Method Statement for Plumbing Works — UK
Free UK plumbing method statement template, aligned with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, BS 6700 / BS EN 806, WRAS approval requirements and CIPHE / APHC standards.
UK (RAMS) example document — Two-Storey Rear Extension — 14 Birchwood Lane, Reading. Client: Mr & Mrs A. Whitfield (Private Client). Site: 14 Birchwood Lane, Reading, RG1 5JT. Scope: Construction of a two-storey rear extension (6.4m × 4.2m) to an existing semi-detached dwelling. Works comprise breaking out of existing rear elevation, trench-fill foundations to 1.0m, traditional cavity blockwork to first floor, pre-stressed concrete lintels, timber roof structure with natural slate finish, plus alterations to existing rear wall to form structural opening with rolled steel joist (RSJ 203×102 UB23). Works programmed over 9 weeks with a peak site team of 6 operatives. Hazards assessed: Manual handling — blocks, lintels, plasterboard, Working at height — independent scaffold & roof structure, Buried services strike during excavation, Collapse of excavation / trench wall, Hand-arm vibration (HAVS) — breaking out, drilling, Silica dust — cutting blocks, brick, concrete, Vehicle/pedestrian segregation — narrow domestic street.
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- Site-specific draft
- Plumbing hazards baked in
- Ready for competent-person review
Built around recognised UK method statement structure — hazards, controls, sequence, PPE and sign-off. Ready for competent-person review.
Plumbing combines three quietly serious risks: water damage (a single missed isolation can flood a finished floor in minutes), asbestos exposure (old boiler flues, pipe lagging and gaskets are a major source of incidental asbestos disturbance), and hot works (soft-soldering with a propane torch in occupied buildings). Add the public-health duty under the Water Regulations 1999 and a plumbing MS that just says 'install pipework' is not defensible. This page sets out what a CIPHE-aligned plumbing MS should contain, gives a real bathroom-installation example, and links to a free template.
When is it required?
A written MS is required for any plumbing installation in a commercial building, in occupied premises, or where work could affect the public water supply (Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 reg. 5 — prior notification to the water undertaker for certain works). For domestic work, the CIPHE / APHC code of practice and any membership scheme (TrustMark, WaterSafe) requires risk assessment and a written method for non-trivial work. For any soldering or hot works, a separate hot-works permit is required, and the MS must name the fire watch arrangement.
What a good one looks like
A strong plumbing MS names the isolation points (e.g. 'incoming stopcock under kitchen sink, internal isolation at boiler service valve, drain-down via outside drain cock'), the test pressure (typically 1.5 × working pressure for hot/cold systems), the materials and their WRAS approval reference, the hot-works permit and fire watch, and the asbestos check for any pre-2000 lagging or flues. It includes the pre-work bonding check (Part 7 BS 7671 / Water Regs cross-bonding) and the post-work flushing and chlorination regime where required by the water undertaker.
Plumbing hazards & controls
The site-specific hazards a plumbing MS must address, with the controls that take residual risk to an acceptable level.
| Hazard | Persons at risk | Controls | Residual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water damage from missed isolation / failed test | Building occupants (financial) | Two-point isolation verified; drain-down before joint disturbance; pressure-test new pipework before lagging; drip trays under all open joints in occupied buildings | Low |
| Asbestos in pre-2000 lagging, flues, gaskets | Plumber, occupants | Pre-work check for asbestos lagging; R&D survey for non-domestic; UKATA awareness for all operatives; stop work + specialist removal if found | Low |
| Hot works fire (soldering, brazing, torching) | Plumber, occupants | Hot works permit; combustibles removed within 1m; flame-resistant mat between torch and any combustible surface; CO₂ extinguisher within 5m; fire watch 60 min after stop | Medium |
| Burns from torch / hot pipe / steam | Plumber | Heat-resistant gloves for hot pipe handling; cool-down time before disturbance; eye protection during soldering; LPG cylinders stored upright outside building | Low |
| Cross-contamination of drinking water | Public | WRAS-approved fittings only; backflow protection per Water Regs Schedule 2; pre-charged systems flushed and chlorinated where required; no temporary connections to drinking water | Low |
| Legionella in stored water | Public, occupants | HSG274 alignment; cold storage <20°C, hot >60°C; flushing of dead legs; commissioning per BS 8580 risk assessment; written scheme of control where notified | Low |
| Working at height (loft tanks, eaves boilers) | Plumber | Tower scaffold or step podium for >2m work; secured ladder for access only; no work from a ladder if both hands needed | Low |
| Manual handling - boilers, tanks, radiators (15-60 kg) | Plumber, mate | Two-person handling of any item >25 kg; mechanical aid for boiler installs; radiator trolleys for delivery; carry routes pre-cleared | Medium |
Step-by-step sequence
- 1
1. Pre-start checks & asbestos screen
Visual asbestos check on all lagging, flues and gaskets in pre-2000 buildings; stop and call specialist if suspect; existing system pressure noted.
- 2
2. Isolation & drain-down
Isolate at the named stopcock; verify isolation (open a tap downstream); drain down via lowest drain cock; capture in container; confirm no residual pressure.
