When installing a product which will carry or receive water from the public mains water supply in the UK, it is a criminal offence if it does not comply with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations or Scottish Byelaws.  These require that a water fitting should not cause waste, misuse, undue consumption or contamination of the water supply and must be conform with an appropriate quality and standards.

The Regulations are typically in effect between the boundary of a property and the point of discharge as illustrated below. For further information you can contact Xiamen Botest Business Services Co., Ltd. 

WRAS Approval is the best way to demonstrate compliance as it is granted directly by representatives of the water suppliers and is therefore accepted by every water supplier in the UK.

WRAS Fitting Approval: Whole products such as valves, boilers & showers undergo mechanical and water quality testing. This type of approval demonstrates full compliance with requirements of the regulations and byelaws, provided the fitting is installed according to any conditions given with the approval.

WRAS Material Approval: Non-metallic materials & components, such as rubber sheet material &O-rings, undergo testing only for their effects on water quality.  This type of approval demonstrates that the non-metallic material/component does not itself contaminate the water and therefore satisfies this particular requirement of regulations and byelaws.

Process of fittings approvals  

WRAS FITTINGS APPROVAL 

1.) Complete an F2 application form, available from WRAS upon request.

a.)    Please ensure the form is signed and dated and lists every material in contact with wholesome water. Each non-metallic material should be accompanied by a valid WRAS Materials Approval number or valid BS6920 test report.

b.)    To avoid delay and/or confusion, please ensure the labelling of the schematic ‘matches’ the items listed on the schedule of materials.  

2.) Contact a suitably accredited test facility, there is a choice of two that submit applications regularly to WRAS: 

WRC-NSF: +44 1495 236 260 or KIWA Quality Services: +44 1495 356 795  

a.)    The fee you pay is directly to the test house for the cost of mechanical and any necessary water quality testing, so this should be agreed directly with the laboratory.  This also includes the administration charge for WRAS Approval.

b.)    The laboratory should assist you in preparing the applications and once necessary testing is complete, forwards your complete application to WRAS and liaises with WRAS on your behalf.

 3.) The WRAS Administrators will check that your application meets the Scheme’s requirements. If it does not, WRAS will contact your test laboratory about the problems and what is required in order to resolve them.  

4.) When the application has been checked and is correct and complete, it is forwarded to the Product Assessment Group (PAG). The PAG comprises representatives of the UK Water Industry and it is they that grant any subsequent approval. The PAG meetings are generally held every six to eight weeks.  

5.) For applications which are awarded WRAS Approval, you will receive an approval letter and certificate bearing the unique listing/approval number and details of the product. This information will also be entered onto the WRAS Water Fittings & Materials Directory: http://www.wras.co.uk/Directory/

6.) The listing/approval number is based on the date of the meeting at which the application was presented and expires five years after that date. WRAS will issue a ‘reminder’ letter advising your company that your approval will expire in one year. Should you then wish to apply for re-approval, please refer to steps one to five. 

Please note:

 a.)    WRAS, as the approval body, are independent of the test facilities and do not carry out any testing.

b.)    Your chosen laboratory will advise on cost and time-scale of testing.

c.)    WRAS will not be aware of the status of your product whilst testing is being carried out.

d.)    The test house, acting as your agent, is responsible for liaising with WRAS on your behalf & advising you of the outcome of your application.  

WRAS CONTACTS: 

a.)    Jason Furnival – Approvals and Enquiries Manager

b.)    Hannah Lewis & Gareth Harris – WRAS Administrators – 01495 248 454

SECONDARY FITTING APPROVALS FAQ SHEET

WHAT IS A SECONDARY APPROVAL?

Company A possesses an approval for Product A (primary product). Company B then purchase this product and re-name/re-brand it as Product B (secondary product) in order to sell it. Products A and B are identical in the following respects: 

Water pathways, materials of construction, and site & method of manufacture.

 For Product B to be sold as ‘WRAS Approved’, it needs to have its own entry in the Water Fittings and Materials Directory and its own unique approval number so that people can identify it from its brand or model name, supplier etc.  

A secondary approval can be granted as an administration exercise where the only difference between the products is the company selling it, the name of the product & the identification markings present on the fitting.  

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

Secondary approvals are charged on a sliding scale of between GBP75 & GBP150 (+VAT where applicable) depending on how complete the application is when submitted. Should WRAS need to contact the applicant for further information the cost will increase. Applications that meet the requirements first time will incur a cost of GBP75 (+VAT where applicable).  

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

Secondary approvals are usually granted within 3 working days of receipt, providing a complete application & sample has been submitted. During busy periods this may take longer, the maximum being 10 working days.

 WHAT DO I GET?

A unique approval number is generated and an approval letter and certificate issued bearing the model name of the secondary product and the name of the secondary company. The approval is displayed on the WRAS website until it expires. 

WHEN DOES THE SECONDARY APPROVAL EXPIRE?

The secondary approval will expire the same time as the primary approval. The maximum possible duration of approval is 5 years.  

HOW DO I APPLY – WHAT INFORMATION IS REQUIRED?

1.)    Complete and return application form F3. Permission from the approval holder and an assurance that the products are identical is required.  

Where the primary product already possesses approval please include the approval number.

Where the primary product is undergoing testing and has not yet gained approval, please state ‘approval not yet granted’. WRAS will then contact you with regards to the status of product A.  

2.)    Schematics that clearly demonstrate the water pathway of the secondary product must be provided where possible.

