WATER SERVICES

WELS and water efficiency for new installs

Tapware and fixtures going into a new install have to be WELS-registered and carry their WELS label. It is a quick thing to get right and an easy thing to get caught out on, because the label is the proof.

The WELS requirement in plain terms

WELS is the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards scheme. Tapware and water-using fixtures supplied for a new install have to be registered under it and carry their WELS label, which shows the star rating and the product's flow or flush performance. The label is not decoration, it is the evidence the product meets the scheme, so fittings without one are a problem.

The flow-rate principle

The point of the scheme is to cap how much water a fixture uses while still working properly. Each fixture type has flow-rate or flush limits it must meet to be registered, and choosing registered product is how you stay within them. The actual figures live with the current standard and the WELS register, so check those rather than working from a number you half-remember.

Common failures

• Unregistered or unlabelled tapware fitted on a new install.
• The WELS label lost or removed before anyone recorded it.
• Compliant product chosen but never noted, so there is nothing to point to later.

Recording it on the compliance record

Recording the WELS detail is the easy part that often gets skipped. Note that the fixtures are WELS-registered and labelled, and photograph the label or the product detail so the rating is tied to the install. If the choice of fittings is ever queried, that is what answers it. Elemetric keeps that with the job.

Common questions

Do new taps and fixtures have to be WELS-registered?

Yes. Tapware and water-using fixtures supplied for a new install must be WELS-registered and carry their WELS label, which shows the star rating and the flow or flush performance. The label is how the rating is proven.

What do I record about WELS on the job?

Note that the fixtures fitted are WELS-registered and labelled, and keep a photo of the label or the product detail. That ties the rating to the specific install on your compliance record.

General information for licensed tradespeople, not legal or regulatory advice. The licensed plumber remains solely responsible for compliance. Refer to the current AS/NZS 3500 standards and the Building and Plumbing Commission (formerly the VBA) for authoritative requirements.