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WaterMark certification

WaterMark is the mandatory national certification scheme for plumbing products under NCC Volume Three. Know what to look for before your plumber installs anything.

By Dan Waring. Last updated 8 May 2026. Verified 8 May 2026.

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WaterMark certification is the mandatory national scheme that certifies plumbing and drainage products as fit for purpose and safe for use in Australia. The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) administers the scheme on behalf of state and territory plumbing regulators. Any product type listed on the WaterMark Schedule of Products must carry WaterMark certification before a licensed plumber can legally install it (verified 2026-05-08).

The requirement flows from NCC 2022 Volume Three (the Plumbing Code of Australia). If a listed product is installed without WaterMark certification, the local plumbing authority may refuse to accept the installation, and consequences can include replacement costs, building damage liability, and voided insurance cover (verified 2026-05-08, ABCB).

What the mark looks like. A certified product carries a visible “W” logo (available in red, black, white, or etched) together with the WaterMark licence number and the applicable product specification reference. Builders and plumbers can verify any product through the searchable WaterMark product database before purchasing or installing (verified 2026-05-08, ABCB).

What is covered. The Schedule of Products spans 18 product categories including tapware, sanitary fixtures, backflow prevention devices, isolation and other valves, metallic and plastic pipes and fittings, heated water products, jointing materials, and fire service equipment. Products are evaluated against an approved product specification (an AS/NZS standard or a WaterMark Technical Specification, abbreviated WMTS, published by the ABCB) and listed once certified (verified 2026-05-08, WaterMark Schedule of Products).

Builder’s exposure. The plumber carries primary responsibility for installation compliance, but the builder carries the job. A non-compliant installation can hold up the plumbing Certificate of Compliance and, in turn, the Occupation Certificate. In Victoria, plumbers must issue a Compliance Certificate confirming WaterMark status for work exceeding $750 (materials + labour + GST) or for any below-ground sanitary drain work (verified 2026-05-08, VBA).

Non-certified products. A non-WaterMark product may be legally sold in Australia but cannot be installed by a licensed plumber where the Schedule requires certification. Products not on the Schedule at all are outside the scheme and may still be installable if they comply with AS/NZS 3500 and AS/NZS 4020 (drinking water contact materials), but check with the local plumbing authority first.

Also known as: WaterMark scheme, WaterMark Certification Scheme, WMCS.

Category: Plumbing compliance.

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References

Last updated: 2026-05-08. Verified: 2026-05-08. Quarterly review for currency.

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