Smart toilets are becoming an increasingly popular choice in Australian bathrooms, combining the functions of a toilet and bidet with features such as warm water washing, heated seats, warm air drying, automatic flushing and remote controls.
But choosing a smart toilet involves more than comparing features and appearance.
In Australia, buyers should also consider WaterMark certification, backflow protection, plumbing requirements, electrical requirements and installation compatibility. Two smart toilets that look very similar online can have quite different installation requirements — and potentially very different total installed costs.
Here is what you should know before buying.
What Is a Smart Toilet?
A smart toilet usually combines a toilet suite with an electronic bidet system.
Depending on the model, features may include:
- Front and rear washing
- Adjustable water pressure and temperature
- Heated seat
- Warm air dryer
- Self-cleaning nozzle
- Deodorising function
- Automatic flushing
- Automatic lid opening and closing
- Night light
- Remote control
There are also smart bidet seats, which add many of these functions to a compatible toilet pan rather than replacing the complete toilet.
For a new bathroom or major renovation, an integrated smart toilet usually offers the cleanest appearance. A smart bidet seat can be a practical option when upgrading an existing bathroom.
Why Are Smart Toilets Becoming Popular?
The biggest attraction is convenience and personal hygiene.
Instead of relying only on toilet paper, a smart toilet provides an integrated water wash. Heated seats, warm water and drying functions also make everyday use more comfortable, while automatic flushing and self-cleaning functions can reduce physical contact with the toilet.
They can also be useful for elderly users or people with reduced mobility, although individual accessibility requirements should always be considered separately.
However, the number of electronic features should not be the only factor when comparing models.
For Australian buyers, compliance, installation and after-sales support are equally important.
WaterMark and Backflow: The Important Compliance Check
Before purchasing a smart toilet in Australia, check that the exact model has the appropriate WaterMark certification.
WaterMark certification is particularly important for plumbing products connected to the drinking water supply. But there is an important distinction that consumers often miss:
A WaterMark-certified smart toilet may still require additional backflow protection.
The WaterMark logo alone does not necessarily tell you how the toilet needs to be installed.
The exact model's WaterMark Product Description, Scope of Use and manufacturer's installation instructions should be checked to determine whether appropriate backflow protection is already incorporated into the toilet or needs to be installed separately.
NSW Government guidance makes this distinction clearly: some toilet douche seats incorporate suitable high-hazard protection, commonly an Air Gap or Atmospheric Vacuum Breaker (AVB), while other products require a separate high-hazard backflow prevention device. NSW Government guidance
Why Does Backflow Protection Matter?
This is one of the biggest differences between a standard toilet and a smart toilet with washing functions.
A smart toilet has a nozzle that delivers water for personal washing. Because that outlet operates in or around the toilet pan, there is a potential cross-connection risk between the drinking water supply and a contaminated area.
Under the National Construction Code's Plumbing Code of Australia, a toilet douche seat is classified as High Hazard where its outlet, in any position, is not at least 25 mm above the overflow level of the toilet pan. NCC cross-connection hazards
Backflow protection is therefore designed to prevent contaminated water from travelling backwards into the potable water supply under abnormal pressure conditions.
Fortunately, this does not mean every smart toilet needs the same external backflow device.
There are two main approaches.
Two Common Backflow Solutions
1. Built-In Air Gap or Integral Backflow Protection
Some smart toilets incorporate suitable backflow protection within the product.
One common solution is an Air Gap (AG).
Unlike a simple valve, an air gap creates physical separation between the drinking water supply and the potential source of contamination. Certain products may instead use another approved integral solution such as an Atmospheric Vacuum Breaker.
Where a compliant integral Air Gap or AVB provides the required high-hazard protection, an additional external high-hazard device is generally not required.
Queensland Government guidance specifically recognises integral AG and AVB solutions for toilet douche seats and states that no further backflow protection measure is required where suitable integral protection is provided. Queensland Government Newsflash 632
A practical example available from Zure is the Sapphire Smart Toilet (model 42573A-W3). Zure's product page identifies it in the description as the Englefield Sapphire and states that its bidet seat incorporates an Air Break Tank designed and tested to comply with AS 2845.2. The installation notes also instruct buyers to check with local authorities whether an additional RPZD is required before installation. View the Sapphire Smart Toilet at Zure
This illustrates why it is worth checking the technical specification of the exact smart toilet rather than simply comparing appearance and electronic features.
2. External Backflow Prevention Device
Other smart toilets do not incorporate the necessary high-hazard protection within the product.
In these installations, an external high-hazard backflow prevention device may be required upstream of the smart toilet.
A commonly used device is an:
RPZD — Reduced Pressure Zone Device
There are WaterMark-listed smart toilets whose Scope of Use specifically requires installation with an RPZD on a dedicated supply line, demonstrating that WaterMark certification itself does not automatically eliminate the need for an external device. WaterMark product listing example
An external RPZD can mean additional considerations such as:
- Additional plumbing hardware
- Additional installation labour
- Suitable space and access
- Testing requirements
- Registration requirements in some jurisdictions
This is why the product price alone does not always tell you the true cost of installing a smart toilet.
Built-In Air Gap vs External RPZD
A simplified comparison looks like this:
|
Consideration |
Built-In Air Gap / Integral Protection |
External RPZD |
|
Backflow protection |
Integrated into the product |
Installed separately |
|
Additional hardware |
Usually not required |
Required |
|
Installation |
Usually simpler |
More involved |
|
Additional plumbing cost |
Usually lower |
May be higher |
|
Ongoing testing |
Generally not applicable to a non-testable integral AG/AVB |
May be required |
|
Registration |
Generally not applicable to the integral device |
May apply depending on jurisdiction |
The important takeaway is simple:
The cheapest smart toilet is not always the cheapest smart toilet once installed.
