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WEPLS upgrade supports Part G
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News that the amendments to Approved Document G of the Building Regulations had been postponed came as disappointment to members of The Bathroom Manufacturers Association who had been working hard, in recent months, to support the new requirements with updates to their portfolios.
The new regulations were scheduled to become law in October 2009 but have been delayed following objections from Europe. Since the regulations won’t now go live until 6 April 2010 there is a breathing space for manufacturers, sellers and installers to get the fine detail of the revised regulations under their belts.
The sixth month delay will also help the BMA to fully embed the upgrades to its Water Efficient Product Labelling Scheme which were announced in October.
WEPLS was launched two years ago and soon became established as the preferred method by which both consumers and professionals could search for sustainable and eco-sensitive bathroom products. Many Government departments now look to WEPLS as the best available guide to water saving bathroom products.
But the BMA is never the trade association to rest on its laurels and in the last two months major enhancements have been announced to the scheme.
Both grey water recycling units and shower handsets have now been added to the WEPLS product categories. Greywater recycling systems can be installed in new or existing buildings and have the potential to meet a significant proportion of domestic demand for water. Recycling will help the house builder to achieve Part G’s required levels of water consumption. Likewise shower handsets have seen some recent remarkable technological developments and are now available to deliver both an excellent showering experience and dramatic water savings.
Together with the new WEPLS categories new user-friendly product labels are being introduced. The enhanced design, similar to the energy labels used on white goods, is easy to understand and gives users a real and clear description of the product’s Water Efficiency Rating. Clear text and bold graphics make product choice simple.
Bathroom manufacturers, whether they are members of the BMA or not, who have succeeded in having their products listed will be encouraged to apply the label to show the water saving credentials.
Excellent new point of sale material has been created for use by retail showrooms and builders merchants and the WEPLS website has been re-launched. Its new front page, new functionality, greater interactivity and online examples of water efficient bathrooms are now included. The site at www.water-efficiencylabel.org.uk/ .is now much easier to use by both professionals and consumers with an updated database of products designed to help visitors create their own bathroom shopping lists.
“The delay to Part G was a disappointment” commented Yvonne Orgill, “but our members are using the additional time to further enhance their portfolios of innovative and eco-friendly products – all of which will help the developer meet the requirements of the regulations when they finally become law.”
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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