Unsafe water supplies affect many people worldwide. To ensure that people have access to safe water supplies, the Water Supply Regulations (WSR) were introduced in 1999. These regulations set out the legal requirements for the design, installation and operation of sanitary systems, water installations and water-using appliances.
Any water installation that will carry or receive water from the public water supply network must not cause waste, abuse, over-consumption or contamination of the water supply and must be of appropriate quality and standard when installed. It is vital that professional installation components are used, properly installed and maintained to maintain these standards. This is where the water regulations advisory plan (WRAS) and its analyses come into play.
The easiest way for a manufacturer to demonstrate the quality of any product associated with water distribution is to obtain Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) approval. Although not mandatory, this approval shows that the manufacturer has created a product that will not contaminate the water supply or otherwise endanger public health. With hundreds of people coming into contact with the water supply every day in public sector, leisure and retail premises, it is absolutely essential to ensure that it is safe. A Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) is a certification mark that shows that a product or package meets the high standards set by water regulations.
To achieve WRAS approval, a product must undergo rigorous mechanical and water quality testing. This means that a product must comply with all regulations and standards set by the water supply legislation. This type of approval requires years of research and design, the highest levels of production and ongoing monitoring and re-approval.
The analysis is largely based on the standard “BS 6920 Suitability of non-metallic products for use in contact with water intended for human consumption with respect to their effects on the quality of water” developed by the British Standards Institution (BSI). One of the main objectives of this series of standards is to prevent contamination. This standard requires that a water installation be of appropriate quality and standard. No material or substance which causes or is likely to cause contamination of water, either alone or in conjunction with any other material or substance or with the contents of any water installation of which it forms a part, shall be used in the construction, installation, renovation, repair or alteration of any water installation which conveys or receives or is capable of conveying or receiving water supplied for domestic or food production purposes. Despite their widespread use in the manufacture of water installations and their components, some non-metallic materials can have adverse effects on water quality. Some non-metallic materials are known to degrade into water-soluble organic chemicals, microbial slime (biofilms) or scales and toxic metals, which can cause taste, odour and appearance complaints and water quality deterioration.
To be suitable for use, a non-metallic component must, in most or some respects, comply with BS 6920 and the maximum operating temperature to which it is intended to be exposed. That is, it must comply with the acceptance criteria specified for the test requirements defined in that standard. BS 6920 provides a test method for assessing the suitability of non-metallic materials and components only.
In short, the water regulations advisory scheme scheme is an independent certification scheme for plumbing products and materials, helping businesses and consumers choose compliant products that keep water safe. Gaining WRAS approval is an easy way to demonstrate compliance with plumbing regulations.
Plumbing regulations protect drinking water supplies in plumbing systems in homes, businesses and other properties. These regulations place a legal duty on everyone to use suitable plumbing when connected to public water supplies. Everything must be compliant, including pipes, fittings, taps, showers, washing machines, dishwashers, coffee machines, boilers and toilets. Plumbing products are deemed compliant if they pass the appropriate material and mechanical regulatory performance tests. These tests check that the products will not affect the taste or odour of drinking water and do not support the growth of microorganisms. Therefore, although a WRAS approval is not mandatory, testing of products is mandatory. When a product approval is granted, it means that the product has the appropriate quality and standards to prevent water pollution and minimise waste when properly installed.
Our organization, which has been trying to support businesses from every sector with its testing, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies carried out in a wide range for years, has a strong staff that closely follows the developments in the world in the field of science and technology and constantly improves itself. In this context, water regulations advisory plan (WRAS) analysis services are also provided to businesses.
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