Who is responsible for making sure plumbing products comply with the Water Fittings Regulations?

Most consumers assume that manufacturers are solely responsible for making sure plumbing products comply with the water fittings regulations but that’s a myth.

 The legislation states the following:

3.—

(1) No person shall–

a)      instal a water fitting to convey or receive water supplied by a water undertaker or water supply licensee, or alter, disconnect or use such a water fitting; or

b)      cause or permit such a water fitting to be installed, altered, disconnected or used,

in contravention of the following provisions of this Part.

 (2) No water fitting shall be installed, connected, arranged or used in such a manner that it causes or is likely to cause –

(i)      waste, misuse, undue consumption or contamination of water supplied by a water undertaker or water supply licensee; or

(ii)     the erroneous measurement of water supplied by a water undertaker or water supply licensee.

 (3) No water fitting shall be installed, connected, arranged or used which by reason of being damaged, worn or otherwise faulty, causes or is likely to cause–

(i)      waste, misuse, undue consumption or contamination of water supplied by a water undertaker or water supply licensee; or

(ii)     the erroneous measurement of water supplied by a water undertaker or water supply licensee.

 In reality, a wide range of people have duties to comply:

• The owners or occupiers of premises. For example, the Householder, Landlord or Building Services Manager.  Essentially anyone who commissions changes (‘causes’ or ‘permits’) to the plumbing system is captured by the legislation and these duties including making sure that water fittings are compliant.

• Anyone undertaking plumbing work has a duty to only install compliant water fittings.

A water fitting is a broad term that includes any product supplying or using water from the public water supply, such as pipes, valves, fittings, taps, washing machines, dishwashers, coffee machines, boilers and toilets.

 As a householder or Building owner you should check your installer is using compliant products or check that you are buying a compliant product. One way to do this is to look out for the WRAS approved logo and check our   comprehensive directory of Regulation 4 compliant products.

Water Regulations Approval Scheme Ltd - Approvals Directory (wrasapprovals.co.uk)

Why take a gamble on a product that hasn’t been tested to show compliance? Water fittings that don’t conform to the water fittings regulations may contaminate the water posing a risk to health or cause an expensive leak. When you purchase ensure that the retailers have evidence that the fittings are compliant, so you have the peace of mind before you purchase, they item.

What about manufacturers?  Whilst the water fittings regulations don’t place requirements on manufacturers at the point of sale, there are separate consumer protection duties placed on those selling & supplying products. Suppliers must act fairly and not mislead their customers through actions, omissions, or by failing to make it clear that products are not suitable for use with water used for drinking, washing, cooking, heating, and sanitary purposes. This means those selling water fittings are required to highlight if a product would be illegal to install as they haven’t passed conformity tests required under the water fittings regulations.