Workmanlike Manner: Requirements & Guidance

Regulation / Byelaw 4(5) & (6)

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Regulations /Byelaws

England & Wales: Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (1999) (revised)

(5) Every water fitting shall be installed, connected, altered, repaired or disconnected in a workmanlike manner.

(6) For the purposes of this regulation, a water fitting is installed, connected, altered, repaired or disconnected in a workmanlike manner only if the work is carried out so as to conform–

(a) to an appropriate British Standard or some other national specification which provides an equivalent level of protection and performance;

(b) to a specification approved by the regulator; or

Scotland: Water Supply (Water Fittings) (Scotland) Byelaws (2014)

(5) Every water fitting must be installed, connected, altered, repaired or disconnected so as to conform to—

(a) an appropriate British Standard, European Technical Assessment within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 (or European technical approval used as such in accordance with article 66(4) of that Regulation) or some other national specification of an EEA State which provides an equivalent level of protection and performance;

(b) an appropriate specification approved pursuant to regulation 4(6)(b) of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999; or

(6) Where Scottish Water approves a method of installation under paragraph (5)(c), it must—

(a) give notice of the approval to the Scottish Ministers; and

(b) publish the approval in such manner as Scottish Water considers appropriate.

(7) Paragraph (6) applies to the revocation or modification of an approval as it applies to the giving of that approval.

(8) In this byelaw, “EEA State” means a member State, Norway, Iceland or Leichtenstein.

Northern Ireland: The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (revised)

(5) Every water fitting shall be installed, connected, altered, repaired or disconnected in a workmanlike manner.

(6) For the purposes of this regulation, a water fitting is installed, connected, altered, repaired or disconnected in a workmanlike manner only if the work is carried out so as to conform—

(a) to an appropriate British Standard or some other national specification which provides an equivalent level of protection and performance;

(b) to a specification approved by the Secretary of State or the National Assembly of Wales under The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999; or

Schedule 2 requirements

Paragraph 12 (Regulations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland)

(1) The water system shall be capable of withstanding an internal water pressure not less than 1½ times the maximum pressure to which the installation or relevant part is designed to be subjected in operation (“the test pressure”).

(2) This requirement shall be deemed to be satisfied–

(a)in the case of a water system that does not include a pipe made of plastics, where–

(i) the whole system is subjected to the test pressure by pumping, after which the test continues for one hour without further pumping;

(ii) the pressure in the system is maintained for one hour; and

(iii) there is no visible leakage throughout the test;

(b)in any other case, where either of the following tests is satisfied–

TEST A

TEST B

(i)the whole system is subjected to the test pressure by pumping for 30 minutes, after which the test continues for 90 minutes without further pumping;

(ii)the pressure is reduced to one third of the test pressure after 30 minutes;

(iii) the pressure does not drop below one third of the test pressure over the following 90 minutes; and

(iv) there is no visible leakage throughout the test

(i)the whole system is subjected to the test pressure by pumping for 30 minutes, after which the pressure is noted and the test continues for 150 minutes without further pumping;

(ii) the drop in pressure is less than 0.6 bar (60kPa) after the following 30 minutes, or 0.8 bar (80kPa) after the following 150 minutes; and

(iii) there is no visible leakage throughout the test

Paragraph 12 (Byelaws in Scotland)

(1) The water system must be capable of withstanding an internal water pressure ("test pressure") not less than 1½ times the maximum pressure to which the installation or relevant part is designed to be subjected in operation .

(2) This requirement is to be deemed to be satisfied–

(a)in the case of a water system that does not include a pipe made of plastics, where–

(i) the whole system is subjected to the test pressure by pumping, after which the test continues for one hour without further pumping;

(ii) the pressure in the system is maintained for one hour; and

(iii) there is no visible leakage throughout the test;

(b)in any other case, where either Test A or Test B is satisfied–

(3) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2)(b)—

(a)“Test A” is satisfied if—

(i)the whole system is subjected to the test pressure by pumping for 30 minutes, after which the test continues for 90 minutes without further pumping;

(ii)the pressure is reduced to one third of the test pressure after 30 minutes;

(iii) the pressure does not drop below one third of the test pressure over the following 90 minutes; and there is no visible leakage throughout the test; and

(b)“Test B” is satisfied if—

(i)the whole system is subjected to the test pressure by pumping for 30 minutes, after which the pressure is noted and the test continues for 150 minutes without further pumping;

(ii)the drop in pressure is less than 0.6 bar (60kPa) after the following 30 minutes, or 0.8 bar (80kPa) after the following 150 minutes; and

(iii) there is no visible leakage throughout the test.

Guidance to Paragraph 12

To prevent waste all plumbing fittings must be capable of withstanding 1½ times the maximum operational pressure it will be subjected to once installed.

The test methods detailed in Schedule 2 paragraph 12 and BS EN 806 -2, can both be used to demonstrate compliance with this requirement

Paragraph 13 (Regulations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland)

Every water system shall be tested, flushed and where necessary disinfected before it is first used.

Paragrapgh 13 (Byelaws in Scotland)

Every water system must be tested, flushed and where necessary disinfected before it is first used.

Guidance to Paragraph 13

BS EN 806 - 4 provides guidance on how to flush and disinfect plumbing systems.

Where there is any doubt or further information is required contact the local water undertaker.

Paragraph 14 (Regulations in England and Wales)

(1) Any water fitting conveying–

(a) rain water, recycled water or any fluid other than water supplied by a water undertaker or water supply licensee; or

(b) any fluid that is not wholesome water;

shall be clearly identified so as to be easily distinguished from any supply pipe or distributing pipe.

(2) No supply pipe, distributing pipe or pump delivery pipe drawing water from a supply pipe or distributing pipe shall convey, or be connected so that it can convey, any fluid falling within sub- paragraph (1), unless a device for preventing backflow is installed in accordance with paragraph 15.

Paragraph 14 (Regulations in Northern Ireland)

(1) Any water fitting conveying–

(a) rain water, grey water, reclaimed water, recycled water or any fluid other than water supplied by a water undertaker; or

(b) any fluid that is not wholesome water;

shall be clearly identified so as to be easily distinguished from any supply pipe or distributing pipe.

Paragraph 14 (Byelaws in Scotland)

(1) Any water fitting conveying–

(a) rain water, grey water recycled water, reclaimed water or any fluid other than water supplied by Scottish Water; or

(b) water for the purpose of a private water supply; or

must be clearly identified so as to be easily distinguished from any supply pipe or distributing pipe.

Guidance to Paragraph 14

Irrespective of what type of water is being conveyed all pipework and fittings should be marked in accordance with BS 1710. Further information can be found here.

Any water fitting conveying any fluid other than mains supplied water should not be directly connected to a plumbing system supplying mains drinking water

With the agreement of the local water undertaker a mains water back-up to an alternative water source system may be permitted subject to the installation of appropriate backflow protection.

Additional information

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Uncontrolled if downloaded. This is informative, non-statutory guidance and intended for general guidance purposes only; it is subject to change.

Compliance with this information should not be relied upon as guaranteeing no enforcement action will be taken by water undertakers. Water Regs UK accepts no liability for loss, indirect or consequential loss arising from or in connection with this guidance document.