Do I have to tell you about any plumbing work?
For businesses, landlords, tenants, and in some cases homeowners, the answer is yes. Under the regulations, owners and occupiers of premises, as well as anyone who installs plumbing systems or water fittings, have a legal duty to ensure that these systems comply with the regulations.
In most cases, advanced notice must be given to your water undertaker for proposed installations. The kind of plumbing works that must be notified are detailed in the table below. The notification form must be submitted and approved by Yorkshire Water prior to work starting.
In many cases, we can provide advice on your plumbing designs. It is more cost-effective to make changes at the design stage rather than correcting plumbing systems after they have been installed.
Regulation 5 table
- The erection of a building or other structure, not being a pond or swimming pool.
- The extension or alteration of a water system on any premises other than a house*
- A material change of use of any premises.
- The installation of:
(a) a bath having a capacity, as measured to the centre line of overflow, of more than 230 litres;**
(b) a bidet with an ascending spray or flexible hose;*
(c) a single shower unit (which may consist of one or more shower heads within a single unit), not being a drench shower installed for reasons of safety or health, connected directly or indirectly to a supply pipe which is of a type specified by the regulator;**
(d) a pump or booster drawing more than 12 litres per minute, connected directly or indirectly to a supply pipe;
(e) a unit which incorporates reverse osmosis; **
(f) a water treatment unit which produces a used water discharge or which requires the use of water for regeneration or cleaning;**
(g) a reduced pressure zone valve assembly or other mechanical device for protection against a fluid which is in fluid category 4 or 5;
(h) a garden watering system unless designed to be operated by hand; or **
(i) any water system laid outside a building and either less than 750mm or more than 1350mm below ground level. - The construction of a pond or swimming pool with a capacity greater than 10,000 litres which is designed to be replenished by automatic means and is to be filled with water supplied by a water undertaker.
* An Approved Contractor (Approved Plumber) will not have to notify in advance of the work, but certify upon completion. See our (link to approved Plumber section).
** Relates to where a plan is not required as part of Notification.
When you send your notification to us, please include:
- the name and address of the person giving notice and, if different, the name of the person to whom our comments should be sent
- a description of the proposed work or material change of use
- the location of the premises and their use or intended use
- a plan of that part of the premises which relates to the proposed work and a diagram showing the pipework and fittings to be installed, except for items marked "note 2" in the table above
- the plumbing contractor's name and address, if an approved plumber is to do the work.
How to submit a notification and what to expect
Download a blank notification. Once completed please send the notification form to reg5@yorkshirewater.co.uk.
When you send your notification to us, please include:
- the name and address of the person giving notice and, if different, the name of the person to whom our comments should be sent
- a description of the proposed work or material change of use
- the location of the premises and their use or intended use
- a plan of that part of the premises which relates to the proposed work and a diagram showing the pipework and fittings to be installed, except for items marked "note 2" in the table above
- the plumbing contractor's name and address, if an approved plumber is to do the work.
Your notification would be processed free of charge within ten working days. Consent will not be withheld unreasonably, and may be granted subject to conditions, which must be followed. If consent is not given within ten working days, it is deemed to have been granted. This does not alter the obligation upon the installer, owner or occupier to see that the Regulations are fully met.
You can download and print this PDF or fill it out using Adobe Acrobat Reader.