PGD Act proposals

PGD ACT PROPOSALS: ARE THEY ENOUGH?

Proposed changes for the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006 don’t go far enough, according to Master Plumbers. NZ Plumber takes a look at the proposals, what more Master Plumbers wants to see, and where to for self-certification of plumbers and drainlayers.

Overall, the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act is working well, according to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Its overdue review of the Act has resulted in a few proposals for change.

Proposed changes

Removal of exemptions for sanitary plumbing work: Current householder and area exemptions allow the government to designate areas of NZ where sanitary plumbing work can be done by people with no relevant qualifications. This would be removed though homeowners would still be allowed to do lowerrisk work, such as installing washing machines and dishwashers or replacing and repairing taps. Removal of exemptions under supervision: Current exemptions allow unlicensed people to work under supervision would also be removed, although a new licence class would be developed to formally recognise their skills and experience. Further work to develop a pathway to self-certification for plumbers and drainlayers: Whilst MBIE recognises that a self-certification model would increase efficiencies, it says the review found ‘gaps’ that would need addressing first. These include updating the licensing system to make sure certifiers have the required skills and implementing an auditing regime. A self-verification pilot scheme is planned as a first step. Changes to the structure of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB): The recommendation is to enable a broader PGDB membership, whilst keeping the requirement for at least four members of the 10 on the Board to be registered and licensed plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers. Minor changes to complaints and disciplinary processes: These would include removing the barrier to the PGDB Registrar being able to make a complaint. Minor changes to definitions under the Act.

A draft Bill for these proposed changes is expected to be introduced in early 2022. This will then be referred to a Select Committee for review and to seek public feedback.

“We want more modifications”

Greg Wallace, CEO, Master Plumbers

Ahead of the 2019 public consultation period on the PGD Act review, Master Plumbers was asked to contribute its views to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) on issues for consideration.

In its submission, Master Plumbers noted it was strongly in favour of introducing self-certification for plumbers and drainlayers but stressed that this would require a well-funded auditing programme. Two years later MBIE has said it will develop a pathway towards self-certification but that gaps will need addressing first—including “implementing a credible auditing regime”.

According to Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace, most of the organisation’s other suggestions for consideration were not addressed by the statutory review, but Master Plumbers has been engaging with MBIE to discuss these points further. “We want to see more modifications to the PGD Act and we have been assured there is still time,” says Wallace.

Points raised in the Master Plumbers submission include the recommendation to apply a fit and proper person test at an earlier stage, when a trainee is applying for a Limited Certificate. This is because some trainees fail the current test when they apply for registration or licensing, leaving them potentially unable to pursue their chosen career despite having completed their apprenticeship.

“We also suggested that higher fines be levied against non-licensed people carrying out work, and that the revenue from these fines be used to help fund prosecutions carried out by the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board,” says Wallace. “In a recent survey of our membership, 95% of respondents agreed with this recommendation.”

Other feedback in the submission related to Act definitions.

Master Plumbers welcomes MBIE’s confirmation of a self-verification pilot scheme for plumbers and drainlayers, and will drive progress for this along with further modifications to the Act.

WHY THESE PROPOSALS NOW?

This March the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) released the Statutory Review Report on the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006. The report was eight years overdue and makes some recommendations for change to the Act.

As part of its overall review, MBIE commissioned the Sapere Research Group to conduct an independent review of selfcertification to inform its recommendations about whether or not to progress with this model.

MBIE released the Sapere report at the same time as the Statutory Review Report.

Find both reports at www.building.govt.nz/about-building-

performance/all-news-and-updates/minor-changes-to-theplumbers-gasfitters-and-drainlayers-act

ON-FARM RETICULATION SYSTEMS

As part of its statutory review of the PGD Act, MBIE considered removing the requirement for a plumber to be required for any on-farm reticulation work that shared a water source with sanitary fixtures. It now says this will be progressed once the requirement can be “sufficiently amended while still protecting public health and safety”.

“There is a risk that badly designed pipework or poorly installed protections against contamination cause contaminants to enter the potable water supply,” says MBIE. “In particular, through failure to properly install appropriate backflow preventers at the correct places or poorly designed and installed plumbing that carries foul water.”

The milking and pumping industry wants to see an exemption in the PGD Act allowing technicians to carry out sanitary plumbing on farms, but this won’t be happening imminently.