The convenience of online retail has transformed the way installers source products, making it easier than ever before for trade professionals to source the parts they need for a job.
But that convenience is increasingly associated with a significant risk; namely, products that make misleading or entirely false claims about WRAS approval.
For merchants, installers and specifiers alike, WRAS approval is much more than merely a logo on a box. WRAS certification is an invaluable mark of quality that provides independent assurance that any plumbing product, fitting or material designed to connect to the public mains water supply in the UK is suitable for use and complies with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations. It is a critical safeguard that helps protect public health, maintain water quality and provide confidence that products will perform as intended.
Matt Densham, Divisional Director at FRÄNKISCHE, explained: “Unfortunately, we’re seeing an increasing number of instances of products being sold via unregistered vendors that claim to be ‘WRAS compliant’ or displaying approval logos without any evidence that the complete product has actually been certified. In many cases, these claims are wholly misleading.
“While a product may contain individual approved materials, it does not automatically mean that the finished assembly or system has achieved WRAS approval. Genuine approval applies to the complete product and can always be verified through the official WRAS Approvals Directory.
“For installers, using products that have questionable or unverifiable certification creates unnecessary risks. Beyond the potential for installation failures and costly remedial work, non-approved products can jeopardise compliance, delay projects and potentially lead to real reputational damage for an installer.”
To help installers ensure they’re only buying genuine WRAS approved products, FRÄNKISCHE has put together a brief guide outlining what to look for:
- Be wary of vague wording: Claims such as “manufactured using WRAS-approved materials” or “designed to meet WRAS standards” are not the same as full WRAS Approval. The complete product should have been independently tested and approved.
- Buy from reputable merchants and authorised distributors: Established plumbing merchants and recognised distributors are far less likely to stock products with misleading certification claims than unknown online sellers or marketplace vendors.
- Look for supporting approval information: Manufacturers should be able to provide an approval number and details of exactly which product or product range has been approved. If this information is missing or difficult to obtain, treat any WRAS claims with scepticism.
Matt concludes: “The industry has worked hard to build trust in the products and systems used to deliver safe drinking water, and it’s vital that misleading certification claims don’t undermine that confidence. Installers should always verify WRAS approval before purchasing and work with manufacturers and merchants they know they can trust.
“At FRÄNKISCHE, product quality, independent certification and technical integrity are at the heart of everything we do. By choosing genuinely approved products and challenging suspicious claims, together we can help raise standards across the industry and protect customers for the long term.”
To learn more about the full range of products and services offered by FRÄNKISCHE, please visit: https://www.fraenkische.com/en/
Contributors
