PLUMBING & HEATING
FAKE NEWS T
he convenience of online ordering has transformed the way that plumbers and installers source products, making it easier than ever before for trade professionals to find the parts they need for a job, if they aren’t buying it over the counter at their local merchant.
But that convenience is increasingly associated with a significant risk; namely, products that make misleading or entirely false claims about WRAS approval. That’s according to Matt Densham, divisional director at FRÄNKISCHE manufacturer of corrugated and multilayer composite pipe (MLCP) systems. He explains that, for merchants, installers and specifiers alike, WRAS approval is much more than merely a logo on a box. WRAS certification is an invaluable mark of quality that provides independent assurance that any plumbing product, fitting or material designed to connect to the public mains water supply in the UK is suitable for use and complies with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations. It is a critical safeguard that helps protect public health, maintain water quality and provide confidence that products will perform as intended.
Counterfeit compliance is a growing concern for plumbing industry, as BMJ discovers.
“Unfortunately, we’re seeing an increasing number of instances of products being sold via unregistered vendors that claim to be ‘WRAS compliant’ or displaying approval logos without any evidence that the complete product has actually been certified. In many cases, these claims are wholly misleading,” he says.
While a product may contain individual approved materials, it does not automatically mean that the finished assembly or system has achieved WRAS approval. Densham adds that genuine approval applies to the complete product and can always be verified through the official WRAS Approvals Directory. “For installers, using products that have questionable or unverifiable certification creates unnecessary risks. Beyond the potential for installation failures and costly remedial work, non-approved products can jeopardise compliance, delay projects and potentially lead to real reputational damage for an installer,” he says.
Densham says those sourcing materials should follow a simple check-list: • Be wary of vague wording: Claims such as “manufactured using WRAS-approved materials” or “designed to meet WRAS
standards” are not the same as full WRAS Approval. The complete product should have been independently tested and approved. • Buy from reputable merchants and authorised distributors: Established plumbing merchants and recognised distributors are far less likely to stock products with misleading certification claims than unknown online sellers or marketplace vendors. • Look for supporting approval information: Manufacturers should be able to provide an approval number and details of exactly which product or product range has been approved. If this information is missing or difficult to obtain, treat any WRAS claims with scepticism. He concludes: “The industry has worked hard to build trust in the products and systems used to deliver safe drinking water, and it’s vital that misleading certification claims don’t undermine that confidence. Installers should always verify WRAS approval before purchasing and work with manufacturers and merchants they know they can trust. “By choosing genuinely approved products and challenging suspicious claims, together we can both help raise standards across the industry and protect customers for the long term.” BMJ
INSTANTOR TAKES TO THE FLOOR WITH SEVEN-STRONG SYSTEM
Instantor’s underfloor heating UFH portfolio comprises seven specialist systems, including solutions for screed and solid floors, overlay and retrofit applications, and suspended floor constructions.
The Staple-PRO™ system is a quick and easy-to-install, cost effective, UFH solution. Designed to be embedded within the floor screed, it provides even heat distribution throughout the floor structure. The Rail-PRO™ system is also embedded within the floor screed and ideal for use in new builds and extensions. The rails benefit from an adhesive backing strip and are secured above the slip membrane by simply removing the protective backing strip and laying the rail in position. The Castellated Panel System is an UFH solution with integrated clips that securely connect adjoining panels to make UFH installation quick and straightforward. The Cement Faced XPS Panel System is designed for use in overlay applications. Where the subfloor meets SR2 standard, a tiled floor covering can be applied directly to the XPS panels1. Interlocking wood flooring
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can also be applied directly. Foil-Faced XPS Panel System is designed for overlay applications where minimising the overall floor build-up height is essential. It can be installed over both solid and timber substrates, provided the floor is solid and level. The foil face enhances lateral heat distribution across the panel, and through the finished floor covering.
The Pocket Routed XPS Panel System is for overlay applications. Routed pockets within the XPS panel allow the self-levelling compound to more fully encapsulate the pipe, increasing contact between the pipe and self- levelling.
The Foil Strip and Routed Chipboard System is a structurally tested, multidirectional 22 mm chipboard underfloor heating panel. The panels are pre-grooved with a multidirectional pattern to allow UFH circuits to navigate around the room with Instantor’s 12 mm PERT/EVOH pipe.
The portfolio offers a choice of two pipe types - PEX-AL-PEX and PERT-EVOH-PERT, both of which come with a 50-year guarantee. The UFH single room packs offer a fast and
reliable solution for one-room renovations, extensions, or retrofit projects. Each pack includes the essential components required to install a single-zone system, simplifying product selection and removing the need for a bespoke UFH layout drawing. This enables a quicker turnaround on-site, while simplifying the overall installation process. Available for solid and overlay floors, the range caters for room sizes from 15sq m to 50sq m BMJ
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www.instantor.co.uk/underfloor- heating
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net September 2026
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