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A WRAS-approved fitting isn’t automatically legal to sell in the US. An NSF-certified one isn’t automatically legal to sell in the UK. Here’s why, and where the EU fits in.
Short answer: WRAS certifies fittings against UK water regulations (via BS 6920 testing). NSF/ANSI 61 certifies against US drinking-water rules. They’re separate schemes for separate jurisdictions — a product can hold both, but holding one doesn’t substitute for the other.
Key Takeaways
- WRAS approval = tested to BS 6920 Parts 1–3, valid for UK water-fittings regulations only.
- NSF/ANSI 61 = US leaching standard, required across virtually all US states.
- Products can hold both certifications — NSF even offers a WRAS submission service.
- Neither WRAS nor NSF is automatically valid EU-wide; the EU is building its own harmonized scheme under Directive 2020/2184, phasing in from late 2026.
What Does WRAS Approval Actually Cover?
WRAS (Water Regulations Advisory Scheme) approves materials and products against BS 6920:2000, which measures effect on water quality — taste, odor, microbial growth, and extraction of toxic or metallic substances.
- Part 3 testing required for hot-water use
- Approval demonstrates compliance with UK water regulations: Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 (England/Wales), 2014 byelaws (Scotland), 2009 regulations (Northern Ireland)
- UK-specific — WRAS is not an EU-wide certification, and post-Brexit it never was one
What Does NSF/ANSI 61 Cover?
- Performance-based leaching test: fittings are exposed to formulated water, then the water is tested for contaminants
- Required by virtually all US states’ plumbing codes for potable-water contact
- Separate from the 0.25% lead-content rule (Annex G) — see our guide to NSF/ANSI 61 vs NSF/ANSI 372
Can a Product Hold Both?
Yes, and it’s common. NSF International directly offers a WRAS approval submission service alongside its own NSF/ANSI 61 program — the two schemes aren’t in competition, they just answer to different regulators.
| Scheme | Governs | Test standard | Valid where |
|---|---|---|---|
| WRAS | UK water-fittings regs | BS 6920 | UK only |
| NSF/ANSI 61 | US plumbing codes | NSF/ANSI 61 protocol | US (state-by-state adoption) |
Fenilo’s brass thread fittings can be supplied to either standard — tell us your destination market before ordering so we submit the right certification package.
A short explainer on what WRAS approval means for UK water fittings and how it’s achieved.
Where Does the EU Fit In?
Neither WRAS nor NSF is an automatic EU-wide mark. The EU is building its own harmonized route under the revised Drinking Water Directive (EU) 2020/2184, Article 11.
- Based on the “4MS” positive-lists approach (originally developed by Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the UK)
- Positive-list lead cap: 0.1% by weight — stricter than the US 0.25% figure
- Mandatory for new products from 31 December 2026, per current EU Commission and NSF/CSTB sources, with a transition period for existing nationally-approved products running to January 2032
This is an active regulatory transition — deadlines have shifted before. Confirm current status against the European Commission’s drinking-water page before finalizing an EU order, rather than relying on a fixed date from any single source.
Exporting brass fittings to the UK, EU, or US?
Fenilo can supply certification documentation matched to your destination market — WRAS, NSF/ANSI 61, or both.
Confirm Your Market’s RequirementsFAQ
Is WRAS approval accepted in the US?
No. WRAS certifies compliance with UK water regulations only. US buyers need NSF/ANSI 61 (and NSF/ANSI 372 for lead content) regardless of WRAS status.
Will WRAS become valid across the whole EU?
No. The EU is developing a separate harmonized scheme under Directive 2020/2184, distinct from the UK’s WRAS system, which no longer has EU-wide standing post-Brexit.
Does a US NSF certificate help with a UK order?
Not directly — it demonstrates general water-safety diligence but doesn’t substitute for WRAS approval, which UK buyers and regulators specifically look for.
Selling into more than one region means budgeting for more than one certification. For the US-specific lead rule behind NSF/ANSI 372, see California AB 1953 and the 0.25% lead rule.