Association of Hydraulic Services Consultant Australia (AHSCA) - Victoria Chapter

The AHSCA (Vic) 2024 Annual Report was presented at our AGM last week. Thanks to all that contributed and to our Members, Commercial Plumbers and Corporate Sponsors who all assist us making our industry better and stronger.

We would like to thank all of our Corporate sponsors who help the AHSCA and its members throughout the year. We look forward to catching up with you all at the AFL Finals Luncheon https://lnkd.in/gN8TyF59

Wow, lots to chat about…..looking forward to updating the members on some serious developments within the industry that will affect designers, installers and manufacturers alike.

We look forward to updating our members on some significant industry changes and the developments of the VBA's Plumbing Technical Advisory Panel. Come and have a chat with fellow industry peers and learn what is proposed for your industry.

Watermarked polybutylene pipe continues to destroy people’s home and hopes. The thousands of home owners probably don’t agree that WaterMark approval “ensures the products are fit for purpose” as is advertised by the ABCB. Those representations might appear to be somewhat a far stretch…..some might even say, false, misleading and deceptive… Although the WA government have undertaken a review and determined that installation is NOT at fault, https://lnkd.in/gjv5titb there is no recall from the ABCB or the WaterMark approval body, thus forcing mums and dads to spend every sent they have on impossibly expensive and protracted litigation. What is the product endorsement for? It would appear WaterMark endorsement clearly does NOT “ensure the products are fit for purpose” and does NOT protect the consumer in any way. This WaterMark certification system and the Standard development process behind it really needs to be independently reviewed and managed or alternatively abandoned. How many billions should the scheme’s failures be allowed to cost the community? All Australians are paying for failed WaterMarked products via our dramatically increased insurance premiums. The cost to the community is astonishing. https://lnkd.in/g_YDTyNr

CLASS ACTION - WATERMARK CERTIFIED PRODUCT Despite being subject to Class Action law suits in the USA in the 1990’s, polybutylene pipes were able to secure WaterMark endorsement in Australia, and are now a local Class Action has been lodged in the Federal Court. The Australian Building Codes Board promote that WaterMark endorsement “Ensures products are fit for purpose” and thousands of WA residents relied on those false representations. Because the administrator of the WaterMark scheme either can’t or won’t assist the thousands of effected consumers, they are forced to instigate expensive and time consuming Federal Court action while their properties are being continually flooded by ruptured pipes. Many are at breaking point. There is a proposal to extend the failed WaterMark scheme to cover entire bathrooms modules constructed off site by unskilled and unlicensed trades. Surely a scheme that is failing so badly can not be relied upon to provide consumer protection.

It’s imperative that we all keep up to date with emerging technologies and plumbing is at the forefront of many environmentally friendly solutions. https://lnkd.in/g3XqmP_6

INDUSTRY ALERT: AS2419.1:2021 has abandoned the 100 year plus convention for fire hydrant sluice valves installed in ground to be a left handed spindle. This will lead to wide spread industry confusion for generations to come and the delay and non-compliance of a number of large scale projects under construction. Please don't get caught and make the necessary arrangements prior to final commissioning to avoid delays and claims for liquidated damages.

Long-time valued member, Terry McKendry, recently shared insights into what hydraulic consultants do and why it is important. Buildings are complex systems and made up of many services to make them function as we expect. Today’s buildings are not just structures; they are ecosystems of innovation. From sustainable design practices to reduce environmental impact to advanced structural engineering that ensures safety and durability, every aspect demands meticulous attention and expertise.   Hydraulic Services Consultants are part of a building’s overall design team which also includes Architects, Structural Engineers, Civil Engineers and Building Services Engineering (Mechanical and Electrical). This is the same for almost any type of building, from a class 1 (domestic dwelling) to large industrial, commercial or health facilities.   A Hydraulic Services Consultant is a specialist who provides the design intent for all plumbing services, sanitary plumbing, drainage, hot and cold water and wet fire services that make up the vital services of a functioning building. These services are then installed by licensed tradespersons as part of the construction of the building project.   The AHSCA (Association of Hydraulic Services Consultants Australia) is made up of experienced industry consultants who aim to foster a collaborative network of industry professionals and affiliated manufacturers to set the standard of industry excellence. Join with us today.   #plumbingdesign #buildingdesign #construction #highrise #sanitaryplumbing #drainage #watersupply #continuingeducation #CPD #hydraulicengineering #sustainability

Before you blindly follow ideas and suggestions of untested theoretical possibilities, just ask if the modifications and extrapolations of other people’s research proposed is covered by an appropriate professional indemnity insurance policy with the associated run off provisions mandated by the relevant Ministerial Orders relevant to the jurisdiction. Does the proposer endorse and stand by the proposal in a legally formal way, as would reasonably be expected by credible experts? Are there ridiculous disclaimers pasted all over their outputs? If so, why? The answer is probably obvious. Research that includes actual full scale flow testing and empirical observations includes things like flows entering the rain head from the above sheets ( for example) unlike simplified theoretical models prepared to demonstrate a predetermined outcome. Obviously there are thousands of different configurations that MAY or MIGHT work, but does your client want you to guess? Is it intended under the NCC Performance Solutions that everyone is free to have a guess? There are also many configurations that do not work well and have inadvertent negative flow characteristics that can only be observed through via flow testing. How do we know? We undertook in excess of 3000 full-scale, flow tests for flow rates up to 100 lites per second. Some things we thought would, and should work didn’t and other things that we didn’t expect to work did! The Performance Solution landscape is a concerning mess all over Australia, particularly in relation to roof drainage and we expect a steady increase of building flooding over the upcoming years. If you or your client prefers to rely of flow tested solutions, designed by specifically trained specialists, with each and every Performance Solution covered by a $20 million professional indemnity policy, use an AHSCA accredited expert. Property insurers and property owners should require a certified DTS solution or a Performance Solution that can be directly related to current and peer reviewed research. If your builder, consultant or plumber are using methods and solutions that are not directly backed by a relevant research and an associated Professional Indemnity policy, you might have the wrong team. https://lnkd.in/gRP2Pfr9