Question 32
Domain 2: Building Planning, Means of Egress, and Safety ProvisionsWhat protection must be provided where water supply pipes penetrate a concrete slab?
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Where water supply pipes pass through a concrete slab, they must be protected from contact with the slab and allowed to move without damage. Sleeving provides a barrier that prevents abrasion and accommodates movement, which is why pipes must be "sleeved or protected to allow movement and prevent abrasion."
Why each option is right or wrong
A. No protection required
B. Pipes must be wrapped with approved tape
C. Pipes must be sleeved or protected to allow movement and prevent abrasion
AS/NZS 3500.1 (Water services) requires pipework passing through concrete or masonry to be isolated from the structure so it is not damaged by movement or by direct contact with the slab. In practice this is done by a sleeve or equivalent protection that provides clearance for thermal/structural movement and prevents abrasion at the penetration point; the pipe must not be cast hard against the concrete.
D. Only copper pipes are allowed through slabs