L3 YR1 Unit 306 session 1 regulations

​Unit 306
Understand Core Plumbing and Heating Systems

​Understand relevant industry standards and regulations

 

In this section we will look at some of the many pieces of legislation that govern the installation and maintenance of plumbing systems.

Open Ended

Use the internet to research what the purpose of the Water Regulation are in the UK.

Open Ended

Why do you think is it important to follow the water regulations and legislations for water supplies?

Open Ended

Use the internet to research what the purpose of Gas Safe is in the UK.

Open Ended

Are Water Regulations and Gas Safe similar in what they do?

​Cold water system legislation

The water industry in England and Wales is regulated by:

The Water Industry Act 1991 (the Act), as amended by the Water Act 2003 (Commencement No. 11) Order 2012,

The Private Water Supplies Regulations 2016


and The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999.


These three documents have specific roles to play within the plumbing industry.

​The Water Act 2003 (Water Industry Act 1991)

The Water Act 2003 amalgamates and amends two previous pieces of legislation; the Water Industry Act 1991 and the Water Resources Act 1991.
The Water Act 2003 introduced changes to the regulation of the water industry in England and Wales originally made under the Water Industry Act 1991.

They are enforced by the Environment Agency and deal with such matters as:

● the appointment and regulation of water and sewerage companies and licensed water suppliers by the Water Services Regulation Authority (OFWAT)

● water supply and sewage disposal powers and duties of the water companies and suppliers
● the obligations of the water companies and licensed water suppliers to supply water that is fit for human consumption and the enforcement of those obligations by the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Drinking Water Inspectorate

● charging powers of water companies and suppliers and the control of those charges by OFWAT

● protection of customers and consumers by OFWAT and the Consumer Council for Water.

Open Ended

Research how many water companies there are in the UK.

​Under the provisions laid down by the Water Act 2003, the UK Government introduced two documents that regulate how plumbers install, commission and maintain water supplies within domestic buildings.

These are:

● The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999

● The Private Water Supplies Regulations 2016.
(We will cover these separately in session 2)

​

The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999

Before 1999, each water authority had its own set of water by-laws that were based upon the 101 model water by-laws issued by the UK Government in 1986.

The problem was that each water undertaker had local variations, which caused much confusion, as there was no ‘common’ standard throughout the UK.

On 1 July 1999, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister issued the first ever water regulations to be enforced in the UK.

They are known as ‘The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999’ and they offer a common practice throughout the United Kingdom.

Open Ended

Research and give some examples of legislation that may be covered in WRAS?

​Simply put, the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations were made under Section 74 of the Water Industry Act 1991 and have been put in place to ensure that the plumbing systems we install and maintain prevent:

 ● contamination of water

● wastage of water

● misuse of water

● undue consumption of water

● erroneous metering of water.

An important factor here is that these regulations ONLY cover installations where the water is supplied from a water undertaker’s water main and are enforced by the water undertaker in your area.

They are NOT, however, enforceable where the water is supplied from a private water source.

​Click on the link below and answer the questions on the following slides:

Water Regulations Guide.pdf

Drag and Drop

Within schedule 2, section 1: paragraph 1: (Interpretations) complete the meaning of these terms: Backflow: means flow ​

Placeholder

, that is in a ​

Placeholder

contrary to the

intended ​

Placeholder

direction of flow, within or from a ​

Placeholder

fitting;

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

normal

water

downstream

heading

abnormal

solid

upstream

direction

Drag and Drop

Within schedule 2, section 1: paragraph 1: (Interpretations) complete the meaning of these terms:



Cistern:

means a ​

Placeholder

container for ​

Placeholder

water at ​

Placeholder

pressure

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

unfixed

spilling

high

fixed

holding

atmospheric

Drag and Drop

Within schedule 2, section 1: paragraph 1: (Interpretations) complete the meaning of these terms:



Flushing cistern:



means a ​

Placeholder

provided with ​a

Placeholder

or ​

Placeholder

for controlling

the ​

Placeholder

of the stored water into a ​

Placeholder

pan or urinal

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

discharge

water-closet

tank

tap

filling

bath

cistern

valve

device

Drag and Drop

Within schedule 2, section 1: paragraph 1: (Interpretations) complete the meaning of these terms:



Servicing valve:

means a valve for ​

Placeholder

off, for the purpose of ​

Placeholder

or service, the ​

Placeholder

of water in a pipe ,​

Placeholder

to a water fitting;

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

shutting

maintenance

flow

connected

opening

stopping

run

unconnected

Drag and Drop

Within schedule 2, section 1: paragraph 1: (Interpretations) complete the meaning of these terms:



stop-valve:



means a ​

Placeholder

, other than a ​

Placeholder

valve, used for ​

Placeholder

off the flow of ​

Placeholder

in a pipe

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

valve

servicing

shutting

water

tap

float

opening

air