You know its one thing to install something quite another to do it according to manufacturers instructions, British Standards and Building Regs.
Don't forget many things will work, maybe not properly, without following any of these standards. So why follow the Standards and requirements.
Well its if it goes pear shaped. Please don't forget, just because its Plumbing doesn't mean it is not covered in the Trades description's, you have got to install things fit for purpose. And they have to be safe.
If you haven't followed the Building Regs you have broken the law and can go to jail or be heavily fined.
Then the next area is the tricky one.
Not following Manufacturers instructions means they will disown their product and accept no liability for it. The thing is, you installed it, so the responsibility passes to you instead. You can claim you installed it correctly, but how do you prove you did?
Rolling out the British Standards and showing you did it to them, whilst they don't over rule the manufacturers instructions, they do prove you installed it to a recognised standard and you will probably get away with it.
But if you can't show you installed it to either the manufacturers instructions or British Standards but to your own idea's, then you can be asked to prove that your ideas are acceptable standards.
That basically means getting another authoritative recognised body such as a university department or the I.P. to back you up.
The problem is they are the guys who probably helped write the manufacturers instructions and the British Standards so you virtually know what standards they will say are correct before you ask. And you would need a shed load of cash to hire those guys to make statements in court.
So you are left with a problem, do your own thing and risk it, or follow accepted standards and get a "No blame" card for free. Your choice!
