WIAPS approval allows plumbers to self-certify water fitting installations comply with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999. Required for installations involving connections to the mains water supply, backflow prevention devices, and other regulated fittings.
| Issued by | WIAPS / Water Regs UK |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | £200 a year |
| Renewal | Every year |
| Who needs it | Plumbers |
What you need to get it
3 requirements, and what counts as evidence for each.
Water Regulations Knowledge
Demonstrate knowledge of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999. Pass the Water Regulations assessment or hold a recognised qualification covering water regulations.
Evidence: WRAS/Water Regulations qualification or assessment pass certificate.
Plumbing Qualification
NVQ Level 2/3 in Plumbing or equivalent.
Evidence: Plumbing qualification certificate.
WIAPS Application
Apply via an approved WIAPS registration body.
Evidence: Completed application form.
What you have to keep doing
Getting it is the easy part. Keeping it means:
Annual Renewal
Annual renewal and fee payment.
Notify Notifiable Work
Notify local water authority of notifiable installations within specified timescales.
Is it worth it?
At £200, the question isn’t the fee — it’s whether it wins you work. For plumbers it usually does, because it’s the first thing a cautious customer or a commercial buyer checks. Most trades hold accreditations and then hide the logos in the footer. If you’ve paid for it, it belongs where customers actually look.
Apply via WIAPS / Water Regs UK
Tracking it
Accreditations lapse quietly. The renewal date lands in a busy month, nobody spots it, and you find out when a customer asks for the certificate. Gaffer keeps your accreditations, evidence and renewal dates in one place and reminds you before they expire.