WRAS Approval Process for Brass Plumbing Fittings

Key Takeaway

WRAS approval is the most widely requested evidence that a plumbing product complies with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 — compliance is mandatory, the approval itself is voluntary. It is granted to the finished product and held by the company that places it on the UK market: non-metallic materials are tested to BS 6920, the complete fitting is tested mechanically, and an approval is valid for five years. This guide explains what the scheme checks, who applies, and what a component manufacturer contributes.

The UK plumbing market is one of the largest single-country markets for brass fittings — and one of the most regulated. Every water fitting installed on a mains-connected property must comply with Regulation 4 of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 (or the equivalent Scottish byelaws and Northern Ireland regulations). WRAS approval is not the only way to demonstrate that — KIWA's KUKreg4 and NSF's REG4 schemes are recognised alternatives — but it is the one most UK specifiers, merchants and water companies ask for by name. This article explains how the approval works so an exporter knows what to expect.

What WRAS is — and what it isn't

WRAS approval is operated by the Water Regulations Approval Scheme and comes in two forms:

WRAS Material Approval — for non-metallic materials and components (elastomers, plastics, coatings, sealants). The material is tested to BS 6920 for its effect on water quality: odour and flavour, appearance, growth of micro-organisms and extraction of substances, including metals.
WRAS Product Approval — for the complete fitting. It confirms that the product satisfies the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999: its non-metallic parts comply with BS 6920 and the fitting passes the mechanical tests that apply to its type. The approval is published in the approvals directory with its own approval number.

BS 6920 does not apply to metals. For brass parts the scheme looks at the alloy and its suitability for the water — for example dezincification resistance, verified to EN ISO 6509-1, where the Regulations call for it. Product Approval is what installers and specifiers normally ask for; Material Approval mostly matters to the makers of seals, hoses and plastic components.

How an application runs

Step 1: Scope and enquiry

The applicant — the company that will place the product on the UK market — sends drawings, the full list of wetted materials, the intended use and the pressure and temperature range, and agrees the test programme with the scheme and a recognised test laboratory.

Step 2: Materials

Every non-metallic wetted material must either hold a current Material Approval or be tested to BS 6920. For the metallic parts the applicant documents the alloy — designation, standard and composition, backed by the mill certificate (for example CW724R or CW602N to EN 12164 / EN 12165).

Step 3: Mechanical testing of the fitting

The assembled product is tested against the requirements for its type under the Regulations — pressure tightness, strength, endurance of moving parts, backflow protection where relevant. These tests are carried out on the finished fitting, which is why the approval belongs to the fitting manufacturer and not to the maker of a turned component.

Step 4: Assessment and listing

When the test reports are complete, the application is assessed and, if it meets the requirements, the approval is granted and published in the approvals directory. It is valid for five years and then has to be renewed; changes to materials or design have to be notified and may need re-testing.

Time and cost

There is no fixed price. Cost and duration depend on how many non-metallic materials need BS 6920 testing, which mechanical tests apply and how many sizes or variants the application covers. Allow several months from the first enquiry to the listing, ask the test laboratory for a written quotation before you commit, and budget for renewal every five years.

Alloy choice for UK drinking-water parts

CW602N (CuZn36Pb2As) — the established DZR brass. The Regulations require concealed fittings to be made of gunmetal or a dezincification-resistant material, which is why CW602N is so common in UK plumbing. It is a leaded alloy (Pb 1.7–2.8%).
CW724R (CuZn21Si3P) — lead-free silicon brass (Pb ≤ 0.10%) and dezincification-resistant. The usual choice when the specification asks for a lead-free alloy, or when the same part also has to meet the US 0.25% lead rule.
C6802 (bismuth brass) — a lead-free free-cutting alloy (Pb ≤ 0.10%) used mainly for North American programmes.
CW617N (CuZn40Pb2) — standard leaded forging and machining brass; not dezincification-resistant, so it is used where the water is not aggressive and the fitting is accessible.

Lead limits for drinking water are tightening. In the EU the European positive list of metallic materials applies from 31 December 2026: it contains lead-free CW724R but no leaded brass — neither CW602N nor CW617N — and compositions approved nationally may be used until 31 December 2032. The parametric value for lead falls from 10 to 5 µg/L on 12 January 2036. That is why many new product platforms move to lead-free alloys regardless of today's minimum requirement.

Common reasons submissions are delayed

A non-metallic material without current BS 6920 evidence — typically an O-ring, a seat, a thread sealant or a lubricant
Residues from machining or assembly on the test samples — agree the cleaning and packing of samples before they are made
Incomplete material documentation — every wetted part should be traceable to a material certificate
Design or material changes after testing has started

How Brassland supports WRAS submissions

Brassland machines the brass components of your fitting to your drawing in the alloy you specify — CW602N or CW724R from EN 12164 rod, C6802 to JIS H3250, or another grade — and supplies an EN 10204 3.1 material certificate with every shipment. We do not hold or issue WRAS approvals — the approval belongs to your finished product — but we provide the material documentation your submission needs (alloy datasheet, 3.1 certificate, RoHS/REACH declarations) and can degrease and pack test samples to an agreed procedure.

Sources & references

WRAS — approvals directory
Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999
UK Drinking Water Inspectorate — water quality limits referenced by WRAS
BSI — BS 6920 standard
CW724R datasheet
Brassland Compliance Centre

Frequently asked questions

What is WRAS approval?

WRAS (Water Regulations Approval Scheme) certifies that a plumbing fitting meets UK Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations for contact with potable water, covering both the material's effect on water quality and the product's mechanical compliance.

How does a brass fitting get WRAS approval?

The non-metallic materials are tested to BS 6920 for their effect on water quality and the complete fitting is tested mechanically against the Regulations; the approval is granted for that specific product, so materials and design must not change afterwards without notifying the scheme.

Is WRAS approval mandatory in the UK?

Compliance with the Water Fittings Regulations is mandatory; WRAS approval is a widely accepted way to demonstrate it, though equivalent independent certification can also show compliance.