How to Ensure Compliance With the UK’s Regulation 4

August 11, 2023

In this article, we'll explore the problems facing plumbers and installers in the UK, and how they can confirm compliance with the UK's Regulation 4.

The Problem Facing Plumbers and Installers

In the UK, the installer of a water fitting product carries the main burden of proof of its compliance with Regulation 4 of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations. Confidence in compliance status is crucial.

P&H Engineering describes the challenge well in their Regulation 4 Compliance technical article, stating, “Unfortunately, it is not illegal for manufacturers to make products that don’t comply with the regulations. It is also perfectly legal for merchants to sell non-compliant products. However, these products become an offense once fitted, so it is the engineers/installers that are liable. The duty lies with the installer to ensure that every product component that is connected to a water supply or management meets the relevant regulations.”

For the longest time, WRAS Approval was one of the only ways to show compliance with Regulation 4, and that is what installers/plumbers are accustomed to looking for, for that added assurance.

However, WRAS Approval isn’t the only way to show compliance with Regulation 4 anymore.

A New Solution: NSF REG4 Certification

NSF REG4–UKAS-accredited to ISO/IEC 17065 –provides an alternative for proving compliance.

This certification applies to all mechanical products and non-metallic materials that are in contact with drinking water, including:

Valves, backflow prevention devices, taps, mixers, shower heads, pipes and fittings, tanks, cisterns, and water meters – in fact, all products that are connected to the water supply
All non-metallic materials, including plastics, rubbers, coatings, cements, resins and sealants

Count on More With NSF REG4 Compared With Other Schemes

We created this certification program to give manufacturers the option of showing either standard or premier compliance with Regulation 4.
NSF REG4 S3 5-Year Full Re-test	NSF REG4 1+ 5-Year Re-evaluation + Annual Audit
Products undergo the same evaluation as for WRAS approval. Both testing and evaluation are done by NSF experts in our Wales lab (accredited to ISO 17025 by UKAS)	Products undergo a qualification test, and an annual production facility audit is performed to ensure product quality and integrity. A 5-year re-evaluation ensures the products continue to meet the requirements of NSF REG4.

We created this certification program to give manufacturers the option of showing either standard or premier compliance with Regulation 4.

NSF REG4 S3
5-Year Full Re-test

Products undergo the same evaluation as for WRAS approval. Both testing and evaluation are done by NSF experts in our Wales lab (accredited to ISO 17025
by UKAS)

NSF REG4 1+
5-Year Re-evaluation + Annual Audit

Products undergo a qualification test, and an annual production facility audit is performed to ensure product quality and integrity. A 5-year re-evaluation ensures the products continue to meet the requirements of NSF REG4.

Why Was NSF REG4 Certification Created?

There was simply a market need for a way for products to prove timely compliance. NSF already provides testing for many WRAS approvals at our laboratory in Wales, plus we have the in-house technical expertise to make faster certification decisions without sacrificing thoroughness.

How to Confirm a Product is Certified to NSF REG4

Check NSF’s online listings to see, in real-time, which products are NSF REG4 certified.
Look for the NSF REG4 certification mark. Remember, no matter whether certified to NSF REG4 S3 or 1+, a product or material with an NSF REG4 certification mark has proven compliance with Regulation 4.

Look for the NSF REG4 Certification Mark in the Field

NSF REG4 Marks for Materials	NSF REG4 Marks for Products
Materials bearing this mark are certified to NSF REG4 1+ and are audited annually and periodically re-evaluated by NSF.	Products bearing this mark are certified to NSF REG4 1+ and are audited annually and periodically re-evaluated by NSF.
Materials bearing this mark are certified to NSF REG4 S3 and are fully re-tested every 5 years, just like WRAS-approved products.	Products bearing this mark are certified to NSF REG4 S3 and are fully re-tested every 5 years, just like WRAS-approved products.