What's Needed in a Queensland Plumbing Form 1?

If you're planning any significant plumbing, drainage, or on-site sewerage work in Queensland, you've likely come across the Form 1. This document is a crucial step in the approval process for all Queensland councils where plumbing and drainage works are proposed.

But what exactly do you need to fill out, and what supporting documents must you gather to ensure your application is "properly made"?

What is a Form 1?

In Queensland, plumbing work is categorised into four types: Permit Work, Notifiable Work, Minor Work, and Unregulated Work.

The Form 1 is specifically for Permit Work—which generally involves the installation of new plumbing systems, work related to the construction of a new building, or installing additional fixtures in certain complex systems.

The purpose of the form is to provide the local government with all the information required to assess the proposed work against the relevant codes and standards before it commences.

Key Information Required on the Form 1

A properly completed Form 1 is broken down into several mandatory sections covering the property, the people involved, and the technical details of the proposed work.

1. Description of Land

You must clearly identify the site where the work will take place. This includes:

• Street Address: Full address, including suburb and postcode.

• Lot and Plan Details: Found on your title documents or a rates notice (e.g., Lot 1 SP12345).

• Local Government Area: The relevant council or local authority.

2. Applicant and Owner Details

This section identifies who is lodging the application and who owns the property.

• Applicant Details: Full name, signature, contact person, phone number, and email. The applicant is responsible for ensuring the information is correct.

• Owner Details: Full name, postal address, and email (if different from the applicant).

3. Responsible Person (Plumber/Drainer)

The "Responsible Person" is the licensed plumber or drainer who will perform or direct the work. While their signature isn't always required at the time of initial lodgement, their details must be provided, or a separate Form 7 (Notification of Responsible Person) must be submitted before any inspection can occur.

• Details Required: Full name, QBCC occupational licence number, QBCC contractor licence number, and contact information.

4. Details of the Proposed Work

This is the technical core of the application, broken down by the type of service involved:

• Sanitary Plumbing and Drainage:

  • Indicate if the work is New or an Alteration.

  • Provide a brief description (e.g., "new drainage for relocated toilet and shower").

• Fixtures to be Installed:

  • You must detail the total number of fixtures being installed (sinks, basins, W.C.s, showers, baths, etc.).

• Water Supply:

  • Mandatory for water supply plumbing work.

  • If a new connection or disconnection is involved, specify the required service size (mm) and purpose (Domestic, Industrial, Commercial, Fire).

• On-Site Sewerage or Greywater Facility:

  • Mandatory if the work involves a septic tank, on-site sewerage treatment plant, or greywater use facility in an unsewered area.

  • You must provide the Treatment Plant CEA Number and details like the brand, model, and flow rate.

📄 Essential Supporting Documents

Simply filling out the Form 1 is not enough. To be considered "properly made," your application must be accompanied by relevant plans and reports, which typically include:

• Relevant Plans:

  • A Site Plan showing the property boundaries, existing structures, and the location of the proposed work.

  • Floor Plans and Elevations of the proposed building or alteration, showing the location of all new plumbing fixtures.

  • Proposed Sanitary Drainage / Hydraulic Plan detailing the design, pipe sizes, invert levels, and location of fittings like overflow relief gulleys (ORGs) and connection points.

• For On-Site Sewerage/Greywater (OSS/GW) Facilities:

  • A Site and Soil Evaluation Report from a qualified professional.

  • A copy of the Treatment Plant Approval (if applicable).

• For Sanitary Drainage on Reactive Soils (H, E, or P soil classification):

  • A Soil Classification Report (under AS 2870-2011).

  • A design showing the Sanitary Articulation (how the drainage is designed to cope with soil movement) - which is where we can help!

  

The Takeaway

If your lodging yourself as an owner builder, or through your certifier, ensure you ask early on if you will need:

1) Soil Report - get this instructed and done ASAP. Typically needed for foundation design, but is also required for Sanitary Articulation Report.

2) On-Site Sewage - these are only required where there is no sewer mainline, the need for this should be pretty obvious prior to commencing a job, but ensure that this is looked at and considered early on - we can also help here if needed.

3) Sanitary Articulation - follow up early with your certifier or council if this required. Fortunetly, if this has been missed, we can turn a report around in 24 hours to keep things on track.

Simply give us a call, we are more than happy to help and point you in the right direction.