Electrics & Plumbing - What Am I Allowed To Do?

Hello

First post here. Just bought a house in Sydney. I need to do some electrical work and plumbing.

I've been reading various threads and as I understand it I can do no electical work myself (I'm from the UK originally and have been renting here for 4 years so have had no need to look into this kind of thing before). I'm not even allowed to change a single socket switch to a double socket or change a light fitting, is that correct?

But I am allowed to have an electrical power point in the bathroom near the sink and a normal lightswitch :D

What about plumbing? Am I allowed to change the toilet, shower, bath and kitchen sink?

Cheers

Well, uno, you can do what ever you like ... not as if you'll ever really get in trouble with the law.....its just a matter of whether or not you'll do it right and not kill yourself. :D

I do almost all myself, because tradesmen cost a fortune, will rip you off on occation (because they can....' who else is gonna fix it for you' ), and because most things I feel all you need is common sense.

but , uno, thats all probably considered bad advice...yeh, so

Do yourself a favour !......be smart !.... don't be an idiot:no: .....call the professionals !

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Originally Posted by zeroseven

Hello

But I am allowed to have an electrical power point in the bathroom near the sink and a normal lightswitch :D

Cheers

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Section 7.1.2.2 other fixed water containers (b) (i) (A) (B) Zone 1 (i) (A) (B) for water containers with a capacity not exceeding 45lt. This is relevent after observing 1.7.3.5 & 1.7.3.6

Mate get a sparkie in. There is a bit more to it than people think.

I think I'll order in a pizza and just sit back and watch. :D :D :D :wink:

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Originally Posted by Honorary Bloke

I think I'll order in a pizza and just sit back and watch. :D :D :D :wink:

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Meatasaurous for me. You got some home brew ?

Meatasaurous for me too.
Just Coke zero to drink though. I am on a diet.:roll:

In his seminal work DIY for Knuckleheads Scott Cam put it out very clearly, "Electrical is not for Knuckleheads"

Good Point I reckon, imagine if you do yourself and it causes a fire, would insurance payout on it?

BUT there is lots of stuff you can do that will save money when the Sparky gets there. Wires have to be threaded through for instance. You can do that. Sockets light switches have to be fixed to the wall after they are wired up. You can do that. Stretching those wires out and getting them into the right place can take a lot so you have the chance to save some dough there.

Plumbing I would feel pretty OK with but I am a fitter and turner (once upon a time anyway) so I can braze and muddle my way through that. Mind you I have burnt holes in lots of copper to learn how to do it. You might be making a headache for yourself.

Studley

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Originally Posted by Studley 2436

Scott Cam put it out very clearly, "Electrical is not for Knuckleheads"

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But what if you're not a knucklehead:rolleyes:

Thanks for the replies. I changed sockets and light switches in the UK, there really is nothing to it and nothing to go wrong, in my opinion.

However due to the possibility of an insurance claim not being paid out, I'd rather get someone in because I really don't see the point in trying to save a few hundred $.

However it's so extreme to allow you to do nothing. One of our light switches is cracked, not very safe, but I can't change it.

Any ideas how much would an electrician charge per hour in Sydney? I need some ceiling fans taken down, some light switches and some single sockets changed to double sockets.

And I'm allowed a socket next to a sink so long as it only contains a small amount of water :? So, legally, small amounts of water and electricity get on ok. That's good to know. :wink:

Plumbing - Are there any rules that say I'm not allowed to plumb in my own bathroom?

I think the law is about being paid to do it. You have to be licensed etc to do it professionally. If you are not look out. Doing it for yourself well why not.

As far as changing sockets well if you know how why not.

Studley

Sorry Studley but it has nothing to do with being paid or doing it professionally. You are not allowed to carry out work on fixed wiring or equipment if you are not licensed.

