News
New online guidance information
31 Mar 2023Water Regs UK is pleased to announce the launch online guidance information to replace its technical enquiry service. This informative guidance has been created to help people find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations and Byelaws. This information has been developed in collaboration with water companies and is intended for
Defra is consulting
02 Sep 2022Consultation on UK Mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling Defra has launched its consultation seeking views on their plans to introduce mandatory water efficiency labelling across all UK nations. Defra propose to label water using products such as taps, showers, toilets, dishwashers and washing machines. The consultation sets out the: proposed approach products covered by the label label design
Meet Water Regs UK
01 Apr 2021The Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) has separated its subscriptions and approvals activities into two separate businesses, Water Regs UK and the Water Regulations Approvals Scheme (WRAS). The move follows an internal review and a series of in-depth surveys of members, stakeholders and subscribers. The findings prompted the launch of the Water Regs UK and Water Regulations Approvals
Regulation 4(1)(a) guidance
29 Dec 2020The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, the Water Supply (Water Fittings) (Scotland) Byelaws 2014 and the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 impose a legal duty not to install water fittings unless they satisfy the requirements specified in Regulation/Byelaw 4. That is to say are of an appropriate quality and standard; suitable for the circumstances in
RPZ AIM version 2 January 2020
08 Jan 2020The RPZ AIM 08-01 has been updated, Issue 2 was published on 8 January 2020 ( link to AIM version 2 ). There will be a 12-month transition period, running until 7 January 2021, after which Issue 1 will no longer be recognised.
Breaking news: voluntary interim agreement
19 Dec 2019Defra has announced it is content with a voluntary interim agreement, proposed by the BMA and water companies, regarding the backflow protection arrangements in newly installed WCs. The agreement comes into force on 1st January 2020 for a period of six months ( click to view )
WC compliance
20 Mar 2019Following a full legal review of the requirements of regulation 4(1) of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, the Water Supply (Water Fittings) (Scotland) Byelaws 2014 and the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 in respect of WC suites, water undertakers have developed the clarifications given below. Should you wish to learn more please contact your
New pipe insulation app launched
06 Feb 2017The new Pipe Insulation Tool is a free, easy-to-use app for designers, installers and property owners to assess the effectiveness of insulation in delaying the freezing of water in pipes. Inputting a few key pieces of information will reveal how many hours protection you can expect from the insulation. By varying material thickness or type, you can calculate how much insulation is required for a
Notification campaign launch
17 Aug 2016WRAS, the UK’s leading water regulations body, is urging anyone planning plumbing work to make sure they know the ‘water law’ before they start. Many water companies are supporting the initiative with localised campaigns. In many cases, work on new and existing plumbing systems, and some types of water installations, needs to be notified to, and approved by, the local water supplier before it can
DWI Report: Failures in homes avoidable
29 Jul 2016The nation’s water supplies are among the healthiest in the world – with 99.96 per cent passing stringent standards.However, of those which do fail, nearly a third are due to problems in people’sown homes, a report has shown. Poor plumbing practices and sub-standard fittings are among the main causes of a deterioration in the quality of drinking water, after it has been
'Father' of Water Fittings Regulations dies
12 Jan 2016With sadness WRAS learnt of the death of Laurie Young on 8 th December 2015. With Graham Mays, Laurie wrote the WRAS Water Regulations Guide which has been of such importance and value to water inspectors and installers and users of plumbing systems in the UK by defining and explaining the requirements of the Water Fittings Regulations and Scottish Byelaws. Trained as an engineer, Laurie became
Annual Report 2014/15 published
05 Nov 2015WRAS has recently published our annual report covering the financial year 2014/2015. Key sections included and issues covered include: General information about WRAS Governance and financial performance Business plan update Subscribers' survey (satisfaction) Approved Product and Materials updates WaterSafe and WIAPS updates Summary of Water Fittings Regulation promotion Summary of how
WRAS and WaterSafe support Lead Poisoning Prevention Week
27 Oct 2015In association with the WaterSafe Installers' Scheme, WRAS is urging homeowners to be ‘lead aware’ this week to ensure their drinking water stays fresh and healthy. The call comes during Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (October 25-31), a campaign led by the World Health Organisation to raise awareness of the devastating effects of lead worldwide. For drinking water supplies the
Water UK and WRAS publish 'Looking After Water In Your Home'
03 Aug 2015WRAS has collaborated with Water UK to help develop 'Looking after water in your home' - a new booklet, providing advice to homeowners with properties connected to the public water supply. Water UK - the trade body for water companies in the UK - developed the document with WRAS to help homeowners keep drinking water safe inside the boundary of their homes. It offers advice and tips on how to
WRAS supports Hot Water Burns Like Fire campaign
09 Oct 2014WRAS pledges its full support for a new campaign by the Children's Burns Trust (CBT) to stop scalding by hot water from taps and showers . The 'Hot Water Burns Like Fire' campaign is being headed by actress and patron of the CBT, Amanda Redman MBE, who attended the campaign's launch at the Bathroom Manufacturers Association's (BMA) annual conference on Monday 6 October 2014. The campaign is
New Scottish Water Byelaws introduced
14 Jul 2014New Water Byelaws have been introduced in Scotland replacing those brought in a decade ago. The Byelaws have been created and are enforced by Scottish Water and must be adhered to in all properties in Scotland which have a public water supply. The Scottish Water Byelaws 2004 have now been replaced by The Water Supply (Water Fittings) (Scotland) Byelaws 2014 which came into force on 12th July
WaterSafe Experienced Plumbers' course
27 Jan 2014WaterSafe has joined forces with a certification body to launch a new course for seasoned plumbers hoping to join the WaterSafe Installers' Scheme. The new qualification will combine practical plumbing assessments with a water regulations test aimed at determining on-the-job competency. BPEC and WaterSafe scheme organisers have been working together to devise the assessment which will give
Rogue plumbers cost UK homeowners £2.6bn
27 Jan 2014Following new research which reveals that Brits have spent a whopping £2.6 billion in the last year fixing plumbing disasters, WaterSafe is warning homeowners about the costly risks of using a dodgy tradesperson. According to the survey of 2,000 consumers, a shocking two thirds (69%) admit they choose their plumber on cost alone without worrying if they are registered with an approved