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Part G delay causes major disappointment
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The eleventh-hour news that the amendments to Approved Document G of the Building Regulations had been postponed, and would not now become law until 6th April 2010, came as a shock to members of The Bathroom Manufacturers Association. The new regulations were scheduled to become law on 6th October 2009 but have been delayed following objections from within Europe.
The BMA, based in Stoke-on-Trent, represents over 70 well known brands in the UK bathroom industry. Its technical committee, headed by Chris Taylor-Hamlin, technical executive at the BMA, had been working hard over recent months to ensure that its membership were fully cognisant of the requirements of the new regulations. And individual members had developed products which would assist developers and builders to fully conform with the amended regs.
The news that Part G had been postponed and would not now become law for another six months came as a shock and a major disappointment.
“Our members are concerned and disappointed that Part G has been delayed,” commented Yvonne Orgill, chief executive of the BMA. “The new law is intended to save water, save energy and, more importantly, save lives. It was so disappointing to learn that objections had been raised in Europe to some of the clauses. But ours has never been an industry to stand still and, in spite of the delays, members of the BMA will continue to develop, create and market innovative products which will help builders, developers and installers meet the requirements of Part G when they do finally become law.”

Water Efficient Bathroom Products
Water efficiency is a major requirement of Part G and the BMA’s Water Efficient Product Labelling Scheme (WEPLS) is developing quickly to show the very best products currently available. The scheme is recognised by the UK government as the most useful guide to water efficient products and an extremely useful tool for anyone involved in building design and installation.
From the 1st September 2009 major changes came to the scheme, making it easier to understand and including two new product categories, grey water recycling units and shower handsets. The new product label has a familiar and intuitive feel.
To coincide with the Annual Bathroom Conference the WEPLS website was re-launched during October. A new front page, new functionality, greater interactivity and online examples of water efficient bathrooms are now included in the site at www.water-efficiencylabel.org.uk/ . Both bathroom professionals and consumers are now catered for and the database of products has been updated to help visitors create their own bathroom shopping lists.
“We are extremely pleased with the reaction to the new site,” said Orgill. “But we won’t sit on our laurels; more developments are on the way. Water efficiency is the hot topic in the UK and members of the BMA are keen to show that, through their technical expertise and ground breaking innovations they can make a real difference to water efficiency in the bathroom.”
Further Information
For further information please email info@bathroom-association.org.uk or
telephone 01782 747123 and visit www.bathroom-association.org

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