees were partnered from across the state and encouraged to make contact at regular intervals by phone, email, or in person where able.

The women were encouraged to share their stories and experiences, with the aim of helping plumbing businesses grow and develop through collaboration.

The program has been a great success, with many participants advising that they have had meaningful interactions with their mentor/mentee and some long distance pairs are considering a trip to visit each other to see how their businesses are run. The mentees have found value in hearing about a different perspective for situations and getting advice about the small business demands, while mentors have enjoyed having someone to bounce ideas off.

While the program has ended, the long-term hope is that the relationships formed through the Mentoring Program will become longstanding friendships where women in the industry can turn to each other, whether mentor or mentee, and get advice about best industry practices.

If you are a woman in the plumbing and gas industry, search for the Women’s Plumbing Alliance closed Facebook group, where you can ask questions and share your experiences with other ladies in the industry.

MAY / JUNE 2018

Lynne Day and Kim Pankhurst

Mandy Slade and Marie Watson

Throughout the Advancing Women in Business project, multiple other new initiatives have been implemented, including: • • • • •

A Marketing Guide for Plumbing Businesses Mentoring Program Events including networking functions and workshops Webinars Closed Facebook group for peer collaboration

The Advancing Women in Business project has enabled MPAQ to shed a light on the roles that women play in the plumbing and gas industry and promote them accordingly.

Through industry events, workshops and webinars, as well as newsletters and magazines, MPAQ has been able to reach a large number of women and connect them together to create support networks that will last.

If you are interested in becoming involved with the Women’s Plumbing Alliance, www.mpaq.com.au/membership/WPA or contact the MPAQ office on 07 3273 0800.

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Insurance: Business | Trades | Contract Works Farm | Strata | Home WFI is a proud alliance partner of MPAQ. Insure with WFI and you’ll deal directly with a local area manager who will take the time to understand you and your insurance needs.

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training 25

MPAQ Training Calendar 2018

RTO: 30473

ACCREDITED COURSES TMV*

CPCPWT4023A - Commission and Maintain Hot and Heated Water Temperature Control Devices^

Date 4 June 28 June 23 July 25 July 27 July 14 August 16 August 17 September 15 October - 16 October** 26 November

Location Brisbane Cairns Townsville Mackay Gladstone Maryborough Sunshine Coast Brisbane Brisbane (Night Course) Brisbane

BACKFLOW

CPCPWT4022A - Commission and Maintain Backflow Prevention Devices^

Date 30 May - 1 June 13 June - 15 June 25 June - 27 June 24 September - 26 September 22 October - 24 October 12 November - 14 November 3 December - 5 December

ESTIMATE AND COST WORK CPCPCM4012A - Estimate and Cost Work^

Date 6 August - 7 August

Service Type A Gas Appliances Location Brisbane

Design and Size consumer Gas installations CPCPGS4011C Design and Size Consumer Gas Installations

Date 10 September - 12 September

Location Brisbane

FUNDING ASSISTANCE

As a Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) registered training supplier, we provide training that is supported by CSQ funding. This subsidy program is a Construction Skills Queensland initiative.

Below is a list of the short course codes and titles and the maximum funding amount available to eligible participants:

CONTACT MPAQ FOR MORE INFORMATION: WEB www.mpaq.com.au/training | EMAIL training@mpaq.com.au PHONE 07 3273 0800

Location Brisbane

Carry out Work-Based Risk Control

CPCPGS4022A - Service Type A Gas Appliances

Date 9 July - 13 July

Location Mackay Brisbane Cairns Brisbane Brisbane Sunshine Coast Brisbane

CPCPCM4011A - Carry out Work-Based Risk Control Processes

Date 5 June - 6 June 29 October - 30 October

Location Brisbane Brisbane

Online Course Legal and Risk Management Requirements

BSBSMB401 - Establish Legal and Risk Management Requirements of Small Business^

ACCREDITED course required to obtain a QBCC trade contractor licence Member: $480 (GST Free) Non-Member: $580 (GST Free) Disclaimer: ^ Funding Assistance may be available * This course includes an online component that must be completed at least 2 days prior to the commencement of your course ** TMV Night Course will be run from 4pm - 8pm over 2 nights, if enrolling in this course all nights must be attended Dates are subject to change at MPAQ’s discretion.

