In New Zealand, Building Consent Authorities (BCAs) are responsible for ensuring that building work has been carried out in accordance with a building consent before they will issue a code compliance certificate.

Visual inspection of the building work is one method used by BCAs. But in some instances they can require other steps be taken such as testing the work.

Approved plans and specifications for the plumbing and drainlaying work will normally cite Acceptable Solutions for G13 - Foul water as the means of compliance. These documents include methods for testing that sanitary plumbing and drainage is watertight so it will meet the building code mandatory performance requirement to ‘avoid the likelihood of leakage’.

Many BCAs will require an inspection of sanitary plumbing and drainage work before it is covered up. The Board has been asked to remind plumbers and drainlayers to test their work for watertightness before the inspection to enable any defects to be rectified before they become an issue. The test should remain in place or be ready to go when the inspector is onsite.

The Acceptable Solutions have options for different types of tests that can be used on sanitary plumbing and drainage (i.e., Paragraph 7, G13/AS1, Paragraph 6, G13/AS2 or section 15, AS/NZS 3500.2 cited by G13/AS3). Plumbers and drainlayers should check the approved building consent documentation to see which tests have been specified.

Testing before the inspector is on site and ensuring the pipework is watertight will save both you and the inspector time. This will lessen the likelihood of hold-ups or defects causing issues for you or your client. A happy client is more likely to pay their bill, which ultimately keeps you happy!