Irrigation

Specifications - maintenance

The contractor is responsible for ongoing maintenance of the irrigation system during the maintenance period.

The contractor shall carry out all repairs to breakages, faults and visual exposure, and record such works on the monthly report. Any parts that are stolen or damaged are to be replaced at the contractor’s expense with future preventative actions to be addressed by the contractor.

At the end of the contractual period, the irrigation system must be complete and in full working order upon handover.

Standards of maintenance

Maintain whole of irrigation system for the specified period from the date of practical completion of ‘irrigation installation’ to handover to council - the ‘on maintenance period’.

• All work shall be performed in accordance with all applicable laws, ordinances and regulations required by authorities having jurisdiction over such work, and are to provide for all inspections and permits required by Federal, State and Local Governments and Authorities in procuring and transporting materials.
• Unless specified otherwise, current, relevant Australian Standards are to be observed.
• Ensure site is maintained in a safe, and as far as practicable, clean and tidy condition.
• Airborne dust is to be kept to a minimum.
• Ensure that no spillages or discharges of oil, fuel or other pollutants occur during servicing, refuelling or works operations.
• Driving of vehicles within council parks is to be minimised.
• Parking and driving of vehicles within TPZ is prohibited.
• Unless absolutely necessary to carry out works, the driving of plant and equipment in the following areas is to be avoided:
  • Turfed areas
  • Irrigated areas.
  • Landscaped areas
  • Tree root zones
  • Council infrastructure areas.
• Access to open space areas for specific works is to be coordinated with the Superintendent.

General maintenance

It is recommended that the Maintenance Period for irrigation shall be from the date of practical completion until the end of the defects liability period. As part of ongoing maintenance to all irrigation systems, it is recommended that the following maintenance work and inspections be undertaken on a monthly basis:

• Ensure garden beds and turfed areas receive adequate water to maintain plant health.
• Ensure correct watering pattern has been established.
• Ensure all sprinklers are straight and set to correct height.
• Ensure correct sprinkler nozzles have been installed.
• Ensure all part circle sprinklers are adjusted to the correct angle and all full circle sprinklers are set to 360°.
• Ensure appropriate days for operation of system have been selected.
• Check for correct start and finish times.
• Check program duration.
• Additional flushing, where required.
• Ensure all pipework remains buried.
• Check system for blockages and leaks.
• Ensure sprinkler filters are regularly cleaned and flushed.
• Ensure system is fully operational and providing correct coverage.
• Irrigation shall be programmed to minimise watering during periods of peak pedestrian activity.

Monitoring

• Provide the Superintendent with a report (at monthly intervals) of activities completed.
• Digital photos shall be added where appropriate.

Litter collection and removal

• Waste from contractors activities is to be removed from site.
• In hardstand areas, vegetative matter is to be removed from around trees and shrubs.
• Mulch spilt or disturbed from garden areas is to be reinstated.

Final program selection

Within 14 days prior to the end of the maintenance period, the contractor shall inform the Superintendent of the final program selected, which shall be recorded on two log books, one to be kept in the control box, and the other to be given to the Superintendent for council’s records. 

The contractor is to instruct persons, as selected by the Superintendent, on each aspect of the system program, maintenance and operation.

The log books and ‘as constructed’ plans shall include the following information:

• Name, address and telephone number of the irrigation designer and installer.
• Rain sensor identification and directions.
• Any personal instruction to owner/manager/caretaker resulting from the maintenance period.
• A set of written operational instructions in the form of an irrigation manual.
• Irrigation plan identifying locations of all underground irrigation pipes and fittings.

Practical completion and defects liability

Practical completion

• Notwithstanding any formal contractual requirements, practical completion shall be granted at the discretion of the Superintendent, and will generally follow successful completion of all testing and commissioning activities, submission of required certification from the contractor indicating that the works are considered complete and compliant, and completion of a final defects inspection by the Superintendent and/or their representative/s.
• Prior to practical completion, all contractor waste is to be removed from site and appropriately disposed of.
• All surfaces are to be reinstated or made safe to the satisfaction of the Superintendent.
• The following terms may (at the discretion of the Superintendent) be completed after Practical Completion:
  • Fulfilment of training obligations
  • Submission and approval of operating and maintenance manuals. These must be submitted within 2 weeks of Practical Completion.
  • Rectification of defects identified during the final defects inspection.
  • Rectification of disturbed surfaces and damage (these may be captured as defects). Prior to practical completion, unrectified surfaces shall be made safe for safe operation of the site, at a minimum.

Practical completion/Handover

• Certification of the “Fully Complete” irrigation system
• Handover of the “Fully Complete” irrigation system
• The irrigation system will be certified as “Fully Complete” only after:
  • The system has been run for 7 consecutive fully programmed cycles over a period of 7 days
  • Successful commissioning in the presence of the Superintendent.
  • Rectification of all defects identified during the commissioning inspections 
  • Repair of all vandalism caused during construction
  • Correct pre-setting of automatic controllers
  • All debris and / or unused materials have been removed from site
  • Submission and certification of “Operation and Maintenance manuals”
  • Submission and certification of “As Constructed drawings”
  • Submission of proof of “Education of system operators”.

