How to label a WELS product
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, 2010
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What products need to be WELS registered and labelled?
It is a requirement of the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 that the following products, when registered, are supplied with their WELS label or water efficiency information:
- clothes washing machines
- dishwashers
- lavatory equipment
- urinal equipment
- showers
- tap equipment and
- flow controllers (WELSregistration is optional).
Who is responsible for labelling a WELS product?
A sample label is included in each application for a WELS registration. Once registered, the product must be supplied with its WELS label or water efficiency information.
Anyone who supplies registered WELS products within Australia must ensure they are appropriately labelled.
The label designs, colours and size specifications for each product are detailed in the WELS Standard (AS/NZS 6400:2005 Water efficient products–Rating and labelling) that can be purchased from the SAI Global Infostore at http://infostore.saiglobal.com/Store2/default.aspx.
What information is required on a WELS label and where should it be placed?
| What information is required on the WELS label? | Where should the WELS label be placed when the product is on display? | Where should the WELS label be placed when the product is supplied in its packaging? | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clothes washing machine | Stand alone label: Load capacity (kg) of the appliance The Normal Program name used for determining the water consumption Litres used per wash Model name/number WELS star rating Combined WELS and energy label: Litres used per wash WELS star rating | Adhered to the upper front portion of the appliance and any display fronts or Adhered to both sides of a double-sided swing tag or Adhered to a single-sided non-rotating swing tag that is attached to the appliance |
On the packaging if displayed for sale in its packaging |
| Dishwasher | Stand alone label: Number of place settings The Normal Program name used for determining the water consumption Litres used per wash Model name/number WELS star rating Combined WELS and energy label: Litres used per wash WELS star rating | Adhered to the upper front portion of the appliance and any display fronts or Adhered to both sides of a double-sided swing tag or Adhered to a single-sided non-rotating swing tag that is attached to the appliance |
On the packaging if displayed for sale in its packaging |
| Lavatory equipment | Licence number of the organisation that has registered the product Water consumption number in litres used per full, half and average flushes WELS star rating | Adhered to the product or Adhered to both sides of a double-sided swing tag that is attached to the product or Fixed adjacent to the product or A tag (e.g. price tag) may be used that describes the water efficiency performance with the word 'WELS' followed by the approved water efficiency star rating and the water consumption figure (e.g. WELS 3 star 6L/full, 3L/half, 3.6L average flush) that is fixed adjacent to the product |
A dhered to the upper front portion of the WC cistern (if supplied separately or with a pan as a suite) and any display fronts For a pan supplied separately the label shall be adhered to a prominent place on the pan and any display fronts For flushing mechanisms supplied separately, the label shall be on the upper front portion of the packaging or adhered to a prominent place on the flushing mechanism and on any display fronts |
| Urinal equipment | Licence number of the organisation that has registered the product Water consumption number in litres per flush per stall WELS star rating | Adhered to the product or Adhered to both sides of a double-sided swing tag that is attached to the product or Fixed adjacent to the product or A tag (e.g. price tag) may be used that describes the water efficiency performance with the word 'WELS' followed by the approved water efficiency star rating and the water consumption figure (e.g. WELS 3 star 2 L/flush/stall) that is fixed adjacent to the product a tag (e.g. price tag) that describes the water efficiency performance fixed adjacent to the product |
On the upper front portion of the packaging or adhered to a prominent place on either the urinal or flushing mechanism , and any display fronts |
| Showers, tap equipment and flow controllers (if registered) | Licence number of the organisation that has registered the product Flow rate in litres per minute WELS star rating | Adhered to the product or A dhered to both sides of a double-sided swing tag that is attached to the product or Fixed adjacent to the product or A tag (e.g. price tag) may be used that describes the water efficiency performance with the word 'WELS' followed by the approved water efficiency star rating and the water consumption figure (e. g. WELS 3 star 9L/min) that is fixed adjacent to the product |
On the packaging so it is clearly visible on the front portion of the package when it is hung from a rack or when placed on a shelf |
Is the WELS product model number or code required as well as the label?
The product model number or code is to be displayed next to the licence number on the WELS label, or on the product or on its packaging.
Can I supply a product with a WELS zero-star rated label?
Yes. It is legal to supply a WELS product that has been registered and zero-star rated. A zero label means that the product has either failed a performance requirement, or exceeds the maximum flow rate for that product.
It is not possible for lavatory equipment, clothes washers or dishwashers to be zero rated.
For more information
- Visit the WELS website at www.waterrating.gov.au
- email general enquiries to WELS@environment.gov.au
- email compliance enquiries to WELSCompliance@environment.gov.au
- telephone 1800 218 478
The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian Government or the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.
While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are factually correct, the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication.
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