Plumbing Demolition with Live Services SWMS

Live service demolition plumbing covers plumbing demolition and strip-out where live services are present and must be managed — disconnecting and making safe water, gas and drainage in a partial demolition or strip-out where parts of the building or adjacent areas remain occupied or in service. It is higher-hazard than a full strip-out because live services must be maintained to the parts that remain while the demolished parts are made safe, and the consequences of disturbing a live gas, water or drainage service are severe. This document is written on the basis that live service demolition plumbing is carried out by a licensed plumber and gasfitter with the live-service-management, isolation, making-safe and demolition controls in place.

Live service demolition plumbing is carried out in connection with the demolition work Code of Practice and the relevant plumbing and gas requirements, with the live services to the remaining parts identified and maintained, the services to the demolished parts isolated and made safe, and the gas capped to AS/NZS 5601.1:2022. The management of live services alongside the demolition, the isolation and making-safe, the asbestos hazard, and the demolition hazards are the considerations. This document coordinates the live-service-management, isolation, making-safe, asbestos and demolition controls so the live service demolition is carried out safely.

Hazards identified

9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.

1. 1Administrative: identify and maintain the live services to the remaining occupied or in-service parts, and isolate and make safe only the services to the demolished parts, so live services are managed and not disturbed.
2. 2Engineering: isolate, disconnect and make safe the services to the demolished parts, capping the gas to AS/NZS 5601.1:2022, while maintaining the live services to the parts that remain.
3. 3Administrative: where the building is older or the work may encounter asbestos, identify and do not disturb asbestos materials, and have asbestos removed by a licensed asbestos process where required.
4. 4Administrative: carry out the demolition in connection with the demolition work Code of Practice, with the demolition hazards near the live services controlled and the work coordinated with the occupied or in-service areas.
5. 5Administrative: manage the biological hazard with hygiene controls, washing facilities, gloves and protective clothing, and prohibition of eating, drinking and smoking until decontaminated.
6. 6Engineering: manage the stored water and energy of the systems, and use mechanical aids and correct technique to remove heavy fixtures, pipework and systems.
7. 7Administrative: confirm the live services to the remaining parts are maintained and the services to the demolished parts are made safe on completion.
8. 8Administrative: ensure the work is carried out and certified by an appropriately licensed plumber, drainer or gasfitter under the relevant state or territory plumbing and gasfitting licensing scheme, with the relevant competencies and a compliance certificate issued where required.
9. 9Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001) where the work is construction work, with the plumbing, gasfitting, confined space and any other competencies required for the work.
10. 10Administrative: conduct a pre-start toolbox talk covering the day's work, identified hazards, isolations, required PPE and emergency procedures, and record attendance in the consultation section.
11. 11Administrative: consult workers and any health and safety representatives on the work and its risks, record the consultation, and keep this document available at the workplace.
12. 12PPE: eye protection to AS/NZS 1337.1, hearing protection where required, gloves appropriate to the task, high-visibility clothing, and Class I or Class II safety footwear with protective toecap to AS/NZS 2210.3.
13. 13Administrative: review and update this SWMS whenever the work scope changes, after any incident or near miss, when a worker or health and safety representative raises a concern, when new hazards are identified, or at minimum every 12 months.

Applicable Codes of Practice

Worked example

A licensed plumber and gasfitter are engaged to carry out plumbing demolition in a partial strip-out where adjacent areas remain occupied and in service. The live services to the remaining occupied parts are identified and maintained, and only the services to the demolished parts are isolated and made safe, so live services are managed and not disturbed. The services to the demolished parts are isolated, disconnected and made safe, with the gas capped to AS/NZS 5601.1:2022, while the live services to the parts that remain are maintained. Because the building is older, asbestos materials are identified and not disturbed, and removed by a licensed asbestos process where required. The demolition is carried out in connection with the demolition work Code of Practice, with the demolition hazards near the live services controlled and the work coordinated with the occupied areas. The biological hazard of the live drainage is managed. The stored water and energy are managed, and mechanical aids used. The live services to the remaining parts are confirmed maintained and the demolished parts made safe on completion, and the records retained.

Related legislation

• Model Work Health and Safety Act — primary duty of care; the duty to consult workers; the reckless-conduct offence; and notifiable-incident provisions, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations — Section 291 high risk construction work and the SWMS preparation and review duties, and the confined space, excavation, demolition and electrical provisions where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
• The relevant plumbing and drainage standards AS/NZS 3500 (Parts 0–5), AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 for gas, the pressure piping and pressure equipment standards, the AS 4032 valve standards, and the hazardous chemicals, demolition and asbestos requirements, are called up by the relevant legislation, together with the relevant network utility, insurer and site requirements.
• Plumbing, drainage and gasfitting work is licensed under each state and territory's plumbing and gasfitting licensing scheme, with the relevant competencies for the specialist work, and compliance certification required for notifiable work; electrical work is carried out by a licensed electrician.
• Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, with the high risk construction work, confined space, excavation and demolition provisions applying in place of the model instruments.

Frequently asked questions