Water Fittings: Requirements & Guidance
Regulation / Byelaw 4 (1) & (2)
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Regulations / Byelaws
England & Wales: Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (1999) (revised)
(1) Every water fitting shall–
(a) be of an appropriate quality and standard; and
(b) be suitable for the circumstances in which it is used.
(2) For the purposes of this regulation, a water fitting is of an appropriate quality or standard only if–
(a) omitted
(b) omitted
(c) it conforms to an appropriate British Standard or some other national specification which provides an equivalent level of protection and performance; or
(d) it conforms to a specification approved by the regulator.
Scotland: Water Supply (Water Fittings) (Scotland) Byelaws (2014)
(1) Every water fitting must be—
(a)of an appropriate quality and standard; and
(b)suitable for the circumstances in which it is used.
(2) A water fitting is of an appropriate quality or standard only if it—
(a)bears an appropriate CE marking in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products and repealing Council Directive 89/106/EEC(g);
(b)conforms to an appropriate British Standard or some other national specification of an EEA State which provides an equivalent level of protection and performance; or
(c)conforms to an appropriate specification approved pursuant to regulation 4(2)(d) of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999.
(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)
(1) Every water fitting shall—
(a) be of an appropriate quality and standard; and
(b) be suitable for the circumstances in which it is used.
(2) For the purposes of this regulation, a water fitting is of an appropriate quality or standard only if—
(a) omitted
(b) omitted
(c) it conforms to an appropriate British Standard or some other national specification which provides an equivalent level of protection and performance; or
(d) it conforms with the terms of a specification approved by the Secretary of State or the National Assembly of Wales under The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999.
Schedule 2 requirements
Paragraph 2 (Regulations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, no material or substance, either alone or in combination with any other material or substance or with the contents of any water fitting of which it forms a part, which causes or is likely to cause contamination of water shall be used in the construction, installation, renewal, repair or replacement of any water fitting which conveys or receives, or may convey or receive, water supplied for domestic or food production purposes.
(2) This requirement does not apply to a water fitting downstream of a terminal fitting supplying wholesome water where–
(a) the use to which the water downstream is put does not require wholesome water; and
(b) a suitable arrangement or device to prevent backflow is installed.
Paragraph 2 (Byelaws in Scotland)
(1) No material or substance (either alone or in combination with any other material or substance or with the contents of any water fitting of which it forms a part) which causes or is likely to cause contamination of water is to be used in the construction, installation, renewal, repair or replacement of any water fitting which conveys or receives, or may convey or receive, water supplied for domestic purposes or food production purposes.
(2) Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to a water fitting downstream of a terminal fitting supplying wholesome water where—
(a) the use to which the water downstream is put does not require wholesome water; and
(b) a suitable arrangement or device to prevent backflow is installed.
Guidance to Paragraph 2
Providing appropriate and adequate backflow protection against the highest level of risk downstream is installed, an installation not used to supply water for drinking, bathing, food preparation or cooking purposes is exempt from complying with schedule 2 paragraph 2(1).
Please note the backflow protection required needs to be assessed by the local water undertaker and other requirements of the water fittings regulations/byelaws continue to apply.
Paragraph 3 (Regulations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
Every water fitting shall -
(a) be immune to or protected from corrosion by galvanic action or by any other process which is likely to result in contamination or waste of water; and
(b) be constructed of materials of such strength and thickness as to resist damage from any external load, vibration, stress or settlement, pressure surges, or temperature fluctuation to which it is likely to be subjected.
Paragraph 3 (Byelaws in Scoltand)
Every water fitting shall be -
(a) immune to or protected from corrosion by galvanic action or by any other process which is likely to result in contamination or waste of water; and
(b) constructed of materials of such strength and thickness as to resist damage from any external load, vibration, stress or settlement, pressure surges, or temperature fluctuation to which it is likely to be subjected.
