While the minutiae of hot water safety regulations in Australia will differ from one place to another, there is an unambiguous national standard in practice: keep your stored water at 60°C to put Legionella risk out of the equation and see that no more than 50°C comes out of a household tap. In many cases it is the tempering valve or other control device that stands between a pleasant shower and an emergency room visit.
Here I set out to compare the hot water safety standards as they apply in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT. I am Declan Ashby and my approach to writing these safety guides is much like a field briefing: lay down the conditions, make the risks plain and leave no doubt as to what to do next. For a broader overview, see the state hot water safety rules. But because rules are contingent on the building, the plumbing and when it was put in, one should put the matter to a licensed plumber or the state licensing authority for a final word.
National Standards
You will not find a single rulebook in Australia governing this in isolation. For the most part hot water work is subject to the Plumbing Code of Australia, the National Construction Code and the odd Australian Standard, along with local plumbing laws.
The Australian Building Codes Board has the national construction framework under its watch but the states and territories see to the enforcement, inspections and licensing. Hence you may have two homes with like-for-like cylinders yet go through different approval processes. The compliance side of things makes a distinction where the water does not.
Temperatures for Storage and Delivery
A 60°C figure for storage and 50°C at the point of delivery is the model for most domestic outlets. It is a way to limit scalding while still managing the threat of Legionella.
Do not mistake this for permission to tinker with your own system. There are manufacturer stipulations and building controls to be had; let a licensed plumber look over the heater, the pipework, the pressure and the valves.
Then there are the 45°C warm water systems and the like used in some facilities for their intended purpose. They need to be well designed since you run a health risk if you lower the storage temperature and do not have the proper controls in place. Legionella control and scald prevention have to be complementary, not at odds with each other.
How the States and Territories Stack Up
The following table is meant to be a practical point of departure on the main compliance issues, though it cannot take the place of an inspection or current plumbing approval.
| Jurisdiction | What To Check | Practical Compliance Focus |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | State plumbing licensing, approved work and building use | Go with a licensed plumber and get on top of outlet temperature control, certification and any inspection due |
| Victoria | Permits and the Victorian framework’s requirements | Have a read of the Victoria Building and Plumbing Commission, if only for higher-risk or rental premises |
| Queensland | Property use, installation type and gasfitting/plumbing rules | Make sure you have the local compliance documentation and know the QLD tempering valve and hot water system regs |
| South Australia | Licensed contractors, state rules and what is an approved installation | SA.GOV.AU has the information; verify the system is up to national and local mark |
| Western Australia | Installation approval, property classification and plumbing licence | Outside Perth in particular you have to factor in climate and getting a qualified plumber out to service you |
| Tasmania | Building category, state regulation and licensing | Get your documentation and the right kind of temperature control sorted prior to any work |
| Northern Territory | Local conditions, territory licence and what the building is for | Maintenance and access can be an issue in remote spots during the wet season |
| Australian Capital Territory | Premises classification, licensing and plumbing approval | The relevant authority can advise on rental-property duties and certification |
NSW and Canberra
The safety imperative in the ACT and New South Wales is to have a system that precludes users from being exposed to dangerously hot water and at the same time keeps the hygiene of the stored water in order. This could mean a thermostatic mixing or a tempering valve, or something else that is approved for the building.
After you have put in a new heater or done some alteration to the pipes, homeowners would be wise to have the paperwork to show for it. As for agents and landlords in a rental, a hot water complaint is a safety matter first and foremost. If a tenant says the water is scalding he should not be put off with “turn the tap down”.
What you might not expect
Putting in a new electric storage unit in place of an old one is no guarantee the installation is now in compliance. One must also give some thought to the delivery temperature, pipe sizing, discharge pipework and the way the valves are set up. It is possible for a heater to be of recent vintage and the plumbing around it to be in as rough a state as one could find.
