Homeowners and consumers and the plumbers and drainlayers self-certification scheme

Plumbers and drainlayers who have been endorsed by the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board can choose to self-certify (sign off) that eligible work complies with the building consent. 

If you want to use an endorsed plumber or drainlayer, bring this up with your agent before you apply for consent. This will make the process smoother if you do this from the beginning.

Your choice as a homeowner

 You can choose to either:

• use an endorsed plumber or drainlayer to self-certify all or some or your eligible plumbing or drainlaying work
• use building consent authorities (BCAs) to inspect and sign off plumbing and drainlaying work in the usual way.

It is your choice about whether you want to use self-certification or not.

Benefits of using a self-certified plumber or drainlayer

• No BCA inspections for eligible work.
• Time and cost savings, as BCA inspections and inspection fees are not required. 

Most new residential builds require about four BCA inspections for plumbing and drainlaying work, so using self-certification can reduce this.

How self-certification works

Certifying plumbers and drainlayers must hold a current practising licence and meet additional standards to become endorsed, before they can self-certify eligible work. This can be work they carry out themselves, assist with, or work they supervise).

Building consent applications

If your work requires a building consent, you or someone acting on your behalf (such as your architect or builder) must list the work proposed to be self-certified in the building consent application.

If the plumbing or drainlaying work you need to do does not require a building consent, then it does not need to be self-certified.

The BCA will check whether the proposed work is eligible to be self-certified and whether it meets the Building Code before issuing a building consent. The building consent will list the approved self-certifiable work.

Certificates of compliance

Endorsed plumbers and drainlayers must issue a certificate of compliance along with supporting documents to confirm their work meets the building consent.

These must be provided within 10 working days of completing the work, to both:

• the homeowner
• the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board, for publishing on their public online register.

The certificate of compliance must also be included with the application for a code compliance certificate submitted to the BCA.

What is (and isn’t) changing

What is changing

• An endorsed plumber or drainlayer certifies that their own eligible work (and eligible work done under their supervision) meets the building consent, instead of it being checked by a BCA inspector. They do this by issuing a certificate of compliance.
• The Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board publishes the certificate of compliance on their public online register and keeps a record of the certificate for five years.

What is not changing

• You still have the same rights and protections if something goes wrong.
• Plumbing and drainlaying work must still meet all building consent and Building Code requirements.
• BCAs will continue to:
  • receive and assess building consent applications, including checking that any proposed self-certified work meets the Building Code
  • issue building consents
  • issue code compliance certificates
  • keep plumbing and drainlaying records, including the certificate of compliance, for the lifetime of the building.

Using a self-certified plumber or drainlayer: what to do

If you choose to use a self-certified plumber or drainlayer, here are a few key steps:

Before you engage a plumber or drainlayer

• Search for an endorsed plumber or drainlayer, or check whether a plumber or drainlayer can self-certify work, on the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board’s public register
• Ask the plumber or drainlayer to confirm that they hold civil liability insurance.
• On the building consent application:
  • list the work proposed to be self-certified
  • provide the name and registration number of the self-certifying plumber or drainlayer, if known.

After you engage a plumber or drainlayer

• Before the work begins, let your BCA know the name and registration number of the self-certified plumber or drainlayer (if you haven’t already provided this in the building consent application).
• Keep the certificate of compliance and supporting documents issued by the plumber or drainlayer.
• Make sure the certificate of compliance is included in the application for a code compliance certificate.
• Keep the code compliance certificate provided by the BCA.

What to do if there is a problem with the work

If you discover a problem with the plumbing or drainlaying work, there are options available to help you get it fixed.

Get help on the Building Performance website

You can find more information about your rights, consumer protections and the options available to resolve problems:

• Consumer protection
• Homeowner rights and obligations
• Resolution options

Raise concerns with the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board

If you are concerned about the quality or competence of the work, you can contact the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (the Board).

The Board can:

• investigate complaints
• take disciplinary action if standards are not met (for example, misuse of self-certification or failing to provide certificates).

The Board cannot order repairs or provide compensation.

Contact the Board – pgdb.co.nz