MASTER PLUMBER MAGAZINE

26 tax

100% Depreciation

Could End at 30 June 2018 With the way the Federal Government looks like getting its new tax package through parliament in the next few weeks, it seems like a sure thing that the very generous 100% tax depreciation rules will end on 30 June 2018.

Australian Pump reports that many plumbers have gone to sleep on this program and are not alerted they are about to lose this opportunity.

“We have all got blasé about the depreciation as it has now been extended three years in a row,” said Aussie Pumps’ Mal Patel.

“This year it looks like it’s finally going and there is very little publicity, certainly not from the government, warning potential users about it,” he said.

The company is particularly sensitive about the supply of drain cleaning jetters, pressure cleaners, water pumps and all sorts of other assets falling into the ‘under $20,000 acquisition category’.

Companies with a turnover of less than $10 million are eligible. There is no limit to the number of assets they can acquire, provided those assets individually cost under $20,000.

“Our production is running at top speed to try and keep up with demand for drain cleaning jetters, contractor style pressure cleaners and dewatering pumps. Plumbers who have been putting off buying a jetter for the last couple of years need to move fast,” said Patel.

“It isn’t enough just to have an invoice to claim a rebate,” said Patel.

“You really need to take delivery of the goods as well, so you may need to move fast,” he said.

Australian Pump are working with key plumbing supply groups including Reece, Tradelink, Galvins and many others to try and support plumbers who want to move before the deadline.

“We think there are still 100,000 plumbers out there in Australia who haven’t bought a jetter and who probably need to,” said Patel.

“The industry has certainly woken up to the huge profitability boost that the jetter facility offers the industry.”

MAY / JUNE 2018

Free info packs on how to claim the 100% depreciation allowance are readily available from Australian Pump Industries or leading plumbing supply companies throughout Australia.

Contact Australian Pumps on 02 8865 3500 or visit aussiepumps.com.au for further information.

In 2018 the MPAQ events calendar is bursting with great South East Queensland and regional based events. Check out our full list of events* below and make sure to add your local events into your calendars early to avoid missing out!

Information on event tickets registration will be available at www.mpaq.com.au/events.

August

May Wed 8 - Fri 10 August

Regional Road Trip

Cairns - Townsville

Thursday 9 August

Regional Dinner

Mackay

Regional Dinner

Cairns

Tuesday 14 August

Plumbing & Gas Trade Expo

Mackay

Thursday 10 May

Regional Dinner

Townsville

Thursday 16 August

Plumbing & Gas Trade Expo

Rockhampton

Thursday 17 May

Plumbing & Gas Trade Expo

Gold Coast

Friday 17 August

Plumbing & Gas Industry Golf Day

Rockhampton

Friday 18 May

Plumbing & Gas Industry Golf Day

Gold Coast

Friday 24 August

Women’s Plumbing Alliance Wine & Cheese

Thurs 24 - Fri 25 May

Regional Road Trip

Thursday 24 May

Service Trades Council Info Forum

Tuesday 29 May

Small Business Week Ladies Luncheon

Thursday 3 May

Plumbing & Gas Trade Expo

Wed 9 - Thurs 10 May

Regional Road Trip

Wednesday 9 May

Brisbane South

Gympie - Hervey Bay Hervey Bay Brisbane

June Plumbing & Gas Trade Expo

Friday 22 June

Plumbing & Gas Industry Golf Day

Tuesday 26 June

Plumbing & Gas Trade Expo

Townsville

Thursday 28 June

Plumbing & Gas Trade Expo

Cairns

Brisbane

September Thurs 6 - Fri 7 Sept.

Trades Industry Conference

Thurs 13 - Fri 14 Sept.

Regional Road Trip

Thursday 13 September Service Trades Council Info Forum

Tuesday 19 June

Townsville - Mackay

Brisbane Toowoomba - Warwick Warwick

Brisbane North

Thursday 13 September Plumbing & Gas Trade Expo

Sunshine Coast

Brisbane

Thursday 20 September Plumbing & Gas Trade Expo

Hervey Bay

October Friday 12 October

July

Women’s Plumbing Alliance Business Brekky

Wed 24 - Thurs 25 Oct. Regional Road Trip

Friday 20 July

Plumbing & Gas Industry Awards

Brisbane

Thursday 26 July

Service Trades Council Info Forum

Gladstone

* Dates are subject to change , please check the MPAQ website for the most up-to-date event information.

Tues 30 - Wed 31 Oct.

