Joint Code of Practice for escape of water published

The new guide for preventing and managing escape of water (EoW) on construction sites is now freely available.

Produced by RISCAuthority and the Construction Insurance Risk Engineers Group (CIREG), published by the FPA, and endorsed by the London Engineering Group (LEG) and the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), this first edition of the Joint Code of Practice (JCoP) for Escape of Water Prevention and Management on Construction Sites is focused on permanent and temporary water systems within buildings.

As explained by RISCAuthority Consultant, Adrian Butler, “Insurers’ experience shows that the occurrence of water damage is one of the most prevalent causes of claims on construction sites.

“The objective of this new Joint Code of Practice is to help reduce losses associated with escape of water  events and subsequent project delays during both the pre-construction and construction phases. It outlines ways in which the industry can tackle the root causes of the EoW problem, and ways to mitigate the effects, should an incident occur.”

The guidance covers various hot and cold plumbing systems, mains water, waste/effluent, sprinkler systems, mechanical systems, and associated water storage tanks, and provides good industry practice for a broad range of construction, renovation, and refurbishment projects. The application is targeted at all parties in the supply chain, including those who specify and design, as well as all contractors during the construction phase, taking a collaborative risk-based approach.

Commenting on the release of the JCoP, Kevin Wellman, Chief Executive Officer of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) said, “Minimising the escape of water throughout the construction sector is essential and especially on new build properties. Millions of litres of water are wasted each day, with significant financial losses incurred due to damage to building fabric and other property, as a result of water leakage which is preventable in most cases.

“The CIPHE is delighted to have assisted with the Joint Code of Practice which contains invaluable information to reduce and manage escape of water and ensure that those working on plumbing installations are competent to do so.”

Olly Wright from the Construction Insurance Risk Engineers Group (CIREG), who worked on the project alongside RISCAuthority, CIPHE, and the London Engineering Group (LEG), explained the place of this new guidance and how it can be of use to the construction sector, saying:

“Escape of water remains the number one cause of insurable loss during construction projects. This new Joint Code of Practice expands on, and is intended to replace, the CIREG 5th Edition with a renewed focus on mitigating damage and subsequent project delays through designing out risk, incorporating technology to automatically isolate pipework outside project working hours, identifying anomalous flow rates, and informing an emergency response in the event of an escape of water.”

The JCoP for Escape of Water Prevention and Management on Construction Sites document can be accessed here.