Plumbing checks full of holes, caution industry insiders
THE supplier of the Aldi tap found to contaminate water with 15 times the allowable level of lead may have escaped scrutiny under Australia’s certification system through the use of a “golden child” proto- type for the approval process.
A regime starting next month will make it harder for manufacturers to win approval, according to Federal Government body that created it.
But industry insiders say it could make evasion easier. They say a manufacturer wanting to supply plumbing prod- ucts would have an annual factory inspection. But from next month inspections will be reduced to once every five years.
The insiders argue it will lead to more substitution, pointing to imported gas appliances for which inspections are less frequent.
“That’s where the term ‘golden child’ comes from — the gas side,” said Paul Bonsak, managing director of certification company IAPMO R&T Oceana.
“Because certifiers keep going back every year it’s difficult to make changes without it being picked up. But as of August 1, factory testing will only be undertaken every five years.”
The Government’s Australian Building Codes Board said the new scheme was tighter.
Aldi has broken its silence over the lead scare, saying it will offer refunds but not undertake a recall at this stage.