Public record: Board Meeting 2025 - 5

This is a Public Record of the Australian Building Codes Board meeting held on 15 December 2025. 

Meeting opening and administrative matters

• The meeting opened with Acknowledgement of Country.
• The Board noted attendance, apologies, and disclosure of interests and any potential or actual conflicts related to matters on the agenda.
• The Chair introduced Mr Adrian Piani, newly appointed ABCB CEO. 

Lead free plumbing products transition

The Board discussed the status of the transition to lead free plumbing products as part of its commitment to ongoing monitoring to enable the consideration of other possible action should implementation be delayed.

The Board confirmed that from 1 May 2026, the manufacture of products under existing WaterMark Licences that are not Lead Free WaterMark certified will be prohibited. Further, manufacturers of product lines that have not been recertified as lead free by 1 May 2026, will have their WaterMark Licences suspended.

In light of the strong housing agenda and risks of insufficient Lead Free WaterMark certified products being available in the market, the Board agreed to extend the period during which existing WaterMark certified products can be installed to 1 May 2028, via amendments to WaterMark Notice of Direction 2021/4, to achieve a harmonised national approach to the implementation and enforcement of lead free requirements.

The Board noted the purpose of the extension is to allow the sell down of existing WaterMark certified products currently in the market that were accumulated in response to the pandemic, other international events and delays to the certification transition, and to enable the simultaneous re-stocking of Lead Free WaterMark certified products.

The Board clarified that the extension applies only to existing WaterMark certified stock in hand.

The Board noted that the continued acceptance of existing WaterMark certified product until 1 May 2028 effectively harmonises the differing jurisdictional regulatory approaches by moving the date of enforcement to when the market will be dominated by Lead Free WaterMark certified product.

The Board acknowledged those in industry who have been proactive in transitioning their products ahead of the 1 May 2026 deadline. Their products will supply the increasing demand for lead free products.

The Board confirmed that the 1 May 2028 date for concluding the transition to lead free plumbing products is final and will not be reconsidered.

Fire bolts

The Board noted recent activities and next steps regarding application of the NCC to fire bolts. The Board indicated the need to provide an interim update on the use of fire bolts to industry.

Published 19 December 2025