Amendment Notice 2012
The Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board, under sections 28, 30, 31 and 139 of the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006 ("the Act"), having been guided by the principles set out in section 32 of the Act, issues the following notice to amend the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (Plumbing Registration and Licensing) Notice 2010, published in the New Zealand Gazette, 21 October 2010, No. 143, page 3611.
Contents
1. Title
2. Commencement
3. Principal notice
4. Purpose
5. Interpretation
6. Schedule amended
(1) Paragraph 2(2) amended
(2) Paragraph 3(1) and (2) amended
(3) New subparagraph inserted
(4) Paragraph 7(2) amended
(5) Paragraph 8(1) and (2) amended
(6) New subparagraph inserted
______________________
1. Title
This notice is the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board (Plumbing Registration and Licensing) Amendment Notice 2012.
2. Commencement
This notice comes into force on 11 October 2012.
3. Principal notice
This notice amends the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (Plumbing Registration and Licensing) Notice 2010 ("the principal notice").
4. Purpose
The purposes of this notice are:
(a) to revoke the competencies that the board, in setting the examinations referred to in the principal notice, requires applicants for registration as certifying plumbers or licensed plumbers to demonstrate, and to replace them with new competencies; and
(b) to revoke the continuing professional development ("CPD") requirements referred to in the principal notice and replace them with new CPD requirements.
5. Interpretation
(1) In this notice, unless the context otherwise requires-
board means the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board.
(2) Any term or expression that is defined in the Act that is used but not defined in this notice has the same meaning as in the Act.
6. Schedule amended
Paragraph 2(2) amended
(1) Replace paragraph 2(2) in the Schedule with:
"(2) The certifying plumber examination and the certifying common examination referred to in paragraph 2(1) are set by the board so that, to pass the examinations an applicant demonstrates the ability to design, manage the installation of, and verify sanitary plumbing systems through possessing competencies in the areas of:
(a) Trade calculations and trade science used in the design and installation of sanitary plumbing systems. Descriptors include, but are not limited to-
(i) estimation, measurement, and calculation using measurement systems;
(ii) application of formulae including transposing;
(iii) physics laws and their application as they relate to sanitary plumbing;
(iv) hydraulic principles;
(v) expansion and contraction;
(vi) corrosion protection;
(vii) water quality;
(viii) density;
(ix) energy transfer.
(b) The selection of materials; their properties, applications, and how they are used in the design and specification of sanitary plumbing systems. Descriptors include, but are not limited to-
(i) compatibility, testing, and commissioning procedures;
(ii) alternative materials, approval regimes, and protection of material.
(c) The drawings and specifications for sanitary plumbing. Descriptors include, but are not limited to, the preparation of plans and specifications.
(d) The design, specification, and verification of water services for sanitary plumbing systems. Descriptors include, but are not limited to-
(i) pipe sizing principles;
(ii) hot and cold water reticulation systems;
(iii) water storage systems;
(iv) domestic fire sprinkler systems;
(v) rain water harvesting;
(vi) pumps;
(vii) sanitary appliances and fixtures;
(viii) backflow prevention;
(ix) heating systems that relate to sanitary plumbing, including hot water systems, and solar water heating;
(x) alternative water supplies.
(e) The design and specification of foul water systems for sanitary plumbing. Descriptors include, but are not limited to-
(i) principles of sizing and venting for foul water plumbing systems;
(ii) pumps;
(iii) sanitary appliances and fixtures;
(iv) backflow prevention;
(v) irrigation systems.
(f) Access to, and the application of, relevant documentation relating to sanitary plumbing to meet compliance requirements, and an understanding of the regulatory environment. Descriptors include, but are not limited to-
(i) Acts and Regulations;
(ii) standards;
(iii) codes;
(iv) manufacturers' instructions.
(g) Management of the effect on the integrity of structures relating to the design and installation of sanitary plumbing systems; including weather tightness considerations as they relate to penetrations to the building envelope and the coordination with other services. Descriptors include, but are not limited to-
(i) preservation of structural integrity;
(ii) prevention of damage to property including weather tightness;
(iii) positioning and protection of services along with the coordination with other building services.
(h) Responsibilities relating to managing health and safety. Descriptors include, but are not limited to health and safety systems, and the preparation of safety plans.
(i) Responsibilities relating to the oversight and/or supervision of persons who do, or assist in doing, sanitary plumbing work."
Paragraphs 3(1) and (2) amended
(2) Replace paragraphs 3(1) and (2) in the Schedule with:
"(1) To be eligible to be issued with a certifying plumber practising licence, an applicant must, during the licensing period concluding immediately before the licensing period for which the licence application is being made, have obtained a minimum number of continuing professional development ("CPD") points ("CPD points").
(1A) Of the CPD points required by a certifying plumber for each licensing period, an applicant must have obtained at least 75% of the CPD points by successfully completing board-accredited CPD courses, and a maximum of 25% of the CPD points by completing self-directed learning, as set out in the following table:
Practising licences CPD points required for each licensing period
Certifying plumber practising licence only 12 CPD points, of which-
" at least 9 points must be from board-accredited CPD courses; and
" up to 3 points may be acquired through self-directed learning.
