Browse Forums Building Standards; Getting It Right! 1 Oct 15, 2019 8:26 pm Hi all, I have no clue on whats the legal thing for this, but wondering if the downpipes that some from the roof MUST be plumbed into the stormwater? (I'm in Vic). Where I recently bought has a few downpipes (not all) that divert water over the concrete driveway and into a few grates that are scattered around the driveway that take away rain (and are not in anyones way really). Most downpipes are plumbed into the stormwater. It's very old unit so I'm guessing the ones that run onto the driveway and direct water into the grates where the rain goes were added much later than all the other downpipes. Body corp want to pull up the driveway in parts to make sure all are plumbed into the stormwater pits but is this excessive? I'm sure in my time I've lived in houses with downpipes like this. Thanks in advance. Re: Downpipes not plumbed into ground/stormwater 2Oct 15, 2019 9:44 pm itsme1111 Body corp want to pull up the driveway in parts to make sure all are plumbed into the stormwater pits but is this excessive? I'm sure in my time I've lived in houses with downpipes like this. Downpipes DO NOT have to be plumbed directly into the stormwater, in fact, you are not even required to have gutters or downpipes but certain criteria must be met! This is covered in AS/NZS 3500.3 Stormwater Drainage 5.3.3.1. AS/NZS 3500.3 is referenced in the Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA) which is part 3 of the National Construction Code (NCC). It appears that the Body Corp (maybe) wants to confirm that the driveway grates are part of the stormwater system.....and to do this they want to rip up parts of the driveway? Haven't they heard of a CCTV cam inspection either? Make sure that they pay for such a frivolous endeavour out of their own pockets. If they want all of the downpipes plumbed directly to the stormwater, they have no basis for doing so as the stormwater drainage is compliant as is from the description posted. 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Downpipes not plumbed into ground/stormwater 3Oct 16, 2019 7:03 am Thanks for info, I'm relieved to know its not a legal requirement/ we are compliant. It's basically an old set of units and for some reason an OH&S report was done years ago and in it simply stated that a few of our downpipes were not plumbed in and their recommendation was that they be sealed into the stormwater pits. No mention of any hazard they're causing or any code that they violate, was as simple as what I just wrote. So now years later it seems the other residents think we are breaking the law and need to get everything done asap at great cost for some downpipes that have been there for years, long before I bought here. Re: Downpipes not plumbed into ground/stormwater 4Oct 16, 2019 8:18 am The downpipe(s) provide a controlled discharge that is transferred to a point of connection. As such, it satisfies the performance requirements of the NCC provided that the discharge doesn't make a nuisance, for example, overland flow to an adjoining property, pooling against a building or entering a building etc. You would be best to contact the VBA plumbing section by Email and ask for a ruling and regulatory references as you are likely to need verified proof. The contact form is linked below. https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/contact 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Downpipes not plumbed into ground/stormwater 5Oct 16, 2019 8:31 am Thankyou so much, as far I can see they aren’t causing nuisance to anyone, they run the water maybe 1 metre along the driveway where the rainfall runs anyway into the drain/grate on the driveway. And if it were to impede anyone it would be me as it directs water over my car park area. I’ll contact the VBA, thanks so much for helping me, appreciate it. Devkop The good news it is super easy to fix. Just get your plumber to divert it to the other side of the window. But for those people who are wondering what the… 2 1709 Hi everyone, Looking for some advise. We are about to build an above ground pool in our backyard. There is a private sewer line running under the pool at 1.6m… 0 11757 Hi, I'm new to this forum so I hope I'm doing this post correctly. Please advise if it's not. I've just bought my place. The inground pool has a marble lining that has… 0 13662 |