Victoria And Tasmania
The national plumbing framework is put in place in Victoria and Tasmania by means of their own administrative and licensing systems. In Victoria there is the Victoria Building and Plumbing Commission, an authority on registration, compliance and any plumbing information required. In Tasmania local approval and licensing pathways have to be observed.
There is nothing safe about using user comfort as an excuse to sidestep temperature controls, even if cold weather has a way of making people put the hot water system on higher. The outlet should be regulated by a control device that has been put in correctly and the heater will run at a storage temperature that is appropriate.
Rental Property Checks
An inspection of a rental is straightforward in its sequence: make note of the heater, where the tempering or mixing valve is, then once the system has had time to stabilise test the outlets and put down any defects. Start with the bathrooms of those with limited mobility or who are elderly, or where children are present; they are at more of a risk of being scalded.
An adult may find a shower comfortable and therefore safe but do not take that for granted. Water an adult would call hot can do damage to a child’s skin in short order. Put the temperature to the test rather than rely on conjecture.
Queensland Requirements
Hot water temperature control calls for a watchful eye in Queensland properties, as does licensed plumbing and gasfitting when applicable. One cannot say the humid climate excuses a lack of scald prevention. More use is made of hot water systems all year round with outdoor living and the like.
For regulations in QLD, what is called for in terms of installation and the property type can be found in the current Queensland requirements. Have a licensed plumber or gasfitter put one’s mind at rest as to if the work is to be certified or inspected and what sort of valve arrangement is in order.
North Queensland Realities
Equipment in North Queensland, Cairns for instance, has to contend with salt air, cyclones, poor access and hard rain. Should a cyclone alert be issued from November to April, safety restrictions and the closing of roads will put off any urgent repairs. So much the better to have done routine servicing ahead of the wet season, it is no cause to be inventive with your gas or electrical components.
In remote parts of the state one has to plan for qualified trades and spare parts. A technician will not be on the next door step and a cold shower is only amusing for so long before it is day three of doing without.
South Australia And Western Australia
State licensing and approval go hand in hand with the national plumbing framework in South Australia and Western Australia. The context of the installation is of consequence in either jurisdiction; a public facility or workplace will have different obligations to an apartment block or single dwelling.
SA.GOV.AU is an official source for the owner in South Australia. In Western Australia, especially in the Pilbara and other regional areas, maintenance is something the climate and distance will dictate. When making a call on compliance, look at whether the valves are amenable to safe inspection and service as well as the initial install.
Regional Maintenance Planning
With a remote or regional property, put the service history, fuel type, model of the heater and location of the valves on record. Do not let the unit be obstructed. You make the job more risky and protracted if the technician is put to moving stored goods or having to get into a tight cupboard to work next to an appliance that is leaking.
A compliant installation in Australia does not come at a set price. Local labour, the pipework, the heater itself, the fuel and any electrical or gas work will determine the cost. Get a quote in itemised form that makes a distinction between the building work, certification, valves and the appliance.
Northern Territory Conditions
Compliance with hot water is subject to environmental and logistical demands in the Northern Territory. On the Top End one encounters corrosion, the wet season floods and a dearth of trades under the heat. In Central Australia the challenge is the extremes of temperature and the distances involved.
Access roads in the wet are often unsafe, the dry season is more conducive to any planned maintenance. Where a system is for a station, community facility or remote accommodation, have the inspections done early and make sure you have emergency numbers to hand.
Remote Site Safety
The fact that a property is out of the way is no licence to have an unlicensed individual tinker with pressure controls, the electrics or a gas connection. There is still the need for proper isolation and certification. What may seem a small fault can be the occasion for a fire or electric shock if a temporary fix is put in place.
Higher-Risk Buildings Need More
Then there are the commercial premises. Schools, hotels, healthcare and aged-care facilities, disability accommodation and the like have more onerous duties since the users are likely to be unfamiliar with the system or otherwise vulnerable.
