The Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) assesses water fittings products to ensure that they do not waste, misuse, unduly consume or contaminate the water supply, in order to show compliance with Regulation 4 of the requirements of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999. 

The full procedure to gain WRAS approval can be found by clicking here

A simple guide to approval is given after the general points (below).

 

1.      General: To gain approval for a water fitting,  WRAS will check the following details which should be included in the application form:

 

1.1    Non-metallic materials in contact with the water which is required to be wholesome (paint, grease, o-rings, seals, gaskets etc.) must comply with BS 6920 Parts 1 ?3. 

You must provide either

 

a current WRAS approval number for the non-metallic material or a component* made from it or

 

a report of testing, undertaken no more than two years previously, to BS 6920 from one of the approved test laboratories.  (see below for details).

 

(*See uidance to Manufacturers, Suppliers and Test Laboratories on the Application Requirements for WRAS Product Approval? for details of approval, including for components.)

 

1.2    Metal Components in contact with water which is required to be wholesome. The grade or standard of a metal or alloy should be declared. Where this is not available, please declare the composition of the material.

 

1.3     Prohibited materials:

 

Lead: Lead-based solders are illegal for use in fittings which convey water which is required to be wholesome and will not be accepted.

 

PVC containing lead stabilisers: This is not permitted for use in fittings where it will be in contact with water which is required to be wholesome.  It may be accepted for fittings where the water is not required to be wholesome.

 

Bitumen: Bitumen derived from coal tar has been prohibited for use in WRAS Approved fittings for many years. 

Asphaltic- or petroleum-derived bituminous materials: These will not be accepted for use in pipes or water retaining structures (e.g. cisterns) with large surface areas in contact with water which is required to be wholesome.  Their use for other applications with a very small surface area in contact with water for domestic purposes may be accepted and the Scheme should be consulted in advance of applications.

 

2       Product Testing ? In addition to assessing non-metallic materials, where applicable, in accordance with BS6920, products will be assessed by mechanical tests as stipulated in the Regulators Specification. Click here for details of the Regulators?Specification for water fittings. 

 

Material Testing Laboratories

The Scheme requires non-metallic materials to be tested by laboratories which have accredited for testing to BS6920 using the procedures of ISO17025.  In addition, WRAS requires materials testing laboratories to participate in regular comparisons of assessment of materials in ound-robin?tests.  WRAS accepts test reports for materials from the following laboratories which participate in this comparison: