Under Part 4 of the Plumbing Regulations 2018, mechanical services work is:
a. the construction, installation, replacement, repair, alteration, maintenance, testing or commissioning of a mechanical heating, cooling or ventilation system in a building, which is associated with the heating, cooling or ventilation of that building, and includes:
Any valve, regulator, register, pipe, duct, flue, tank, heating or cooling pipe or surface, boiler, burner, solid fuel heater, coil or other item that is used in the system.
In the case of a cooling tower, any water pipe, valve, pump, automated dosing device or automated bleeding device or any other mechanical component that affects the cooling tower’s cooling water flow rate or wastewater disposal.
Roof sheeting and roof flashing that is necessary for the purpose of any work described in this subregulation; and
b. The construction, installation, replacement, repair, alteration, maintenance, testing or commissioning of any fixed component used in the reticulation system for the supply or removal of a medical gases from the gas source to the wall outlet.
c. The installation, commissioning and any incidental design work that is associated with the installation and commissioning of:
any part of a single head split system
a ceiling cassette system
an add-on condenser unit for a ducted system
that is associated with the heating and cooling of a building.
d. Any design work that is incidental to, or associated with, any work described in paragraphs (a) and (b).
This work does not include:
gasfitting work
any work on a cooling tower drift eliminator
any treatment of cooling or heating water
any cleaning of a cooling tower
disassembly or reassembly of a flue terminal for the purposes of cleaning a solid fuel heater
the connection or disconnection of a system referred to in subregulation (1) from a water supply other than disconnection of the system from a water supply at an isolating valve adjacent to a mechanical component of that system.
Typical mechanical services work
Areas of experience (AoEs)
Persons registered or licenced in this class typically carry out the following work:
install, test and/or commission mechanical services
fabricate and install solid and/or flexible ductwork
install, maintain and test medical gas systems
weld mechanical services pipes.
Compliance requirements
Registered and licenced practitioners in this class must interpret and apply the compliance requirements for this class outlined in:
Building Act 1993 (Vic)
Victorian Plumbing Regulations 2018
WorkSafe Victoria requirements for plumbing work and building construction sites
Additional compliance requirements for licenced practitioners
Licenced practitioners hold a greater level of responsibility and must interpret and apply the following additional compliance requirements:
issue compliance certificates
knowledge of Performance Solutions
WorkSafe Victoria requirements for supervising staff (including supervision of apprentices)
hold relevant insurance
What do you need to become registered or licenced in this class?
Everyone who applies for registration or licence in this class – unless applying via mutual recognition (MR) – must successfully complete the relevant BPC exam(s). You are permitted to bring relevant reference materials to your exams.
Registration
There are different pathways to become registered in this class:
Australian apprentice pathway
This is the most common pathway.
You are eligible to apply via this pathway if you have successfully completed the following:
Certificate III Plumbing via an Australian apprenticeship
Prescribed units for this class
BPC apprentice registration exam(s) for this class (typically completed in the final year of your apprenticeship).
Graduated but not yet successfully completed your BPC apprentice exam?
You may apply for provisional registration (PR) – this will allow you to continue to work lawfully for up to 12 months while you are waiting to sit your exam.
Non-apprentice pathway
To apply via this pathway, you must meet the following conditions:
have at least 4 years in the required AoEs
can interpret and apply the compliance requirements for this class
have a current Construction Induction Card (White or Red card)
And have successfully completed either the:
prescribed units for this class or
prescribed safety units for this class ,and can demonstrate the same knowledge and skill as a person who has completed the prescribed units
and
can provide a Technical Referee Report from a suitably qualified licenced plumber in this class
plus
successfully complete the BPC non-apprentice registration exam for this class.
Are you eligible for PR?
Some persons may be eligible for PR. It allows you to work lawfully for up to 12 months while you're waiting to complete your BPC registration exams.
Mutual recognition
If you hold a current registration or licence in another Australian jurisdiction or New Zealand that the BPC recognises as equivalent to this class, you may be eligible to apply for Mutual Recognition (MR).
Licence
To become licenced in this class, you must meet the following conditions:
hold (or be eligible) to hold registration in this class
have an additional 2 years of practical experience
hold the prescribed units for licence in this class
and
successfully complete the BPC licence exam for this class.
