WRAS Approval and Water Fittings Regulations - Drinking Water ...

UK workshop on approval and use of products in contact with drinking water
WRAS Approval
and the
Water Fittings Regulations
11 MARCH 2011
Steve Tuckwell - Managing Director
The Water Regulations Advisory Scheme Ltd

THE WORK OF WRAS
The Scheme’s Major Roles
• Promoting the Water Fittings Regulations
• Representation on behalf of the Water Suppliers
• Approval of water fittings and materials
• Technical Advice service – promoting consistent
interpretation and resolving disputes
• Standards development in British and European
committees
• Administering the Approved Plumbers Scheme

Water Supply Byelaws updated and replaced by
The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations
- England and Wales: July 1999
- Northern Ireland: August 2009
Scottish Water Byelaws - April 2000
Current version: 2004

Water Fittings Regulations are to prevent
•
•
•
•
•
Waste
Misuse
Undue Consumption
Contamination
Erroneous Measurement
of water supplied by a water undertaker.

WATER FITTINGS REGULATIONS
Where do they apply?
Everywhere in the premises from the supply pipe at the boundary
Supply Pipe at boundary
Main

APPLICATION OF REGULATIONS
Regulations apply to
• any water fitting installed or used to
which water is supplied by a public water
supplier
• pipes above or below ground, water fittings
and appliances.
They do not apply where there are only
private water supplies.

DUTIES OF THE WATER SUPPLIER
To enforce the Water Fittings Regulations by:
• Checking notification of proposed work
• Granting consent for installation
• Inspecting a proportion of new & existing
installations for compliance -
• Water Fittings – ‘appropriate quality & standard’
• System designed to prevent contamination or waste
• Installed ‘in a workmanlike manner’
• Issue & follow up improvement notices;
Prosecute if necessary.

DUTIES OF THE INSTALLER,
OWNER & OCCUPIER
Must notify and have Water Supplier’s consent
in advance to install, alter or extend fittings
Must not install, alter, disconnect or use a
fitting that does not comply.
Must ensure system has adequate devices to
prevent backflow
Must maintain fittings so they continue to comply

WATER SUPPLY (WATER FITTINGS) REGULATIONS
REQUIREMENTS FOR WATER FITTINGS
REGULATION 4 : Every Water Fitting shall be :-
a) of an appropriate quality and standard
and
b) suitable for the circumstances in which
it is used

Submerged water
inlet of float valve

Four routes to approval – product is acceptable if:
a) it bears an appropriate CE mark;
b) it conforms to appropriate harmonized standard or
European Technical Approval;
c) it conforms to an appropriate BS or some other
national specification of an EEA state; or
d) it conforms to a specification approved by the
Regulator.

Regulation 10:
Water Suppliers have the duty to enforce
these Regulations in their areas of supply
For compliance of water fittings (Reg.4)
Water Suppliers ask WRAS to administer a
central approval system on their behalf

WRAS Approval of water fittings
Best way of proving that fittings comply with the
Regulations
Based on compliance with the Regulators’
Performance Specification
Approval granted by WRAS Product Assessment Group
Water Suppliers Representatives grant approval
on behalf of all Water Suppliers
Approval is independent of test laboratories

Selection of water fittings
& materials
The WRAS Approval Scheme

WATER SUPPLY (WATER FITTINGS) REGULATIONS 1999
REGULATION 4 : Requirements for water fittings
Every Water Fitting shall be of
an appropriate quality and standard.

Route to WRAS Approval
Water Supply
(Water Fittings)
Regulations 1999
Regulators
Specification
BS 6920: 1 to 3
WRAS Approved
Materials
WRAS Fittings
Approval.

Mechanical testing of fittings -
What tests are undertaken?
Pressure testing to check
Overall strength
Porosity of fitting’s body
Leak tight closure of taps & valves
Corrosion resistance, connection
dimensions, identification marks,
Backflow performance where relevant
Endurance – for adequate service life
Also with hot water, if appropriate

Mechanical testing of fittings
Endurance testing – some examples
Leak-tight after opening & closing
Taps
200,000 times
Shower valves 50,000
Bath/shower diverter 30,000
Swivel mechanisms 80,000
WC Inlet valves & flushing devices
Leak-free after 200,000 flushes
Plastic pipes and couplings
Hot & cold - 15 minute cycle
each 5,000 times

Cisterns come in
all shapes and
sizes!
From the very
small…
But some elements, in
particular those relating to
the installation, are beyond
our control….
To the extremely large.

Typical tests: Storage Cistern
Cisterns come in various materials, Steel, GRP,
polypropylene, polyethylene and even HDPE!
Test code sheets:
• 6001.1 - Marking for identification.
• 1312.7 - Impact.
• 1312.1 - Deformation.
• In all there are 13 tests for cisterns
holding wholesome water.

