DOMESTIC PLUMBING TIPS

Whenever you change pipes or water fittings in the home, you should only use materials that
have been approved for use in contact with drinking water. New work on plumbing systems can
affect the quality of your drinking water.
The ‘WRAS Approved’ logo shows products that water companies have checked and endorsed
as complying with regulations to ensure they do not affect drinking water quality.

APPROVED PLUMBER SCHEMES

Many simple plumbing jobs can be safely tackled by someone with competent DIY skills using
WRAS approved materials. However more complex tasks or tasks you are not
confident about should be tackled by a professionally qualified plumber.
Look for members of an Approved Plumber Scheme or members of a
recognised plumbing professional or trade association such as the Institute
of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (IPHE), the Association of Plumbing and
Heating Contractors (APHC) the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing
Employers Federation (SNIPEF)or the Heating and Ventilating Contractors’
Association (HVCA) or firms belonging to the Government-sponsored
TrustMark scheme (www.trustmark.org.uk)

Members of Approved Plumber Schemes have been checked to see that they
have good experience of plumbing and have passed a test of their knowledge
of the Water Fittings Regulations (Water Byelaws in Scotland). They give their
customers certificates confirming that the plumbing work they have carried out
complies with the Water Fittings Regulations. The compliance of their work is
checked from time to time by the scheme organisers, who will also investigate
any claims from customers of non-compliance with the regulations. Approved
contractors are exempt from some of the requirements to give notice of
plumbing work in advance of starting it, which gives them more flexibility in
the timing of their work.

Some water companies operate their own schemes for the areas which they supply:
Anglian Water – Aplus (www.anglianwater.co.uk)
Severn Trent - WaterMark Scheme (www.stwater.co.uk)
Thames Water – TAPS (www.thameswater.co.uk)
Other water companies support the Water Industry Approved Plumber Scheme (WIAPS), which
is administered by WRAS (www.wras.co.uk/WIAPS/).

To contact an Approved Plumber, look on the website of the organisation which runs the
scheme, or contact your local water company.

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