Insurer Augmented Approved Document G (Water Supply): 2021 Edition

According to the ABI, in 2018 insurers dealt with 228,000 escape of water claims. Escape of water affects around 43% of domestic properties in the UK, with an average active leak flowrate of 20.63ml/mm or 30 litres per day.

Zurich have worked closely with the Risk Insight, Strategy and Control Authority (RISCAuthority) and are a key contributor to the document, which seeks to enhance site practices, and reinforces what should already be happening by collating pertinent Regulations and guidance in a single document that is freely available. 

Dr Jim Glockling of the RISCAuthority, explains:

“This first edition of the ‘Approved Document G incorporating insurers’ requirements’ seeks to enhance site practices and reinforces what should already be happening by collating pertinent Regulations and guidance in a single document that is freely available. This document also identifies roles and responsibilities to aid the various project stakeholders understand the delivery components of safe and reliable water delivery systems.”

Escape of water (EoW) events can displace people from their homes, incur great distress and significant property damage, disruption, financial cost and, in some instances even lead to businesses failing. Poorly designed and installed systems can also lead to serious personal injury and death through scalding.

EoW and its effects are seldom fully considered by system designers, architects, installers and project managers. Unlike electrical or gas installations, there is no statutory requirement for persons installing or working on the majority of plumbing systems to be qualified. This may be because ordinarily, an EoW incident does not pose an immediate risk to life. This could explain why the majority of EoW incidents are attributable to poor workmanship.

The Aim of Insurer Augmented Approved Document G (Water Supply): 2021 Edition 

In response to the number of claims emanating from poor workmanship, this first edition aims to provide loss prevention guidance for those who design, install and commission plumbing systems in domestic and commercial buildings.

The document is Augmented by the RISCAuthority in three ways: 

1. It sets out Insurers Essential Principles for Escape of Water Prevention and Limitation 
2. It fully Augments the existing AD ‘G’ text with the RISC Authority Essential Principles
3. It adds in 6 extra Appendices

The Essential Principles of Escape of Water Prevention and Limitations

The basic principles that all designers, installers, and commissioners should follow throughout a project are:

	Principle	Description
Quality	1	The systems shall be designed, installed and commissioned in accordance with the prevailing Regulations and Standards.
Quality	2	The designer, installer and commissioner shall be suitably qualified and experienced, belonging to a relevant professional body.
Quality	3	Only certified products shall be used to build the system.
Response	4	The design, installation and commissioning of the system shall be risk assessed.
Response	5	The system shall be designed to reduce the likelihood and consequence of an escape of water incident.
Response	6	The system shall be designed for ease of maintenance.
Response	7	During installation, the system shall be isolated when unoccupied.
Response	8	When in-service, it shall be possible to readily isolate the system, by means that are readily identifiable.
Response	9	The system pressure shall be limited to 3.0-bar.
Response	10	The system shall be pressure tested in accordance with the prevailing Regulations and Standards and a permanent record of those tests made.
Response	11	The system outlet temperatures shall be limited to 48ºC.
Response	12	All documents pertaining to the design, installation and commissioning of the system shall be made permanent and retained.

What’s the Benefit of adhering to Insurer Augmented Approved Document G (Water Supply): 2021 Edition?

As already discussed, EoW is the biggest cause of property loss, with poor workmanship being one of the primary reasons for its occurrence. The impact of EoW events on the insurer, insured and their building occupants is significant, and thus adherence to the document has many potential benefits:

• Leads to a fully considered system designer, project management process and installation 
• Results in a more sustainable building 
• Results in less frequent and severe EoW events 
• The damage sustained can be remediated more quickly, at less cost 
• Reduces business interruption and loss of rent claims
• Helps mitigate any reputational issues associated with the impact of EoW events 
• Less distress and disruption for property owners, management and occupants
• Reduction in serious personal injury and death through scalding.
• Better insurance terms due to improved claims history 
• Reduced water usage costs if the water supply is metered 
• Positive environmental benefits of reduced water consumption - in terms of reduced water loss and energy used 

Further guidance

• The Construction Insurance Risk Engineers Group (CIREG)
• GET It Right Initiative
• Escape of Water | News and insight | Zurich Insurance UK

Reference

Insurer Augmented Approved Document G (Water Supply): 2021 Edition - Insurer Requirements for Enhanced Escape of Water Protection and Safety in Building Plumbing and Water-Based Fire Suppression Systems, based on, The Building Regulations 2010 Sanitation, hot water safety, water efficiency

Nb. The technical expertise for this document has been provided by the Technical Division of the FPA, external consultants and experts from the insurance industry, who together form the various RISCAuthority Steering Groups. Although produced with insurer input, it does not (and is not intended to) represent a pan-insurer perspective. Individual insurance companies will have their own requirements, which may be different from, or not reflected in, the content of this document.

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