REGISTER YOUR INTEREST FOR UPCOMING ROLES.
HIT THE ‘APPLY NOW‘ BUTTON BELOW.
Melbourne Polytechnic had a cool project in mind:
Revamping their facilities and creating a brand-new Gas Commissioning Training Room to keep pace with the booming demand for gas servicing training. And our team were the ones to pull it off! 
The new space, equipped with both natural and LP gas appliances, has been specially designed to up-skill apprentices and plumbers in Type A gas appliance servicing. With Energy Safe Victoria’s (ESV) strict safety and regulatory requirements, this was no small feat.
So, Reliable Plumbing rolled up our sleeves and got to work. We teamed up with Melbourne Polytechnic and ESV to nail every detail. First up, we huddled with ESV to ensure all our plans were up to scratch and got the green light for any special installations.
We then got busy with some serious upgrades. We installed a new underground gas line and revamped the above-ground setup with a fresh gas meter and safety controls. For the LP gas system, we added an external tank and a shiny new manifold with copper piping. Ongoing safety was our top priority, so we fitted ventilation, extraction, and pressure-proofing systems to keep things safe for the students using the facility.
Next, we rolled out the red carpet for a range of gas appliances, from water heaters to cooktops, to ensure the training room had everything needed for hands-on learning. We also tackled some roof work, fitting flues for seven appliances and making sure everything was leak-proof with pan flashing.
On the tech side, we brought in the Gas-Guard control system, working alongside electricians to link it up with solenoids, flow switches, gas detectors, and the fire system panel.
Finally, we put everything through its paces with rigorous testing on pressures, carbon monoxide levels, and airflow. We also worked closely with ESV to handle inspections and secure permits for our unique installations.
After six months of hard work, the project was a big hit! We transformed the gas supply infrastructure, making it safer and more efficient. And the new training facility? It’s now a top-notch space that showcases Melbourne Polytechnic’s commitment to excellence and ensures their grads are ready to make a splash in the plumbing world.
A MASSIVE shout out to our man Jack for bringing your expertise to the table on this project. What a legend!
Keeping our team at the top of the game!!
On a smashingly sunny day in July we hosted a nationally recognised, hands-on Jetter Training session right here at our office, where our specialist civil technicians got to dive into their world of high-powered drain cleaning, as part of ensuring they’re equipped with the most up-to-date methods and safety protocols of this High-Risk work. Participants rolled up their sleeves and got hands-on with our jetters, demonstrating how to tackle even the toughest clogs with confidence.
With the training being facilitated by the creator of the nationally recognised course, safety was a big part of the fun. We made sure everyone was in the know about how to operate these powerful machines without a hitch—think of it as the ultimate guide to handling high-pressure hoses and staying safe while doing so. We covered all the essentials, from wearing the right gear to managing those intense water jets like a pro. By the end, everyone was not only adept at using the jetters but also equipped with the most current and thorough knowledge to keep things safe and smooth.
We recently tackled an exciting project involving upgrading a high-pressure LPG installation. This included a fresh setup from scratch utilising the Swagelok tube fitting system.
The existing system, which connected two external bottles to a Type B gas turbine, was showing its age as the black steel line was exposed to the elements with it running past a cooling tower and chemical dosing equipment. It was clearly in need of a revamp as it was heavily corroded. We opted for 316 stainless steel tubing with a wall thickness of 2.5mm.
Our job was to breathe new life into this setup, with safety as our priority. First, we addressed the LPG bottles. The client wanted standard bottle removal connections for easier maintenance, which we implemented. We also assessed whether the bottles needed to be repositioned to meet safety clearances which we had to relocate them and even install a vapour barrier to meet clearances. Since the system had to maintain pressures over 200 kPa and bring over 200kpa to the inside of a building – it fell outside of the scope of AS 5601 so various other Australian standards and documentation was used in conjunction with some aspects of 5601.
We consulted with various stakeholders, suppliers and the technical regulator, as this job needed a ‘schedule 8 document’ for it to be approved by the regulator before we could start works, which was essentially our case for how this installation would be conducted, the type of fittings, safety devices, and how we will be testing etc.
Once we had our final acceptance from ESV we attended site with our type B contractor to ensure the appliance was safe to hand back over to the client, we gave stakeholders an induction on our new setup and briefed them on the safety aspects and our recommendations for best use.
After completing the installation and conducting thorough inspections, we received the green light from ESV.
With the technical master-mind Marcus’s awesome work, the project was a success! Transforming an outdated system into a safe and efficient setup. The client was thrilled, and we were proud to add another successful project to our list. It was a win all around, proving once again that these technical upgrades can be a lot of fun!
Our student Capstone Project in collaboration with UoM is officially underway!
As part of one of Reliable’s major innovation hub projects, we have teamed up with the Engineering Faculty of The University of Melbourne to cook up something special – a Capstone Project for a select few of the university’s Engineering students. The project will see their academic smarts and our industry know-how blend, to craft an innovative and AI driven solution for our clients. The project is a first of its kind in Australia, showcasing Reliable’s flair for vision and innovation. Stay tuned—there’s more fun to come!
We are thrilled to announce that we will continue to provide our top-notch services to Deakin University’s Residential Services after again being awarded their On-Site Plumbing Services and Maintenance Contract. We look forward to our continued relationship with DRS and the successes our partnership will see!
We‘re excited to introduce our new team members who joined us throughout this quarter. Their skills, talent and just general awesomeness will fit right in here at Reliable!
• Jim – Senior Maintenance Plumber
• Jake – Roof Plumber
Our team of superstars is growing, but we’re not done yet!
If you are interested in becoming part of our team, please send your resume through to our People & Culture Manager Duncan at: careers@reliableplumbing.