NCSI Recognition Booklet Addendum

Plumbing Product Certification WaterMark Level 1 1.

General

In Australia most of the plumbing and drainage products and materials are required to be certified under the WaterMark certification program before they can legally be used in installations connected to the public infrastructure. Whilst the Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA) nationally sets out the general objectives procedures and processes for the certification and authorization of these products further and more specific requirements are set up and supported by the Australian Standard AS5200.000 and also the miscellaneous publication MP52, both published by the relevant committees of Standards Australia. This addendum to the NCSI Recognition Booklet, is intend to be the company’s certification program that ensures coverage of the extra specific requirements for WaterMark Level 1 as set by AS5200.000 and MP52. Plumbing products certified under the WaterMark Level 1 trade mark certification program must have achieved compliance with a specific Australia or International product Standard or other suitable published document and be certified under the principles of a System 5 of ISO/IEC Guide 67 – Conformity Assessment – Fundamentals of Product Certification. Under the NCSI procedures for the purposes of WaterMark Level 1, a quality management system complying with the “ISO 9001 system minimum requirements” set below must be implemented at the manufacturing site, and audited accordingly. ISO 9001 system minimum requirements: Certification to AS/NZS ISO9001 is not a requirement. However compliance with the process approach guidelines of AS/NZS ISO900, as set on the NCSI audit report template FC9-33-07, is mandatory. However if the client decides to fully adopt the AS/NZS ISO9001 guidelines the following deviations must however be considered: a)

Quality Manual: This document is not mandatory for WaterMark certification, however, a ‘Product Quality Plan’ containing the Company’s Organisation Chart, Quality Policy, Responsibilities and Authorities of Management Representative and Product Flow Charts, is mandatory. Note: The Product Flow Charts are mandatory even if a Quality Manual is available. Flow charts should reference applicable procedures, work instructions and relevant inspection and test points.

b) c)

d)

Customer Complaints Register: This document is mandatory. Procedure for Product Marking: This document is mandatory and must include periodic verification to ensure that the marking has been applied as approved by NCSI and complies with the relevant requirements of Clause 5 below. Please also refer to the Approved User Agreement. Product Recall Procedure: This document is mandatory and must ensure compliance with the relevant requirements of Clause 7 below.

NCSI Publication

Print Date: 4 October 2012

WaterMark Level 1 – Addendum for Recognition Booklet G031 / Issue 2 / May 2012 Page 1 of 6

As per the WaterMark requirements, before a WaterMark certificate can be issued NCSI must ensure that the applicant has signed the WaterMark Approved User Agreement as required by the WaterMark administrator. 2.

Definitions

For the purpose of this document the definitions used on PCA, AS5200.000, MP52 and AS/NZS ISO9000 and those below apply. Design Freeze The end point of the design when the final product design has been successfully type tested and the final results have been accepted by NCSI for certification purposes. Note: After NCSI acceptance none of the aspects of the product design that may adversely affect compliance of the product with the relevant Standard can be changed without the written approval of NCSI. If in doubt please consult your Client Manager. 3.

Main steps of certification

• The applicant lodges a WaterMark certification application. The WaterMark application shall list each product, its model and catalogue identification, proposed applications and methods of operation. Note: Prior to the application for WaterMark certification, the applicant is advised to conduct a preliminary review of the product to ensure that it will fall within the scope of the applicable Standard, as listed in AS5200.000 and/or MP52 - Section 5 – Schedule of specifications, and that it will comply with the relevant requirements. • Upon receipt of the application file, the assigned Client Manager (CM) at NCSI will send to the applicant the relevant ‘Product Schedule’ template for completion and return to NCSI and also requests the client to submit a preliminary Technical File relevant to the product to which certification is required e.g. Quality Plan (as indicated in 1 (a) above, process flow chart, drawings, bill of materials, technical characteristics, installation instructions, etc. Notes: 1. The completed product schedule together with the product’s Technical File will help the CM, in coordination with the applicant, preparing a type test program based on the representative worst case scenario samples. 2. The Technical File should also enable product design freeze. • NCSI discusses with the client the requirements for the marking of the product, as set on AS5200.000 and the MP52, and also the Standard applicable to the product, and invite the client to submit a preliminary marking proposal for review by NCSI. • Except for prototypes that will be discussed in clause 4 below, samples of product are randomly selected, by NCSI or authorised agent from a batch representative of the normal production process, for type testing by a recognised laboratory in accordance with the product testing program previously agreed. Note: As defined by the WaterMark rules a recognised laboratory is for example a laboratory accredited under the umbrella of ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) having a scope of accreditation covering the tests required by the applicable product standard e.g. in Australia NATA is the laboratory accreditation organization that operates under the ILAC umbrella.

