ÜA-mark: Drinking water is our gold

Clean, hygienically safe drinking water is one of the most valuable resources of our time and must be particularly well protected. Laws, ordinances and regulations define the detailed framework conditions for protecting the blue gold from harmful influences. From 15 March 2021, only appropriately registered products may be installed in Austria.

It is crucial for installers to be aware of the statutory obligation of the ÜA mark, as this small symbol is associated with great responsibility and it is an essential requirement for the installation of drinking water products.

Food Codex ÜA-mark Quality labels

Food Codex

Alimentarius Austriacus

In 2010, the right to access to clean water was recognised as a human right. This shows the immense importance of drinking water. In Austria, the water balance is clearly positive. On average, every resident in Austria consumes around 130 litres of drinking water per day in the household. Of this, 50 % is drinking water from groundwater and 50 % is spring water.

Unfortunately, however, it cannot be taken for granted that clean drinking water is always available. It is therefore important to protect this very valuable resource. Many national standards and specifications are aimed at this: according to the Austrian Food Code (Codex Alimentarius Austriacus), drinking water is water that is suitable in its natural state or after treatment „to be consumed by humans without endangering their health and that is flawless in terms of odour, taste and appearance“.

ÜA-mark

Drinking water is a precious commodity that must be protected. As part of the EU Drinking Water Directive, each nation state must ensure that the contents of the directive are transposed into national law. The Austrian legislator has therefore stipulated in the “Ordinance of the Austrian Institute of Construction Engineering on the List of Construction Materials ÖA” of 15 March 2019 that pipes, fittings and building fittings in the drinking water supply within a building, between the transfer point and the tapping point, must comply with the ÖNORMEN series B 5014 1-3 after a two-year transition period.

HERZ registration for composite pipes
HERZ registration for moulded parts made of organic materials
HERZ registration for brass fittings
HERZ registration for fittings made of metallic materials

Drinking water suitability in accordance with ÖNORM B 5014 1-3 „Sensory and chemical requirements and testing of materials in the drinking water sector“ means that all materials used are hygienically flawless. This means that these materials do not have any negative impact on drinking water and therefore do not pose any health risks.

A registration certificate is issued by a registration body to prove that a product complies with the provisions of the Building Materials List ÖA and thus to prove its suitability for drinking water. The drinking water product may then bear the ÜA mark and is also continuously monitored. The obligation to provide proof applies without exception to all installation products in Austria, regardless of their country of manufacture.

ATTENTION: Although both the purchase and sale of drinking water products without an ÜA label are permitted, the installation of such products is not permitted under Austrian regulations. The installer is liable for this. It is therefore recommended that you look for the ÜA mark when purchasing drinking water products in order to save yourself trouble and costs.

Quality labels

ÖVGW and DVGW

If drinking water products bear the state-prescribed ÜA mark, further certifications can be applied for in order to confirm the highest quality.

Both the Austrian Association for the Gas and Water Industry (ÖVGW) and the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water (DVGW) certify with their quality marks, in addition to the legal requirements, a demonstrably high quality of documentation, service or logistics through to the existence of valid product liability insurance.

The products and all other requirements are subject to continuous monitoring by the ÖVGW and DVGW.

HERZ Shut-off valve 4115
HERZ Shut-off valve 4125
HERZ Ball valve 2110

On the safe side with HERZ

HERZ Armaturen has the necessary registration certificates from the WIEN-ZERT registration centre for all HERZ drinking water products concerned. In addition, selected HERZ products are labelled with quality marks.

All HERZ drinking water products such as ball valves, shut-off valves, circuit regulating valves, circulation temperature limiters, pressure reducers, drinking water mixing valves, backflow preventers, drinking water distributors, the Pipefix aluminium composite pipe, drinking water distribution system with press fittings, drinking water filters with or without pressure reducers and safety fittings, can be used in the drinking water supply in any construction and renovation project in compliance with the law. All requirements for the protection of human health and the quality of drinking water are more than fulfilled. With HERZ you are on the safe side.

HERZ Pipefix aluminium composite pipe drinking water distribution systems with press fittings bear both the ÖVGW and DVGW quality marks. The shut-off valve families in angle seat design, 4115 and 4125, and the shut-off valve families in straight seat design, 4215, are ÖVGW-registered. The ball valves with non-return valve, 2110, are DVGW-certified. All system separators and system separator combinations are also DVGW-certified.