Our most frequently asked questions
Conformity assessment in the drinking water materials sector can be complex. Different stakeholders need reliable information, clear responsibilities and secure ways to work together.
These frequently asked questions explain how Fit4DW supports that process: what the platform is, who it is for, how verified information can be used and reused, and how sensitive supplier know-how is protected.
Is Fit4DW only a database?
No. Fit4DW includes database functionality, but it is more than a static database.
Fit4DW is a secure digital infrastructure and shared reference point for verified drinking water materials information. It helps suppliers, manufacturers, laboratories and certification bodies organise, access and reuse relevant material, test, certificate and approval information in a controlled way.
The goal is to reduce fragmented exchanges, repeated requests and unnecessary administrative work across the conformity assessment process.
Who is Fit4DW for?
Fit4DW is designed for stakeholders across the drinking water materials chain, including:
- raw material suppliers;
- intermediate product
- manufacturers;
- final product
- manufacturers;
- applicators;
- laboratories;
- certification bodies;
- Notified Bodies.
For manufacturers, Fit4DW supports earlier access to verified information and better decision-making during product development. For suppliers, it helps reduce repeated disclosure requests while protecting sensitive know-how. For laboratories and certification bodies, it supports more structured information flows and more efficient review processes.
Will Notified Bodies and test laboratories work with Fit4DW?
Fit4DW is designed to support cooperation between manufacturers, suppliers, laboratories, certification bodies and Notified Bodies.
The current Fit4DW website states that discussions have taken place with members of the “Future notified bodies group” and that participants are supportive of the database. (fit4dw.com)
The value of Fit4DW increases as more stakeholders use the platform, because verified information becomes easier to find, access and reuse. This supports a more efficient conformity assessment process for the entire chain.
Who will accredit or designate Notified Bodies in different countries?
The accreditation, designation and oversight of Notified Bodies is handled by the relevant authorities and accreditation bodies in each country. This is not a role of Fit4DW.
The existing website notes that the situation may differ per country and is not yet fully clear in all cases. It mentions, for example, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management / RvA for the Netherlands and UBA / DAkkS as likely relevant parties in Germany, while also noting that this was not yet 100% clear.
Fit4DW does not accredit, designate or replace Notified Bodies. It supports the process by helping stakeholders work with better organised, verified and reusable information.
Does Fit4DW replace certification bodies, laboratories or Notified Bodies?
No. Fit4DW does not replace certification bodies, laboratories or Notified Bodies.
These organisations continue to perform their own independent roles in testing, assessment, certification and conformity assessment.
Fit4DW supports their work by creating a more structured information environment. Relevant material, test, certificate and approval information can be organised and accessed more efficiently, reducing unnecessary repetition and helping experts spend less time chasing information.
How does Fit4DW help manufacturers reduce development and certification risks?
Fit4DW helps manufacturers work with verified information earlier in the process.
Instead of discovering material or substance issues late in development, manufacturers can use Fit4DW to screen materials, request certificates and assess available information earlier. This supports better material selection, better supplier engagement and more predictable conformity assessment planning.
The practical benefit is clear: fewer late-stage surprises, fewer redesign loops, fewer repeated information requests and better control over development timelines.
How does Fit4DW help suppliers protect intellectual property?
Fit4DW helps suppliers support compliance requests without unnecessarily exposing sensitive formulations or confidential know-how.
In a traditional process, suppliers may receive repeated requests from different customers, laboratories or TIC providers, often with different questionnaires, formats and NDA requirements. This creates administrative workload and increases pressure to disclose sensitive information.
Fit4DW supports a more controlled approach. Relevant information can be made available in a structured way, while access to sensitive information is managed carefully. This supports proportional transparency: sharing what is needed for conformity assessment, without opening up more than necessary.
How does Fit4DW reduce repeated testing and duplicated reviews?
Fit4DW helps reduce unnecessary repetition by making verified information easier to structure, find and reuse.
The current website positions Fit4DW as a way to avoid multiple testing and reduce complexity and risks in drinking water materials certification. It also states that the platform contains certified information, material information and approval information that can be used in certification processes.
Where information has already been verified and is relevant to a new process, Fit4DW can help stakeholders avoid repeating the same information exchange, dossier review or testing discussion unnecessarily.
Is it true that under the EU-DWD materials need to be tested instead of the final product?
No. The EU Drinking Water Directive focuses on final products and components that come into contact with drinking water.
Fit4DW plays an important role earlier in the chain, at the level of raw materials, pre-products and intermediate products. By organising verified information earlier, Fit4DW helps reduce unnecessary double work, testing, delays and costs for stakeholders across the chain.
This distinction is important: Fit4DW does not change the legal scope of the EU-DWD, but it helps the sector organise the information needed to support conformity assessment more efficiently.
If our product is a final product for us but an intermediate product for our customer, will further testing be needed?
This depends on the product, the applicable procedures, the risk group and how the material or intermediate product has been tested and certified.
The existing website explains that EU-DWD guidance allows pre-products and intermediate products to be tested and certified. If the required procedures are followed, such as sampling and inspection by a Notified Body, further testing in the final product may be reduced or not needed in certain cases, with exceptions such as Risk Group 1 and reduced testing in Risk Group 2.
Fit4DW supports this process by making relevant certificates, test reports and material information easier to organise, access and reuse. It does not determine the final testing obligation by itself.
If a material is listed in Fit4DW, can I use it for any product, process or risk group?
No. A material listed in Fit4DW cannot automatically be used in any way, for any product or for any risk group.
The current website states that materials can only be fabricated using the same processes and production methods and used for the indicated risk group, or a lower risk group, for which the material has been tested.
Fit4DW helps provide transparency about available verified information, but manufacturers remain responsible for ensuring that materials are used correctly in the intended application.
How does Fit4DW relate to substances and the ECHA-positive list?
Fit4DW focuses mainly on verified information for raw materials, pre-products, intermediate products and related compliance documentation.
For individual substances, the current website states that Fit4DW is awaiting the ECHA database and is working on future connectivity with that database. The website also notes that substances on the ECHA-positive list have expiry dates and that applications may be needed to keep substances listed.
Do you want to know more?
Ready to reduce complexity? Discover how Fit4DW can help your organisation work with verified information in a more structured, secure and efficient way.
Fill in the form to request for an online- or live demo and/or an appointment with one of our experts. We will give an extended demonstration and discuss the background and processes with you.