National workplace safety is the purview of Safe Work Australia; local laws are enforced by state and territory authorities. One would be well advised to have building compliance in order, with risk assessments on file, as well as records of commissioning, maintenance and routine testing. There should also be a process in place for when temperatures deviate from what is approved.
Facilities And Warm Water
To mitigate the risk of scalding, some healthcare facilities will have 45°C warm water at certain outlets. Such a system has to be put in place by a professional since bacterial control remains an issue. The design must account for storage and circulation temperatures, dead legs, outlet type and how one goes about flushing the system.
Commercial operators need to make it plain who is on the hook for repairs and testing. A plumber may have done the install but that is no reason for the operator to lose sight of it. Equipment changes, settings can drift and valves will wear out. It is more economical to have a maintenance calendar than to find a control has given way after an injury.
Installation And Service Checklist
Compliance is something to attend to prior to disconnecting the old heater. Verify the building classification, fuel source and system type, as well as any risks at the outlets and what the state licensing dictates. Have the completion documentation for the property files and the plumber’s licence particulars.
- One must determine if the job is plumbing, gasfitting, electrical or a combination.
- Confirm the storage and delivery temperature strategy.
- Make sure the tempering valve or other temperature control is up to the task and easy to get at.
- Once the system is up and running, test a few of the outlets.
- Look over discharge pipes and isolation valves for leaks or problems with the pressure controls.
- Put away the manuals, invoices and service dates in one place.
A licensed plumber is the right person for a hot water installation, and gas systems call for a properly licensed gasfitter. Do not put a handyman to it for a regulated connection under the impression you are merely swapping one box for another.
Expectation Versus Reality
It is easy to think all states in Australia have the same rules for hot water. In fact, while there is a national standard to build on, you will find differences in the way states handle licensing, inspections and rental obligations.
You might believe scald risk is dealt with by turning the thermostat down. That could compromise your storage-temperature control and open the door to Legionella. Better to have the system in hand and manage the delivery temperature at the point of use.
And do not assume a valve is good for ever. Age, scale or poor installation can see them fail. Should the shower turn unaccountably hot or cold, do not put up with it as an inconvenience, have it seen to.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are The Australian Standards For Hot Water Systems?
They are covered by the Plumbing Code of Australia and the National Construction Code, along with applicable Australian Standards and the manufacturer’s own instructions, not to mention the plumbing laws of the state or territory. What is required will vary with the work and the building.
What Temperature Should Hot Water Be In Australia?
Many household outlets have a maximum delivery of 50°C against a 60°C storage temperature. Some will run 45°C warm water where the system has been set up for it.
Are Hot Water Regulations The Same In Every State?
No. The national framework is consistent in broad terms but each jurisdiction, be it New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South or Western Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory or the ACT, has its own way of doing things when it comes to enforcement and approvals.
What Is The Maximum Hot Water Tap Temperature Australia Uses?
In domestic applications 50°C is the figure most often cited. But it is best to let a licensed plumber verify the installation as the limit can be dictated by the user group or the building.
Does Every Hot Water System Need A Tempering Valve?
Many do, or some other means of controlling the temperature at the outlets, though not always the same valve. Do not go about removing or bypassing one without some professional input.
Who Can Install Or Service A Hot Water System?
Plumbing work is for a licensed plumber, gas for a licensed gasfitter and there may be a need for an electrician. The state licensing authorities in your area will tell you who is permitted to do the work.
Safe Next Steps
The answer is simple: have a professional put in the system and document it, ensure safe storage and controlled delivery. See what the Australian Building Codes Board has to say on the national framework and then check in with your state or territory authority.
Homeowners should put the outlet temperature to the test and call in a licensed inspector if they have any misgivings. Landlords and operators ought to be prompt in answering complaints and making a note of their checks. There is nothing to be gained from having to justify a scald that could have been avoided. A sensible plan of maintenance and the odd bit of paperwork will suffice.
