ABCB announces certification criteria for chemical dispensing units

Following INCLEAN’s article (authored by Lorraine Day) on the banning of chemical dispensers (posted 23 August), a notice of direction has been released by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) under the WaterMark Certification Scheme. ‘It has been brought to the notice of the ABCB that several new chemical dispensing units that are wall mounted […]

ABCBFollowing INCLEAN’s article (authored by Lorraine Day) on the banning of chemical dispensers (posted 23 August), a notice of direction has been released by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) under the WaterMark Certification Scheme.

‘It has been brought to the notice of the ABCB that several new chemical dispensing units that are wall mounted have been certified and approved under ATS 5200.033:2004. There are strong reservations that the current testing protocols used within this specification are not suitable, nor applicable, to wall-mounted chemical dispensing units as the test protocols were specifically developed for hand held hose end connected dispensing units.

The direction states that ‘no further fixed or wall-mounted chemical dispenser units shall be certified and approved under ATS 5200.033:2004 by WaterMark Conformity Assessment Bodies (WMCABs)’, which includes wall mounted units either hose connected or hard plumbed.

Furthermore, ‘units that do not satisfy ATS 5200.033:2004 must be certified under a new WaterMark Technical Specification (WMTS) which must be developed by the WMCABs with assistance from the ABCB’.

Consideration has also been given to existing products already certified against the existing ATS and the following may apply:

a) ‘Where the product is hand held and hose connected, certification remains valid and no further action required. New products of this type can continue to be certified and approved under ATS 5200.033:2004’.

b) For existing products of the type intended for wall mounting (or fixed in any other way i.e. not hand held and not portable), the level of authorisation depends on its date of installation.

‘Where the product is already installed it will remain authorised for the remainder of its life, but will not be permitted to be re-installed. Authorisation will be forfeited if re-installed’ however if not installed, the owner must seek certification under the new ATS.

Meanwhile WMCABs that have issued a licence on products that do not comply with ATS 5200.033:2004 must terminate the licence within 30 days of this notice becoming effective – which is on 9 September 2013.

www.abcb.gov.au

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