Self-certification by plumbers and drainlayers

Self-certification will allow trusted plumbers and drainlayers to carry out defined low-risk work without building consent authority inspections. This will reduce inspection delays and allow building consent authorities to focus on higher-risk work.

What self-certification will look like

Work can be self-certified if it is:

• routine, low-risk and not complex
• performed by a plumber or drainlayer with a self-certifying endorsement.

Regulations will further define which types of plumbing and drainlaying work can be self-certified.

If a building consent applicant chooses to use self-certification, they will need to engage a plumber or drainlayer who has a self-certifying endorsement. 

The building consent authority will check that the work qualifies for self-certification and will continue to check that the plans comply with the Building Code. 

The building consent authority will not inspect self-certified plumbing and drainlaying work.

Once the work is complete, the practitioner must submit a Certificate of Compliance within 10 working days. The Certificate of Compliance will:

• confirm the work complies with the building consent
• include evidence such as testing results, photos and as-built designs
• be included in the Code Compliance Certificate application.

The building consent authority must accept the Certificate of Compliance as evidence that the plumbing and drainlaying work complies with the building consent.

Information from the Certificate of Compliance will be uploaded to a public register. Certificates may be audited by the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board, who will have disciplinary and enforcement powers for when things go wrong.

Once the self-certification scheme is in place, you can still choose to have your plumbing and drainlaying work inspected if you want to.

Information about building consent inspections

Roles and responsibilities for self-certifiers

Endorsed practitioners will:

• meet eligibility criteria set by the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board, including technical competency, civil liability cover, and business practices
• be listed on a public register
• renew their endorsement every three years.

Endorsed practitioners will be responsible for:

• providing a declaration that the work qualifies for self-certification, as part of a building consent application
• ensuring that the work complies with the building consent. They may do, assist in doing, or supervise the work.
• issuing a Certificate of Compliance to both the building owner and the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board. 

Plumbers and drainlayers who meet the eligibility criteria can choose to apply for endorsement. 

Next steps

The Building and Construction Sector (Self-certification by Plumbers and Drainlayers) Amendment Bill has passed its first reading and is now with the Transport and Infrastructure Select Committee.

Read the Minister’s press release on the Beehive website.

Bills backing skilled tradies pass first reading - Beehive.govt.nz

Read the Bill and view its progress through the legislative process on the New Zealand Parliament website.

Building and Construction Sector (Self-certification by Plumbers and Drainlayers) Amendment Bill - parliament.nz