GASTEC at CRE

WRAS

GASTEC at CRE (GaC)

WRAS - Water Regulations Advisory Scheme

General

The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 are enforced by the water supply companies, and to assist with this enforcement, the Scheme works

  • to promote knowledge of the Regulations
  • promote consistent interpretation of the Regulations
  • coordinate consultation with trade bodies within the Industry
  • and with regard to product approval, to assess the results of the testing of materials and fittings to determine their compliance with the Regulators' Specifications and to publish up-to-date lists of satisfactory materials and fittings in the Scheme's Water Fittings and Materials Directory.

Although the Scheme does not undertake the actual testing of water fittings and materials, test results will be considered if they are prepared by:-

  • a laboratory that is accredited by UKAS ( United Kingdom Accreditation Service) to carry out those tests
  • or, by an overseas laboratory which is covered by a multilateral agreement accepted by the European cooperation for Accreditation (EA), the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) or the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC)
Kiwa has a UKAS accredited laboratory in the UK and the Kiwa laboratories in The Netherlands are accredited by the RvA - the Dutch Council for Accreditation, which is a signatory to the Multi Lateral Agreements of the European cooperation for accreditation. Kiwa can therefore submit test reports for tests and products that they are accredited to carry out.

The Approval Scheme

The Water Regulations Advisory Scheme 'Approved Product ' Scheme, replaced the Water Byelaws Scheme in 1999, when the Water Regulations replaced the local Water Byelaws. However, wherever possible the scheme maintained the same basic procedures for accepting test reports from the accredited laboratories.

How to proceed:-
  • Complete Application Form
  • Supply a production assembly drawing and a corresponding schedule of materials
  • An assessment of the material information will be made. All non-metallic materials will require a current WRAS approval number, or a valid BS6920 test report
  • A mechanical testing in accordance with the Regulators Specification will follow the material assessment. Alternatively, WRAS have agreed that an EN45011 Kiwa Certificate can be used as a basis for the mechanical testing requirements, if it can be demonstrated that the Kiwa Evaluation Guideline provides an equivalent level of protection and performance
  • Following the completion of the testing requirements, Kiwa staff will draft the necessary test reports and product descriptions and submit them to WRAS to be considered
  • The WRAS approval panel - the Test and Assessment Group (TAG) meetings are held at various times of the year, approximately every 6-8 weeks. At this meeting, the panel will consider the product and the test results for approval
  • Approvals are valid for a period of 5 years and will require a retest for re-approval