What does WRAS mean, and how do you get WRAS approval?

WRAS is an acronym for Water Regulations Advisory Scheme and determines whether or not a product complies with the high standards set out by water regulations. Even though Water Companies were officially established in 2008, they have been assisting individuals and organisations for more than a century in complying with bylaws and water fittings regulations.

A product made from unsuitable materials can contaminate drinking water with dissolved metals or encourage the growth of bacteria, which can cause unpleasant tastes and odours, potentially causing ill health. Products that are found to contaminate water and do not comply with water supply regulations would not be legal to install. WRAS approval allows the installation of products that carry or receive water from the public mains water supply in the UK to fully comply with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations and Scottish Byelaws.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

The role of the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme is to assist in the protection of public health by preventing contamination of public water supplies, whilst also fostering the efficient use of water by promoting and facilitating compliance with the Water Supply Regulations*. Ensuring WRAS approval is important for many reasons, including:

Water quality and safety: Products which comply with WRAS ensure that they do not contaminate water in any way. Tests are carried out to ensure the products won’t affect the taste or smell of drinking water and do not promote the growth of microorganisms.

Regulatory compliance: WRAS regulations impose a legal duty on everyone to use suitable water fittings when connecting the public water supply to plumbing systems in homes, businesses and other properties.

Consumer confidence: Ensuring the products and systems used in your plumbing systems have WRAS approval can give you and your customers valuable peace of mind.

WHAT IS A WRAS-APPROVED PRODUCT?

A WRAS-approved product has gone through testing to ensure it meets the regulations set out by the Water Supply Regulations*. However, there may be times when elements of a product are WRAS-approved, but the unit as a whole is not. Examples include an incorrectly sized air gap or using a non-WRAS-approved jointing compound/adhesive in a clean water combined tank and booster set.

HOW DO I CHECK WRAS APPROVAL?

There are 4 steps which you can take to check whether or not a product has WRAS approval:

1. WRAS Certificate: When products meet the correct regulations, they receive a WRAS certificate. This is something you can request as evidence of compliance.
2. WRAS website The WRAS website is the best place to check approval, you can search for the company, keywords relating to the product or the 7-digit WRAS approval number on their approvals directory.
3. Product packaging and manufacturer’s website: WRAS-approved products are issued with a certification mark, which is displayed on the packaging of the product as well as on the manufacturer’s website.
4. Retailer or Plumber: If you are unsure whether or not a product has WRAS approval, ask the retailer or plumber.

HOW DO I GET WRAS APPROVAL?

In order to receive WRAS approval, products have to go through a testing process. This involves each of the materials used in the products being tested to check whether or not they are suitable to come into contact with potable water. Whilst these tests are being carried out, other tests may be completed to check if the product ensures backflow prevention or meets other regulations.

Units awarded WRAS approval receive a certificate to verify that the product has been approved, as well as a unique number and listing on the WRAS website. The certification lasts five years, at which point the equipment must be re-tested, with all the checks carried out again as per the original test.

Equivalent approvals can be awarded by other test houses, such as KIWA UK and NSF, who will certify a product complies with the Water Supply Regulations*.

WRAS APPROVAL AT DUTYPOINT

We are very proud to have multiple of our pumping solutions being WRAS-approved, including our range of Cat 5 booster sets. On our website, you can view a product’s WRAS approval details under the Specification Documents section. Speak to the Dutypoint team today to learn more about our WRAS-approved systems.

*The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and The Water Supply (Water Fittings) (Scotland) Byelaws 2014.