Approvals

UK Water Regulation 4 Compliance

The Water companies are sole enforcers of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 and responsible for determining Regulation 4 compliance.

Historically in the UK, WRAS Approval has been the only approvals scheme demonstrating compliance with UK Water Regulation 4. Water fittings are tested in two ISO/IEC 17025 UKAS accredited laboratories (KIWA and NSF) and approved by WRAS to be compliant to Reg 4. 

More recently, the two test laboratories that conduct the tests for WRAS Approval have developed their own approval schemes for demonstrating compliance with UK Water Regulation 4. They are the KIWA UK Product Approval Scheme (KUKreg4) and the NSF REG4 Certification Scheme. Both certification schemes comply with the ISO/IEC 17065 product certification scheme and are accepted by industry stakeholders.

It is no longer correct to refer to WRAS Approval as the only indicator of Regulation 4 compliance as there are three approvals bodies, the correct terminology is UK Water Regulation 4 compliant and this would encompass the three approvals which each carry equal weight.

In order for manufacturers and distributors of sanitary and plumbing products and components intended for installation in the UK to demonstrate compliance with UK Water Regulation 4, they now have to have one of the three approvals available.

    WRAS Approval                     KUKreg4 Approval                   NSF REG4 Approval

Herz Valves UK demonstrate UK Water Regulation 4 Compliance by holding one or more of the above three approvals where appropriate.

Water Fittings Requirement

The Water Supply (Water Fitting) Regulations 1999 England & Wales; 2009 Northern Ireland and 2014 Byelaws Scotland; are important for public health, safeguarding water supplies and promoting the efficient use of water within premises across the UK. 

The regulations set legal requirements for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of water fittings, systems and appliances, specifically in order to prevent the contamination of drinking water as well as preventing misuse, waste, undue consumption and erroneous measurement (Regulation 3 part 2).

Manufacturers and distributors of sanitary and plumbing products and components intended for installation in the UK, have to ensure that their products are compliant with Regulation 4 of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 England & Wales; 2009 Northern Ireland and 2014 Byelaws Scotland. 

Regulation 4 specifically sets out rules for water fittings, as follows:

Part 1: Every water fitting shall:
a. Be of an appropriate quality and standard.
b. Be suitable for the circumstances it which it is used.

Part 2: For the purposes of this regulation, a water fitting is of an appropriate standard or quality only if:
a. It bears an appropriate CE Mark.
b. It conforms to an appropriate harmonised standard.
c. It conforms to an appropriate British Standard.
d. It conforms to a specification approved by the regulator.