What WRAS Approval Means and Why It Matters When Buying Commercial Taps

WRAS approval shows that a tap has been independently checked against UK water regulations. That makes it the simplest way for a commercial buyer to show a tap is fit for use. The label only helps if you know what it covers, so it's worth being clear on what the approval means before you get to a shortlist.

What Does WRAS Approved Mean?

The Water Regulations Approval Scheme, or WRAS, describes itself as an independent UK certification body for plumbing products and materials. The scheme lists more than 8,000 products. In practice, WRAS approved means an independent body has checked a product against the water regulations, so it shouldn't waste water or contaminate the supply. You may still see older material calling the scheme the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme, but the updated name on the WRAS website is the Water Regulations Approval Scheme.

Approval covers one specific tap, not everything a brand makes. The directory listing shows the models and sizes that were tested and the maximum conditions each can be used under. That's why a similar-looking tap from the same manufacturer may not be covered. The next question is whether you have to use WRAS approved taps at all.

Is WRAS Approval a Legal Requirement?

No, the law doesn't require WRAS approval by name. The law is the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999. Regulation 4 says every water fitting must be of an appropriate quality and standard and suitable for the circumstances in which it's used. It doesn't mention WRAS, so the duty is to use fittings that meet the Regulations.

The regulation also sets out how a fitting can meet that standard, and there are two routes. It can conform to an appropriate British Standard, or to another national specification that gives the same level of protection. Alternatively, it can conform to a specification the regulator has approved. WRAS approval is how most commercial projects prove a tap meets that standard. Anyone can look the tap up in the directory, so the architect, the installer and the client can all check the same record.

On the question of who enforces water fittings regulations, the answer sits in Part III of The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999. Regulation 10(1) says a water undertaker (the local water company) must enforce the requirements in the area it's appointed to serve. That makes the local water undertaker the body with the enforcement role, rather than WRAS. So if the law doesn't name WRAS, the next question is why specifications ask for it.

Why Does WRAS Approval Matter to Specifiers and Buyers?

Approval gives you a clear, checkable way to show a fitting suits the Regulations, which is why some specifications ask for WRAS approved taps. It also protects the buyer. Our commercial taps guide also notes that non-compliance can cause difficulties at building inspections. Anyone can look up a directory listing, so a specifier can point a client to the proof and the client can check it themselves.

Specifiers lean on that evidence most. We offer architects and designers samples and support to avoid product substitution, which matters here because an approval covers specific models. Swapping in a different tap late in a project may mean the approval no longer applies. Recording the approval number and model in the specification also gives everyone something fixed to check the delivered product against.

How Do You Check a Tap Is WRAS Approved?

These steps take you from the supplier's quote to the directory listing:

1. Ask the supplier for the exact manufacturer and model, plus the WRAS approval number if there is one.
2. Find the product in the directory under the relevant tap category.
3. Make sure your exact model and size appear in the listing. A WRAS logo on a brochure isn't proof on its own and a similar-looking tap from the same brand may not be covered.
4. Check the approval is still current, using the validity rules below.
5. Read the Installation Requirement Notes shown against the product.

WRAS says the directory is free to check, so confirming a model before you order costs nothing but a few minutes. If a model doesn't turn up, ask the supplier to point you to the listing before going any further. Keep a note of the approval number and the date you checked it, so the evidence is on file if the specification is queried later.

How Long Does WRAS Approval Last and What Are Installation Requirement Notes?

Approval doesn't last indefinitely. The WRAS guide to its products and materials directory says fitting approvals are valid for a maximum of five years. Products are retested every five years to maintain them. A brochure from a few years back therefore proves little, so check the listing is current on the day you buy. If you can't find a current listing for the model you've been quoted, treat the approval as unconfirmed until the supplier shows you one.

The WRAS installation requirement notes, or IRNs, explain any installation conditions attached to an approval. WRAS says those conditions must be followed if the fitting is to comply with the legal requirements of the regulations and bylaws. Each directory entry shows the IRN numbers next to the approval number. Read them before ordering so there are no surprises once the tap is on site.

Regulation 4(5) also says water fittings must be installed in a "workmanlike manner", which means fitted to a good standard of workmanship. That's a separate question from approval, because an approved tap can still be fitted badly.

What Is the Difference Between WRAS Product Approval and Material Approval?

WRAS approves materials as well as finished fittings. According to the WRAS guide to its materials directory, WRAS material approval is only granted to materials that have satisfied BS 6920:2000 Parts 1 and 2. Part 3 also applies for hot water usage. That's an approval of the material itself.

When you're buying a finished tap, look for an approval covering the tap rather than relying on an approved material somewhere inside it. It also means a supplier describing a component as approved isn't the same as the whole tap being approved.

Where Can You Buy WRAS Approved Commercial Taps?

Not every commercial tap is WRAS approved, which is why the checks above matter. Sensor and time flow models suit different washrooms, so settle the tap type first. The complete guide to commercial taps for washrooms is a good place to start.

A good number of commercial sensor taps are WRAS approved, and we have a filter to help narrow the choice quickly. If you'd rather not use sensors, non-concussive time flow taps are a simple alternative. The range has a WRAS filter too, so you can narrow the list to approved models. Once you've confirmed a model's approval, our buying guide to WRAS approved sensor taps is a good place to compare sensor models.

Either way, the low energy hand dryer range and the all-in-one options are available in the same premium finishes as the wider range, which means making the sustainable choice doesn't require compromising on how the space looks. For specifiers who want to go further, the world's first carbon neutral hand dryer range offers independently verified carbon neutrality across the full product lifecycle. Waste Direct's research shows that 5 million tonnes of paper end up in UK landfills each year and switching from paper towels to an energy-efficient hand dryer removes that waste stream from the equation entirely.

WRAS approval is an independent check that a tap meets UK water rules. The law says water fittings must be good enough quality and suitable for where they're used. WRAS approval is the usual way to prove a tap meets that. It isn't the whole picture, though. It covers a specific model rather than a brand, lasts a maximum of five years and says nothing about how well the tap is fitted. Before you buy, look up the exact model in the directory, confirm the listing is current and read any installation notes. That way you know the tap suits both the Regulations and your washroom.

Not sure which taps suit your washroom? Get in touch with our team today and we'll help you find the right ones, whether it's a new build or a replacement in an existing space. If you're a contractor or trade buyer, you can also set up trade accounts with us.