 In this video, we're going to take a closer look at the Plumbing Code of Australia. So, what is the Plumbing Code of Australia? The Plumbing Code of Australia is the third volume of the National Construction Code, also referred to as the PCA. It contains the technical provisions and sets out the minimum required levels of safety, health, amenity, accessibility and sustainability of the design and construction of plumbing and drainage systems in Australia. The PCA applies to these systems in all classes of buildings whenever plumbing work is carried out and applies to sites where water services are constructed independent of buildings. The PCA is given legal effect through state and territory plumbing legislation. Each state and territory building or plumbing act and regulations reference the PCA. So, this means while the ABCB writes the NCC, each state and territory is responsible for its administration. But why does the PCA exist? In short, it was developed to provide a national plumbing code. In the past, each state and territory had individual technical provisions. This made it more difficult for plumbers, manufacturers and businesses to comply with the correct standards or provisions when working across different states or territories. So, having a national plumbing code allows plumbers to work easily across different regions. It also provides assurance to consumers that plumbing and drainage systems have been correctly installed and that the water you drink is safe. How does the PCA work? The PCA is a performance-based code. This means to comply with it. Practitioners need to meet the performance requirements in accordance with the National Construction Code's governing requirements. But how do you achieve compliance? Well, the PCA references a number of documents, including standards such as the ASNZS 3500 series. These documents can be used as a means of meeting the performance requirements, known as a deemed to satisfy solution. Another way to meet the performance requirements is to develop a performance solution, or you can use a combination of both. The PCA also sets out which products must be certified and authorised for use in plumbing and drainage installations. These are captured under the Mandatory Watermark Certification Scheme, known simply as Watermark. How can you access the PCA? You can access the PCA free online, simply by registering on the ABCB website at abcb.gov.au. Once you have registered, you will have full access to the PCA, the rest of the National Construction Code and more. We also have a range of other resources to help you understand the PCA in the ABCB Resource Library. Our resources include videos, handbooks, infographics and more. Want to know more? Visit the ABCB website to access the PCA today.