- 3
3. Strip out & disposal
Old pipework cut out with pipe cutters or cold chisel; soldered joints heated to release; no torch use on lead-lined or asbestos-jacketed components; old materials segregated for recycling.
- 4
4. Install new pipework
Materials per spec, WRAS approved. Soldered joints with hot-works permit and fire watch; press-fit or push-fit where possible to reduce hot works; cross-bonding maintained per BS 7671.
- 5
5. Pressure test
New pipework pressure-tested at 1.5× working pressure for 30 min (or per spec); test recorded on commissioning sheet; lagging only after successful test.
- 6
6. Flush, chlorinate & commission
System flushed per BS 8558 / BS EN 806-4; chlorinated where required; flushing certificate retained; hot-water cylinder commissioned per manufacturer.
- 7
7. Hot works close-out
Hot works permit closed; fire watch 60 min after last flame; site walk to verify no smouldering; permit retained in works pack.
- 8
8. Handover
Building Regs notification (Part G / Part L) where notifiable; commissioning certificate; warranty paperwork; user briefing on isolation and frost protection.
Real example — Bathroom installation, occupied 1970s flat (Sheffield)
A CIPHE-registered plumber in Sheffield is installing a new bathroom suite (basin, WC, bath with shower over) in an occupied 1970s flat. The MS names the operative (CIPHE Member, NVQ Level 3, Gas Safe registered for the adjacent boiler service), and his apprentice. Pre-start: visual asbestos check confirms the existing pipe lagging is mineral fibre (post-1980 install, not asbestos), but the boiler flue is older — a refurbishment survey is commissioned for the airing cupboard before the boiler is touched (survey clears it, ACMs absent). Isolation: incoming stopcock under the kitchen sink, verified by opening the cold tap downstream; drain-down via the outside drain cock; bath drain-down via the bath waste with a temporary plug fitted to the wash-hand basin. Strip-out: old copper pipework cut with pipe cutters (no torch on the old solder joints — the suspected lead-pigmented paint in the airing cupboard is left undisturbed). New installation: WRAS-approved Hep₂O plastic pipework and push-fit fittings throughout — eliminating hot works for the rough-in, with copper-and-solder only at the boiler connection (hot-works permit, fire-resistant mat, CO₂ extinguisher within 2 m, 60-minute fire watch after the last joint). Pressure-tested at 1.5 × working pressure (15 bar) for 30 min, recorded on the commissioning sheet, lagging applied only after pass. Cross-bonding to the copper hot/cold tails maintained per BS 7671. System flushed, building-regs notification filed under Part G self-certification (CIPHE Competent Person Scheme). MS is 9 pages, with the asbestos-survey reference, the pressure-test record and the hot-works permit appended.
Or build a site-specific plumbing MS in 5 minutes
The free template is a blank Word document. The Riskora builder ships with the plumbing hazard library baked in — pick the preset, edit the site-specific bits, download a signed PDF.
Common mistakes that get a plumbing MS rejected
- ·No visual asbestos check before disturbing pre-2000 boiler flues or lagging
- ·Hot works performed without a permit or fire watch (the most common cause of insurance claims on plumbing work)
- ·Cross-bonding broken when copper sections replaced with plastic, never re-instated
- ·No pressure test before lagging — leak found weeks later after damage
- ·Non-WRAS-approved fittings used on a drinking-water installation
- ·Legionella risk on commissioning ignored — system filled and left for days before use
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a method statement for domestic plumbing?
Strictly: required under MHSWR 1999 if you employ 5+ people, but in practice required by every accreditation scheme (CIPHE, WaterSafe, TrustMark) and most insurers. A short structured MS is better than none.
What is WRAS approval and is it mandatory?
WRAS (Water Regulations Approval Scheme) certifies that a fitting complies with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999. Any fitting in contact with the public drinking-water supply should be WRAS-approved — the alternative is a Regulation 4 compliance statement from another scheme, which is harder to defend.
When do I need to notify the water undertaker?
Under Water Regs 1999 reg. 5: for new dwellings, swimming pools >10,000 litres, certain industrial fluid-category 4/5 installations, and any cross-connection between drinking water and another supply. The water undertaker has 10 working days to object.
What's the asbestos risk in plumbing?
Pre-2000 buildings can contain asbestos in pipe lagging, boiler flue gaskets, AIB behind cisterns, and asbestos rope sealing flue joints. The MS should require a visual check and an R&D survey for any non-domestic pre-2000 building before disturbance.
Do I need a hot-works permit for soldering?
Yes, on any commercial site or in any insured occupied building. The permit names the location, the start/stop times, the fire watch and the extinguisher. Insurance claims for plumber-caused fires turn on the existence of a permit and a documented fire watch.
What's the Legionella duty on a new system?
Under HSG274, the responsible person must commission the system safely (flushing, no dead legs, hot stored >60°C, cold <20°C) and produce a written scheme of control where the assessment identifies risk. For domestic single-occupancy this is usually minimal; for commercial it is significant.
Related method statements & RAMS
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