TECHNICAL BULLETIN
ISSUE 37
APRIL 2021
INDIRECT COLD-WATER SYSTEMS HEALTH AND SAFETY IMPLICATIONS FIONA KELLY, ASSISTANT SURVEYOR, HANNENT CHARTERED SURVEYORS & SAVA STUDENT
The new RICS Home Survey Standard refers to risks to occupants, specifically in paragraph 4.5 as follows: “…matters that an RICS member or regulated firm is aware of that present a safety risk to occupants must be described in the report. Member should consider concisely listing the risks in a separate section with appropriate cross-referencing to where they appear in the report.” Appendix E of the report provides a list of typical safety hazards in a dwelling. While lead pipes and Legionnaires’ disease are specifically mentioned in Appendix E, there is no other mention of potential hazards associated with cold-water systems (though it is specifically stated in Appendix E that the published list is not intended to be exhaustive). This article looks at indirect cold-water systems and the potential for harm that they may cause. What is an indirect cold-water system?
section 67 of the Water Act 1991. Usually, water is supplied to the property directly from the water service pipe underground. The pipe will run from the road and enter under the house or through the garden or accessway, and it will enter the house via the household stopcock valve
Every property should have what is known as a ‘wholesome water supply’ - this is water fit for drinking, cooking food, or washing without any potential danger to human health by meeting the requirements of regulations made under
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