When comparing products, consider the complete installation rather than the purchase price alone.
A Special Note for Queensland Buyers
You may hear that Queensland has "stricter" rules for smart toilets.
That is not quite the right way to describe it.
The underlying high-hazard classification for toilet douche seats comes from the national Plumbing Code of Australia and therefore is not unique to Queensland.
However, Queensland has particularly clear requirements regarding external testable backflow prevention devices.
Queensland Government guidance confirms that a suitable integral Air Gap or AVB in a toilet douche seat does not require separate registration or annual inspection and testing as a testable device.
By contrast, external backflow devices associated with a toilet douche seat are required to be registered and maintained in accordance with Queensland regulations, including the applicable testing requirements. Queensland Government Newsflash 632
For Queensland homeowners, this means the type of backflow protection used by a smart toilet can affect not only the initial installation, but potentially its ongoing compliance and maintenance requirements.
This is worth checking before purchasing.
Does WaterMark Mean No RPZD Is Required?
No.
This is one of the most important points to remember when shopping for a smart toilet.
A product can be WaterMark certified and still require an external backflow prevention device.
The correct question is not simply:
"Does this toilet have WaterMark?"
It should also be:
"What backflow protection does this exact WaterMark-certified model require?"
Where integral high-hazard protection is provided, this should be identified in the relevant product documentation or WaterMark Product Description. Where it is not, additional protection may be required. NSW Government guidance
Other Installation Checks Before You Buy
Backflow is important, but it is not the only installation consideration.
Before ordering a smart toilet, check the following with your plumber and, where relevant, electrician.
Water pressure: Smart toilets may have minimum and maximum operating pressure requirements.
Power: Most full-function smart toilets require access to a suitable 240V electrical supply.
Set-out: Check the toilet's S-trap or P-trap requirements and make sure they suit your existing plumbing.
Water inlet: The location of the water connection can affect installation.
Power point position: This needs to suit the toilet and comply with the applicable electrical requirements for bathrooms.
Dimensions: Check overall depth, width, wall clearance and available bathroom space.
Where possible, have your plumber review the product installation guide before purchasing or before rough-in work begins.
Common Smart Toilet Buying Mistakes
One of the easiest mistakes is choosing a smart toilet based only on price and features.
Other common problems include assuming that WaterMark certification automatically means no additional backflow device is needed, failing to check the exact certified model, overlooking electrical or plumbing requirements, and not considering the complete installed cost.
Another important consideration is the retailer.
Smart toilets are more technical than ordinary toilet suites. If a seller cannot provide product specifications, installation documentation or clear information about Australian compliance and warranty support, a low purchase price may not represent good value.
Smart Toilet Pre-Purchase Checklist
Before ordering, check:
- WaterMark certification for the exact model
- Integral backflow protection or external device requirement
- Whether an RPZD is required
- Water pressure requirements
- Electrical requirements
- Set-out and waste configuration
- Product dimensions
- Installation instructions
- Australian warranty
- Spare parts and local support
For Queensland installations, also check whether any external testable backflow device will create registration, maintenance or testing obligations.
Why Buy From an Australian Bathroom Specialist?
Smart toilets are a product category where technical support matters.
A specialist bathroom retailer should be able to help identify the exact product model and provide access to information covering its WaterMark certification, installation requirements, warranty and manufacturer documentation.
At Zure, we believe a smart toilet should be sold with clear information about the product, its installation and its Australian compliance requirements — not simply a long list of electronic features.
Zure stocks a range of smart toilets and electronic bidet solutions from established bathroom brands including Kohler, Lafeme, Gallaria, Poseidon and others. Browse Zure's smart toilet collection
Frequently Asked Questions
Do smart toilets need WaterMark certification in Australia?
Products connected to Australian plumbing systems must meet the applicable plumbing product requirements. For toilet douche seats, official state guidance requires WaterMark certification to the applicable WaterMark specification. Always check the exact model rather than relying only on a logo displayed on a retailer's website. Queensland Government Newsflash 632
Does every smart toilet need an RPZD?
No. Some smart toilets or douche seats incorporate suitable high-hazard backflow protection, such as an Air Gap or AVB. Where suitable integral protection is not provided, an external high-hazard device such as an RPZD may be required. NSW Government guidance
What is an Air Gap in a smart toilet?
An Air Gap provides physical separation between the drinking water supply and a potential source of contamination. Where an integral Air Gap complies with the applicable requirements and provides the required hazard protection, it can remove the need for an additional external backflow device.
Does WaterMark mean an RPZD is not required?
No. WaterMark certification does not by itself mean that no external device is required. Check the exact product's WaterMark description, Scope of Use and installation documentation.
Are the requirements different in Queensland?
The basic high-hazard requirements come from the national Plumbing Code of Australia. Queensland does, however, have clear registration, maintenance and testing requirements for external testable backflow prevention devices. Queensland Government Newsflash 632
Do smart toilets need electricity?
Most electronic smart toilets require electricity for functions such as water heating, seat heating, drying, automatic operation and controls. Check the manufacturer's electrical requirements before purchase and arrange compliant electrical work where required.
Choose Your Smart Toilet with Confidence
The right smart toilet is not simply the model with the longest list of features.
Before buying, consider four things:
Features. Compliance. Installation. Support.
Check the exact WaterMark model, understand its backflow protection method, confirm your plumbing and electrical requirements, and consider the total installed cost.
Taking a little extra time before ordering can make the installation much simpler — and help ensure your smart toilet is suitable for your bathroom and Australian installation requirements.
Need help choosing? Contact Zure.