The objective of this document is to provide Deemed-to-Satisfy solutions for compliance with —

(a) the National Construction Code (NCC) Volume Three, Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA), and
(b) the New Zealand Building Code (NZBC), Clause G12 Water Supplies.

A list of all parts in the AS/NZS 3500 series for plumbing and drainage can be found in the Standards
Australia and Standards New Zealand online catalogues.

The major changes in this revision are as follows:

(i) Conformance to individual product standards has been removed. All products used in
plumbing and drainage systems in Australia need to comply with the PCA and, in New
Zealand, the NZBC, see Appendix B for further information. Removal of specific product
standard conformance requirements avoids inconsistencies and contradictions between this
document and the PCA and NZBC
(ii) Definitions have been relocated to AS/NZS 3500.0 for consistency across the series.
(iii) Jointing requirements for plastics pipes have been clarified and expanded to allow
different methods.
(iv) Changes to the requirements for the marking of pipes in commercial buildings to assist in the
better identification of pipework and avoid cross connections.
(v) Changes to the requirements for the installation of water services located in metal-framed
walls to bring the provisions in line with those of the National Association of Steel-Framed
Housing (NASH).
(vi) The separation between above-ground heated water services pipe work and electrical
services has been reduced to bring it in line with AS/NZS 3000 and AS/NZS 3500.1.
(vii) To improve the amenity of users and reduce wastage of water and energy, changes have been
made to requirements for circulated heated water systems including water meters and entry
points for heated water, thermal insulation for non-circulatory heated water piping, and
maximum capacities of any dead leg from the branch offtake to its termination. Appendix Q has
been added to provide a guide to determining capacity of dead legs and estimating wait times.
(viii) Heated water temperature control provisions, which are considered matters of public policy,
were elevated from AS/NZS 3500.4 to the PCA Part B2 Heated Water Systems. To avoid
conflict between the PCA and this document, clauses relating to sanitary fixtures delivery
temperature and solutions for control of delivery temperatures have been deleted. In New
Zealand, these provisions are contained within NZBC Acceptable Solution G12/AS1.

The terms “normative” and “informative” are used in Standards to define the application of the
appendices to which they apply. A “normative” appendix is an integral part of a Standard, whereas an
“informative” appendix is only for information and guidance.

Notes or footnotes to tables or figures that are expressed in mandatory terms are deemed to be
requirements of this document.

Notes to clauses in this document are informative only and do not include requirements.

First published as AS CA51—1968. Revised and redesignated as AS 1529—1974. AS 1529—1974 and AS 2002—1987 revised, amalgamated and redesignated AS 3500.4—1990. AS 3500.4—1990 jointly revised and redesignated AS/NZS 3500.4.2:1997. AS/NZS 3500.4.2:1997 jointly revised and redesignated as AS/NZS 3500.4:2003.