{"id":2560,"date":"2026-10-12T14:15:02","date_gmt":"2026-10-12T14:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/finland-drafts-new-rules-for-multilayer-water-pipes-and-fittings\/"},"modified":"2026-10-12T14:15:03","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T14:15:03","slug":"finland-drafts-new-rules-for-multilayer-water-pipes-and-fittings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/finland-drafts-new-rules-for-multilayer-water-pipes-and-fittings\/","title":{"rendered":"Finland Drafts New Rules for Multilayer Water Pipes and Fittings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Finland has established mandatory technical and type approval requirements for multilayer pipes and couplings<\/strong> used in building water supply systems to ensure safety and performance.<\/p>\n

Finland’s Ministry of the Environment has notified the European Commission of two draft decrees that reset the rules for multilayer water pipes and their fittings sold for buildings, with the European Union’s standstill period running until early December 20261<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

In short, Finland is keeping its strict national rules on strength, heat, corrosion and marking for these pipes. It is removing only its own drinking-water hygiene rules, because an EU procedure under the Drinking Water Directive will now cover that question1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

What are the two Finnish pipe decrees?<\/h2>\n

The first draft is the Decree on essential technical requirements<\/strong> for multilayer pipes and their fittings used in the water supply systems of buildings1<\/a><\/sup>. It was registered with the Commission as notification 2026\/0462\/FI on Sept. 2, 20261<\/a><\/sup>. Essential technical requirements are the minimum performance rules that a building product must meet in Finland.<\/p>\n

The second draft amends the decree on the type approval<\/strong> of the same pipes and fittings2<\/a><\/sup>. Type approval is a national approval: a body checks a product by testing, and the approval then shows that the product meets Finland’s requirements2<\/a><\/sup>. This draft was registered as notification 2026\/0475\/FI and listed on Sept. 14, 20263<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Both drafts cover pipes and fittings that carry drinking water and hot household water inside buildings and on properties1<\/a><\/sup>. Both come from the Ministry of the Environment, with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment acting as Finland’s contact office for the notification1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Why is Finland changing its multilayer pipe rules?<\/h2>\n

The reason is the EU Drinking Water Directive, Directive (EU) 2020\/2184<\/strong>1<\/a><\/sup>. Its hygiene requirements have already been put into Finnish law through rules of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

That left two ministries regulating the same question. The notification says the overlapping provisions in the environment ministry’s rules "must be repealed"1<\/a><\/sup>. It adds that there must be no overlapping national rules on hygiene requirements1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

The environment ministry says the change will have no impact1<\/a><\/sup>. From now on, a maker will show that a pipe is safe for drinking water through a procedure that follows the Drinking Water Directive1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

What is being removed from the existing decrees?<\/h2>\n

In the essential requirements decree, the provisions on suitability for carrying drinking water in the existing Decree 500\/2019<\/strong> are repealed1<\/a><\/sup>. In all other respects, the decree does not change1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

In the type approval decree, Section 4 and Annex 1<\/strong> of Decree 4\/19 are repealed2<\/a><\/sup>. The type approval notice says these are the provisions on suitability for conveying drinking water, and that nothing else changes in substance3<\/a><\/sup>. Section 3 and several test tables in Annexes 2 and 3 are rewritten to fit the new structure2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

The rewritten Section 3 states what type approval proves. It shows that multilayer pipes and their fittings meet the essential technical requirements in section 33 of the Building Act (751\/2023)<\/strong> and the rules issued under it2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Which pipes and fittings are covered?<\/h2>\n

The essential requirements draft covers multilayer pipes from DN 16 to DN 110<\/strong> and their fittings4<\/a><\/sup>. DN is the nominal size of a pipe.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Minimum fitting opening, % of pipe opening<\/h4>\n
\n 30%<\/span>\n <\/span><\/span>\n Sizes up to 20<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n 60%<\/span>\n <\/span><\/span>\n Sizes 50 and above<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/figure>\n

The draft defines the goods in plain terms:<\/p>\n