Hansgrohe, the international bathroom specialist, now has over 800 WRAS (Water Regulations Advisory Scheme) approved basin mixers, kitchen mixers, concealed and exposed bath and shower mixers – manual and thermostatic, bath fillers, hand showers and individual shut-off valves and diverter controls. This impressive figure is more than double the number of the next closest bathroom products manufacturer operating in the UK market.When installing any product which carries or delivers water from the main supply it is a legal requirement that it complies with Regulation 4 of the “Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations”. These require that a water fitting should not cause waste, misuse, undue consumption or contamination of the water supply and must be of an appropriate standard. WRAS Approval is the best way to demonstrate compliance as it is awarded by representatives of the water suppliers and is therefore accepted by every water supplier in the UK.
When a building site is inspected, any part of the installation that is felt may contravene the regulation can result in the refusal to supply water and possible prosecution for the owner. By having WRAS certification this risk is eliminated. Without WRAS Approval, the installer, owner or occupier is responsible for providing evidence to demonstrate compliance, which in some cases can be complex and labour intensive. WRAS certification gives peace of mind to end consumers as it guarantees products are safe and of a good standard when installed correctly and insures against the need for additional work and potential costs for professional specifiers and installers where compliance is not met.
Hansgrohe invests significantly in certification with €1.6 million in 2012 alone gaining approvals worldwide. In the UK, the process is the responsibility of Hansgrohe Technical Manager, Michael Lomath in association with the International Approvals Department in Germany. He comments, “Not only does WRAS Approval ensure compliance with regulation 4, it also gives the user confidence that the product they have purchased is fit for purpose as the testing is extremely rigorous. A basin mixer, for example, during mechanical testing is turned on and off 210,000 times, 70,000 in each of 3 positions and a swivel spout turned 80,000 times.”
Jay Phillips, National Sales Manager – Projects, comments, “With increasingly stringent and frequently changing regulations, anything that makes specifying products simple has to be a good thing. Hansgrohe, as a German manufacturer, delivers German performance and engineering backed by UK regulations. Hansgrohe has invested significantly in WRAS so specifiers know they are on safe ground and can select those products which carry the WRAS certification. Supported by a comprehensive five year guarantee, the certifications are across both Axor and Hansgrohe, ensuring specifiers have options across all budgets.”
With over 800 approved product lines to choose from, the client is also ensured a wide range to suit every design preference and installation requirement.