There you go

Studley

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Originally Posted by Honorary Bloke

I think I'll order in a pizza and just sit back and watch. :D :D :D :wink:

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Got some beer here, there you go boys, anyone got a beanbag this could get fun:D:U

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Plumbing - Are there any rules that say I'm not allowed to plumb in my own bathroom?

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Yes

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there really is nothing to it and nothing to go wrong

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I agree that changing sockets and switches is not complicated. Make sure that the wires go back where they came from and Bob's your uncle.

The question is, how do you know that what was there in the first place was done right?

The problem here, and this has been discussed ad nauseum on this forum, is that regardless of how simple it might seem, it's against the law to do it. So, you can follow the advice of others here and go for it if you want, just be aware that what you are doing is illegal and if someone dobs you in, you will cop a fine and have to pay a sparky to certify/fix what you have done.

SilentC - I know what you're saying and I agree. I'm not going to do the electrics myself, that's why I posted in the first place to check exactly what I can do - Nothing.

And your 'Yes' reply to my plumbing question. So I'm not allowed to fit a new bathroom suite? Or a kitchen sink? A plumber has to do it :? Is that what you're saying? Even if I use the existing connections?

Well this one is definately going to draw a lot of replies.

As an electrician I would naturally advise do any thing that does not involve connecting wires. OK to change the light bulbs.

Plumbing well that is of interest to me too. I rang the Office of the Technical Regulator on four occassions to clarify what I could and could not do as I like to play by the rules. I got replies like.. "not sure" "I will have to ask someone else" "Do u mind holding they should be back soon" "Could u ring back later" "U can not do anything I think" "U can connect cold water only" "U can connect cold water if it is less than 25mm pipe and not connected to hot water" "I will get someone to ring u back" That was 3 weeks ago and I am still waiting for them to ring back.

I paid a plumber to install a new sewer, gas main and water main and am still fighting for a Certificate of Compliance 2 weeks later despite asking for it on 2 occassions. Interestingly this was a large job with 50m of trenches and located quite near their office but they did not attend despite an inspection being booked by the plumber. Mind you it was a Friday arvo.

Good luck and if you find out anything on plumbing let me know because the Office of the Technical Regulator has not got a smick.

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And your 'Yes' reply to my plumbing question. So I'm not allowed to fit a new bathroom suite? Or a kitchen sink? A plumber has to do it Is that what you're saying? Even if I use the existing connections?

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It doesn't seem to be as clear cut for plumbing as it is for electrical. I know that plumbing is also a protected trade, in as much as you can't do it in a commercial situation without a license. I'm not sure exactly what you can and can't do in your own home though, although I'm pretty certain that you would not be allowed to connect anything to the sewer, gas or water mains without a ticket.

I've heard people say you're not allowed to change a tap washer. That to me would be a bit over the top but, as I say I'm not sure. I had a brief look for the legislation but couldn't find anything relating to householders that would be similar to the Electricity Act that we have in NSW.

Pass me another slice of pizza please.....

Sounds like I might need to make a few phones calls then to find out. Had the plumber around yesterday to fit a new pressure release valve on our hot water tank. Just been outside to check it and it's dripping where he connected it to the tank.

So I pay $200 for the professional to come round to fix it in 10 minutes and he can't even get that right. And soon I'll have to open my house up to other professionals, I just can't wait.

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Originally Posted by zeroseven

it's dripping where he connected it to the tank.

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It takes years of training and experience to make it drip just so...:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by chrisp

It takes years of training and experience to make it drip just so...:rolleyes:

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:D

Just rang them, they're not sorry, but they are coming back to sort it. I don't think it's the training or experience, it's the 14kms of tape he put around it before tightening it up. "Just a bit of tape" he said, 15 minutes later he was still winding the tape around.

i love this topic .....the argument has so many holes in it insurance companies must be loving it .
"sorry sir we believe that the person before the person before you that brought the house you now own or should i say did own before it burnt down installed the points himself and as a result 10 year down the track (now) it has shorted and burnt your house down so we are not paying .''

