The Water Regulations Approval Scheme (WRAS) has been accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), which the scheme says will provide WRAS’s customers with third party assurance that it is technically competent to approve products and materials in line with national and international standards and regulations.
UKAS is the national accreditation body for the UK, appointed by Government, to assess organisations that provide certification, testing, inspection and calibration services. A UKAS accreditation enables certification bodies to demonstrate their competence and provides additional assurance to anyone using the WRAS Approval.
UKAS assessed WRAS and awarded the accreditation as a Certification Body, against the international standard ISO/IEC17065 (Conformity assessment. Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes or service).
The schedule of accreditation covers the certification of water fittings and non-metallic materials, for compliance with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999.
WRAS reviews evidence, including conformity tests, to check that products are a suitable quality and standard as required by the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations.
WRAS approvals manager, Ian Hughes, said: “This is a significant achievement for WRAS. UKAS accreditation involves demonstrating impartiality and objective assessment from highly skilled, technical experts.
“It is evidence that the WRAS approvals processes can be trusted and that WRAS-approved products and materials can be relied upon to meet appropriate standards.”
UKAS accreditation drives confidence by determining the technical competence, reliability and integrity of Conformity Assessment Bodies. WRAS will be audited annually to maintain its accreditation as part of a continuous improvement process.