Certifying plumber practising licence and one of the following-
" certifying drainlayer practising licence
" licensed drainlayer practising licence 20 CPD points, of which-
" at least 15 points must be from board-accredited CPD courses; and
" up to 5 points may be acquired through self-directed learning.
" certifying gasfitter practising licence
" licensed gasfitter practising licence
Certifying plumber practising licence and two of the following-
" certifying drainlayer practising licence
" licensed drainlayer practising licence
" certifying gasfitter practising licence
" licensed gasfitter practising licence 24 CPD points, of which-
" at least 18 points must be from board-accredited CPD courses; and
" up to 6 points may be acquired through self-directed learning.
(1B) A "board-accredited CPD course" means any learning programme accredited by the board before the certifying plumber enrols in it. In exceptional circumstances, and at the discretion of the Registrar, the board may accept CPD points as being for board-accredited courses where the course was not accredited before the certifying plumber enrolled in it but where the board subsequently accredited it.
(1C) One hour of self-directed learning has the value of one (1) CPD point. The following are examples of activities that an applicant could claim as CPD points for self-directed learning:
(a) attending seminars;
(b) attending conferences;
(c) reviewing published material;
(d) presenting at conferences;
(e) writing articles.
(1D) All CPD points must be relevant to at least one (1) of the competencies prescribed for the trade or trades to which an application relates. "Competencies" means the competencies in the areas identified in:
(a) paragraphs 2(2) and 7(2) of this notice;
(b) paragraphs 2(7) and 7(2) of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (Drainlaying Registration and Licensing) Notice 2010;
(c) paragraphs 2(2) and 7(2) of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (Gasfitting Registration and Licensing) Notice 2010.
(1E) Where an applicant is seeking to be licensed in more than one (1) trade, they must ensure that they have obtained some CPD points relevant to the competencies for each of those trades, and that those CPD points are from board-accredited CPD programmes.
(1F) CPD that does not relate to the competencies is not eligible to be counted as CPD points.
(2) If, in any licensing period, a certifying plumber obtains more than the required number of CPD points from board-accredited CPD courses, those additional points may be counted towards the CPD points for the next licensing period, but may not be counted towards the CPD points required for any subsequent licensing period.
(2A) From time to time, the board may require certifying plumbers to undertake particular CPD courses. The CPD points obtained as a result of successfully completing board-required CPD will be regarded as being CPD points from board-accredited CPD."
New subparagraph inserted
(3) After paragraph 3(11) in the Schedule, insert:
"Transitional provision
(12) The first date by which certifying plumbers are required to have obtained the CPD points so that they can be issued a certifying plumber practising licence for the following licensing period is 31 March 2013."
Paragraph 7(2) amended
(4) Replace paragraph 7(2) in the Schedule with:
"(2) The board's examination, referred to in paragraph 7(1), is set by the board so that, to pass the examination an applicant demonstrates knowledge, and the experience and practical ability to install, test, commission, fault-find, and maintain sanitary plumbing systems through possessing competencies in the areas of:
(a) Trade calculations and trade sciences. Descriptors include, but are not limited to-
(i) estimation, measurement, and calculation using measurement systems;
(ii) application of formulae;
(iii) physics laws as they relate to sanitary plumbing;
(iv) hydraulic principles;
(v) expansion and contraction;
(vi) corrosion protection;
(vii) water quality;
(viii) density;
(ix) energy transfer.
(b) Limitations in and the application of materials used in sanitary plumbing, including material protection and jointing methods. Descriptors include, but are not limited to-
(i) copper;
(ii) PVC;
(iii) polybutylene (PB);
(iv) polyethylene (PE);
(v) mild steel;
(vi) stainless steel;
(vii) acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS);
(viii) polypropylene;
(ix) cross linked polyethylene;
(x) brass/bronze;
(xi) cast iron;
(xii) sheet metal;
(xiii) lead;
(xiv) glass;
(xv) the use of tools and equipment.
(c) Drawings and specifications for sanitary plumbing. Descriptors include, but are not limited to-
(i) interpreting plans and specifications;
(ii) drawing as-built;
(iii) development of patterns.
(d) The installation, testing, commissioning, fault-finding and maintenance of water services for sanitary plumbing. Descriptors include, but are not limited to-
(i) pipe sizing principles;
(ii) hot and cold water reticulation systems;
(iii) water storage systems;
(iv) domestic fire sprinkler systems;
(v) rainwater harvesting;
(vi) pumps;
(vii) sanitary appliances and fixtures;
(viii) backflow prevention;
(ix) heating systems that relate to sanitary plumbing, including hot water systems, and solar water heating;
(x) alternative water supplies.
(e) The installation, testing, commissioning, fault-finding and maintenance of foul water systems for sanitary plumbing systems. Descriptors include, but are not limited to-
(i) principles of sizing and venting for foul water plumbing systems;
(ii) pumps;
(iii) sanitary appliances and fixtures;
(iv) backflow prevention;
(v) irrigation systems.
