 |
In this edition of Reliance's newsletter
| | | |
| | |
|
REGULATING WATER EFFICIENT PRODUCTS
| | | |
|
Water efficiency and/or water conservation is gaining great pace as an issue in the UK and with part G of the building regulations under revision and likely to be published early to mid 2009. This issue is only going to get higher and higher on everyone’s agenda and this time regulation G2 is going to be spelling out very specific water use targets. Builders in all sectors will be hard pressed to show compliance with the new regulations. In response to the changes many organisations have launched water efficiency schemes, some offering tax breaks, special labelling for efficient products, or simply pointing out to customers how much money they can save by using water more wisely. Manufacturers are scrambling to bring out new and better products to meet the various schemes requirements.
It is clear that current water usage increases, particularly in South East England are unsustainable. Bringing the conservation and efficient use of water under the building regulations is absolutely the correct thing to do. However there are certain issues that need to be adequately addressed that go hand in hand with changing people’s attitudes towards water consumption and making sure that only water efficient products are used.
|
The first question that will be asked when the regulation limiting usage to 125 litres per person per day comes into force will be “how do I comply”. To aid the builder part G has an annex which will contain a water calculating tool so that it is possible to add up all of the water used by each fixture or fitting and to then come to a final total figure. This should be a very workable solution provided that the correct information regarding the products flow rates in different types of plumbing system are readily available. However there are 2 potential problem areas that seem to crop up again and again in our industry; enforcement and product certification. |
Floreg Ball Valve:
provides isolation, filtration and flow regulation to reduce waste |
As mentioned earlier there are already several schemes available to certify products as “water saving/efficient” some are run by commercial organisations, some by non profit organisations and some from government. The number of these schemes can only increase as the regulation becomes closer to being realised. To make sure that there is no mass confusion in the marketplace it is crucial to make sure that the criteria of what constitutes a compliant product is universal and at the moment that is not the case. Some schemes look at WRAS (water regulations advisory service) approval or European norms, some look at one or the other as well as some require flow rates but there is no unified coherent criteria that everyone can use to say “there, that is an approved product” and it complies with these required government specifications. Without this and a system of identifying approved and non approved products it is going to be very difficult for everyone in the supply chain from the manufacturer on down to understand how to comply with the regulation.
Tenant® Valve Assembly:
used to regulate pressure in multi-unit sites and monitor water usage with meter fitted |
The other potential problem that should be considered is the enforcement of the regulation, this will ultimately fall on the local building inspector, so how does the inspector check that the products are water efficient? If they are marked or supplied with a certificate or some traceable identity then it is easy, if not then he/she either accepts the word of the builder that they comply or he/she gets a measuring cup and goes around with a stop watch.
Should we consider a more radical approach? How about if we make it a requirement that every water using product sold in the UK must comply with government stipulated water efficiency figures by law. Then make it a further requirement that all of the said products have to be labelled with a “water efficiency label” which has a star rating system from 1 to 6 so that consumers and inspectors can see at a glance that they comply with regulations and be able to compare which product is more efficient. We could even consider appointing special inspectors whose job would be to look specifically at the water efficiency within the building and to make sure that the installation was in accordance with the building regulation. |
 Surprisingly none of these radical ideas are new at all, all of them, and more, have already been thought of and implemented in Australia. Parts of Australia are suffering from long term severe drought water conservation has become a national issue and the government has been compelled to act. The national government legislated scheme that has been launched is called WELS (water efficiency labelling and standards).
A summary of the scheme is this
All new products — that is, where the product has been manufactured or imported into Australia on or after 1 July 2006 — must now be registered and labelled before they can be sold. This includes, clothes washing machines, dishwashers, flow controllers, WC equipment, showers, tap equipment intended for use over a kitchen sink, bathroom basin, laundry tub or ablution trough, and urinal equipment.
|
Senselec® IR Swan Neck Tap:
prevents misuse by vandals and helps prevent cross-contamination
|
It may be that these ideas are not practical for the UK market, but if we are serious about saving water we need to consider not only writing and implementing requirements under the building regulations but also how we deal with the very real enforcement and compliance issues that will inevitably result.
Manufacturers like Reliance who are active in this area, have been marketing water saving products for many years such as our flow regulating ball valve and strainer, the Auteau® range of time flow controls, the Senselec® range of electronic controls, water meters and pressure reducing valves. We would welcome the creation of some universal standards and labelling scheme as it can only  help us by weeding out inferior or inappropriate products from the market, and that at the end of the day is in everyone’s interest.
For further information on any of Reliance's water efficient products, please contact our Sales department: email sales@rwc.co.uk, call 01386 712400, fax 01386 712401 or visit www.rwc.co.uk. |
|
Senselec® TS2 Controller:
for use in areas where total
control and high vandal
resistance is required | Eric Winter, Technical Manager
July 2008
©Reliance Water Controls Ltd |
| | | |
|
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS:
| | | |
2 October 2008
CPD RoadSeminar Tour
TMV2 Thermostatic Mixing Valves: Domestic Environments
Novotel Hotel, Southampton
www.cpduk.co.uk
8-9 October 2008
Working Buildings / M&E 2008
Grand Hall, STAND A22
Olympia, London
www.buildingservicesevent.co.uk
9 October 2008
CPD RoadSeminar Tour
TMV3 Thermostatic Mixing Valves: Commercial Environments
Birmingham City FC
www.cpduk.co.uk
14-15 October 2008
Healthcare Estates
STAND B123
Harrogate
www.healthcare-estates.com
|
| | | |
If you would like to be removed from our mailing list then please click here.
Reliance Water Controls are firmly committed to respecting your privacy. We don't share your information with any third party without your consent.
For more information, please read our Privacy & Disclaimer Notice.
|
