CERTIFICATES AND RECORDS
VBA Certificate of Compliance: what it is and who issues it
There is a fair bit of confusion about the Certificate of Compliance: what it covers, who issues it, and how it relates to the records you keep. Here is the plain version.
What it is
A Certificate of Compliance is the formal document confirming that regulated plumbing work in Victoria was carried out in accordance with the Plumbing Regulations 2018 and the relevant standards. It is issued by the licensed or registered plumber who did the work. No app and no AI issues it for you.
When it is required
It applies to regulated plumbing work above the value threshold set out in the regulations. The detail of what is in scope, and the exact thresholds, sit with the regulator, the Building and Plumbing Commission (which replaced the VBA on 1 July 2025), so check the current guidance for any specific job rather than relying on rules of thumb.
What backs it up
The certificate is the headline. The evidence behind it is the documentation: photographs of the completed work, the standards it was checked against, and your sign-off. If the certificate is ever queried, that record is what supports it.
Certificate versus documentation record
Keep the two ideas separate. The certificate is the regulatory document you issue. The documentation record is the evidence trail. Elemetric builds the second, not the first: a signed, dated, photo-backed record that stands behind whatever you certify.
Common questions
Who issues the Certificate of Compliance?
The licensed or registered plumber who carried out the work issues it, in line with the regulator's requirements (the Building and Plumbing Commission, which replaced the VBA on 1 July 2025). No app or AI issues it for you.
What is the difference between the certificate and a documentation record?
The certificate is the regulatory document you issue. The documentation record is the photo and standards evidence that backs it up. Elemetric builds the record, not the certificate.
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Download on the App Store →General information for licensed tradespeople, not legal or regulatory advice. The licensed plumber remains solely responsible for compliance. Refer to the current AS/NZS 3500 standards and the Building and Plumbing Commission (formerly the VBA) for authoritative requirements.