Regional Road Trip

Toowoomba - Roma Bundaberg

November Tuesday 6 November

Melbourne Cup Celebration

Thursday 22 November Service Trades Council Info Forum

Uniting the Plumbing, Gas, Fire and Mechanical Trades

REGISTER NOW!

Brisbane

6 - 7 September | Brisbane, QLD | www.tradesindustryconference.com

Trades Industry Conference

Brisbane Brisbane North

28 new products

Business Texts Get More Affordable with New simPRO SMS Plans Technology company simPRO’s ongoing mission to help businesses increase productivity and profitability has taken a giant leap forward with the launch of their latest SMS plans to complement its job management solution.

As cloud-based job management technology increases its penetration into the trade services industry, simPRO’s SMS plans give businesses the ability to use mobile devices in the job process without having to worry about added service providers and logistics. simPRO Chief Technology Officer Jonathan Eastgate said depending on the plan, cutting out the need for a separate SMS provider means businesses can save up to 60% on their plans.

“We are living in an age where technology is continuously disrupting the way we do business making it harder every day for us to imagine how we operated without it,” he said.

“Our SMS services run from simPRO, by simPRO, cutting the need for third party providers, which means a dramatic reduction in administrative stress and cost.”

Short message service plans in Australia and New Zealand cater to all business needs ranging from small to large packages. Starting from just $10 a month, businesses can choose plans that allow SMS anywhere from 110 to 1,250 messages.

For further information, contact simPRO on 1300 139 467 or visit www simpro.com.au.

Halgan’s Pump Station Vessels Halgan’s latest products to hit the market are their Pump Station Vessels, available in 1,050 litres, 2,000 litres and 3,000 litres.

They are manufactured using the most modern and technically advanced rotomoulding equipment which ensures effective and efficient quality control throughout the manufacturing process. Made from polyethylene, units are chemical resistant to corrosive acids, bases and salts, and are highly durable against dents, cracks or breaks with a projected life of over 50 years.

The new pump station chambers are designed to complete their packaged pump stations range, used to collect and pump liquids where gravity drainage is not achievable or feasible.

In addition to the pump station chamber, the packaged unit consists of pumps, pipe work, valves and level controls. The pump station should be selected to suit the application and sized appropriately for the particular site conditions.

Contact Halgan for information and advice on all applications, including sewage, sullage waste, storm water, ground water, flood water, waste water, effluent or trade waste.

For further information call Halgan on 1800 626 753 or email sales@halgan.com.au.

MAY / JUNE 2018

Fieldwire and Hilti Announce Strategic Partnership Mobile field management platform Fieldwire announced its strategic partnership with Hilti Group, a world-leading manufacturer and supplier of construction technology. As part of this partnership, Hilti has made an undisclosed strategic investment into Fieldwire and joined the Fieldwire board as an observer.

“Fieldwire’s approach to jobsite productivity stands out in the construction tech scene and aligns very well with Hilti’s mission,” said Joerg Kampmeyer, Member of the Executive Board and CFO at Hilti.

“We were impressed by Fieldwire’s leadership, and our investment in the company is a first step in establishing a long-standing strategic partnership.”

In recent years, Hilti has made major efforts to digitise the construction industry with software solutions for e.g. planning and designing fastening and firestop solutions, bringing BIM to field or for the asset management. Hilti is also connecting construction professionals with its experts through platforms like “Ask.Hilti.com”.

While digital has already revolutionized construction planning and design, the focus is now shifting towards disrupting the way people work on jobsites. Fieldwire’s partnership with Hilti will further shift focus to workers in the field with the goal of empowering them to do their best work.

For further information, visit www.fieldwire.com or www.hilti.com.au.

drainage 29

Adjustable Leak Control Flange Making waterproofing and plumbing even easier, Stormtech offers an Adjustable Leak Control Flange (ALCF) which allows waterproofing membranes to adhere directly to the flange, and give both lateral and vertical height adjustment for the drain cover.

Often referred to as a “puddle flange”, the leak control flange is a very different kind of product. Stormtech’s adjustable leak control flange is a unique product on the market that can be used with all standard or linear drainage products.

