The Challenge with WaterMark Certification
Safety showers and eye wash stations are critical in maintaining workplace safety, especially in environments where hazardous materials pose significant risks. However, despite their essential role, these devices cannot currently achieve WaterMark certification. Here's what you need to know about this issue and how safety showers and eye wash stations remain compliant with Australian standards.
WaterMark certification is a mandatory standard for plumbing products in Australia, ensuring they meet specific safety, performance, and quality benchmarks. However, there is no established pathway within the WaterMark scheme to certify safety showers and eye wash stations. A committee is actively working on addressing this gap, but as of now, these products remain outside the certification framework.
At this stage no timeframe can be given as to when this Standard will be published and adopted into the WaterMark Certification Scheme to enable this product type to be WaterMark certified.
Australian Building Codes Board
1. Fit for Purpose: Meeting AS 4775 Standards
Despite the lack of WaterMark certification, safety showers and eye wash stations are designed and manufactured to comply with Australian Standard AS 4775, which specifies stringent performance requirements. This ensures that these emergency devices are fit for purpose and effective during critical moments.
Key compliance measures include:
- AS 4775 certification, ensuring flow rates, activation times, and construction materials meet the necessary criteria for emergency equipment.
- AS 4020 compliance, verifying that materials used in the systems are safe for contact with water.
2. High-Quality Materials and Construction
Quality Safety showers and eye wash stations are constructed using high-grade stainless steel, which offers durability, corrosion resistance, and compatibility with the Australian Plumbing Code. These features ensure the longevity and reliability of the units, even in harsh industrial environments.
Additionally, these devices undergo rigorous water testing before leaving the manufacturing facility. This process guarantees optimal performance under real-world conditions, giving users confidence in their reliability during emergencies.
3. WaterMark-Approved Components
Although the units themselves cannot attain WaterMark certification, safety showers and eye wash stations are equipped with WaterMark-approved valves. Furthermore, the plumbing manifold for these systems is built using approved stainless steel pipe and tube, ensuring compliance with plumbing requirements and enhancing their reliability.
4. What This Means for Safety Showers
While WaterMark certification remains unavailable for these products, adherence to AS 4775 and AS 4020 ensures they are fit for purpose and capable of providing effective protection in emergency situations. Ongoing efforts by the relevant committee aim to address the certification gap, but in the meantime, users can rely on the robust construction, rigorous testing, and high compliance standards of these safety systems.
Safety showers and eye wash stations are a cornerstone of workplace safety. By ensuring compliance with Australian standards and using high-quality components, these devices provide essential protection, regardless of their WaterMark certification status.
Ckick here to download our Emergency Safety Shower and Eyewash product guide