NCSI Publication

Print Date: 4 October 2012

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The WaterMark applicant must inform NCSI of the laboratory chosen to carry out the type testing program and guaranty NCSI direct contact with it for discussions related to the test program. • NSCI performs a review of the received product type test reports and decides if they are acceptable for certification or if further action is required. • Upon final acceptance of the test reports, a design freeze obligation will apply to the products that the reports represent. Note: The design freeze obligation includes the marking of the product as per the marking proposal approved by NCSI. • After having received advice from the client that the manufacturing site has implemented the required quality management system and it is ready for the certification assessment the Client Manager assigned to the project will, in agreement with the client, set a convenient date for the assessment. This assessment will include verification of the required quality management system’s compliance as well as the compliance with the product’s batch testing requirements as set by the relevant product Standard(s), or alternatively accepted by NCSI’s, or the NCSI’s Standard Supplement, where applicable. Note: If the applicant is not the proprietor of the manufacturing site a written consent signed by the proprietor permitting access for the visit must be made available to NCSI. • The CM assigned to the project conducts a final review to the client’s file to ensure that any technical outstanding maters have been resolved, e.g. site audit report cleared and approved, test reports approved, marking proposal accepted, technical file complete, final product schedule agreed and WaterMark Approved User Agreement signed. • Having the above review been completed to the certification requirements NCSI will issue the relevant WaterMark Level 1 certificate. This certificate will be valid for the following 5 years when a successful recertification audit needs to be carried out if the licence is to be maintained. In the meantime the manufacturing site will be annually audited by NCSI to confirm that compliance with both the management system previously approved by NCSI, including the manufacturer’s Quality Plan, and also the batch testing program are maintained. The certification steps indicated above are not exhaustive and the sequence indicated can be changed if required. 4.

Use of prototypes for type testing

For the purpose of certification NCSI will provisionally accept prototype testing results provided that the following conditions are met: • Immediately after the serial production starts the client agrees to have samples of product randomly selected, by NCSI or authorised agent from a batch representative of the normal production process, for correlation testing of critical features by a recognised laboratory in accordance with the product testing program previously agreed, and pass the tests. • It can be verified by NCSI that the design features of the product tested do not significantly differ from the design of the prototype initially submitted.

NCSI Publication

Print Date: 4 October 2012

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NCSI will at is discretion set the timing and extent for the correlation testing required. 5.

Product Marking and Warranty

As per the WaterMark rules licensing/certification cannot take place until a marking proposal has been accepted by NCSI. In addition to the WaterMark marking the certified product must also satisfy any extra requirements of the relevant product Standard that do not contravene the WaterMark marking requirements. The WaterMark mark must be applied to the product prior to dispatch from the manufacturing site in a position and manner accorded in the Marking Proposal approved by NCSI. The certification marks should be clear, durable and incorporated in such a way as to reveal clear evidence of tampering. Note: After the approval of the marking proposal the marking of the product will also be under the obligation of product design freeze as previously discussed. In fulfilling the WaterMark requirements, e.g. PCA, MP52, AS5200.000, and also the signed Approved User agreement, NCSI must ensure that any product or material that it has certified is appropriately marked with the WaterMark as approved. The WaterMark rules also require the supplier of a WaterMarked product or material to ensure that the product or material offered for sale is accompanied by a statement of warranty indicating their suitability and limitations. Please refer to the PCA. As per the PCA a material or product displaying the WaterMark but without the required warranty is not an authorised product.

