Approved Contractors
When you are looking for a plumbing business, we recommend you select one which is an eligible member of an Approved Contractors’ Scheme, such as the WaterSafe or the Plumbing Industry Licensing Scheme as administered by the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF)
Find your nearest plumber:
WATERSAFE
WaterSafe is a dedicated online search facility bringing together thousands of qualified contractors employed by plumbing businesses from the seven existing Approved Contractors’ Schemes across the UK.
WaterSafe aims to raise plumbing standards by helping customers find the nearest qualified plumbing and heating professionals.
To search for a plumbing business near you follow the link:
www.watersafe.org.uk
Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers Federation (SNIPEF)
SNIPEF is one of the seven existing Approved Contractors’ Schemes in the UK. Not all plumbing businesses registered with SNIPEF have signed up to WaterSafe, so SNIPEF may have additional qualified plumbers near you.This website also includes a list of groundworkers who are qualified to undertake work on outside water services only and other specialist workers who work within designated sectors.
To search for a plumbing business near you follow the link:
www.needaplumber.org
Using an approved contractor will give you the following benefits:
- Approved contractors are fully qualified to carry out plumbing work in homes and business premises. They have specific training in Water Fittings Regulations which enables them to ensure there should be no risk from poor installation or sub-standard materials that could cause contamination of your drinking water supply.
- They will issue a ‘work completed’ certificate for their work, which provides a defense for property owners who are challenged by Northern Ireland Water when enforcing the Water Fittings Regulations.
- For most types of plumbing work, plumbers have a legal duty to notify Northern Ireland Water before they start work and this can lead to delays. Approved contractors can carry out some work without the need to provide advanced notification to the Northern Ireland Water.
- Approved businesses hold public and employers’ liability insurance.
- There is an independent complaints procedure in place to resolve any technical disputes about how the work has been carried out, should a concern arise.
- Approved businesses will be required to put their work right if it does not meet the requirements of the Water Fittings Regulations enforced by Northern Ireland Water.
- Approved businesses are audited to check they are complying with the rules of their Approved Contractors’ Scheme.
Please note the individuals listed on WaterSafe and SNIPEF Licensed Plumber web sites are not employed by Northern Ireland Water. The register has been provided to help customers find an approved plumbing business.