BS 8680:2020 Water quality. Water Safety Plans. Code of practice
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
The British Standards Institution (BSI) is the UK National Standards Body (NSB). British Standard BS 8680:2020, Water quality. Water safety plans. Code of practice, came into effect on 31 May 2020. It is available to purchase from the BSI shop.
[edit] WHO’s WSP guidance
In 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) published Water safety in buildings. This report offers guidance specific to water safety in buildings with the adoption of water safety planning (WSP), which it defined as ‘A comprehensive risk-assessment and risk management approach that encompasses all steps in water supply, from catchment to consumer.’
Recommendations in the WHO WSP report have been applied throughout the world and are supported by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) of England and Wales.
In its efforts to ensure the quality of water supplied up to the point of use, the WHO report recommends three components of a WSP, which were integrated into BS 8680:2020 Water quality. Water safety plans. Code of practice:
- Assessing the system to determine whether the provider as a whole can deliver water of a sufficient quality. What systems are present? Where are they? Who uses them?
- Monitoring control measures in the supply chain that are of particular importance in securing water safety. How should this be monitored? When should it be inspected?
- Adopting a management approach that describes the actions to be undertaken from normal conditions to extreme events and relays how they will be communicated to the various stakeholders. Who is responsible? What decisions are made?
[edit] BS 8680:2020 scope
In addition to the WHO WSP guidance, the BS 8680:2020 code of practice integrates some specifics encountered in UK legislation and regulations (and therefore goes beyond the simple legionella risk assessment encountered in most buildings and workplaces). It also cross references BS 8580-1:2019 Water quality. Risk assessments for Legionella control. Code of practice, which deals with the risk assessments for Legionella.
BS 8680:2020 looks at all water systems, assessing their risk, monitoring the identified mitigation measures for those risks and outlining the implementation of an adequate management scheme.
The standard is designed to be used by anyone involved in ensuring water is safe and fit for purpose at the point of use. This includes those responsible for:
- Design and specification.
- Construction and installation.
- Commissioning.
- Maintenance.
- Operation.
- Alteration and refurbishment.
- Deconstruction.
As indicated by the intended audience of the standard, its guidance covers the entire lifespan of a building - from conception and design to alteration or decommissioning.
[edit] Related articles
- British Standards Institution BSI.
- Back to the workplace: are you prepared?
- Drinking Water Inspectorate.
- Legionnaires' disease.
- Ofwat.
- Planning for water safety in buildings and workplaces.
- Water safety plan WSP.
[edit] External resources
Featured articles and news
Confirming previously announced funding, and welfare changes amid adjusted growth forecast.
Scottish Government responds to Grenfell report
As fund for unsafe cladding assessments is launched.
CLC and BSR process map for HRB approvals
One of the initial outputs of their weekly BSR meetings.
Architects Academy at an insulation manufacturing facility
Programme of technical engagement for aspiring designers.
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.
The restoration of the novelist’s birthplace in Eastwood.
Life Critical Fire Safety External Wall System LCFS EWS
Breaking down what is meant by this now often used term.
PAC report on the Remediation of Dangerous Cladding
Recommendations on workforce, transparency, support, insurance, funding, fraud and mismanagement.
New towns, expanded settlements and housing delivery
Modular inquiry asks if new towns and expanded settlements are an effective means of delivering housing.
Building Engineering Business Survey Q1 2025
Survey shows growth remains flat as skill shortages and volatile pricing persist.
Construction contract awards remain buoyant
Infrastructure up but residential struggles.
Warm Homes Plan and existing energy bill support policies
Breaking down what existing policies are and what they do.
A dynamic brand built for impact stitched into BSRIA’s building fabric.