Melfire can’t always confirm that a site’s drains are suitable for flow testing. For example, the drain is installed in DWV (drain, waste and vent) pipe, testing at the remote point would mean discharging onto a roof, or testing needs three people and equipment to discharge into a tank. In these cases Melfire tests at the safest available location, and we do our level best to avoid any uncontrolled discharge of water.
This may be seen as not meeting the AS 1851 testing requirements. Equally, a system installed without correct test drains is itself not compliant. If the owner wants Melfire to test into a drainage system we are not comfortable with, we will re-attend once a licensed plumber provides:
- a certificate confirming the drainage system has been tested to the required pressure and flow for the required time, for example 130% of pump rated flow for 10 minutes annually and 30 minutes every five years, or 700 kPa at 20 L/s per hydrant for hydrant systems;
- evidence of that drain test; and
- a statement that Melfire is not responsible if the drain fails.
A missing or unsuitable test drain is not a critical defect. It doesn’t affect how the system performs, only how its performance can be tested, and performance can reasonably be confirmed in other ways. As this is maintenance rather than construction work, no engineering is prescribed. The owner may still choose to document an alternative method through a performance-based design brief, fire engineering and a building permit.
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