WaterSafe - what’s in it for you?

If you are a Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) member sitting on the fence about joining the WaterSafe scheme, you might be wondering what joining yet another accreditation body will do for your business and professional standing. You might be wondering how much it will cost, or the hoops you have to jump through to join. But what if we said that registration was free, will increase the profile of your business and will enhance your knowledge and expertise?

In a nutshell, WaterSafe is a free online search facility funded by the water industry to help customers find competent and qualified plumbers in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Plumbers approved through WaterSafe have specific training in the Water Fittings Regulations and Byelaws to ensure they meet the strict legal requirements for installing water pipes and fittings. It brings together thousands of qualified contractors employed by plumbing businesses from the seven existing Approved Contractors’ Schemes across the UK, including:

• The Water Industry Approved Plumbers’ Scheme (WIAPS),
• Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE),
• Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC),
• Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF),
• Anglian Water’s APLUS,
• Severn Trent’s Watermark and
• Thames Water’s TAPS.

So for you, joining WaterSafe is giving your business a very public water industry endorsement.

Those CIPHE members who are also members of its Approved Contractor Person (ACP) Scheme automatically hit the criteria to Join WaterSafe. ACP scheme members just need to fill in a form and the CIPHE will process your WaterSafe application for free.

Not only that, but the CIPHE’s ACP scheme is currently free to join too. It is open to all Institute members on the Register of Plumbers and who are practicing as plumbers. Members simply have to pass a recognised assessment on knowledge of the Water Fittings Regulations (Scotland Byelaws) and hold public/products liability insurance with a minimum indemnity of £2 million. In addition, members have to undertake a minimum of five hours Water Regulations related Professional Development each year.

So what have you got to lose? Visit www.ciphe.org.uk for more information. You can get in touch direct on 01708 472791 or email membership@ciphe.org.uk.