# How to Check a Plumber > What an IPA Type A permit from SPAN is, which plumbing work needs one, and how to ask for and check a plumber URL: https://klplumbing.my/guide/check-plumber-span-permit/ Last-Modified: 2026-11-15 Author: KL Plumbing Handbook editors ## Why permits matter You know how anyone can put “plumber” on a van door? The title is free, but the permit isn’t. In Peninsular Malaysia, work on water pipes and fittings that carry water from the public mains needs a plumber with an IPA Type A permit from SPAN. Hiring someone without the right permit can mean poor workmanship, supply problems and a hard time getting things fixed later. If you want to check a SPAN plumber permit before a job, this guide shows you how. We’ll cover what the permit is, which work needs it and what to ask. It’s part of the Hiring a Plumber section [/hiring-a-plumber/ →](/hiring-a-plumber/) . ## SPAN and the law in plain words SPAN is the National Water Services Commission, or Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara. It regulates water supply and sewerage services in Peninsular Malaysia, and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan, under the Water Services Industry Act 2006. That law (Act 655) has been in force since 1 January 2008. Among other things, SPAN issues permits to plumbers under the Water Services Industry (Permit) Rules 2007. For the IPA Type A permit meaning in one line: it’s the permit for individuals who construct, connect, modify or repair water pipes and fittings that carry water from the public mains. Permit holders who run a business must also use workers or subcontractors who hold the right permit for that mains-fed work. ![Plumber holding up a permit card for a homeowner to read at the front door of a Klang Valley terrace house](/images/content/plumber-holding-up-a-permit-card-for-a-homeowner-t.webp) ## Which work needs a permit Anything that touches pipes carrying water from the public mains generally needs a permitted plumber. Small fixes that stay downstream of the mains-fed supply usually don’t. **Generally needs a permitted plumber:** - Installing, replacing or moving pipes that carry water from the public mains - Connecting new fittings to the mains-fed supply - Repiping a house - Work on the supply pipe from the meter to the house - Installing or replacing water tanks and their supply connections **Generally does not need a permit:** - Clearing a blocked sink trap or floor trap - Replacing a toilet seat - Cleaning a tap aerator - Tightening a loose visible connector The line isn’t always obvious. If you’re not sure whether a job needs a permitted plumber, ask SPAN. ## How to ask for permit details Ask early, and ask plainly. A genuine plumber won’t mind, because it’s a normal question. 1. **Ask before you book.** “Do you hold a SPAN IPA Type A permit?” 2. **Ask for the details.** Name as registered, permit number and expiry date. 3. **Ask who will do the work.** If a company sends a team, ask whether the person doing the mains-fed work holds a permit. 4. **Ask to see the permit** on the day, and note the details. 5. **Check with SPAN** if you have any doubt, especially for larger jobs like repiping. Company permits and individual permits aren’t the same thing. A firm can hold a permit while the person at your door doesn’t, so the third question matters most. ![Phone screen held over a notebook while checking details, kitchen table background](/images/content/phone-screen-held-over-a-notebook-while-checking-d.webp) ## Checking the details Four quick checks tell you most of what you need. Do them at the door, before any pipe is touched. - **Name:** does it match the person or company you’re dealing with? - **Expiry:** is the permit current? - **Type:** does it cover the kind of work you need? - **Confirm with SPAN** through its official channels. Keep a note of the permit details with your quote and receipt. A photo on your phone works fine. ## What can go wrong without the right permit Most homeowners never have a problem. Still, the risks are real when mains-fed work is done by someone without the right permit: - **Poor workmanship** on pipes under mains pressure, leading to leaks inside walls and floors. - **Wrong materials,** such as pipe that isn’t suitable for drinking water or hot water. - **Problems with the supply,** for example if a connection affects the meter or the supply side. - **Difficulty getting things put right,** if the person can’t be traced or the work has no warranty. - **Questions from building management,** in condos with rules about who may work on the plumbing. Leaks inside walls and floors are the costly ones. They stay hidden until a stain shows up, and by then the repair means opening up tiles. ## Questions to ask besides the permit A permit is one check, not the only one. A permitted plumber can still give you a vague quote or rush the job, so also ask: 1. Have you done this kind of job before, in a home like mine? 2. What will you use, and why? 3. Will you give me a written quote with the scope, parts and warranty? 4. How do you charge for the visit, and is it waived if I go ahead? 5. Who will be on site, and will the permit holder do the mains-fed work? Our guide on what a written plumbing quote should include [/guide/plumbing-quote-what-to-include/ →](/guide/plumbing-quote-what-to-include/) covers the quote in more detail. ## When a handyman is enough A handyman can be a good choice for small jobs that don’t touch mains-fed pipes. Think of a loose connector, a tap aerator or a toilet seat. For anything on the supply pipes, use a permitted plumber. Our hiring checklist [/hiring-a-plumber/ →](/hiring-a-plumber/) covers this in more detail, along with quotes, deposits and warranties. ## Condo units Condo rules are separate from SPAN permits. Building management may have its own rules about who can work in units, such as registering contractors and limiting working hours. A plumber may need both: a permit for the work, and building registration to get in. Our guide on plumbing work in a condo and management approval [/guide/condo-plumbing-work-management-approval/ →](/guide/condo-plumbing-work-management-approval/) explains building rules. ## Red flags Walk away, or at least pause, if you see any of these: - Refusing or avoiding the question about a permit - Permit details that don’t match the person or company - An expired permit - Pressure to start mains-fed work before you can check ## Confirm with SPAN Before any mains-fed job, check the SPAN plumber permit with SPAN itself. Permit types, rules and processes can change, and this guide is general information, not legal advice. For larger jobs like repiping, confirm the current position first. Then keep the permit details with your quote, and you’re ready to book. info This guide is general information, not legal or professional advice. Rules and building house rules vary, so confirm the details with building management, SPAN, Air Selangor or a qualified person before you act. ## Questions people ask What is an IPA Type A permit?expand\_more It is a permit issued by SPAN, the National Water Services Commission, for plumbers who work on pipes and fittings carrying water from the public mains in Peninsular Malaysia. Confirm the current permit categories and details with SPAN. Does a handyman need one?expand\_more Not for work that does not touch pipes carrying water from the public mains, such as clearing a sink trap or changing a toilet seat. For work on mains-fed pipes and fittings, a permitted plumber is needed. Confirm with SPAN if you are unsure where a job falls. Where do I confirm a permit?expand\_more With SPAN directly, through its official channels. Ask the plumber for their name and permit details, then check them with SPAN. Do not rely only on a photo of a card. Is this legal advice?expand\_more No. This guide explains the general position in plain words. Rules can change and individual cases differ, so confirm the details with SPAN before you rely on them. Keep reading Learn more about hiring a plumber How to check a plumber's permit, what to ask before work starts, and how quotes and warranties work. Open the Hiring section [/hiring-a-plumber/ →](/hiring-a-plumber/) About the authors KL Plumbing Handbook editors The KL Plumbing Handbook editors write plain-language guides on home plumbing problems, repair costs and hiring a plumber for homes in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley. Each guide covers one problem and states the source and date of every cost figure. Spotted an error? Send a correction [/contact/ →](/contact/) . See our editorial policy [/editorial-policy/ →](/editorial-policy/) . ## Related guides What a Written Plumbing Quote Should Include A checklist for plumbing quotes: scope, parts and brands, making good, timeline, warranty, deposit and how the inspection fee is treated. Read guide arrow\_forward [/guide/plumbing-quote-what-to-include/ →](/guide/plumbing-quote-what-to-include/)