WRAS and the water fittings regulations: what they mean at home

Look at the packaging on a tap, valve or hose in a UK shop and you will often see "WRAS approved". You may also hear a plumber talk about "the water regs". This guide explains, in general terms, what the rules are for, what an approval on a fitting does and does not tell you, and who has the final say.

It is not legal advice, and it is not a substitute for a plumber's advice on a particular job.

The regulations

In England and Wales, the main rules are the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, published on legislation.gov.uk. Water Regs UK, which publishes guidance on them, explains that where a property has any form of mains water supply, the water fittings regulations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and byelaws in Scotland, apply.

So the other UK nations have their own versions. Northern Ireland has its own regulations and Scotland has byelaws. The ideas are similar, but check the rules for where you live.

Water Regs UK sums up the purpose on its compliant water fittings page: the rules "play an important role in protecting public health and safeguarding water supplies", and their purpose includes "preventing the contamination and waste of water supplied by a water undertaker once it has entered a customer's plumbing system."

In plain terms, the rules cover two big worries:

• Contamination. Dirty or unsafe water must not get back into the drinking water supply. That is the idea behind check valves and backflow protection.
• Waste and misuse. Water should not be wasted through leaks, poor design or fittings that are not up to the job.

What the rules ask of a fitting

According to Water Regs UK, regulation 4 sets requirements for water fittings, including that they are:

• of an appropriate quality and standard
• suitable for the circumstances in which they will be used
• compliant with any applicable requirements set out in schedule 2
• installed in a workmanlike manner.

Notice that the list covers both the product and the way it is installed. A good fitting badly installed can still fail the rules.

What "WRAS approved" means

WRAS approval is one widely used way for a maker to show that a product meets the regulators' requirements for quality and standard. Water Regs UK says a fitting can show this by conforming to an appropriate British Standard or an equivalent specification, or to a specification approved by the regulators. It also says water companies will consider evidence such as product certification and test reports, and that they "have no preference" for one particular form.

So "WRAS approved" is helpful, but it is not the only acceptable evidence, and it is not the whole story. Water Regs UK is clear that product certification "cannot be relied upon to guarantee compliance", because where and how a fitting is installed and used also matter.

For any material that touches drinking water, Water Regs UK says non-metallic parts must conform to BS 6920 or an equivalent. That is one reason to choose products, including small consumables like PTFE tape and jointing compounds, whose packaging says they are suitable for drinking water.

We do not publish lists of approved products or approval numbers. If you want to check a particular product, look at the maker's documents and ask your plumber or the water company.

The water company has a view

Your water company, which the regulations call the water undertaker, matters here. Water Regs UK says the suitability of an installation is determined by the local water undertaker, "who retains absolute discretion in assessing whether an installation is compliant."

Some kinds of work must be notified to the water company before they start. Which jobs, and what the water company then asks for, depends on the work and the rules where you live. Water Regs UK's bathrooms page also notes that where work is not notifiable, "there remains a legal obligation for the premises owner or occupier to ensure the plumbing work is fully compliant". If in doubt, ask your water company before you start.

Approved plumbers

Water Regs UK explains on its approved contractors page that approved contractor schemes are voluntary and that membership is not mandatory for plumbers. It says only people with qualifications a scheme recognises as showing they can install in line with the regulations, and suitable liability insurance, can join. The WaterSafe website lists members of approved contractor schemes.

Using an approved plumber does not mean the rules stop applying. It does mean the plumber should know them, and Water Regs UK notes that the certificate they issue on completion can be used as a legal defence. Our guide to hiring a plumber covers what else to ask.

Where this shows up at home

You will come across the regulations in everyday jobs:

• Outside taps, garden hoses and appliances need suitable backflow protection. See check valves and backflow.
• Old lead pipework is a drinking water concern. See lead pipe replacement.
• Fittings such as isolation valves and connectors should be suitable for drinking water and installed so they can be reached and used.
• Joints and materials should suit the pipe system. See push-fit vs compression vs solder.

This guide does not tell you whether any particular job is allowed, notifiable or compliant. That depends on the details, so ask a plumber who knows the regulations, or your water company.

Is WRAS approval a legal requirement?

The legal requirement is that fittings are of an appropriate quality and standard and suitable for their use, and are installed properly. WRAS approval is one common way of showing the product side of that, but Water Regs UK says other evidence can be accepted. The water company decides.

Do the same rules apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland?

Similar ideas apply, but the legal instruments differ. Northern Ireland has its own regulations and Scotland has byelaws. Check with your water supplier.

If a product says WRAS approved, can I fit it anywhere?

No. Approval of the product does not guarantee the installation complies. Where it goes, what it serves and how it is fitted all matter. Ask your plumber or the water company.