Features Include: • Fits pipe sizes 50mm, 80mm and 100mm Drain-wastevent (DWV). ONE PRODUCT FOR 3 PIPE SIZES • It is very tough and durable (it has 4mm thick walls), made out of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) • Concrete keys for setting into laid substrate • Weep holes for top membrane, and wedges out of thread in top ring. The thread is also very coarse and will allow additional water into the flange body • It is adjustable in two directions: o

Horizontal: the ring that is moveable allows up to 32mm of offset in any direction

o

Vertical: the thread allows a height adjustment of up to 50mm

• Designed for a double membrane: controls water on two levels of membrane (plus wedge drains in the thread also allow leak control). The leak control of the top layer of waterproofing membrane allows to directly adhere porous tiles and soft stones such as travertine or soft marbles For more information, visit www.stormtech.com.au.

Simple and easy super administration with

Cbus

Your choice of SuperStream compliant online administration solutions to suit your business: Employer SuperSite and App

Cbus Clearing House

Suits businesses with a small number of employees who are Cbus members

Suits businesses with many employees and many super funds

cbussuper.com.au

1300 361 784

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.

30 feature

Queensland Foodie Tours

There’s nothing like a food and bevvy tour to really get to know a local area.

You get to meet the producers, discover the lay of the land and chow down on some awesome eats.

Here are five tours around Queensland that are guaranteed to entertain, educate and fill you up.

Mystic Mountain Tours, Sunshine Coast

1 Go full Aussie and take a Bush Tucker Tour that will introduce you to traditional food sources and how they are used. Locals tell stories and offer tastes of their unique foods. Or you could take a leisurely drive through the countryside and visit a sourdough bakery, a roaming chook farm and an artisan coffee roaster before a fresh picnic creek-side lunch.

www.mysticmountaintours.com.au

Ph: 0400 086 877

MAY / JUNE 2018

feature 31

Food Trail Tours, Cairns

Granite Highlands Maxi Tours, Kingaroy

2

3

The Atherton Tablelands is a goldmine of foodie-friendly outings. Food Trail Tours offers a unique food and wine experience. Sample award-winning tropical fruit wines, visit a lush, private macadamia plantation for tastings, grab lunch at an authentic country pub, drop by a cheese and chocolate factory and finish the outing with a visit to a family coffee plantation.

You could take a full or half day Stanthorpe winery tour but if it’s food you’re after, try this one! Get on board the van in Kingaroy and you’ll sample some fine tipples at a few wineries, then visit Kingaroy Cheese for tastings of cheeses made the old-fashioned way. Lunch and dinner are followed by overnight motel accommodation before a morning drive to Murgon for more winery festivities and lunch at Moffetdale Ridge. Maxi Tours also operate winery tours in Stanthorpe, west of Brisbane.

www.foodtrailtours.com.au

Ph: 07 4041 1522

www.maxitours.com.au

Ph: 0417 192 179

Gold Coast Food & Wine Tours, Gold Coast

Bundy Food Tours, Bundaberg

4

5

Choose a walking tour right through to a premium ‘Gastronomy on the G’ tour, a lush progressive dinner where you make four stops along the G:Link tram network. First stop is canapes with wine tasting. Next it’s entrée, along with a private cooking demonstration by an Executive Chef. Stop three is a secret rooftop garden tour and a chef-prepared 5-star main course. End the event with a 5-star cocktail demonstration and a matching dessert.

Canny carnivores will adore the Wednesday ‘Moore-ish’ farm and butcher tour, which includes a picnic on a local farm featuring all local produce. If you’re thirsty, the Bundy Drinks Tour will put a few tasty drops in front of you, not the least of which is iconic Bundaberg Rum. The food and beer pairing lunch couples local beers with a paddock to plate style menu. There’s also a thoroughly informative farm-hopping tour.

www.goldcoastfoodandwinetours.com.au

Ph: 0432 456 102

www.bundyfoodtours.com.au

Ph: 0409 491 944 Written by Gina Lofaro, The Word Mistress MASTER PLUMBER MAGAZINE

32 50 year flashback

50

YEAR

FLASH BACK m b er M as t e r P l u 968 m ay / j u n e 1

31 July

MAY / JUNE 2018

vale 33

VALE: Jim Graham Retired Chief Brisbane City Council Plumbing Inspector

06/10/1947 – 12/02/2018 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Jim Graham, who was well known and respected in the plumbing industry throughout Queensland.

Jim was a proud licensed plumber and drainer and was Brisbane City Council (BCC) Chief Plumbing Inspector for over 14 years. He was actively involved within key industry groups like the Institute of Plumbing Inspectors Queensland (served as President 1999 and 2003) and Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland (MPAQ), just to name a few.

