NCC 2016 Volume Three
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Section B Water Services
The design, construction, installation, replacement, repair, alteration and maintenance of cold water services must be in accordance with the following:
AS/NZS 3500.1 with the following additions:
After 16.4, insert clause 16.4.1 as follows:
A reduction of the hazard ratings listed in table 16.1 may be permitted following a risk assessment of the design and installation of the rainwater tank and other environmental factors in accordance with clause 16.4.2; and
After 16.4.1, insert clause 16.4.2 as follows:
For buried and partly buried rainwater tanks without connection to a drinking water supply or with direct or indirect connections to a drinking water supply, a dual-check valve may be used in lieu of a testable device for containment and zone protection where it has been determined by risk assessment that—
the risk to tank rainwater quality from air pollution is low; and
the risk to tank rainwater quality from groundwater and/or surface water contamination is low. In assessing this risk the permeability of the tank and piping materials and joints to groundwater contaminants should be addressed; and
precautions in the design and installation of the rainwater collection system have been taken to reduce impacts to tank rainwater quality from the roof collection and delivery system. Such measures include, but are not restricted to, appropriate materials, gutter guards, filters, first flush devices, dry inlets, guards to exclude vermin and mosquitoes, and the quality of tank maintenance programs; and
precautions in the design and installation of the rainwater tank have been taken to reduce impacts to tank rainwater quality from groundwater and surface water pollution. Such measures include, but are not limited to—
location and topography; and
structural integrity of the tank including installation factors such as bedding, embedment, compaction and geotechnical specifications; and
watertightness of tank including all penetrations, connections, access covers and joints; and
ingress of vermin through the overflow e.g. by provision of a reflux valve, self sealing valve, trap check valve; and
the risk assessment results must be submitted to authority having jurisdiction; or
AS/NZS 3500.5 Section 6 with the following additions;
After 6.4 insert clause 6.4.1 as follows:
For buried and partly buried rainwater tanks without connection to a drinking water supply or with direct or indirect connections to a drinking water supply, a dual-check valve may be used in lieu of a testable device for containment and zone protection where it has been determined by risk assessment that—
the risk to tank rainwater quality from air pollution is low; and
the risk to tank rainwater quality from groundwater and/or surface water contamination is low. In assessing this risk the permeability of the tank and piping materials and joints to groundwater contaminants should be addressed; and
precautions in the design and installation of the rainwater collection system have been taken to reduce impacts to tank rainwater quality from the roof collection and delivery system. Such measures include, but are not restricted to, appropriate materials, gutter guards, filters, first flush devices, dry inlets, guards to exclude vermin and mosquitoes, and the quality of tank maintenance programs; and
precautions in the design and installation of the rainwater tank have been taken to reduce impacts to tank rainwater quality from groundwater and surface water pollution. Such measures include, but are not limited to—
location and topography; and
structural integrity of the tank including installation factors such as bedding, embedment, compaction and geotechnical specifications; and
watertightness of tank including all penetrations, connections, access covers and joints; and
ingress of vermin through the overflow e.g. by provision of a reflux valve, self sealing valve, trap check valve; and
the risk assessment results must be submitted to authority having jurisdiction.
The requirements of this Part.
Where a rainwater water service from a rainwater tank is permitted to interconnect with the water service from a water main supply, the following applies to Class 1 buildings and extensions or additions to Class 1 buildings where the roof area is not less than 50 m2. The supply to a fixture, appliance or water outlet shall be maintained by a device/mechanism that facilitates a seamless automatic switching from one water service supply to another and vice versa without the need for manual intervention.
Heating for a heated water service that only serves a single sole-occupancy unit in a new Class 2 building must, to the degree necessary, obtain energy from a source that has a greenhouse gas emission profile not exceeding 300 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per megajoule of heated water.
After BV2.2 insert SA BV2.201 as follows:
Compliance with Performance Requirement for a heater in a heated water service is verified when the annual greenhouse gas intensity of the of the water heater does not exceed 300 g CO2 -e/MJ of thermal energy load determined in accordance with AS/NZS 4234.
The greenhouse gas intensity of the water heater in (a) is the sum of the annual greenhouse gas emissions from each energy source in g CO2 -e divided by the annual thermal energy load of the water heater.
The greenhouse gas emissions from each energy source in (b) is the product of—
the annual amount of energy consumed from that energy source; and
the emission factor of—
if the energy source is electricity, 272 g CO2 -e/MJ; or
if the energy source is liquified petroleum gas, 65 g CO2 -e/MJ; or
if the energy source is natural gas, 61 g CO2 -e/MJ; or
if the energy source is wood or biomass, 4 g CO2 -e/MJ.
