Water Industry Approved Plumber Scheme
The Background
With effect from the 1 July 1999 the Government issued the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, and revoked the Water Supplier's Byelaws for England and Wales. Technically similar requirements were introduced for Scotland from 4 April 2000, known as the Water Byelaws 2000 (Scotland).
For many years Water Supply Byelaws had been used to protect the public water supply on both domestic and commercial plumbing installations from waste, misuse, undue consumption and contamination of water. As Statutory Instruments, the Regulations replaced local byelaws with national legislation, increasing the profile of the subject and making the Secretary of State for the Environment accountable to Parliament for them.
Under the legislation, owners and occupiers of premises which have public water supply connections and anyone who installs or alters such plumbing systems have a legal duty to comply with the regulations and they can face prosecution for a criminal offence if they fail to do so.
Regulation 5 refers to notification of intended work, and requires that anyone who proposes to install new water systems (or, in non-domestic premises, to alter or extend systems) in connection with ay of the operations listed in the Regulations must give notice of the planned work to the Water Supplier, and shall not begin that work without the Water Supplier’s consent, which shall not be withheld unreasonably. One contractor has already been fined for failing to give notice and for starting work without consent.
What is an ‘Approved Plumber’
The Government is campaigning against ‘cowboy building’ in a number of ways. One way is to include in the new Regulations some useful concessions for an ‘Approved Contractor (Plumber)’, who will be competent in complying with the Regulations.
The Approved Plumber has been given a very useful concession in that he/she may start work without notification or prior consent on certain types of work, provided he/she issues the customer (and for some types of work, the Water Supplier) with a certificate of compliance of the work when it is completed. This can save up to ten days of waiting for the Water Supplier’s consent and reduces the paperwork of notification.
‘Appoved plumbers’ can be authorized by either the local Water Supplier, the Water Industry Scheme (WIAPS) or by an organization recognized by the Government (IOP/APHC/SNIPEF).
The Water Industry Approved plumber Scheme (WIAPS)
WIAPS is funded by most of the Water Suppliers to administer an approved plumbers scheme for them. In order to become a WIAPS member, a plumber has to show he has been suitably trained as a plumber, that he has adequate knowledge of the Regulations by passing an assessment and that he has sufficient public liability insurance cover.
Water Suppliers often get asked by their customers to recommend a plumber. On request, they will provide their customers with details of Approved Plumbers. The details are also freely available to the public on the WIAPS website
Why should you use an Approved Plumber for installation work?
Owners and occupiers of premises, building managers, building developers etc, may well ask 'why should I use an approved plumber to do my installation work?
- Assured compliance and workmanship
WIAPS members have demonstrated their knowledge of the Regulations. Using an Approved Plumber will provide reassurance that the work will comply with the requirements of the Regulations, including being done 'in a workmanlike manner'.
- Fits in with your Quality Assurance objectives.
Using a WIAPS plumber will support your Organisation's quality assurance objectives.
- Limit to your legal liability for infringements and compliance
The certificate of compliance which an Approved Plumber must provide to you, the customer, for the work carried out is your 'Get Out of Jail Free' card. The certificate is a legal defence in the event of a prosecution for non-compliance. It allows the owner or occupier of the premises to walk away from the court.
- You may qualify for a reduction in the Water Supplier's connection charge.
Some Water Suppliers recognise that by developers using Approved Plumbers for plumbing installations in new premises, there is a reduction in the cost of administration, which they share with the developer. by reducing the connection charge for the new supply.
- Work may start immediately for some instances.
When using an approved plumber for installation of certain types of fittings and for extensions or alterations to any water system, work can start immediately without notification or waiting for consent.
- Less notification paperwork in advance of installation, depending on the work to be done.
- May speed up connection of the water supply.
- Where the work has been done by Approved Plumbers, Water Suppliers may not need to delay the connection of the supply until the installation has been inspected.
