Confidence in safe water
30/08/2012 Alfa Laval Ltd
The UK has strict rules for compliance when it comes to products connected to the public water supply. These requirements are set out in the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations or Scottish Byelaws. The simplest way of demonstrating compliance is by receiving WRAS approval.The Water Regulations Advisory Scheme(WRAS) is a conformance mark that demonstrates that an item complies with high standards set out by water regulations in the United Kingdom in 1999. This approval relates to components as well as fully made 'ready to go' systems. If the components are approved, they will still be tested as part of the complete solution (e.g. boiler).
Users and manufacturers of products that will be connected to the public water system take WRAS approval into consideration when purchasing their components. Connecting a system (e.g. boiler, tap, pipework) to a public water supply without being able to demonstrate conformation to the aforementioned regulations is illegal.
In order to receive WRAS approval products must undertake a series of tests to measure:
-€¢ Odour and flavour (does it taint the drinking water?)
-€¢ Appearance of colorant and turbidity (do these change?)
-€¢ Growth of aquatic microorganisms (also known as 'microbial' testing) (does the amount of oxygen in the water decrease?
-€¢ Extraction of substances harmful to health (also known as 'cytotoxicity') (is it harmful to humans?)
-€¢ Extraction of metals (does it leach metal particles?)
Once the above have been passed, the equipment undertook further tests to measure:
-€¢ Pressure testing (is it watertight)
-€¢ Opacity (does it let light in?)
-€¢ Identifier (is it easily identifiable
Alfa Laval's CB range of Heat Exchangers have been WRAS certified until 30th June 2017.
For more information about Alfa Laval's CB range of heat exchangers, visit www.alfalaval.com/cb
Or visit our youtube channel www.youtube.com/alfalaval where you can see the difference in the new CB range.
Print this articleShare article:
Process and Control Today are not responsible for the content of submitted or externally produced articles and images. Click here to email us about any errors or omissions contained within this article.