notifying water undertakers of work?

[Jennie]

Hi all,
I could do with some advice on the water regs, and notifying water undertakers of work.
I'm soon to install a shower in a recently extended utility room. Under the regs, the shower installation should be notified to the water undertaker before work begins.
I'm newly qualified (plumbing/heating NVQ2), about to sit the water regs exam, but only have public liability insurance for £1million (I'm not sure I want to upgrade to £2m just right now - but if I did, I could register as a competent person with WIAPS.)
My question is: what is the procedure and costs for getting permission from them? I could ask them direct (Wessex Water) but I figured it was easier to get a basic idea from you guys first, and possibly be forewarned on a few things.
Thanks again for your advice,
Jennie

 

[Ermintrude]

Humm.... How many people ever done this? Furthest I have ever gone is building control.

 

[SimonG]

Guilty m'lud.

 

[chris watkins]

Hi Jennie
Can I ask why you feel that the installation of a shower in a domestic property requires notifying ?
The installation of a shower (over 12 L/m flow rate) is listed but this part of the Reg's has not been enacted & so notification is not required. IMHO.

 

[Jennie]

I'm studying water regs at college (NVQ3). There's a list of notifiable jobs: 'a single shower unit connected directly or indirectly to a supply pipe which is of a type specified by the regulator' is one of them, and another (separate one) is a +12litre pump. I was rather surprised. But my tutor says my impending shower is notifiable, as it is seen by the authorities as a high backflow risk (because of the shower head dangling in contaminated water). It's all a bit annoying.

 

[Ermintrude]

Double check valves and restraining ring on hose installed so that the When hanging down hose is 150mm above spill over level on a tray?

 

[chris watkins]

http://www.wras.co.uk/Regulations_Default.asp
Have a look at the WRAS web site link above, section 3 advanced notifications "A shower unit of a type specified by the Regulator (but none is currently specified);*"
This means that there are currently no showers that have to be notified.
So long as the hose retaining ring is used or the shower is installed in such a way that the hose / hand set still has an air gap above the over spill level of the tray then no other form of back flow protection is required.
No double check required Ermi !!!!
Hope that helps, think your tutor may have missed that one (& water in a domestic shower tray is cat 3 as I am sure you are aware so not that bad, even if no air gap a EC or ED or even two EB's would do).

 

[Ermintrude]

Just recalling Bylaws chap stopping handover of office blocks because insufficient back flow on showers. Fitted rings aswell!!

 

[Jennie]

Oh wow. That's all so good to know. Thanks so much everyone.