Singapore's Public Utilities Board (PUB) said on Monday that all sanitary plumbers will need to be licensed from Apr 1, 2018. The authorities said in a press release that the national water agency is revising the current Licensed Water Service Plumber (LWSP) scheme to include sanitary plumbers in the Licensed Plumber scheme. At present, the scheme is only mandatory for water service plumbers.
Water service plumbers carry out installation and repair works on water pipes, tanks, taps and fittings which convey water supplied by PUB in buildings. But, the sanitary plumbers conduct installation and repair works on sanitary appliances, pipes and sanitary drain-lines that convey used water from buildings and premises to public sewers.
The media release said that the plumbers will have to complete the Building and Construction Authority's (BCA) Builder Certificate course in Plumbing and Pipe-Fitting, or equivalent qualifications, to get the LP license. Additionally, they will also have to attend PUB's sanitary and/or water service plumbing course and pass an assessment.
PUB said that an estimated number of 260 plumbers, who are licensed by PUB under the LWSP scheme and also hold the Singapore Plumbing Society (SPS) registration certificate for sanitary plumbers, will automatically qualify for the new LP licence.
The agency also added that another estimated 600 LWSPs and 22 SPS-registered sanitary plumbers, who do not have all the required qualifications will be given a chance till Sep 30, 2018, to obtain the necessary qualifications to obtain the new LP licence. However, they can continue to offer water service or sanitary plumbing services up while undergoing the training to qualify for the LP licence.
