Navigating Queensland’s Plumbing Regulation: When an RPEQ Sanitary Articulation Plan Is Mandatory

Ryan Hofman
May 12
2 min read

1. The Legislative Backbone

Queensland’s Plumbing & Drainage Act 2018 and its companion Regulation 2019 spell out what must accompany every Form 1 permit application. Schedule 6 demands:

“A site classification report and a design showing the articulation of the sanitary drainage for Class H, E or P sites.” Business Queensland

2. Soil Classifications That Trigger the Requirement

AS 2870 Class	Typical Movement (Ys)	Plan Required?
A, S, M	<40 mm	No
H1, H2	40–75 mm / 75–100 mm	Yes
E	>75 mm swell/shrink	Yes
P	Problem sites (fill, trees, services)	Yes

3. Who May Prepare the Plan?

Newsflash 569 clarifies that an articulation plan may be prepared by Department of Housing and Public Works:

an RPEQ with relevant competency (best practice)
a QBCC-licensed hydraulic services designer
a QBCC plumbing/drainage licensee preparing work they will personally carry out.

However, only an RPEQ can issue a Form 15 design certificate recognised statewide, making it the safe choice for builders operating across multiple councils.

4. Submission Checklist for Certifiers

Form 1 – Permit Work Application
AS 2870 Site Classification Report
RPEQ Form 15 for Sanitary Articulation Plan
Drawings showing: pipe routes, joint schedule, ORG & ILs, connection points

Providing all four documents avoids Requests for Information (RFIs) that can stall your building approval.

5. Dispensation Scenarios

Councils may waive the requirement where:

Drainage is outside the building footprint; or
The building is elevated on poles; or
A desktop RPEQ statement confirms minimal risk Department of Housing and Public Works.

Always seek written council confirmation before assuming an exemption.

Conclusion

Understanding exactly when an RPEQ-certified articulation plan is compulsory keeps your project on schedule and your certifier happy. Use the checklist above to make every plumbing submission a one-hit success.