Certificates of compliance for self-certified plumbing and drainlaying

This information helps:

• plumbers and drainlayers understand what they must include in a certificate of compliance
• BCAs understand their certificate of compliance responsibilities. 

What must to be included in a certificate of compliance 

About the work 

• where the work was carried out (for example, the address)
• what work was completed
• the building consent number
• when the work started and finished
• any required supporting documents showing the work complies with the building consent.

Endorsed plumber and drainlayer details 

• name and registration (or unique ID)
• confirmation they are approved to self-certify
• confirmation they carried out, assisted with or supervised the work. 

About other people involved 

• names (and IDs if available) of anyone else who carried out or helped with the work

Statements and tests about the work

• tests carried out at the required stages
• tests showing the work performs as required
• a statement that all work complies with the building consent.

Final sign-off 

• a statement that everything in the certificate is true and accurate
• signature of the plumber and/or drainlayer and the date. 

Supporting documents that must be included 

• photos of the work
• test details and results (for example, pressure or flood tests)
• “as-built” plans if the work differs from the building consent (or an explanation of the differences). 

Issuing a certificate of compliance 

Plumbers and drainlayers must issue a certificate of compliance for self-certifiable work within 10 working days of completing the work. 

The certificate must be issued to: 

• the owner
• BCA
• the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board. 

The certificate of compliance:

• replaces the need for a BCA inspection of the self-certified work
• confirms the work complies with the building consent
• is used by the BCA as part of the code compliance certificate process.

Certificates of compliance are in a prescribed form set by the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board.

What BCAs must check

When processing an application for a code compliance certificate, BCAs must check that: 

• certificates of compliance contain all required information
• the work can be self-certified under the self-certification scheme
• the plumber or drainlayer is endorsed by the Plumbing, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board.

Check whether a plumber or drainlayer is endorsed to self-certify:

Search the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board online register – pgdb.co.nz

Check what work can be self-certified

BCAs must accept certificates of compliance as evidence that the self-certified work complies with the building consent and Building Code.

BCAs may still inspect other parts of the building work, as well as work that is not eligible for self-certification.

Within the same building consent, some building work may be self-certifiable while other work is not.