AS/NZS 3500.1:2025 Plumbing and drainage, Part 1: Water services
Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand
Supersedes: AS/NZS 3500.1:2021 Plumbing and drainage, Part 1: Water services
Supersedes: AS/NZS 3500.1:2021 Amd 1:2022 Plumbing and drainage, Part 1: Water services
Draft Designation: DR AS/NZS 3500.1:2023This Standard was prepared by the Joint Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand Committee WS-014, Plumbing and Drainage, to supersede AS/NZS 3500.1:2021.
The objective of this document is to provide installers with deemed to satisfy solutions to comply 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) New requirements specifying the use of certain classes of flexible hose assemblies in cold water applications, see Clause 2.3.
(ii) New requirements for the selection of polyethylene pipes installed in the northern Australian regions identified in Appendix I, see Clause 2.5.3.
(iii) Minor changes to the backflow prevention provisions for atmospheric vacuum breakers, see Clauses 4.4 and 4.6.
(iv) New requirements for the connection of miscellaneous devices and appliances to the drinking water supply, see Clause 5.20.
(v) New requirement for an isolating valve to be installed immediately before each flexible hose assembly that is connected to a mixer valve, tap outlet or cistern, see Clause 5.4.2.
(vi) Updated requirements for rainwater tanks and rainwater supply systems in New Zealand, see Section 16.
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.
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.
This document includes a commentary on some of the clauses. The commentary directly follows the relevant clause, is designated by “C” preceding the clause number and is printed in italics in a box. The commentary is for information and guidance and does not form part of the document.
Originated as AS 3500.1-1990. Jointly revised and redesignated as AS/NZS 3500.1:2003. Previous edition 2021. Fifth edition 2025.Contents:
Section 1: Scope And General
Section 2: Materials And Products
Section 3: Sizing Of Water Services
Section 4: Cross-Connection Control And Backflow Prevention
Section 5: Installation Of Cold-Water Services
Section 6: Fire Services
Section 7: Irrigation And Lawn Watering Systems
Section 8: Water Storage Tanks
Section 9: Non-Drinking Water Services
Section 10: Treated Greywater Services
Section 11: Water For Sanitary Flushing
Section 12: Pumps
Section 13: Water Requirements For Haemodialysis Machines
Section 14: Property Water Meters
Section 15: Installation Of Water Supply System From Rainwater Tanks (Australia Only)
Section 16: Rainwater Tanks And Water Supply Systems (New Zealand Only)
Section 17: Multi-Unit Developments
Section 18: Testing And Commissioning
Appendix A: (Normative) Equivalent Pipe Sizes
Appendix B: (Informative) Demonstrating Products And Materials Are Fit For Purpose
Appendix C: (Informative) Sizing Method For Supply Piping For Dwellings
Appendix D: (Informative) Sizing Of Piping For Dwellings
Appendix E: (Informative) Examples Of Potential Cross-Connections
Appendix F: (Informative) Storage Tanks — Inflow And Overflow
Appendix G: (Normative) Cleaning And Disinfection Of Storage Tanks
Appendix H: (Normative) Disinfection Of Water Services
Appendix I: (Normative) Polyethylene Pressure Pipes In Arid, Tropical And Sub-Tropical Regions Of Australia
Plumbing and Drainage.
WS-014
Association of Hydraulic Services Consultants Australia; Association of Hydraulic Services Consultants Australia (New Zealand); Australian Building Codes Board; Australian Gas Association; Australian Industry Group; Australian Stainless Steel Development Association; Australian Steel Institute; Backflow Prevention Association of Australia; Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers ANZ; Engineers Australia; Hydraulic Consultants Association Australasia; International Copper Association Australia; Master Plumbers Australia and New Zealand; Master Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers New Zealand; Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE); Plastics Industry Pipe Association of Australia; Plastics New Zealand; Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board; Plumbing Distributors Association of New Zealand; Plumbing Products Industry Group; The Institute of Plumbing Australia; Water New Zealand; Water Services Association of Australia.
