Upcoming Changes to Lead Limits in Plumbing Products

The 2022 edition of the National Construction Code (NCC) introduces a new limit on lead content in plumbing products used for drinking water. Effective from 1 May 2026, copper alloy plumbing products containing more than 0.25% lead will no longer be authorised for installation in drinking water systems.

To support the industry in navigating this transition, MPAQ recently hosted an online session, inviting corporate supporters to provide feedback on the shift to lead-free plumbing products.

Key concerns raised at the session:

1. Financial Impact – Businesses are facing significant financial losses due to millions of dollars’ worth of existing stock that will become non-compliant.
2. Environmental Consequences – Concerns over the disposal or scrapping of non-compliant products and the environmental impact of waste.
3. Supply Chain Challenges – Uncertainty around the availability of lead-free products, with some manufacturers unable to guarantee stock as the May 2026 deadline approaches, potentially disrupting plumbers' work.
4. Product Returns and Business Relationships – Questions about how suppliers will manage returns from plumbers while maintaining strong business relationships.
5. Alternative Use of Existing Stock – Exploring whether some non-compliant products could be repurposed for irrigation rather than scrapped.
6. Industry Awareness – Concerns that many plumbers remain unaware of the upcoming regulation and may still be holding large amounts of affected stock.

MPAQ has raised these concerns to Master Plumbers Australia and New Zealand (MPANZ) and directly to the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB). Additionally, MPAQ has requested data and statistics related to the lead-free transition to better understand its impact. We are also actively liaising with the Plumbing Products Industry Group. MPAQ will provide further updates in due course.