I feel if you know what you are doing do it ,if not get somebody that does or do what i do work around the problem ....see pic .. screw paying $3000 to remove the wall and then on top of that having to get a plumber in to disconected the water and a sparky in to disconect the power ...


Rob

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I feel if you know what you are doing do it ,if not get somebody that does or do what i do work around the problem ....see pic .. screw paying $3000 to remove the wall and then on top of that having to get a plumber in to disconected the water and a sparky in to disconect the power ...

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Go for your life, mate. No-one is stopping you. Good luck with it.

Just a question though. How do you know that you know what you are doing?

Is there any garlic bread left?

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Originally Posted by silentC

How do you know that you know what you are doing?

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How does any one? Seems this one is a bit of a paradox to me - there is always more to know.

Sorry, I was being a bit facetious. Spending too much time arguing on other threads.

I guess there are people around who think they know, and others who really do. The only way to know you know is to have the bit of paper I suppose, although that doesn't necessarily prove much, but I suppose it's better than open slather. Isn't it?

<TABLE class=tborder style="BORDER-TOP- 0px" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=6 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR title="Post 557931" vAlign=top><TD class=alt2>Just a question though. How do you know that you know what you are doing?</TD></TR><TR><TD class=thead colSpan=2>2nd Aug 2007 01:58 PM</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

i think you confused my point ..

But it's called learning the same reason you go to school the same reason tradies do an appreticeship . That 's how i know what i know . If a sparky or plumber comes and does a job and i think that in the future i could do that then i will watch and ask him question about how he did it .

i think if you ask all the people on this forum how they learnt the answer will be the same ...

if you look at the pic i attached i have not touched the water or light switch . hens knowing what i don't know .

The trouble starts by not knowing what you don't know ..

rob

I don't want to get into all this again. There's another thread on here that goes into great detail on all this. I'll leave it up to you whether you read it or not...

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Originally Posted by silentC

just be aware that what you are doing is illegal and if someone dobs you in, you will cop a fine and have to pay a sparky to certify/fix what you have done.

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oh, get real banana peal. :D. Like to read the stats on that.

I won't do something(and get a pro instead), not because of some kind of completely unrealistic chance of getting caught, but because of a good chance I might stuff it up.

Hi

I love this subject too :)

Essentially, in Australia you are not allowed to do ANYTHING if you don't have a license.

In the UK things are quite different, maybe they think that home owners have a few brains! (I came from Liverpool UK) 44 years ago, aged 14. At that age I had already changed some electrical plugs/fittings for my dad.

I have NOT stopped since. As I have stated in previous posts elsewhere in this forum, if I feel comfortable about doing the job, whatever it is, I do it myself. After sooo many years of DIY'ing and learning soo much about different trades most of the general DIY around the home is simple.

So, IMHO, if you have the experience then do it. IF you need a little knowledge, like how close to a sink can you put a powerpoint then ask, BUT IMHO if you NEED to ask such a question then maybe you're just not quite cut out to do the work as most of this is common sense stuff.

I have done all my own plumbing and electrical work for years. Do it correctly and there are no problems.

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Originally Posted by Honorary Bloke

I think I'll order in a pizza and just sit back and watch. :D :D :D :wink:

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Any pizza left I came in late I could use a beer as well thanks:D

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Originally Posted by m2c1Iw

Any pizza left I came in late I could use a beer as well thanks:D

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yeah, getting a little cold, pull up a bean bag, while your up get a beer from the fridge for me mate thanks

I'm amazed at the response this is provoking. As I said earlier I think I'm going to get the electrician in to remove the ceiling fans etc. Even though I've tackled simple electrics in the UK, I might as well get someone in to sort it and then I know it's right (Well it'd bl00dy well better be :D )

As far as plumbing goes. Replacing the existing bathroom, I think I'll be doing that myself. Why I need a plumber is beyond me. I'm a law abiding kind of person, but do I really need someone to come in and replace an existing sink or to replace a tap washer. I've tackled this job many times before without problems and I'm more than comfortable to do it.

