Plan and schedule inspections of water fittings and premises

This Standard is about scheduling a programme of inspections for premises, and water fittings, to ensure they comply with the relevant legislation and byelaws. This can also be used for audit purposes on work carried out by contractors.

This includes prioritising inspections taking into account the different factors and likely time required for them, developing inspection schedules which make best use of available resources, and informing customers and those who will be carrying out inspections about inspection details.

This Standard is for water fittings compliance inspectors and others with responsibility for scheduling inspections.

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1. obtain relevant information and identify risk factors to be taken into account to help determine the priority order for inspections
2. Apply risk based strategies to break down large or complex premises into manageable inspections
3. estimate the time required for inspections taking into account the identified factors, organisational policies and requirements
4. determine appropriate timescales and priority order for inspections according to identified factors, available resources and geographical location
5. review and re-prioritise inspection priority order when required to take account of any new information received
6. take account of any approved contractor certificates of compliance received when scheduling inspections
7. liaise with appropriate people to obtain any required legal documents and additional support for the appropriate date
8. confirm priority order with relevant people
9. record identified risk factors, priority order and other relevant details according to organisational requirements
10. ensure scheduling takes account of pre-determined priority order for inspections
11. identify appropriate inspectors for the level of complexity of inspections to be carried out, recognizing any previous involvement
12. use reliable information to identify the resources required for inspections
13. confirm the details of inspections with customers, inspection teams and any other relevant organisations in accordance with organisational policies and procedures
14. inform customers of any potential suspension of water supply during scheduled visits in line with organisational policies and procedures
15. make sure scheduling provides an appropriate degree of flexibility to account for unexpected or unplanned inspections
16. reschedule or cancel appointments when required in line with organisational policies and procedures
17. ensure inspection schedules make optimum use of resources within resource and organisational constraints
18. confirm the effectiveness of inspection schedules with relevant people at appropriate stages
19. make sure inspection schedules contain relevant details and are provided to appropriate people

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1. current legislation relating to water fittings
2. how to access information sources including organisational records, billing details, installation design diagrams, notifications, previous inspection reports
3. what is required for different types of inspection including planned or forecasted inspections, new and existing properties, first and follow up inspections and audit of approved contractors’ work
4. the categories of risk for different property types and the risks of each to the network including how to interpret classification codes
5. how to interpret installation design diagrams, letters of consent under notification for new and existing properties and certificates of compliance issued by approved contractors
6. how to determine different fluid risk zones within a premises
7. how to adapt scope and detail of planned inspections according to changing circumstances or fresh information received prior to inspections
8. the purposes of inspections, different types of customers, premises and contractors and the implications of these for inspections
9. the use of suspension of water supply to prove plumbing systems and the implications of duration of suspension
10. the requirements of the relevant national water regulator for prioritisation and factors which affect prioritisation including water quality, customers with specific needs, purpose of water use, network sensitivity, consumption, organisational perception of risk, water supplied by other water suppliers, responses to live backflow incidents, follow up on enforcement action
11. when a warrant or additional support is required and how to obtain one
12. organisational policies and requirements for inspections, including organisational response times for inspections and service levels for requested inspections
13. why inspections might need to be reprioritised and rescheduled
14. who should be involved with scheduling and inspection processes and who needs the scheduling information
15. recording requirements and procedures and the importance of recording information and compiling an audit trail
16. the agreed priority order for inspections and follow up inspection timescales
17. resource availability including documentation, people, equipment, vehicles, time, the importance of maximising the use of resources and how to carry out scheduling to maximise them
18. how to identify inspectors’ levels of skill and experience and the benefits of continuity of inspector involvement for follow up work
19. the information required for inspection schedules including date, time, type, purpose, contact information and location
20. the importance of confirming the inspection schedule and organisational policies and procedures for confirming inspections and communicating with domestic and non-domestic customers and licensed providers
21. the implications of failed appointments and consequent compensation payments
22. negotiation skills and why it may be necessary to negotiate inspection dates
23. procedures for notified inspections
24. different approaches for planned and emergency works and the potential extent and effects of unexpected and unplanned inspections and the reasons for this

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2

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31 Mar 2027

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Current

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Original

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Energy & Utility Skills

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EUSWFRBE6

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Engineering and Construction Trades, Law and Legal Services, Water Inspector

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water; fittings; byelaws; regulations; legislation; compliance; contravention; contamination; inspection; plan; schedule; enforcement; risk;

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