Guidance Paragraph 3
All water fittings should be resistant to corrosion.
In the case of backflow prevention devices and any water fittings which are not going to be readily accessible in addition to being corrosion resistant they should be manufactured from materials which are not susceptible to dezincification. For example, gunmetal or CR brass.
Establishing whether a water fitting is suitable for installation is dependent upon a number of factors including but not limited to:
Water fittings must be of an appropriate quality and standard
System design, things considered include but are not limited to compatibility
with other water fittings within a plumbing system (e.g the potential for galvanic action)
system operational parameters (e.g. the maximum* and minimum pressure, temperature and flow the systems will be operating at)
Location specific factors, things considered include but are not limited to:
the environment (e.g. ground or airborne contamination, the risk of frost damage, corrosion or dezincification, external load and ground movement)
product installation requirements and/or constraints (e.g. installed where light is excluded or only above ground)
installation backflow risks (e.g. the need for backflow protection to be installed)
Requirements of schedule 2 as applicable.
* Please note all water fittings must be capable of withstanding an internal water pressure of not less than 1½ times the maximum pressure it will be subject to in operation.
Paragraph 4 (Regulations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
Every water fitting shall–
(a) be watertight;
(b) be so constructed and installed as to–
(i) prevent ingress by contaminants, and
(ii) inhibit damage by freezing or any other cause;
(c) be so installed as to minimise the risk of permeation by, or deterioration from contact with, any substance which may cause contamination; and
(d) be adequately supported.
Paragraph 4 (Byelaws in Scotland)
Every water fitting shall be –
(a) watertight;
(b) constructed and installed so as to–
(i) prevent ingress by contaminants, and
(ii) inhibit damage by freezing or any other cause;
(c) installed so as to minimise the risk of permeation by, or deterioration from contact with, any substance which may cause contamination; and
(d) adequately supported.
Guidance Paragraph 4
To be accepted as being of an appropriate quality and standard a water fitting should:
comply with regulation 4(1)(a)
be designed, constructed and installed so that it does not leak
be suitable for the environment in which it is to be installed
be installed in a manner which protects it from ingress, permeation or damage
adequately supported.
Useful sources of information include BS EN 806, and BS 8558.
Potential contamination risks to plumbing systems include but are not limited to:
Environmental contaminants passing through the body of water fittings. For example, hydrocarbons in soil permeating through plastic pipework.
Ingress of fluids, insects or animals through worn, damaged or incorrectly installed plumbing fittings, warning pipes and overflows. For example, a drain tap installed where it could become submerged in fluids such as groundwater; warning pipes discharging directly into sewerage pipes; rainwater or insects accessing a storage cistern via an unshrouded or unscreened weir overflow.
Warming of water. For example, storage tanks or pipework installed without adequate insulation.
Stagnation. For example, due to oversizing of storage systems, inconsistent demand or redundant ‘deadlegs’ pipework.
Use of non-compliant water fittings and materials. For example, lead solder used on wholesome water systems.
Backflow. For example, where no or incorrect backflow protection is installed.
Potential sources of damage to water systems include but are not limited to:
Pipework laid at too shallow a depth being damaged by vehicles driving over it or flexing in as a consequence of ground movement.
Freezing. For example, due to installation outside the thermal envelope or insufficient insulation.
Changes in the integrity of plumbing fittings due to exposure to high temperatures, excessive pressures, ground or airborne substances, sunlight and/or fittings or materials which are incompatible. For example, galvanic action.
Lack of inspection and/or maintenance
Vandalism
Paragraph 5 (Regulations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
Every water fitting shall be capable of withstanding an internal water pressure not less than 1½ times the maximum pressure to which that fitting is designed to be subjected in operation.
Paragraph 5 (Byelaws in Scotland)
Every water fitting must be capable of withstanding an internal water pressure not less than 1½ times the maximum pressure to which that fitting is designed to be subjected in operation.
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Disclaimer
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.