Water Regulation 4 Compliance - dispelling the myth of WRAS approval
Water Regulation 4 explained
All components/products installed on water systems in the UK must comply with UK water regulations (specifically the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 for England and Wales, the Water Byelaws 2000, the Water Supply (Water Fittings) (Scotland) Byelaws 2014 and the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009), and in particular Regulation 4 which lays out the specific requirements for the components which make up a water system. If you install components/products on the system that are not compliant then you're causing an offence and could be prosecuted.
It's not an offence to manufacture non-compliant components, the duty lies with the installer to ensure that every product component connected to water supply or management meets the relevant regulations.
How Kiwa UK Water Regulation 4 approval (KUKreg4) helps you demonstrate compliance
The Kiwa UK regulation 4 Approval (KUKreg4) is a robust method for demonstrating compliance with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999.
The common myth that WRAS is a mandatory requirement
WRAS is historically stated in project specifications because in the past, WRAS approval was the most common way to demonstrate compliance against water regulations, but WRAS is a voluntary scheme. The minimum legal requirement is for components/products to be compliant with water regulation 4 and this is exactly what KUKreg4 provides you with. KUKreg4 is widely accepted by water authorities, and since the terminology of ‘Regulation 4 compliance’ is more widely used and the decision making of WRAS approval no longer involves the water authorities, KUKreg4 is now a very well-known way of acceptance in the industry.
The KUKreg4 approval mark demonstrates full compliance with the UK Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, exactly like WRAS does, so can be universally accepted as equal to WRAS approval.
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