What is a WaterSafe approved plumbing business?

A WaterSafe approved plumbing businesses must already be an eligible member of one of the four existing Approved Contractor Schemes that make up WaterSafe. These are:

• The Water Industry Approved Plumbers’ Scheme (WIAPS)

• Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC)

• Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) Approved Contractor Persons

• Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF) Water Regulations Approved Contractors’ Scheme

WaterSafe requires each member to employ suitably qualified and competent individuals. Each WaterSafe approved business must also have £2 million of public liability insurance, and employers’ liability cover – where appropriate – of £5 million in place.

WaterSafe requires each approved plumbing business to be audited within the first 12 months of membership as a minimum. Existing members are also audited on a regular basis.

To be suitably qualified, plumbers employed by a WaterSafe approved plumbing business are required to have a minimum of an NVQ level 2 in a plumbing related discipline and have a Water Fittings Regulations qualification.