Notes:

• No Practical Completion/Handover inspections will be carried out until the following have been submitted for verification:
  • “As constructed” drawings in current ADAC XML file format.
  • Operations and Maintenance Manuals
  • Proof of Education of System Operators.

General warranties

• The Contractor will be expected to warrant all new works (materials and installation) against fault, and repair or replace without delay, at no cost to Council.
• A written warranty to this effect must be supplied with the tender documents
• This warranty shall not void any manufacturers warranties that may be offered with the equipment supplied under this contract.
• Duration generally 12 months after practical completion.
• Tapping saddles/bolts seven years after practical completion.
• Non compliance - Where it can be proven that the Contractor has used materials that were non-conforming, and the use was not approved in writing, replacement and labour will be the responsibility of the Contractor up to seven years after completion of practical completion.

Defects liability period

• The defects liability period (or on maintenance period) shall commence upon receipt of a Certificate of Practical Completion from the Superintendent.
• The defects liability period will be 12 months from the date of practical completion, unless otherwise specified (for certain situations, Council may require a longer defects liability period).
• During the defects liability period the contractor shall be responsible for:
  • Rectification of defects identified at Practical Completion.
  • Completion of outstanding obligations such as training and/or submission of operating and training manuals.
  • Periodic inspections of the installations at a duration of not more than three monthly intervals. This will include performance of maintenance activities in accordance with standard requirements and manufacturer’s recommendations. 
  • Promptly responding to service callouts in the event that a defect arises through operation of the site.
  • Prompt rectification of any defects that arise during operation, including any required troubleshooting to identify the cause of the defect.
  • Replacement of any defective equipment/components that cannot be repaired as part of defect rectification works.
  • Recertification of the installation following any alterations required as part of defect rectification works. This shall include retesting and update of operating and maintenance manuals as required.
  • Refinement of any programmable settings to suit updated user requirements.
• At the completion of the defects liability period, the contractor shall complete a final service of the installation, which shall include:
  • Final adjustment of any programmable settings.
  • Final reviews of all fixings (including labelling) to ensure components have not become dislodged during operation.
  • Final update of operating and maintenance manuals to capture any changes that may have arisen through the course of the defects liability period, and to include latest test reports.

Maintenance Schedule

For the duration of the maintenance period, the contractor shall check the following and provide a written report to the Superintendent.

See Table 4: Landscape irrigation system maintenance schedule for further guidance.

Table 4: Landscape irrigation system maintenance schedule

Technical drawings

The following technical drawings are to be used in conjunction with this specification:

• Typical main line/lateral line installations
• Solenoid valve installation
• Pop up sprinkler/quick coupling valve/cable joiner installation.

See LIM Irrigation - Technical drawings for further guidance.

Glossary

BSP –  British Standard Pipe. An internationally adopted family of standard screw thread types for interconnecting and sealing pipe ends. (Not used in the United States where NPT is used)

DCV  – Double check valve.

MPR –  Matched precipitation rate. All sprinkler heads in a certain zone put out the same rate of water in a set time period.

NPT –  National Pipe Tapered Thread. United States standard for tapered threads used on threaded pipes and fittings.

On maintenance period/Defects liability period – the period of time between practical completion of the project and the handover of project to council, during which the contractor (or the developer in the case of external projects) has specific responsibilities for the maintenance of plant material and repair of faults. The ‘on maintenance period’ is synonymous with defects liability period and establishment period.

Off maintenance – after the ‘on maintenance’ period, the assets and infrastructure are inspected and, following approval, they become ‘off maintenance’. Council is then responsible for maintenance of the assets and infrastructure.

PE – Polyethylene. Polyethylene is a lightweight thermoplastic with excellent chemical resistance.

Practical Completion – the culmination of most construction contracts is commonly known as ‘practical completion’ of the building works. Practical completion generally means the works are completed to all relevant statutory requirements in accordance with the contract triggers. The release of any retained funds, the risk of loss or damage to the works passes from the contractor to the employer and the contractor is no longer liable for liquidated damages. The defects liability period begins on practical completion.

PTFE –  Polytetrafluoroethylene. PTFE is a white, waxy industrial plastic resistant to practically every chemical known to man. It is chemically inert, weatherable and has excellent electrical insulation and high temperature resistance.

PN - Series 1 PE pipes are classified in terms of the nominal pressure rating (PN). The number used to describe PN is 10 times the value of the maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) at 20°C based on C = 1.25 and given in megapascals (MPa).

PVC – Polyvinyl chloride. A synthetic thermoplastic material made by polymerising vinyl chloride.

RPZ, RPZD –  Reduced pressure zone device

SWJ pipe –  Solvent welded joint pipe. A non-pressure pipe suitable for use in stormwater applications.

SWV pipe –  Soil, waste and vent pipe. A non-pressure pipe for the conveyance of soil or waste discharge, or for the conveyance of gases from a drainage system.