Jim had a positive outlook towards finding solutions to complex plumbing and drainage issues which often resulted in Jim providing the licensed plumbing contractor or hydraulic consultant with a way to move forward with their development.

He was highly respected within the plumbing industry for his knowledge and ability to listen before making decisions about how to address areas of non-compliance. He was someone who cared about obtaining an outcome, which benefited the plumbing contractor, residents and the community.

Some of Jim’s key achievements as BCC’s Chief Plumbing Inspector included: •

Introduction of electronic online lodgements

•

Mobility framework for BCC plumbing inspectors

•

Appointment of the first female local government plumbing inspector in Australia (Carlie Low)

Jim saw the transition from the Standard Plumbing By-Laws to the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002 (P&D Act). He was actively involved in meetings with the state’s legislator’s office and industry stakeholders to ensure the P&D Act provided benefits to the whole plumbing industry in Queensland.

He had a love for fishing, his grandchildren, his wife Jean and will be sadly missed.

Written by Eddie Denman

An Obituary to Michael Crouch AC The following is an obituary to Michael Crouch AC, the man behind the success of Zip instant boiling water products.

The run-away success of Zip Industries instant boiling water units virtually shut the door on the need for traditional office tea-ladies; such was the impact of this affordable office item.

Point of use boiling water units were an Australian invention of Zip, and the company was always able to stay one step ahead of the opposition over the past five decades. Today the modern Zip appliance has also become a hi-tech household kitchen appliance.

Michael was the proud hands-on owner and driver of Zip Industries, based in Bankstown Sydney. He had an unwavering commitment to Australian manufacturing.

Zip became an international name after Michael and his close knit team took the brand global. Zip was one of the few Australian plumbing product suppliers to exhibit at ISH Frankfurt during the 1980’s.

Attendees at the 2016 Plumbing Supply forum event will remember the moving speech Michael gave, when he shared his views about local manufacturing, determination, commitment to staff and the value of patented design. It was a highlight of the event and likely the first time the broader plumbing manufacturing industry really understood the values of the man.

Michael sold down most of his shareholding in the business in 2013.

He will be remembered as a post-war industrialist who did things his way and was immensely successful. He was a philanthropist who has left a legacy on many causes. The world was a better place for knowing Michael Crouch AC. Article Source: http://plumbingconnection.com.au/an-obituary-to-michael-crouch-ac/ MASTER PLUMBER MAGAZINE

34 social

World Plumbing Day Friday 9 March, Brisbane MPAQ celebrated World Plumbing Day with a sit-down breakfast with special guest speakers, networking opportunities and a bit of industry fun.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation was announced as MPAQ’s Member Charity of Choice for 2018

Keynote Speaker, Peter Davidson

John Salmon, the Hon. Mick De Brenni MP, Dennis Yarrow and Kent Vickers

Hilti Raffle Prize Winner - Russell Bergman

Greg Castle, David Keys and Damian Kavanagh from Obsidian Plumbing

CBUS Raffle Prize Winner - Andrew O’Toole

From left to right: Kent Vickers, MPAQ President, 2018 Apprentice Ambassador Sarah Condie, The Tradettes, the Hon. Mick de Brenni MP, 2018 Apprentice Ambassador David Keys, Obsidian Plumbing and Penny Cornah, MPAQ Executive Director

Ron Douglas Memorial Award Presentation Toowoomba MPAQ partnered with the Society of St Andrews in Toowoomba to present a young apprentice in the region with the Ron Douglas Memorial Award. The award was presented to Frederick Pfeiffer, currently studying at TAFE Queensland South West.

Frederick Pfeiffer with David Henderson from the Society of St Andrews of Scotland, and Dr Martin Byrne, Guest Speaker

Uniting the Plumbing, Gas, Fire and Mechanical Trades

REGISTER NOW!

6 - 7 September | Brisbane, QLD | www.tradesindustryconference.com MAY / JUNE 2018

Frederick Pfeiffer with Dr Martin Byrne, Guest Speaker

Trades Industry Conference

member news 35

Site Boxes for Sale An MPAQ member is looking to sell five Store-Safe S120 Standard 1.2m Site Boxes, a Store-Safe S200 Standard 2.0m Site Box, and one grey galvanized steel Site Tool Box with four castor wheels.