Delete B2.2(a) and insert SA B2.2(a) as follows:
The design, construction, installation, replacement, repair, alteration and maintenance of a heated water service must be in accordance with the following:
AS/NZS 3500.4 with the following variations:
After clause 1.9.2(b) insert (c), (d), (e) and (f) as follows:
Heated water services in buildings constructed after 19 October 1995 shall have temperature control in accordance with items (a) and (b).
All new solar water installations (including solar heater replacements) shall be in accordance with items (a) and (b).
Where an existing building is altered or extended in such a way that sanitary fixtures used primarily for personal hygiene purposes are installed in a location where, before the alteration or extension, no such fixture existed, the delivery temperature at the fixture shall be in accordance with items (a) and (b).
Where a water heater is replaced, a temperature control device is required where such a device was in place prior to the installation of the replaced water heater. The device must meet the requirements of items (a) and (b).
Advisory note: A duty of care should be exercised by installers to explain to clients the merits of temperature control for hot water delivered to existing sanitary fixtures used primarily for personal hygiene purposes.
Substitute clause 5.8(c) as follows:
All new or replacement unvented storage water heaters shall be fitted with new temperature/pressure relief and expansion control valves as shown in Figure 5.7.
Substitute clause 5.11.2.1 as follows:
The drain lines from the outlet of the temperature/pressure-relief valve and the expansion control valve on an individual water heater shall not be interconnected; and
Substitute clause 5.11.3(e) as follows:
All drain lines shall discharge separately over a gully, tundish or other visible approved outlet.
Section 3 of AS/NZS 3500.5 with the following variations:
After clause 3.2.2 insert 3.2.2.1 as follows:
The requirements of Clause 3.2.2 apply to the following:
Heated water services in buildings constructed after 19 October 1995.
All new solar water heater installations (including solar water replacements).
Where an existing building is altered or extended in such a way that sanitary fixtures used primarily for personal hygiene purposes are installed in a location where, before the alteration or extension, no such fixture existed.
Where a water heater is replaced, a temperature control device is required where such a device was in place prior to the installation of the replaced water heater.
Advisory note: A duty of care should be exercised by installers to explain to clients the merits of temperature control for hot water delivered to existing sanitary fixtures used primarily for personal hygiene purposes.
Substitute clause 3.19(c)(i) as follows:
All new or replacement unvented storage water heaters shall be fitted with new temperature/pressure relief and expansion control valves as shown in Figure 5.7.
Substitute clause 3.21.2(a) and (b) as follows:
The drain lines from the outlet of the temperature/pressure-relief valve and the expansion control valve on an individual water heater shall not be interconnected; and
All drain lines shall discharge separately over a gully, tundish or other visible approved outlet.
The requirements of this Part.
Delete B2.4(b) and (d) and insert SA B2.4(b) and (d) as follows:
A solar water heater or heat pump water heater must have the following performance:
A electric boosted solar heated water service or heat pump heated water service (air source or solar boosted) with a single tank and a volume of 400 litres or more and not more than 700 litres—
at least 38 Small-scale Technology Certificates in zone 3; or
at least 36 Small-scale Technology Certificates in zone 4.
An electric boosted solar heated water service or heat pump heated water service (air source or solar boosted) with a single tank and a volume more than 220 litres and not more than 400 litres—
at least 27 Small-scale Technology Certificates in zone 3; or
at least 26 Small-scale Technology Certificates in zone 4.
An electric boosted solar heated water service or heat pump heated water service (air source or solar boosted) with a single tank a volume of not more than 220 litres—
at least 17 Small-scale Technology Certificates in zone 3; or
at least 16 Small-scale Technology Certificates in zone 4.
A natural gas or LPG boosted solar heated water service with a total tank volume of not more than 700 litres and at least 1 or more Small-scale Technology Certificates in any zone.
A wood combustion boosted solar water heater, with no additional heating mechanism, and a total tank volume of not more than 700 litres.
Explanatory information:
An electric resistance water heater may be installed when—
the building has—
not more than 1 electric resistance water heater is installed; and
the electric resistance water heater—
has no storage capacity or a rated hot water delivery of not more than 50 litres; and
it does not supply heated water to more than 1 room; and
it does not supply heated water to a bath or shower.
A water heater in a heated water service that only serves a single, new, Class 2 sole-occupancy unit must be one of the following:
An electric heated water service with a rated hot water delivery, if applicable, of 700 litres or less.
A natural gas or LPG heated water service (instantaneous, continuous flow or storage) that is rated at not less than 2.5 stars in accordance with AS 4552, and a tank volume, if applicable, of 700 litres or less.
A solar heated water service (electric, natural gas or LPG boosted) or heat pump heated water service (air source or solar boosted), with a total tank volume of 700 litres or less, that is eligible for any number of Small-scale Technology Certificates.
A wood combustion heated water service, with no additional heating mechanisms, with a total tank volume of 700 litres or less.
A wood combustion boosted solar heated water service, with no additional heating mechanisms, with a total tank volume of 700 litres or less.