Australia's Transition to Lead Free Tapware

Australia is taking significant strides towards ensuring safer drinking water through the new legislation aimed at reducing lead levels in plumbing products. The changes are set to take full effect by May 1^st, 2026.

In Australia, lead has historically been used in plumbing products, including tapware, primarily due to the material properties it imparts such as ease of machining and durability.

Awareness of the health risks associated with lead exposure led to significant regulatory changes in the late 1980s. In 1989 the use of lead-based solders in domestic plumbing was banned. This was followed by the adoption of the Australian Standard AS 3500 Part 1.2, which limited lead in solders to no more than 0.1% by weight.

Despite these regulations, studies conducted in the early 1990s found that lead could still leach into drinking water from older plumbing and fittings.

Clause A5G4 of NCC 2022 Volume Three (Plumbing Code of Australia) limits the allowable lead content in copper alloy plumbing products to a weighted average of no more than 0.25%. This clause specifically targets plumbing products in contact with drinking water, including tapware.

As part of this initiative, the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has registered a “Lead Free Watermark” trademark. From May 1^st, 2026, only products marked with the lead-free Watermark will be authorised for installation in plumbing systems conveying drinking water.

In 2018, the ABCB asked Macquarie University to review plumbing products’ impact on lead levels in drinking water. The report found that while Australia’s drinking water meets quality guidelines, lead can leach from certain plumbing products and fittings. As a result, the ABCB conducted a regulation impact statement and decided to lower the allowable lead content in certain plumbing products that re in constant contact with drinking water.

Australia commenced a three-year transition period on May 1^st, 2023, allowing manufacturers and suppliers time to adapt and certify their products.

These new regulations will have a large impact for the manufacturing and plumbing industry. Manufacturers must reformulate their products to comply with the new lead-free standards, however embracing this change opens opportunities for innovation and development of safer, high-quality products. Plumbers and contractors will require training to understand and implement the new standards, prioritizing the use of certified lead-free products.

Lead exposure, even at low levels, can have severe health effects, particularly for vulnerable populations like children and pregnant women. Lead can cause neurological damage, learning disabilities and developmental delays in children. It can also increase the risk of high blood pressure and kidney damage in adults.

Not only will this change improve health and safety in Australian homes but have a positive impact on our environment.

Oliveri took the initiative to become an industry leader, already taking steps towards this direction by introducing our first lead-free tapware range. This initiative ensures that we will be fully compliant by 2025, far ahead of the legislative deadline. By prioritising innovation and public health, we continue to provide safe and sustainable solutions to our valued customers.

The shift to lead-free tapware represents a crucial step towards safeguarding public health and aligning Australia with international safety standards. While the transition poses challenges for the industry, it also offers opportunities for innovation, market growth and enhanced public well-being.

References

Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB). (2023, May 3). Transition to lead free plumbing products starts now 1. Retrieved from https://www.abcb.gov.au/news/2023/transition-lead-free-plumbing-products-starts-now

Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB). (2024, November 13). Transition to lead free plumbing products continues 2. Retrieved from https://www.abcb.gov.au/news/2024/transition-lead-free-plumbing-products-continues