Store-Safe S120 Standard 1.2m Site Box

Store-Safe S200 Standard 2.0m Site Box

Grey Galvanised Steel Site Tool Box

Price: $960 each

Price: $1,440 each

Price: $320 each

Quantity Available: 5

Quantity Available: 1

Quantity Available: 1

Details: Fully welded 2mm Bluescope steel. Powder coat finish. Internal hinges and locking system. BiLock registered security key system with 2 Swivel and 2 Fixed 125mm Castors. In good condition.

Details: Fully welded 2mm Bluescope steel. Powder coat finish. Internal hinges and locking system. BiLock registered security key system with 2 Swivel and 2 Fixed 125mm Castors. In good condition.

External Length 1,200mm

External Length 2,000mm

External Height 850mm

External Height 850mm

External Depth 750mm

External Depth 750mm

Mass 108kg

Mass 160kg

Details: Galvanised steel.

4 castor wheels. Padlock protected style.

Length 1,200mm Height 660mm (800 including castors) Depth 1,100mm NB: Prices are negotiable

Contact Wurtulla Plumbing & Drainage on 07 5491 6746 to enquire.

Expressions

of Interest

ISH 2019

FOR SALE

Ashley Klease Plumbing Biloela Profitable and well established plumbing business - Biloela Our Plumbing Business for sale in Biloela has been established as a family run business for 36 years.

We have provided a reliable service to the community and surrounds with a wide variety of contracts specialising in all domestic, commercial and industrial plumbing.

Apart from general maintenance, our services have included roofing, gas fitting, and new and renovated house plumbing.

Our business also distributes, installs and maintains the following: • Elgas • Taylex Sewage Treatment Systems • All types of hot water systems: gas, solar and electric • Zip hot water units • Coolbreeze parts and units

Price: Business $150,000.00 (negotiable)

MPAQ is taking expressions of interest for a contingent of members to attend ISH in 2019. ISH is a trade fair whose main focus is on the water and energy industries.

ISH 2019 will held from

11 - 15 March 2019 at Messe Frankfurt.

For further information or if you are interested in attending, please email info@mpaq.com.au.

Building and workshop for lease or sale upon enquiry.

Call 07 4992 4222 if interested.

MASTER PLUMBER MAGAZINE

36 member news

Plumbing Legacy from Across the Ditch

theBackFlowA FINALLY …. an efficient, faster way to schedule & report Backflow, Thermostatic Mixing Valve & Eye Wash Tests

There’s nothing we love more than hearing feel-good stories from our members, and not much is better than the next generation of plumbers going back to where it all began.

Dan Pasfield, Director of Pasfield Plumbing Solutions, recently visited New Zealand where he was able to meet some of his long lost relatives. Dan was taken to the South Taranaki town of Patea on the North Island of New Zealand, and it was there that he saw where his family’s plumbing roots were founded.

While it looks run down and neglected now, back in 1970, G. TURNER & SON PLUMBING was established in Patea, and in its time it was the town’s largest plumbing business, employing many local plumbers and workers.

Dan said, “I feel honoured to know that I am the next generation to carry on the legacy of quality plumbing trade services in my family and look forward to all the challenges and rewards that come with it.”

Stay in Control Manage test results from users across your business.

Never Miss a Test Schedule your work with automated test reminders.

Keep Your Gauges up to Date Set automatic reminders for test gauge recalibration.

Eliminate Incorrect Site Tests Get it right during your first site visit with instant alerts for low pressure results and procedural prompts for occasional testers.

Look Professional Apply your business logo to personalise test templates... available for all compliant devices.

Try it today and never look back.

Chris Turner who took over the business in the 80’s, pictured with Dan Pasfield

Dan looks forward to continuing to grow his business, following in the footsteps of his late grandfather, John Turner. Plumbing runs in the blood of this family.

MAY / JUNE 2018

Save Time & Stay Organised Conveniently record, save and email test results from your smart phone or tablet on site without returning to the office.

Free to download - pay only for test sheets. thebackflowapp.com

The Apple logo, iPhone, iPod touch, and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

member news 37

Congratulations to our Milestone Achievements & New Members!