Guidance to WRAS Approval
Published on
Test Lab Accreditation
WRAS website:
www.wras.co.uk/approval.asp
For testing – ISO 17025 for each test
Accreditation by UKAS or equivalent body for
other countries

FITTINGS APPROVALS PROCESS
Manufacturer asks WRAS for details of process
WRAS describes Scheme’s requirements and
approval process …..
and gives details of accredited test labs
WRc-NSF Ltd
Manufacturer chooses test lab to undertake
testing and prepare approval application
Typically, test lab checks materials approvals
starting mechanical testing

FITTINGS APPROVALS PROCESS
Mechanical Testing carried out
Test lab submits completed file to WRAS
Assessed by representatives of the Water
Industry at Product Assessment Group
meetings every 6-8 weeks
If satisfied that the fitting fully complies with
the requirements of the regulations – approval
granted
Certificate issued and entry listed in the
appropriate section of Water Fittings and
Materials Directory

MATERIALS APPROVALS PROCESS
Checks for effects on drinking water quality
WRAS uses five tests contained within BS 6920 to
show that a non-metallic material does not:
•Impart odour or flavour to the water;
•Cause change in the appearance of the water (colour, turbidity);
•Promote microbiological growth (MDOD test);
•Leach substances harmful to human health into the water
(cytotoxicity); or
•Leach toxic metals into the water
Specified conditions of Approval reflect testing conditions
e.g. operating temperature ( tested up to 85 o C),
curing times & temperatures

WRAS Approval – Performance Standards
Non-metallic Materials: conform to BS6920

WRAS MATERIALS APPROVAL
Initial testing of raw material gets ‘Material only’ Approval
Forming components – further testing needed?
*
- composition unaltered by
heat & pressure used to
form components
‘Material only’
approval adequate for
components
2 main
types of
materials
‘Component
Material Approval ’
after extra tests
*
- processing of
components alters
composition so testing
needed
NB: Only assesses effects on Water Quality, not mechanical performance
*See materials listing in App. A WRAS Guidance for Mechanical Approval

RENEWAL OF APPROVAL
Certification is Valid for 5 years and renewal
reminders are sent 12 months before the expiry date.
Renewal requires
- mechanical: full retesting ) if there are no
- materials: partial retesting ) product changes
Failure to get renewed approval may be due to:
- Manufacturer’s decision (cost, reduced sales, change of
models)
- Failed audit tests - Variability of production samples? (!)
- Change of component maker

Approved materials and fittings are listed in the
WRAS Directory
Directory updated monthly
ON LINE -- FREE
Widely used by designers,
specifiers and Water Suppliers’
Inspectors
www.wras.co.uk click ‘Water Fittings Directory
Use it to select fittings with confidence

WRAS Approval Number
Fittings
Unique 7 digit
identifier
0904109
Approval
Year
Approval
Month
Product
Number

WRAS Approval Number
Materials
Unique 7 digit
identifier
0904509
Approval
Year
Approval
Month
5 =Material
Material
Approval
Number
REMEMBER
Any approval number which has ‘5’ as the fifth digit is a material
approval and should not be confused with a WRAS fittings approval
which has satisfied the Scheme’s mechanical performance requirements.

REG 31 APPROVAL vs WRAS APPROVAL
Where do they apply?
Main
Supply Pipe at boundary
WRAS
REG 31

REG 31 APPROVAL vs WRAS APPROVAL
What’s
Checked?
Reg 31
Water quality
(WQ) effects
BS 6920
Pt 1 – 4 +
vetting of
formulation
Pt 1 - 3 Pt 1 - 3
Mechanical
performance
No No Reg. Spec or =
Compliance
WFR Reg 4
Yes
(WQ only)
Yes
(WQ only)
Yes
Overall fitness
for purpose
No
No
No

REG 31 APPROVAL vs WRAS APPROVAL
Can WRAS Approval serve for Reg. 31 if product is
not on Sec of State’s Reg 31 Approved list?
(DWI Advice Sheet 8)
Identifies small surface area products – compliance
to be judged by Water Suppliers
WRAS will NOT approve products not intended for
use in premises’ plumbing viz:
• Crack injection sealants
• Aerators, agitators, stirrers
• Filter nozzles (including filter
floors)
• Intake screens and strainers
• Scum boards
• components used in
borehole/well rising main
• CCTV cameras and fittings
• Security devices

Water Regulations Advisory Scheme
Fern Close
Pen-y-Fan Industrial Estate
Oakdale
Gwent NP11 3EH
01495 248454
E-mail: “info@wras.co.uk”