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WA polybutylene plumbing failures
This information is for owners of WA homes with Typlex Pro-fit polybutylene plumbing pipes.
A number of Western Australian homes fitted with Pro-fit Typlex 1050 resin polybutylene plumbing pipes (Typlex pipes), manufactured by Iplex Australia, have experienced water leaks (the plumbing failures).
Following agreement between the product manufacturer, several builders and the WA Government, an Industry Response has commenced to ensure a series of practical remediation and preventative measures are available for WA homes with Typlex pipes, irrespective of when construction was completed at no cost to owners.
The Industry Response is also supported by recent law changes to protect affected homes.
More information about the Industry Response can be found on the dedicated website established by the product manufacturer where owners of homes with Typlex pipes can register for the free installation of a leak detection unit.
Further updates will be provided on this page and in other publications in coming weeks.
What remedy is available for homes with Typlex pipes?
Generally, the same staged remediation programme is now available for all WA homes that are fitted with Typlex pipes and experience a plumbing failure.
The key difference is that owners whose builder is participating in the Industry Response (known as a Participating Builder), can plan directly with that builder to receive the staged remediation programme. Under the Industry Response this is known as the agreed work programme.
If the builder of the home does not agree to undertake the staged remediation programme, then owners who have experienced a plumbing failure with the Typlex pipes can lodge a building services complaint with Building and Energy.
Before lodging a building services complaint, homeowners are encouraged to contact their builder to check if they will undertake the staged remediation programme voluntarily. A list of Participating Builders to the Industry Response can be found here.
Building services complaints related to plumbing failures with Typlex pipes must be made to Building and Energy in the same way as other building services complaints.
To ensure affected homeowners have access to remedial works, law reforms have been made to allow for this type of building service complaint (only) to be lodged with Building and Energy up to 15 years (rather than 6 years) after practical completion of the home. A streamlined complaint form and template notice of proposed complaint is available for homeowners to use.
The Building Commissioner will also apply a policy, where reasonable and appropriate, to issue orders requiring a builder to perform the same staged remediation programme. A copy of that policy is available here.
The agreed work programme ensures homes that have experienced a plumbing failure with Typlex pipes can receive a practical and proportionate fix while prioritising those that have experienced multiple failures for more extensive works.
Where a home has experienced one plumbing failure, the builder must arrange for the affected pipes to be fixed and all pipes in the ceiling to be replaced.
If a second plumbing failure has occurred, the builder is again required to fix the affected pipe or, if the pipe is in the wall, offer a zone re-pipe.
Where three or more plumbing failures have occurred, the builder will offer the choice of full or partial replacement of all pipes in the home (plus temporary accommodation if needed).
These works will be carried out irrespective of when the home was completed or when the plumbing failures started to occur.
All homes with Typlex pipes are also eligible for the installation of a leak detection unit at no cost (even if no plumbing failure has occurred). Owners can register directly with the product manufacturer for the units here.
The installation of a leak detection unit will also be ordered by the Building Commissioner for building services complaints related to one or more plumbing failures with Typlex pipes (if a unit has not already been installed).
Funding
Participating Builders to the Industry Response now have access to funding from Iplex and the WA Government to reimburse its direct costs of performing the staged programme of remedial works.
If the builder is not participating in the Industry Response, its obligation to the homeowner to do and pay for the remedial works is unchanged, but it will not be able to seek reimbursement. Either way, homeowners are not expected or required to pay for the staged programme of remedial works.
Please note - An online register for consumers was initially set up to assist Building and Energy gather some initial information on the scope of the issue.
The register is now closed.
What homes are eligible for the staged remediation programme?
If your home is located in WA and Typlex pipes were installed as part of either the original construction or a subsequent renovation, your home may be eligible for the staged remediation programme.
These homes were generally built or renovated between mid-2017 and mid-2022 (but not all homes in that period will have installed Typlex pipes).
If you are unsure if you have Typlex pipes in your home, please consult with your builder to confirm the make and model of the water service piping.
If you are unsure who built your home, please contact your local government and request a copy of the building permit or plans your builder would have submitted.
Some exceptions to eligibility do apply.
If all Typlex pipes have been removed from the home, then it is no longer included in the Industry Response. The same applies if compensation/settlement or judgment or another remedy has occurred in respect of the presence of all Typlex pipes in a home, including through an insurance claim.
Please note this does not include insurance claims made for leak repair (i.e. not all Typlex pipe) and associated water damages.
Owners of homes with Typlex pipes who have entered into a settlement with their builder may, depending on the terms of that settlement, be unable to make a building services complaint to the Building Commissioner. This may also apply to any subsequent owners of a home that experiences a plumbing failure with the Typlex pipe. Prospective purchasers are strongly encouraged to carry out due diligence in this respect.
What repairs will my home be covered for?
Both the Industry Response and Building Commissioner’s approved policy establishes the staged remediation programme for WA homes that are affected by plumbing failures.
The following stages apply:
- Installation of a leak detection unit in all homes with the Typlex pipes, whether they have had a plumbing failure or not. This should be arranged by homeowners directly with the product manufacturer.
- At the first plumbing failure, the piping and associated property damage will be repaired and a replacement of the pipes in the top floor ceiling space will take place.
- At the second plumbing failure, that pipe and associated property damage will be repaired and a zone re-pipe will be required around that leak (note: a zone is considered all pipes within the room or zone that leaked).
- At the third plumbing failure, that pipe and associated property damage will be repaired and homeowners will be offered a choice of another zone re-pipe or a full home re-pipe.