New Members

Milestone Achievements Name

Company

Division

Milestone

Ben Scerri

Charlie The Plumber

Gold Coast

40

Noel Ferguson

Sunshine Coast

30

Anton Seng

Anton Seng Plumbing Pty Ltd

Toowoomba

30

Phil Thiess

Phil Thiess Plumbing Pty Ltd

Toowoomba

30

John Lisignoli

Watermark Plumbing

Brisbane South

20

Bronwyn Sanger

Trade Plumbing & Drainage Pty Ltd

Sunshine Coast

20

Cindy Eagle

Eagle & Stork Plumbing Pty Ltd

Far North Qld

15

Bernard Finch

Contract Plumbing & Drainage Pty Ltd

Brisbane South

10

Mark Alba

Mark Alba Plumbing

Far North Qld

10

Ashley Bidgood

Bidgood Plumbing Pty Ltd

Toowoomba

10

Kelly Richardson

Toowoomba

10

Chairman QBA

Queensland Brassware Association

Brisbane North

5

Nicholas Day

Rivercity Maintenance Service Pty Ltd

Brisbane North

5

Darren Anderson

Advance Hot Water

Brisbane South

5

Chris Searle

Water Wise Design Hydraulic and Fire Services

Fraser Coast

5

Clinton Caldwell

Albrooke Plumbing

Gold Coast

5

Robert Grimmer

City to Surf Plumbing

Gold Coast

5

Anthony Bauer

Anthony Bauer Plumbing

Ipswich

5

Ross Jewell

Ross Jewell Plumbing & Gas

Mackay

5

Daniel Blines

Blines Plumbing and Roofing Pty Ltd

Mackay

5

Name Perry Thomson Nicole Vanderzalm Michael Barnes Michael Coffey Richard James Robert Sharpe Brett Greening Elliott Briody

Company Aquaflow Qld Pty Ltd Groundswell Plumbing & Drainage Pty Ltd Michael Barnes Plumbing Pty Ltd MJ Coffey Rpj Corp Pty Ltd The trustee for R.M.A. Sharpe Family Trust BMG Plumbing & Gas Briody Plumbing

Division Brisbane North Brisbane North Brisbane North Brisbane North Brisbane South Brisbane South Far North Qld Far North Qld

Hamish Campbell Peter Attard Aaron Mosley Luke Johnson Kurt Biddle Elliott Salmon Lance Guerra Phillip Munro Gifford Sabiston Jamie O'Connor Anthony Connor Andrew Cordingley Andrew Smith Johnathan Bain Kevin Arndt

Hambell Plumbing Services Pty Ltd Elevate Plumbing Pty Ltd Mozgo Plumbing Pty. Ltd. ATF Mozgo Trust National Plumbing PTY LTD Biddles Plumbing & Civil Pty Ltd Elliott Salmon Plumbing & Gasfitting LGF Plumbing & Gas The Roof Whisperer Tropical North Plumbing Services J & G Projects Pty Ltd Connor & Co Plumbing Pty Ltd Cordingley Plumbing Pty Ltd Enviro Water Design Swift Maintenance Plumbing Combined Refrigeration Services Pty Ltd

Far North Qld Gold Coast Gold Coast Gold Coast Ipswich Ipswich Ipswich North Qld North Qld Outside Qld Sunshine Coast Sunshine Coast Sunshine Coast Sunshine Coast Toowoomba

40 years Membership

KEN WEIR

& DRA K & J WEIR PLUMBING

PTY AGNOLA PLUMBING

ROSENLUND PLUMB

ING ANTON SENG PLUMB

25 years Membership

PAUL AGNOLALTD

Y GLENN & KATH PTY LTD

ANTON SENG PTY LTD

INAGE

25 years Membership

30 years Membership

ING

25 years Membership

WAYNE GILL

UTIONS (AUS) PTY LTD RECYCLE WATER SOL RNAH, MPAQ WITH PENNY CO

20 years Membership

PETER CLEAR ING

PM & SJ CLEAR PLUMB

38 corporate supporters

Meet Our New

Corporate Supporters Lifestyle Tradie Multi-award winning couple, Andy and Ange Smith from Lifestyle Tradie have a combined 30 years’ experience in the trade business industry and together are known as the number one Authority on ‘Trade Business’ transformation.

They are passionate change leaders, having helped thousands of trade business owners earn more money, gain back time and basically get their life back through their live events, ‘The Next Level Tradie’.

For more details about ‘The Next Level Tradie’ head to www.nextleveltradie.com.au/-mpaq

Apprenticeship Support Australia combines the 60 years of collective experience of Australian Business Apprenticeships Centre in New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory, Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Victoria and the Apprenticeships Centres of Business SA in South Australia and CCI WA in Western Australia, to deliver skills development advice and solutions to businesses and job-seekers across Australia.

