The licence belongs to the person
Under the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act, a company isn't in breach as long as the individuals who actually do the work are authorised. That puts the focus on people. Search each person's first and last name on the PGDB register; PGDB's Ask for Licensed campaign says the register doesn't recognise business names.
Look for the tick or green mark that shows a current licence. Former licence holders are listed too, so being on the register isn't enough by itself. Our guide to checking a PGDB licence shows where to look.
Who you might see on site
- Certifying plumbers, gasfitters or drainlayers, who can work without supervision, supervise others and certify work.
- Plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers (the class called 'Tradesman' until 1 April 2025), who work under a named certifying supervisor.
- Restricted licence holders, who also work under supervision. Restricted gasfitters can't connect a gas appliance to the supply.
- Apprentices on limited certificates, who must be within eye and earshot of their supervisor for their first 12 months.
- Exemption holders, who need supervision within earshot for their first 24 months.
What changes a commercial job
Access and timing do. Shutting off water to tenants, customers or a whole building takes planning, and some work has to happen outside trading hours. The size of the pipework, the number of fixtures, and whether the building has specified systems affected by the work all change the scope and the paperwork.
Hot water, kitchens and scalding
The Building Code says fixtures used for washing dishes and utensils must be supplied with hot water. Where hot water reaches fixtures used for personal hygiene, it must come out at a temperature that avoids the likelihood of scalding.
Tempering valves are designed for that job in places such as schools, motels and homes. If you run a cafe, a gym, a motel or a childcare centre, ask the plumber how the hot water at each basin and shower is tempered.
Gas on commercial premises
A commercial kitchen or gas water heater brings the same certificates as any gas job: a Gas Safety Certificate for all gasfitting once it's connected, and a Certificate of Compliance for general and high-risk work. High-risk jobs, which include additions and alterations to an existing installation, must be logged on the national high-risk database within 20 working days of the CoC.
The penalties are steep. Unauthorised gasfitting, or knowingly employing or paying someone to do it, can bring a fine of up to $250,000 for a company.
Consent and sign-off
The exemption for altering existing plumbing only applies when the number of sanitary fixtures doesn't go up and no specified system is affected, so a commercial fit-out may well need a building consent. Where it does, eligible plumbing and drainlaying can be signed off by a self-certification endorsed plumber or drainlayer instead of a council inspection. The certificate of compliance goes to PGDB and to the owner within 10 working days of the work being finished, and it belongs in the code compliance certificate application.
Your rights as a business
The Consumer Guarantees Act protects goods and services bought for personal, domestic or household use. A business buying plumbing for its premises may not have the same protection, so the contract does more of the work: put the scope, price, timing, access and paperwork in writing.
A quote is a set price that can only change if you agree to extra work or the scope changes; an estimate is a best guess. If you own rentals in Auckland, Watercare's position is that landlords are responsible for fixing leaks on their property.
Your side of the job
You can
- Record each worker's name and licence class before they start.
- Know where the building's water and gas shut-offs are, and who holds the keys.
- Keep certificates, test records and consent documents with the building's files.
Leave to an authorised tradie
- All sanitary plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying on the premises.
- Shutdowns and reconnections of water or gas.
- Certifying the work and handing over the paperwork.
Questions to settle before work starts
- Who on the crew holds which licence class, and who supervises them?
- Will apprentices be on site, and who will be with them?
- Does the work affect any specified systems?
- Who handles the building consent, and will the plumbing be self-certified?
- Can you confirm you hold civil liability insurance?
- Which certificates will we get, and when?
What we would do
Ask for a crew list with names and licence classes before the job starts, and check two or three names on the register yourself. Agree shutdown times with tenants early, and make the paperwork a line in the contract rather than an afterthought. Tell us about the premises and the job, and we'll match you with an authorised plumber who handles commercial work in your area.