6.

Variations to Certification

Variations to certification may originate from: • variations to the scope of certified product • major nonconformities • voluntary withdrawals • withdrawal of certification by NCS International • change of certification scope • change of ownership • change of management • change of company name • change of ABN, • etc. During the validity of the certification any intended changes to the certified product that are likely to affect its critical features must be submitted to NCSI for review and final decision on further action to be taken. Please refer to the definition of “Design Freeze” in Clause 2 above. As per the set requirements if during the life of a certificate the relevant product certification Standard changes it is the responsibility of the certificate’s approved user NCSI Publication

Print Date: 4 October 2012

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to ensure that the certified product is updated within a period of one-year after the Standard being changed/amended and complies with the new requirements. Acknowledgement and control of non-conforming product must be dealt with in accordance with Clause 7 below. 7.

Acknowledgement and control of non-conforming product

• The WaterMark approved user must ensure that WaterMarked product found noncompliant prior to releasing is prevented from being released and that effective actions are taken to correct the discrepancies observed. • When the non-conformances of a WaterMarked product could not be resolved the product involved cannot be offered for sale unless its WaterMark is obliterated and any WaterMark logos or references are removed from any material accompanying the product. • In the event of product recall, the WaterMark approved user must immediately advise NCSI with full details including extension of the occurrence. All products already released must be immediately recalled and quarantined. Follow up actions to effectively correct the non-conformance must be taken in permanent consultation with NCSI until it acknowledges that in its view the problem has been satisfactorily resolved. • It is the responsibility of NCSI to notify the WaterMark administrator in case of any product recall, suspension or cancellation of certification happening to one of its certified companies, within 7days of the occurrence. 8.

Transfer of existing WaterMark certifications to NCSI

NCSI will accept transfers of current WaterMark Level 1 certifications granted by other JAS-ANZ accredited certifiers provided that the following conditions are met: •

The current certifier (CB) is proved to have signed an agreement with the WaterMark administrator for the use of the trademark

•

The current CB has been accredited by JAS-ANZ for the WaterMark certification

•

The WaterMark user has a valid certificate including product schedule and submits evidence that the annual certification fees have been paid to the previous certifier

•

The WaterMark user produces a valid, clean and current audit report were no issues of concern are presented

•

The relevant and complete technical file for the certified product, including test reports are made available and accepted by NCSI

•

The previously approved Marking Proposal is made available and approved by NCSI

After being satisfied that all products listed are compliant NCSI will issue a new certificate being the previous certification number maintained if the licensee wishes to do so. Note: In accordance with the relevant termination clause of the WaterMark Approved User Agreement, it is the Approved User’s obligation to give its previous certifier a written notice for termination of the WaterMark use, at least 30 days before the transfer.

NCSI Publication

Print Date: 4 October 2012

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The cycle of certification used by the previous certifier will be maintained by NCSI being the surveillance audits and recertification audit occurring at the anniversary of the issuance of the initial certificate. 9.

Specific conditions

In case of dispute NCSI reserves the right to select samples from the point of sales and have them independently tested by an approved laboratory. If the testing results prove that the product is not compliant with the relevant requirements, all costs involved will be charged to the certified WaterMark user. Under no circumstances will NCSI accept to certify to WaterMark Level 2 any product that by requirement of the WaterMark rules would require WaterMark Level 1 certification. 10.

Related publications and forms Reference

Type

Title

G014 PCA

NCSI Booklet Part of Volume 3 of the National construction Code produced by the ABCB

Recognition Booklet Plumbing Code of Australia

AS5200.000

Australian Standard

MP52

Australian Standard

AS/NZS ISO9001

Australian Standard

Technical specifications for plumbing and drainage product Part 000: Procedures for certification of plumbing and drainage products Miscellaneous publications Manual of authorization procedures for plumbing and drainage products Quality management systems Requirements

ISO/IEC Guide 7

International Standard

Conformity Assessment – Fundamentals of Product Certification

FC 9-33-12

Contract

WaterMark Approved User Agreement

NCSI Publication

Print Date: 4 October 2012

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