Think I might have a beer and a slice of that pizza myself if there's any left....

We will put a call out to Dominos.
What is it. 5 Supreme and 4 Meateaters and one slab on the way back .:2tsup:

while your at it david check if they still have the deal with the four pack of peters drum sticks ... .i think there's still life in this babe ..

...what about de-wireing a house are you infact aloud to do this i am getting my place rewired (something i do not know how to do ) but am i aloud to rip the old lines out so the new ones can be put in place i also have a fan that i am removing am i aloud to do this ?????


rob

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Originally Posted by jags

while your at it david check if they still have the deal with the four pack of peters drum sticks ... .i think there's still life in this babe ..

...what about de-wireing a house are you infact aloud to do this i am getting my place rewired (something i do not know how to do ) but am i aloud to rip the old lines out so the new ones can be put in place i also have a fan that i am removing am i aloud to do this ?????


rob

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You mention that your getting your place re-wired and it's something you don't know how to do. Fair enough. So why would you go and rip out the wiring that is there? Is it live? How do you know if it is live or not? How do you know your not going to kill yourself by handling or doing it wrong?

I'm all for DIY where it makes sense. Eg run the new cable. Electrician's I use are more than happy to have me do that as it's the pain part for them and they are usually more than happy to tell you what to do (ie how far apart do you need to put cable clips, run the cable along the side of the timber in the roof, dont run it parallel to phone or data cables within 100mm etc etc. But going an ripping out what is there (ie de-installing, go make sure it's not live first or ask the sparky to check for you.)

Psshhhhhtt!! *Takes sip, pulls up chair*
"Any pizza left?"

Here's a thought. Years ago, when doing a course for the C.T.I.A (Caravan Trades Industries Association) Roadworthy scheme, we were told that 'technically', anyone can work-on/repair an appliance. If it can be unplugged from the wall, it's an appliance. (If it's hardwired in, like your oven, you can't touch it!) Therefore, 'technically' a caravan is an appliance, even though there are usually hardwired power points run throughout the van's interior.

So does that mean, while my shed just has an extension lead running out to it, I can wire the rest of it up, and until it's actually connected to the meter box, it's an appliance??

And as for knowing what I'm doing... A father who's an Electrical Engineer with a PHD and more than 30 years working in that field, is still not "legally" allowed to touch 240/415 Volt wiring???

Yonnee
That would mean that you could do all your own house wiring if the supply came from your own generator and the lead was plugged in.

Sorry but they caught up with that one in the latest batch of changes. The answer is Nope......:~ :C :no:

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I have done all my own plumbing and electrical work for years. Do it correctly and there are no problems.

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You guys just don't get it at all, do you?

It's not a question of whether or not people have the ability to do it themselves. It doesn't matter what they do in the UK or the US. It's not a question of what I do or you do in our own homes. It's a question of whether you should be coming onto an open public forum and encouraging people to break the law. It's just staggering.

A guy comes on and says "what am I allowed to do myself". The answer to that is clearly and unequivocably "nothing". None of you can debate that. You're not allowed to change a socket, wire up your own lights, install your own hard wired oven. It's all illegal. The answer to the guy's question is "nothing".

But that's not good enough for some of you. You have to come on and impress us all with how you blantantly go ahead and do your own wiring anyway. And then your advice is "hey, if you think you know what you are doing, go ahead and do it, I say". That is just dumb. Irresponsible. Bad advice.

Stop and think about it for a minute.

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Originally Posted by silentC

And then your advice is "hey, if you think you know what you are doing, go ahead and do it, I say". That is just dumb. Irresponsible. Bad advice.

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Okay Silent. You win. Close this thread up now. Ozzies will apparently just cave in and do what Little Johnny says. Or whoever. So there is no room for reasoned debate about whether or not the laws are silly. It just IS. I agree it is illegal. I do not agree it is rational. Why not work for change instead of just saying No Can Do? :)