Did You Know? Home Indemnity Insurance & Other Regulations
Home Indemnity Insurance is not available for Standalone Trade Work in WA
Residential building work that has a contract value of at least $20,000 must be covered by a home indemnity insurance certificate. Residential building work means whole or part of the work comprising:
- Constructing or reconstructing a dwelling
- Placing a dwelling on land
- Altering, improving or repairing a dwelling
- Associated work such as site works, swimming pools, garages, sheds etc when there works are part of a contract for the above
As per s25B (4A) of the Home Building Contracts Act6 1991, the requirement does not apply to residential building work if a building permit is not required for the work. In other words, if the residential building work requires a building permit and is $20,000 or more in value, home indemnity insurance is needed. The insurance, therefore, applies to builder and owner-builders and not required for stand-alone tradie contracts $20,000 or more in value, like cabinet making contracts.
Regulation for gas bayonets and vents
The venting requirements for dwellings with bayonets (or Quick-connect Couplings) are covered under the Standards AS/NZS 5601 – Gas installations, Appendix N.
This Standard is called in the Gas Standards (Gas fitting and Consumer Gas Installations Regulations 1999, and therefore making it a legal requirement in Western Australia.
In short, Appendix N stipulates that WA dwellings with bayonet fittings must have appropriately sized low and high-point vents. Vents are provided for a number of reasons, including so that possible gas leaks or potentially harmful combustion products can be dissipated.
Cabinet Makers are asked to cover these vents from time -to-time. These vents should not be covered until the bayonet is removed by a suitably qualified gas-fitter.
Covering vents is likely to push the installation into non-compliance, but more importantly may be putting people at risk.
Is the 50mm clearance at the rear of the cook-top as specified in the AS/NZS 4386 mandatory?
No. The 50mm clearance dimension as specified is referred to as a guideline only. The application section from each standard is detailed below:
These service zones are a guideline only. They refer to general information about each type of appliance. The overriding principle is to ensure each access to any appliance connection without having to remove the appliance from its fitted position. In all cased it is recommended that the manufacturers installation instructions are consulted for exact installation details. Reference should also be made to the relevant electrical or gas authority to ensure compliance with their regulations.
Dishwasher installation under bench-tops
A dishwasher installed under laminate or solid timber bench-tops should have the underside of the bench-top sealed with an appropriate sealer to reduce the entrance of moisture.
This seal shall extend for a distance of 150mm either side of a fitted dishwasher.
Power-points and protruding pipes are not permitted within the dishwasher void. The required services will need to be supplied through an adjacent cabinet.
Generally, these services are connected by cutting a small hole (approximately 150mm,100mm) through the base of the cabinet and kick-boards into the dishwasher void.
