Was this page helpful?
Your rating will help us improve our website.
Search BPC
Search for content, licensing, rules, regulations, building issues or anything else.
Log in
-
Log in to BPC Online
- Apply for and manage building permits (replaces BAMS)
- Apply for and maintain registration
- Keep insurance up to date
-
Log in to BAMS
- Apply for building permit numbers (BPNs)
- Process levy payments
- Submit relevant building surveyor monthly reports for prescribed events
- Amend BPN records and building permit details
- Advise changes to the cost of buildding work
-
Log in to VBA360
- Purchase and manage compliance certificates
- Create and amend drain inpection bookings
- Submit and track a building or plumbing complaint
- Submit, manage and track an owner-builder application
-
Log in to eToolbox
- Apply for a plumbing licence and/or registration
- Renew a plumbing licence or registration
- Update plumber persional details
- Request a plumber ID card
-
Log in to BuildVic
- Purchase domestic building insurance (DBI)
- View certificates of insurance
- Access your DBI letter of eligibility
- Check current job limits and premium rates
On 17 April 2025, Standards Australia published the 2025 edition of the AS/NZS 3500:2025 series (plumbing and drainage) to replace the 2021 edition. The AS/NZS 3500 series is a referenced standard in the Plumbing Code of Australia, which is adopted under the Plumbing Regulations 2018.
Plumbing practitioners must ensure all plumbing work commenced on or after 20 October 2025 complies with the 2025 version of the standard.
Educational videos have been produced to help plumbing practitioners familiarise themselves with the key changes in the 2025 edition, which can be found below on this web page.
There are 3 separate videos (Parts 1 and 4, Part 2 and Part 3), so that practitioners can easily find the technical guidance relevant to their work.
These videos only provide an overview of the key changes. Plumbing practitioners must ensure they familiarise themselves with the updated standards.
Part 1: Water services
AS/NZS 3500.1: 2025 specifies the requirements for the design, installation and commissioning of cold-water services. It applies to new installations as well as alterations, additions and repairs.
Relevant work includes:
- drinking water
- non-drinking water
- fire services
- rainwater
- irrigation
- water storage tanks
- rainwater storage tanks
- pumps and treated greywater systems.
- some sizing requirements for water services that cover both heated and cold water services.
Part 2: Sanitary plumbing and drainage
AS/NZS 3500.2: 2025 specifies requirements for the design and installation of sanitary plumbing and drainage from fixtures to a sewer, common effluent system or an on-site wastewater management system. It applies to new installations as well as alterations, additions or repairs to existing installations.
Part 3: Stormwater drainage
AS/NZS 3500.3: 2025 specifies the requirements for materials, design, installation and testing of roof drainage systems, surface drainage systems and subsoil drainage systems to a point of connection.
Part 4: Heated water services
AS/NZS 3500.4: 2025 specifies the requirements for the design, installation and commissioning of heated water services using drinking water or rainwater or a combination of both. It applies to new installations as well as alterations, additions and repairs to existing installations.
Part 4 includes aspects of the installation from and including any valves on the cold-water inlet to any cold-water storage tank or water heater, and the downstream fixtures and fittings. It also applies to the installation of the following types of water heaters:
- Storage water heaters with a rated delivery or capacity of up to 700 L per heater.
- Heat exchange water heaters.
- Instantaneous, continuous flow water heaters.
Accessing Australian standards
The BPC strongly encourages plumbing practitioners to consult the complete Standards in order to ensure that they comply with all Deemed-to-Satisfy requirements.
The full text of the 2025 editions of AS/NZS 3500 series can be purchased at any of the following websites:
- Buy Standards on the Standards Australia website.
- Intertek Inform (Previously known as SAI Global)
- Accuris Standards Store (Techstreet has now joined the Accuris platform)
If you have any questions, please contact the BPC Plumbing Technical Advice team at plumbingtechnicaladvice@bpc.vic.gov.au.
Last updated 30 June 2026