(f) Access to, and the application of, relevant documentation relating to sanitary plumbing to meet compliance requirements, and an understanding of the regulatory environment. Descriptors include, but are not limited to-
(i) Acts and Regulations;
(ii) standards;
(iii) codes;
(iv) manufacturers' instructions.
(g) The effect of the installation of sanitary plumbing systems, or their components, on the integrity of structures, including weather tightness considerations as they relate to penetrations to the building envelope. Descriptors include, but are not limited to-
(i) preservation of structural integrity;
(ii) prevention of damage to property including weather tightness.
(h) Responsibilities relating to health and safety. Descriptors include, but are not limited to-
(i) personal and public safety;
(ii) site safety;
(iii) electrical safety;
(iv) environmental considerations.
(i) Limitations on persons who do, or assist in doing, sanitary plumbing work."
Paragraphs 8(1) and (2) amended
(5) Replace paragraphs 8(1) and (2) in the Schedule with:
"(1) To be eligible to be issued with a licensed plumber practising licence, an applicant must, during the licensing period concluding immediately before the licensing period for which the licence application is being made, have obtained a minimum number of continuing professional development ("CPD") points ("CPD points").
(1A) Of the CPD points required by a licensed plumber for each licensing period, an applicant must have obtained at least 75% of the CPD points by successfully completing board-accredited CPD courses, and a maximum of 25% of the CPD points by completing self-directed learning, as set out in the following table:
Practising licences CPD points required for a licensing period
Licensed plumber practising licence only 12 CPD points, of which-
" at least 9 points must be from board-accredited CPD courses; and
" up to 3 points may be acquired through self-directed learning
Licensed plumber practising licence and one of the following-
" certifying drainlayer practising licence
" licensed drainlayer practising licence
" certifying gasfitter practising licence
" licensed gasfitter practising licence 20 CPD points, of which-
" at least 15 points must be from board-accredited CPD courses; and
" up to 5 points may be acquired through self-directed learning
Licensed plumber practising licence and two of the following-
" certifying drainlayer practising licence
" licensed drainlayer practising licence
" certifying gasfitter practising licence
" licensed gasfitter practising licence 24 CPD points, of which-
" at least 18 points must be from board-accredited CPD courses; and
" up to 6 points may be acquired through self-directed learning
(1B) A "board-accredited CPD course" means any learning programme accredited by the board before the licensed plumber enrols in it. In exceptional circumstances, and at the discretion of the Registrar, the board may accept CPD points as being for board-accredited courses where the course was not accredited before the licensed plumber enrolled in it but where the board subsequently accredited it.
(1C) One hour of self-directed learning has the value of one (1) CPD point. The following are examples of activities that an applicant could claim as CPD points for self-directed learning:
(a) attending seminars;
(b) attending conferences;
(c) reviewing published material;
(d) presenting at conferences;
(e) writing articles.
(1D) All CPD points must be relevant to at least one (1) of the competencies prescribed for the trade or trades to which an application relates. "Competencies" means the competencies in the areas identified in:
(a) paragraphs 2(2) and 7(2) of this notice;
(b) paragraphs 2(7) and 7(2) of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (Drainlaying Registration and Licensing) Notice 2010;
(c) paragraphs 2(2) and 7(2) of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (Gasfitting Registration and Licensing) Notice 2010.
(1E) Where an applicant is seeking to be licensed in more than one (1) trade, they must ensure that they have obtained some CPD points relevant to the competencies for each of those trades, and that those CPD points are from board-accredited CPD programmes.
(1F) CPD that does not relate to the competencies is not eligible to be counted as CPD points.
(2) If, in any licensing period, a licensed plumber obtains more than the required number of CPD points from board-accredited CPD courses, those additional points may be counted towards the CPD points for the next licensing period, but may not be counted towards the CPD points required for any subsequent licensing period.
(2A) From time to time, the board may require licensed plumbers to undertake particular CPD courses. The CPD points obtained as a result of successfully completing board-required CPD will be regarded as being CPD points from board-accredited CPD."
New subparagraph inserted
(6) After paragraph 8(9) in the Schedule, insert:
"Transitional provision
(10) The first date by which licensed plumbers are required to have obtained the CPD points so that they can be issued a licensed plumber practising licence for the following licensing period is
31 March 2013."
Issued at Wellington this 5th day of September 2012.
WILLIAM MAX PEDERSEN
Registrar
Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board
Explanatory Note
This note is for explanatory purposes only.
The amendments set out in this notice:
" clearly prescribe what plumbers should know or be able to do, to be eligible for registration in each of the respective registration classes; and
" require plumbers who apply for renewals of their practising licences to complete continuing professional development to assist in maintaining and improving their competence.
By ensuring a minimum standard of competence and establishing methods that assist to maintain and improve competence, the board contributes to complying with the purposes of the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006.
In prescribing the matters set out in this notice, and in accordance with the provisions set out in sections 32 and 33 of the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006, the board has:
" been guided by the principles in section 32; and
" consulted in accordance with section 33(1).
Issued under sections 28 and 30 of the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006.
Date of notification in the New Zealand Gazette: 12 September 2012.
This notice is administered by the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board.