- At subsequent plumbing failures, if homeowners have not had a full home re-pipe, the pipe and associated property damage will be repaired until a full home re-pipe can be carried out.
Note that for building services complaints related to Typlex pipes, the Building Commissioner will order a zone re-pipe following a second plumbing failure or a full home re-pipe following a third plumbing failure unless otherwise requested by the complainant.
These stages take into account plumbing failures that have already occurred prior to the commencement of the Industry Response or the Building Commissioner’s approved policy.
What do I need to do to access the fund support?
The Industry Response does not require owners to take action if the home with Typlex pipes has not had a plumbing failure – other than to maintain contact with your builder and register for leak detection unit (if you choose to receive one).
If a plumbing failure has occurred, contact your builder to discuss arrangements for the remedial works work to be done. If your builder is not prepared to perform the remedial works, then you will need to consider lodging a building service complaint with Building and Energy.
How will homes be prioritised?
Owners should contact their builder in the first instance to plan for the relevant stage of works to be undertaken.
The intent is that builders prioritise homes with Typlex pipes that have already experienced more extensive plumbing failures, based on the availability of installers (plumbers) and homeowners. Given the backlog of homes in need, there is likely to be a significant waiting period for homes to be scheduled for the more extensive remediation.
Where the builder does not agree to complete the staged remediation programme voluntarily, owners can lodge a building services complaint with Building and Energy.
Building services complaints about plumbing failures with Typlex pipes will take some time to resolve in accordance with the legislative process.
Building and Energy will be prioritising complaints based on the number of plumbing failures experienced and the date of acceptance.
What do I do if I have already funded my own repairs?
Reimbursements of repair or remediation costs incurred by homeowners without the involvement of their builder are not covered or funded under the Industry Response.
However, where costs have been incurred by a homeowner because a builder has been unable or unwilling to undertake repairs, a building service complaint may be made to the Building Commissioner.
Building services complaints for compensation orders will be assessed in accordance with the Building Commissioner’s approved policy and other legal requirements.
What happens to homeowners who have not experienced a plumbing failure?
All homes with Typlex pipes, including those constructed by builders that are not Participating Builders in the Industry Response, can register for the supply and installation of a leak detection unit, free of charge with the product manufacturer here. These units provide early alerts and reduce the impact in the event of a leak.
All WA homeowners with Typlex pipes in their homes, including those whose builders have not agreed to participate in the Industry Response, will be offered the supply and installation of a leak detector unit, free of charge. These units provide early alerts and reduce the impact in the event of a leak.
Not all homes with the Typlex pipes will experience plumbing failures and so pre-emptive works will not be done under the Industry Response or ordered by the Building Commissioner.
I do not want my builder to carry out the works, what do I do?
You will need to speak to your builder about the plan for your home as they are co-ordinating the remedial works and homeowner engagement and may be able to help you with the right solution.
Your builder may subcontract the work (according to the staged work programme), and, if a Participating Builder in the Industry Response, still be eligible for reimbursement of costs.
For building services complaints related to Typlex piping, the builder must be afforded the first right of remedy.
Will I need to lodge a building services complaint if my builder signs up to the Industry Response?
Whether your builder is a Participating Builder to the Industry Response or not, you are encouraged to contact them directly to arrange repairs and, if qualifying, more extensive remediation work.
If your builder does not agree to do that, you may lodge a building services complaint with Building and Energy.
If you are renting the property, please contact your landlord or property manager.
What happens if I have already lodged a building service complaint with the Building Commissioner?
If you have already lodged a building service complaint with the Building Commissioner in relation to plumbing failures with the Typlex pipes, then you should first contact your builder to discuss whether they are participating in the Industry Response. If so, you may withdraw your complaint at any time.
If your builder is not participating in the Industry Response, your building service complaint will be determined once the WA Government’s legislative changes have been implemented.
Further information will be made available once the legislative changes have been implemented.
Does the Industry Response also apply to two storey homes?
Yes.
All WA homes constructed with Typlex pipes are eligible (subject to the exceptions outlined earlier above).
The same applies for building services complaints to Building and Energy.
I don’t know who my builder was, how can I find out?
If you are unsure who the builder of your home was, please contact your local council and request a copy of the building permit or plans, which would have been submitted by your builder.
How do I know if my home has Typlex pipes?
Pro-fit pipes are grey pipes with ‘Iplex’ and ‘Typlex’ identified on the pipe.
My home was not built with Typlex pipes but has Pro-Fit pipes, am I included in the agreement?
No.
An unusually higher rate of plumbing failures has been associated with the Typlex pipes in houses constructed between 2017 and 2022, which has prompted agreement on the Industry Response and associated changes to the laws to ensure houses can be fixed in a planned and proportional manner.
Iplex also provides a product warranty covering manufacturing defects for its full range of plumbing products for a 25-year period commencing from either the date of delivery or sale of the product, whichever is later. Please contact the Iplex directly for more details.
Owners of homes with other types of polybutylene pipes (not Typlex pipes) that experience a plumbing failure remain eligible to lodge a building services complaint with Building and Energy within 6 years of practical completion.
My home was renovated with Typlex pipes, is it eligible?
Yes.
What are the warning signs of a burst plumbing pipe?
The experience is different for each home, but leaks from burst plumbing pipes can be detected visually (with water staining appearing on walls, ceilings and floors) or from the sound of water leaking. In some cases, you may notice an unexplained increase in your water use on your bill.
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
Last updated 13 Nov 2024
First published 21 Mar 2023
Last modified: