Hot water temperature in a new South Australian house is dealt with by the Plumbing Code of Australia, NCC Volume Three. Performance Requirement B2P2 requires water at personal hygiene fixtures to be delivered at a temperature “unlikely to scald”. The Deemed-to-Satisfy provision, SA B2D5, sets not more than 50 °C at the outlet of each sanitary fixture, or 45 °C in listed settings such as aged care and schools, and B2D6 lists the control devices. Legionella control is a separate requirement.
What is the hot water temperature standard in Australia?
The national requirement is Performance Requirement B2P2 of the Plumbing Code of Australia: heated water “must be delivered from the point of discharge of fixtures and appliances at a temperature which is unlikely to scald.” It applies to “fixtures and appliances used primarily for personal hygiene.”
The Deemed-to-Satisfy figures are in clause B2D5, which South Australia deletes and replaces with SA B2D5. Part B2 also calls up AS/NZS 3500.4, the heated water services standard: the 2021 edition in the 2022 Plumbing Code and the 2025 edition in the 2025 Plumbing Code. This note does not describe the content of that Standard.
The ABCB lists South Australia’s NCC 2025 adoption dates as “BCA: 1 May 2027” and “PCA: 1 May 2026”, a different adoption date for the Plumbing Code than for the building volumes. This note quotes both the 2022 and 2025 editions of Volume Three and notes where they differ; which edition applies to particular work is for the relevant authority to confirm.
What is the maximum hot water temperature in South Australia?
SA B2D5(1), the Deemed-to-Satisfy provision in both editions as varied for South Australia, states that the delivery temperature of heated water “at the outlet of each sanitary fixture” must be not more than 45 °C in any residential part of an aged care building, a patient care area in a health-care building, a part of an early childhood centre or primary or secondary school used by children, or a designated accessible facility in a common area of a Class 2 building or in any part of a Class 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9a, 9b, 9c or Class 10 building; and “not more than 50 °C in all other cases.”
A Class 1 building, which includes a house, is not among the classes named in that 45 °C list. The clause applies, in its own words, to “all heated water installations intended for personal hygiene.”
The explanatory information adds a consideration for households: “if the occupants of a Class 1 building are older adults or young children, a lower temperature than specified in B2D5(b) should be considered.”
| Where | Not more than |
|---|---|
| Residential part of an aged care building; patient care area in a health-care building | 45 °C |
| Part of an early childhood centre, or primary or secondary school, used by children | 45 °C |
| Designated accessible facility in a common area of a Class 2 building, or in any part of a Class 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9a, 9b, 9c or 10 building | 45 °C |
| All other cases | 50 °C |
Which hot water temperature control valves are allowed?
South Australia does not vary clause B2D6, so the national text applies; its references to B2D5(a) and (b) correspond in South Australia to SA B2D5(1)(a) and (b). Under B2D6(2), a temperature control device used to deliver heated water at the 50 °C limit must be a thermostatic mixing valve, a thermostatically controlled tap, a tempering valve, or a temperature limited water heater.
Under B2D6(1), where the 45 °C limit applies, the device must be a thermostatic mixing valve or a thermostatically controlled tap. Clause B2D6(3) states: “The required maximum delivery temperature must be achieved in accordance with AS/NZS 3500.4.” The wording of B2D6 is the same in the 2022 and 2025 editions read for this note.
Clause B2D3 separately requires that, where both a heated water tap and a cold water tap are installed, the heated water tap is “to the left of, or above, the cold water tap”.
What else does SA B2D5 cover?
SA B2D5 has further subclauses on existing buildings. In both editions they provide that all new solar water installations, including solar water heater replacements, are to meet the limits in (1); that where an alteration or extension puts personal hygiene fixtures in a location where none existed before, the delivery temperature at the fixture is to meet them; and that where a water heater is replaced, “a temperature control device is required where such a device was in place prior to the installation of the replaced water heater.”
The 2022 edition has one more subclause, SA B2D5(2): “Heated water services in buildings constructed after 19 October 1995 shall have temperature control in accordance with 1(a) and (b).” That subclause does not appear in the 2025 South Australian text.
The explanatory information adds: “A duty of care should be exercised by installers to explain to clients the merits of temperature control for heated water delivered to existing sanitary fixtures used primarily for personal hygiene purposes.”
How does the Plumbing Code deal with Legionella in stored hot water?
The Performance Requirement states: “Heated water must be stored and delivered under conditions which avoid the likelihood of the growth of a Legionella bacteria count greater than or equal to 10 Legionella colony forming units (cfu) per millilitre.” It is B2P6 in the 2022 edition and B2P7 in the 2025 edition, with the same words.
Under NCC 2022 Verification Method B2V1, an optional route, compliance with B2P6 is verified when the water heater is designed so that all water receives a minimum exposure from Table B2V1 — 1 second at 70 °C or greater, 2 minutes at 66 °C, or 32 minutes at 60 °C — within seven days before passing through the water heater’s heated water outlet. NCC 2025 keeps the table, but its published B2V1 still refers to B2P6 rather than B2P7, so that cross-reference needs clarification. The Deemed-to-Satisfy clause, B2D8, states that “Legionella control for water heaters must be carried out in accordance with AS/NZS 3500.4.”
In the Plumbing Code, B2P6 (B2P7 in 2025) and B2D8 cover Legionella control, while SA B2D5 and B2D6 cover delivery temperature at fixtures and the devices that achieve it.
What else does Part B2 say about the water heater?
Under B2P5 of the 2022 edition (B2P6 in 2025), containers producing or storing heated water must relieve excessive pressure and avoid flash steam, including by “limiting water temperatures to a maximum of 99 °C”. Clause B2D7 requires a temperature and pressure relief device in accordance with AS/NZS 3500.4.
SA B2D9 requires a heated water service to comply with AS/NZS 3500.4 with three substituted clauses, including that “All new or replacement unvented storage water heaters shall be fitted with new temperature/pressure relief and expansion control valves” and that “All drain lines shall discharge separately over a gully, tundish or other visible approved outlet.”
The type of water heater is a separate question. SA B2D2 in the 2022 edition lists permitted types for a new Class 1 or Class 10 building; in the 2025 edition it requires compliance with a standard made under section 66 of the Water Industry Act 2012. The water heater also feeds into the energy usage provisions for a new house.
Who regulates hot water plumbing in South Australia?
The South Australian footnote to Volume Three lists the Office of the Technical Regulator, Department for Energy and Mining, as the administering authority for plumbing and drainage, with the Water Industry Act 2012, the Water Industry Regulations 2012 and the Plumbing Standard published by the Technical Regulator. Under Health it lists the South Australian Public Health (Legionella) Regulations 2013.
Which edition of the Plumbing Code applies, and how a particular installation is assessed, are questions for the Office of the Technical Regulator and the relevant authority assessing the building work.
Common Questions
What is the maximum hot water temperature in a house in South Australia?
For heated water installations intended for personal hygiene, SA B2D5(1) of the Plumbing Code, in both the NCC 2022 and NCC 2025 editions as varied for South Australia, sets Deemed-to-Satisfy outlet limits of 45 °C in the settings listed in (a), and 50 °C in other cases. Class 1 houses are not among the classes named in that list.
Where does the 45 °C hot water limit apply?
For heated water installations intended for personal hygiene, SA B2D5(1)(a), a Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision of the Plumbing Code as varied for South Australia, sets not more than 45 °C in residential parts of aged care buildings, patient care areas in health-care buildings, parts of early childhood centres and schools used by children, and designated accessible facilities in listed building classes.
What temperature control devices does the Plumbing Code allow?
Where a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution is proposed (B2D1(2)), B2D6, which South Australia does not vary, lists the devices serving the SA B2D5 personal-hygiene limits: a thermostatic mixing valve or thermostatically controlled tap for 45 °C; B2D6(2) additionally permits a tempering valve or temperature limited water heater for 50 °C. A Performance Solution is the other route under B2D1(3).
How does the Plumbing Code deal with Legionella in stored hot water?
A Performance Requirement of the Plumbing Code (B2P6 in NCC 2022, B2P7 in NCC 2025) requires heated water to be stored and delivered so as to avoid a Legionella count of 10 cfu per millilitre or more. The Deemed-to-Satisfy clause, B2D8, calls up AS/NZS 3500.4. Under Verification Method B2V1, an optional alternative, all water must receive a listed minimum exposure, for example 32 minutes at 60 °C, within seven days before passing through the water heater’s heated water outlet.
Which edition of the Plumbing Code applies in South Australia?
The ABCB lists South Australia as adopting the NCC 2025 Plumbing Code from 1 May 2026, and the building volumes from 1 May 2027. The Deemed-to-Satisfy limits of 50 °C and 45 °C in SA B2D5(1) are the same in both editions read for this note. The edition that applies to particular work is confirmed by the relevant authority.
Sources
- NCC 2022 Volume Three (Plumbing Code of Australia) — Part B2 Heated water services (B2P2, B2P5, B2P6, B2V1, B2D3, B2D5 to B2D9)Accessed 2026-11-10
- NCC 2022 Volume Three — Schedule 8 South Australia, Part B2 (SA B2D2, SA B2D5, SA B2D9)Accessed 2026-11-10
- NCC 2022 Volume Three — Schedule 8 South Australia, SA Footnote: Other legislation affecting buildingsAccessed 2026-11-10
- NCC 2022 Volume Three — Referenced documents (AS/NZS 3500.4:2021)Accessed 2026-11-10
- NCC 2025 Volume Three (Plumbing Code of Australia) — Part B2 Heated water servicesAccessed 2026-11-10
- NCC 2025 Volume Three — Schedule 8 South Australia, SA B2 Heated water servicesAccessed 2026-11-10
- NCC 2025 Volume Three — Referenced documents (AS/NZS 3500.4:2025)Accessed 2026-11-10
- ABCB — NCC 2025 state and territory adoption informationAccessed 2026-11-10
This page describes these sources as they stood on the access dates above. It is not legal advice about any particular property.
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