Their combined strength ensures that their customers, no matter how large or small, experience unprecedented levels of service quality and consistency, backed by access to Australia’s foremost business experts through the Business Chamber movement.

Apprenticeship Support Australia’s services are focused on lifting apprenticeship commencement and completion rates through the provision of support at every stage of the employment cycle.

They offer employers holistic business-wide training advice and can assist in recommending suitable qualifications, advice on how to access Government funding for training, help with matching and recruitment of new staff, as well as ongoing coaching, mentoring and support of apprentices and trainees.

Pacific Hoseflex Pacific Hoseflex Pty Ltd (PHF) is a global leader in the design and manufacturing of flexible hoses and associated fluid transfer products. Their superior quality and excellent service has led them to be the first in the world to be approved to WaterMark Standard WMTS-520:2016 for flexible metallic assemblies. They are also certified to Australian Gas Association (AGA) standards, ASME Welding and ISO standards manufacturing and testing.

PHF has an extensive product range to meet customer needs across a diverse range of industries, particularly Plumbing and Heating Ventilation and Air-conditioning (HVAC).

PHF is a third generation Australian owned and operated business that has manufacturing facilities on both the East and West Coasts of Australia, enabling fast and reliable service Australia-Wide.

Visit www.hoseflex.com for further information, or call 07 5593 4292.

MAY / JUNE 2018

Whether your business needs help hiring an apprentice or trainee, or you already have one and simply need assistance with potential government funding and incentives - they are here to help.

For more information call Apprenticeship Support Australia on 1300 363 831.

Toyota Fleet With over 50 years in the Australian market, Toyota is Australia’s best-selling car brand.

From passenger vehicles through to SUVs and light commercial vehicles, Toyota offers a wide range of vehicle options.

Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland members are eligible for Gold Fleet discounts, giving you the buying power that is usually only accessible by large national businesses. The discount depends on the model purchased.

In order to find out how much discount is available, contact your preferred Toyota Dealership or call 1800 444 847.

supporters 39

The Supporters of Our Industry Trading Contact

Platinum Corporate Supporters Australian Valve Group CBUS Emerson Backflow Reece Reliance Worldwide Corporation Tradelink WFI Insurance

03 9462 2666 1300 361 784 07 3260 2555 03 9274 0000 07 3018 3440 1800 758 624 1300 934 934

Gold Corporate Supporters Bretts Trade Plumbing Supplies BUSSQ Building Super Decina Bathroomware Pty Ltd Dial Before You Dig (Qld) Ltd GWA Group Hilti Australia InSinkErator Iplex Kembla QLeave simPRO Software Pty Ltd Uponor Zip Heaters (Aust) Pty Ltd Zurn Australia

07 3203 2105 07 3369 1111 07 3271 1944 07 3360 7950 07 3131 5999 131 292 0447 886 648 1300 047 539 07 3868 7888 07 3212 6811 1300 139 467 07 3157 5297 02 9796 3100 1300 009 876

Silver Corporate Supporters Billi Pty Ltd Kennards Test and Measure Qld PROTRADE United Rheem Australia Pty Ltd Saniflo Stiebel Eltron (Aust) Pty Ltd

07 3267 1384 07 3823 0055 1300 767 774 07 3412 9200 1300 557 779 07 3399 3711

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MASTER PLUMBER MAGAZINE

YEAR

25 WA R R A

NT Y

Uponor Q&E – your quickest choice in plumbing Save up to 50% in installation time with Uponor’s Q&E System Discover what builders and installers around the world have relied upon since 1972. With more than 4 billion meters of pipe and over 500 million ttings in service worldwide, Uponor Q&E has more than proven its powerful properties: • Easiest and fastest jointing system in the market saving you time and money!

• Requiring only one tool, the Q&E system with its handy and lightweight expansion tool M12 will become your high-speed weapon on site • Most tested, trusted, listed and code-approved PE-Xa pipe for residential and commercial plumbing from the innovation leader Uponor • Flexible and adaptable Pe-Xa pipe requiring less ttings overall • Cost effective full plastic solution • 25 year of warranty • Full-service design and technical support Connect in seconds with Uponor Q&E Fast. Simple. Secure.

Your benefits • • • •

Fast connection (up to 50% time saving) Easy (no special skills required) ONE cordless tool only Reliable and durable with 25 year warranty

Enquire now at your nearest Bretts store or call 07 3203 2105

www.uponor.com.au