Work requiring inspections

What type of work should I book an inspection for?

Plumbers and drainers requiring a Plumbing and Drainage Inspection by Building Commission NSW in the Sydney, Illawarra, Blue Mountains and the Newcastle area must book an audit inspection for:

• internal drainage, meaning all sanitary drainage located internal of a building including drainage and pump wells in basements of multi-storey buildings, and drainage cast into slabs
• external drainage, meaning all sanitary drainage located external of a building up to the point of connection as detailed in the Building Commission NSW point of connection document
• recycled water front run, meaning all recycled water or non-drinking water service pipework from the point of connection to the building footprint
• recycled water rough-in, meaning all recycled water or non-drinking water service pipework internal of the building.
• final inspection, once all fixtures and fittings are connected and the building is ready to be occupied.
• recycled water final inspection, once all fixtures and fittings are connected and the building to be occupied. This also requires a flow test to be completed
• reinspection, where work did not comply in an earlier inspection, a reinspection of that inspection type must be booked to confirm rectification
• Performance Solution, where an installation has been acknowledged by Building Commission NSW and is outside the requirements of the Deemed-to-Satisfy requirements of the Plumbing Code of Australia. For more information see: the Guideline for plumbing and drainage: Installing code compliant work and performance solutions.

Note: For trade waste applications, treatments and discharges throughout Sydney Water and Hunter Water areas:

• Building Commission NSW is responsible for the drainage to and from the trade waste apparatus and the drainage needs to be arranged for inspection accordingly, and
• the Network Utility Operator (NUO) retains responsibility for trade waste applications, treatments and discharges throughout Sydney, the Illawarra, Blue Mountains and Newcastle areas. Go to the Sydney Water website or the Hunter Water website for more information.

When must I book an inspection?

Inspections are generally required when:

• when the work is finished and before backfilling or covering the installation
• Building Commission NSW requests an inspection, ie. when there is a need for re-inspection or for an inspection of non-compliant work or Performance Solution inspection.

In certain circumstances, an inspection can be carried out at any time during the installation process like when sanitary plumbing is finished and before the premises are occupied (the final inspection).

Unattended final inspections

Licensed plumbers can request an unattended final audit inspection where the property and dwelling are not occupied, except in the case of recycled water areas, or an alternative water supply has been installed, or if the work is subject to a performance solution.

Unattended Final Inspections can only be booked for Residential Single Dwelling and Duplex properties. For more information see unattended final inspections.