Notice of upcoming changes to WELS scheme requirements
From 1 November 2011, a new WELS standard will take effect. It includes all current amendments (1-5) made to AS/NZS 6400:2005 Water efficient products - Rating and labelling.
Key changes in the new standard include:
- minimum water efficiency standards for washing machines
- a new standard for cold only connect (no heater) washing machines
- a new labelling requirement for water use of the dryer function of combination washer dryers
- WaterMark certification required for all plumbing products
- design changes to the zero star rated label
- design changes to the normal pressure label for taps, showers and flow controllers
- the option to register and label taps and showers tested at low pressure.
All WELS products - extension of expiring registrations
The WELS Act allows for a twelve month phase-in period (or grandfathering period) when the standard is changed. This means washing machines have twelve months to adjust to the minimum water efficiency standard. It also means that registrations of all products due to expire within that twelve month period (i.e. 1 November to 30 October 2012) will automatically be extended to 31 October 2012. Registrants will be notified by auto-email when a registration is extended. This grandfathering provision does not apply to any new registrations made after 1 November 2011 or to registrations that expire outside the twelve month period specified above.
Registrations that were submitted and paid before 27 October 2011 will be processed under the previous WELS standard. Applications that are still incomplete or inaccurate by 27 January 2012 - the end of the three month statutory time period for processing applications under the WELS Act - may be refused registration.
If an application is refused registration, the primary and secondary contacts for the application will be notified by auto email. You may re-apply for registration under the new standard for the product/s listed in the refused application if you provide the required documentary evidence.
New Zero star rated label
The words 'not water efficient' now feature on the zero star water efficiency label. This label applies to all WELS products, except washing machines and toilets as there will be no zero star ratings under their minimum water efficiency standards.
Plumbing products that are currently registered with a zero star rating will require WaterMark certification to be re-registered.
Clothes washing machines (including combination washer/dryers)
There are three major changes to WELS registration for washing machines under the new standard.
1. Minimum Water Efficiency Standards
All clothes washing machines registered from 1 November 2011 must meet the new minimum water efficiency standards (WES). This means machines with a capacity of 5kg or more must have a water efficiency star rating of at least 3 stars; and machines with a capacity of less than 5kg must have a water efficiency star rating of at least 2.5 stars.
There will be a 12 month grandfathering period from 1 November 2011 to 31 October 2012 where currently registered clothes washing machines that do not meet the WES requirements can be sold. From 1 November 2012, those products will cease to be registered and cannot be sold legally. All existing registrations due to expire, between 1 November 2011 and 30 October 2012, will be extended to 31 October 2012. This includes expiring registrations of machines that do not meet the minimum WES.
2. Cold only connect machines – no heater
Cold only connect clothes washing machines, with no heater, must be registered and labelled after 1 November 2012 as a WELS product.
3. Combination washer/dryers - dryer function
Combination washer/dryers registered from 1 November 2011 must be labelled to show the water use of the dryer function. This is not compulsory for machines registered before November 2011 for the duration of the current registration. However those registrants are encouraged to update their existing registrations to include this new washer/dryer label.
All plumbing products - WaterMark Certification
WELS requires evidence of WaterMark certification to register showers, lavatory and urinal equipment, tap equipment and flow controllers. WaterMark certification is required by state and territory law at the point of installation for most plumbing products intended for use in the reticulated water supply system.
For WELS scheme purposes, WaterMark certification is not compulsory for products registered before 1 November 2011, but will be required when these products need to be re-registered.
Please note that evidence of current WaterMark certification for flow controllers is also required. This can be provided either by a WaterMark certificate that shows the flow controller was tested in the product or by a separate WaterMark certificate for the flow controller.
New high pressure label for showers, flow controllers and tap equipment
High pressure water rating labels now need to explicitly state the product was tested at pressures 150, 250 and 350 kPa. This change will apply to all showers, taps and flow controllers registered from 1 November 2011. You may use your current stocks of labels but are encouraged to use the new labels for all products including those registered under the old standard as soon as possible.
New low pressure label for showers and tap equipment
Shower and tap equipment intended for low or unequal pressure applications can be tested, registered and labelled at low pressure. If desired, products will be able to be registered and labelled with two labels, i.e. one for a product's performance at high pressure and a separate label for low pressure performance.
| Product | Requirements |
|---|---|
| All WELS products |
|
| Taps and showers |
|
| Flow controllers |
|
| Lavatories and urinals |
|
| Clothes washing machines |
|
| Dishwashers |
|
WELS scheme registration team contact details
Website: Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Scheme
Email: wels@environment.gov.au
Phone: 1800 218 478
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