Albion Valves (UK) Ltd, an increasingly popular UK valves supplier is prioritising approvals and accreditations across their product portfolio in order to help take the headache of compliance away from their distributors, offering them peace of mind and assurance that the products they specify are fit for purpose and fall within new legislation.
Targeting the potable water industry in the UK, Albion has secured approval from the UK’s Water Regulations Approval Scheme (WRAS), on their range of solenoid valves, now compliant for potable water applications across the HVAC industry as well as industrial and process sectors.
200 text cycles guarantees high performance!
Components used on any system that either carries or receives water from the UK mains supply, must comply with WRAS and meet stringent safety standards. The WRAS testing cycle for solenoid valves includes 200,000 tests on both hot and cold water applications, and WRAS approval is an established sign of quality. UK water authorities are legally bound to accept only WRAS approved products on their applications.
A solenoid is electromechanically operated valve controlled by a magnetic current. The simple and unique design of the solenoid offers fast and safe switching and high reliability, making them one of the most commonplace ranges of valves in the UK water and building services industries.
Solenoids are a product line that distributors require again and again, the introduction of WRAS approved solenoids now offers even greater choice. Albion also stocks WRAS approved Ball and Butterfly valves, commonly used for behind the scenes building installations such as controlling the filling of water tanks and main circuit isolation.
In the building services industry, WRAS approved solenoid valves are specified for use in situations where water comes into contact with people such as bathrooms, toilets, vending machines, coffee machines and water coolers. In these applications they are most frequently used to control water flow and direction, shut off, release, dose and distribute hot and cold water.
They are also a vital tool to help prevent water wastage and are commonly fitted adjacent to PIR sensor taps designed for automatic shut off after use. These are used extensively to facilitate hot and cold water services in public places including; restaurants, offices, commercial kitchens, motorway service stations and leisure centres.
WRAS approved valves are an increasingly popular choice, even for non-WRAS applications with many specifiers opting for WRAS approved products for their guaranteed reliability, quality and high performance.
No sparks, no matter what!
Additionally, with a focus on the new European ATEX legislation, Albion has secured ATEX approval across their range of stainless steel valves making safety a priority.
ATEX is a directive from the European Union, which requires member states including the UK to comply with a specific set of health and safety regulations, designed to minimize the risk of fire or explosion arising from dangerous substances in the workplace. The new directive will become mandatory in April 2016.
The ATEX directive applies to electrical and mechanical equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres including; mines, factories, sewage plants, biomass, oil and gas, corrosive metals, dusts and chemicals.
Securing ATEX approval means that the function of Albion’s stainless steel valve range is certified for use in potentially explosive environments, and guaranteed not to spark if they come into contact with a combustible foreign body.
The ATEX directive also requires the traceability of products including valves and fittings to be ensured throughout the whole supply chain ensuring that manufacturers, authorized representatives, importers and distributors all guarantee that the product they place on the market complies with this directive.
Legislation enables the free trading of ATEX products within the European, Economic Area (EEA) by removing the need for separate documentation and testing for each individual European market. Manufacturers may use a single CE mark on their products to show compliance.
Customer confidence guaranteed!
Les Littlewood, Albion Valves (UK) Ltd, Sales Director commented:
“Ensuring that products and systems meet the requirements of the Water Regulations Approval Schemes and the ATEX Directive can be a complex and time consuming process. We have taken this headache away from our distributors by doing the research, securing approvals and certifying our products – our customers can be assured that what they buy is not only fit for purpose and compliant to legislation, but also a superior quality engineered solution in which they can have 100% confidence.”
These 2 new products are the latest additions to Albion’s fast growing product portfolio and, as with all Albion products, they come with the same high levels of service and product knowledge that Albion is renowned for.
