DOCUMENTATION

What to photograph on every plumbing job

Good documentation is not about taking more photos, it is about taking the right ones, every time. Here is a shot list you can run on autopilot.

The per-job shot list

• The overall completed installation, wide enough to show context.
• The relief valve and its drain line.
• The tempering valve or thermostatic mixing valve.
• Isolation valves at the required points.
• The rating or compliance plate.
• Pipe supports and the separations from other services.
• Anything you tested: a pressure gauge reading, a measured temperature.

Make the photos count

A photo is far stronger as evidence when it carries a GPS location and a timestamp from the moment of capture, and a hash that proves later it was not edited or swapped. Take them on the day, in focus, with the key detail clearly in frame. A blurry photo of the right thing is almost as weak as no photo at all.

Doing it consistently

The hard part is not any single job, it is doing it on every job for years. That is where a routine, or a tool that prompts you, earns its keep. Elemetric runs this shot list for you, checks the photos against AS/NZS 3500, and files them into a signed record automatically.

Common questions

What should I photograph on every job?

The overall completed install, the relief valve and drain line, the tempering or mixing valve, isolation valves, the rating plate, pipe supports and separations, and anything you tested.

What makes a photo strong as evidence?

A GPS location and timestamp from the moment of capture, and a hash that proves it was not edited later. Take them on the day, in focus, with the key detail clearly in frame.

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.