Evy Coe
There are a few plumbing regulations that you need to know about if you’re doing any home improvement work. These are in place to prevent waste and make sure that your plumbing is safe.
Keep reading to learn all you need to know about plumbing regulations.
Building regulations
Building regulations exist to ensure structures are safe and accessible. The government writes them and local authorities enforce them. They cover plumbing work, so it’s important to be aware of them if you want to do any pipe work.
You’ll need to make sure you adhere to building regulations if you’re altering existing or installing new plumbing. This could be in a bathroom, kitchen or as part of a new or altered heating system. Building regulations relate to a range of things, including:
- pipe size
- the positioning of waste pipes
- pipe ventilation
The easiest way to ensure your plumbing follows building regulations is to hire a plumber registered with a competent person scheme (CPS). They’ll self-certify their work and contact your local authority if necessary. They’ll also give you a compliance certificate to prove the completed work meets building regulations.
Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999
The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 is a set of rules relating to plumbing systems, water fittings and water-using appliances connected to a mains water supply. They cover their design, installation and maintenance. These plumbing regulations are in place to prevent water waste and contamination.
To make sure that your plumbing follows these regulations, you can hire a plumber registered with an approved competence scheme. There are several schemes a plumber can register with, most of which are run by water suppliers. You can check whether your plumber is registered with the competence scheme they say they are by contacting them.
Water suppliers are responsible for making sure that your plumbing follows water supply regulations. If they inspect it and find that it doesn’t, you will need to correct it as soon as you can. In extreme cases, your water supplier may end up temporarily cutting you off.
So it’s important to make sure that you’re aware of all relevant plumbing regulations. Following these rules will mean that your plumbing is safe and secure and you don’t waste money.