3.)    Associated brochures/installation instructions/manuals must be provided where applicable.  

4.)    Where it is practical, WRAS will request a physical sample of the secondary product in order to accurately describe it’s markings on the subsequent approval. Where it is not practical, e.g. where a product is large in size, please contact WRAS to discuss alternative arrangements.  

WHAT IF THE SECONDARY PRODUCT DIFFERS COSMETICALLY?

Generally, secondary products must be identical to primary products. Exceptions may be made where the cosmetic change does not warrant further mechanical or water quality testing. Examples could include handle variants or alternative finishes. Should this be the case, please contact the Scheme directly for further advice before submitting the application.

 

WRAS Mechanical Test Requirements

Regulators' Specification for water fittings

Under the provisions of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 in England and Wales and the Water Byelaws 2004 in Scotland, one way of demonstrating that a water fitting conforms to the requirements of the Regulations is against a specification approved by the Regulator.

The following list of headings will take you to the appropriate table where you can download each of the Regulators' Specifications relevant to that product. To download the specifications you will need a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader which can be downloaded free of charge from the Adobe website. Just click on the link on the left to get a copy.

Part 1 - Individual Fittings(For detail information, please contact us!)
Part 2 - Assemblies of Fittings (NB. Additional to tests to fittings comprising assembly)Part 3: Full list of Specifications in order
 

Process of materials approvals-WRAS MATERIALS APPROVAL 

1.)        NEW WRAS APPROVAL - PRODUCT NEVER BEEN APPROVED 

a.)    Complete an M2 application form, available on the WRAS website.

b.)    Contact a suitably accredited test laboratory in order to submit samples for BS6920 testing.

c.)     Once testing is satisfactorily complete, please forward the M2 and test reports to this address.

d.)     The Materials Administrator will check the report and assuming it is satisfactory, request a purchase order number
         in order to generate an invoice for the cost of administering the approval (325.00 GBP each + VAT where
         applicable).

e.)     Once a purchase order number has been received, an approval number and letter will be issued. Your product
         approval will be displayed on the WRAS website Directory: http://www.wras.co.uk/Directory/

f.)     The approval number is based on the date of the test report and expires after a 5 year period. 

2.)        RE-APPROVAL OF PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PRODUCT (AUDIT) 

a.)    Your WRAS approval will expire 5 years after the date of the test report. 1 year before this date you will receive a
        letter and MA3 form advising you of this fact. Please complete the relevant section and return this form (via e-mail
       or post).

b.)     Should you wish to apply for re-approval, once WRAS receive the MA3, the Administrator will issue a letter stating
         the necessary test work to be carried out. This is likely to be limited testing depending on the nature of the  
         material.  

The following steps are the same as above (b to f), cost also identical.  

3.)    PLEASE NOTE: 

a.)      WRAS, as the approval body, are independent of the test houses and do not carry out any testing. The fee for
          WRAS Approval does not include the price of testing.

b.)      Your chosen laboratory will advise what samples to send according to WRAS guidelines and the time-scale of testing.

c.)      Once a satisfactory test report, application form and purchase order number has been   received, the approval
          is generally issued within a few days.

d.)      Your contacts: Hannah Lewis & Gareth Harris
 

SECONDARY MATERIAL APPROVALS FAQ SHEET

WHAT IS A SECONDARY APPROVAL?

Company A possesses an approval for Product A (primary product). Company B then purchase this product and re-name/re-brand it as Product B (secondary product) in order to sell it. Products A and B are identical in the following respects: 

Formulation, suppliers of raw ingredients and site & method of manufacture.  

For Product B to be sold as ‘WRAS Approved’, it needs to have its own entry in the Water Fittings and Materials Directory and its own unique approval number so that people can identify it from its brand or model name, supplier etc.  

A secondary approval can be granted as an administration exercise where the only difference between the products is the company selling it & the name of the product.  

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

Secondary approvals are charged on a sliding scale of between GBP75 & GBP150 (+VAT where applicable) depending on how complete the application is when submitted. Should WRAS need to contact the applicant for further information the cost will increase. Applications that meet the requirements first time will incur a cost of GBP75 (+VAT where applicable).  

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

Secondary approvals are usually granted within 3 working days of receipt, providing a complete application has been submitted. During busy periods this may take longer, the maximum being 10 working days. 

WHAT DO I GET?

A unique approval number is generated and an approval letter bearing the name of the secondary product and the name of the secondary company. The approval is displayed on the WRAS website until it expires.

 WHEN DOES THE SECONDARY APPROVAL EXPIRE?

The secondary approval will expire the same time as the primary approval. The maximum possible duration of approval is 5 years.  

HOW DO I APPLY – WHAT INFORMATION IS REQUIRED?

1.)    Complete and return application form M3. Permission from the approval holder and an assurance that the products are identical is required.  

2.)    Associated brochures/application instructions/manuals must be provided where applicable.

CONTACT DETAILS OF SUITABLY ACCREDITED TEST FACILITIES

MATERIAL TEST HOUSES (BS6920 TESTING – FOR APPROVAL OF MATERIALS

Intertek – +44 1372 370 940 

LGC (Teddington) Ltd. – +44 208 943 7000 

WRC-NSF – +44 1495 236 260 

The Water Quality Centre (WQC) – +44 118 923 6219

 

MECHANICAL TEST HOUSES – FOR APPROVAL OF FITTINGS/MECHANICAL PRODUCTS

KIWA Quality Services – +44 1495 356 795 

WRC-NSF – +44 1495 236 260