Commercial washing machines and dishwashers need to comply with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, helping to protect the public water supply from the risk of contamination. Choosing compliant equipment is important, but so is ensuring it provides the appropriate level of backflow protection and is installed correctly.
Why Do The Water Regulations Matter?
When a commercial washing machine or dishwasher is connected to the public mains water supply, there is a potential risk of contaminated water flowing back in the opposite direction and entering the public water supply. This is known as ‘backflow’, and the Water Regulations set out requirements designed to prevent it.
Does Equipment Need To Be WRAS Approved?
You may have heard that commercial washing machines and dishwashers need to be ‘WRAS approved’. WRAS approval has traditionally been one of the most widely recognised ways for manufacturers to demonstrate compliance with the Water Regulations, which is why the term is still commonly used.
However, it is the Water Regulations that equipment needs to comply with, rather than a requirement for WRAS approval specifically. Today, manufacturers may use a number of certification schemes to demonstrate compliance with Regulation 4, including WRAS Approval, NSF Reg4 Certification and Kiwa UK Regulation 4 Approval.
Whichever certification route is used, it is also important that the equipment provides the appropriate level of backflow protection for its intended use and is installed correctly.
What About Care And Healthcare Settings?
Different environments require different levels of protection, depending on the potential contamination risk. In care and healthcare settings, fittings should meet the requirements for Fluid Category 5, which represents the highest level of contamination risk.
We have produced this free guide to complying with the Water Regulations in care and nursing homes, explaining the risks, requirements and how you can help ensure your commercial laundry and dishwashing equipment is compliant.
How Can JTM Service Help?
At JTM Service, we supply commercial washing machines and dishwashers from leading manufacturers which are certified to meet the Water Regulations, including equipment with WRAS Approval, NSF Reg4 Certification or Kiwa UK Regulation 4 Approval.
We don’t just supply the equipment. Our experienced in-house engineers install and commission it correctly, helping to ensure your new equipment meets the relevant Water Regulations requirements.
You can find out more about complying with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 on our Water Regulations page. And if you are replacing existing equipment or planning a new installation, please contact our team for advice on suitable compliant equipment and the installation requirements.
