Water installations in a kitchen

A kitchen is one of the most common places for slow, expensive leaks — under the sink, behind the dishwasher, at the fridge water line. Säker Vatten treats it as the wet area it really is.

Supply and shut-off

Only installations that serve the kitchen belong there. Water pipes run joint-free from the distribution cabinet or shaft all the way to the mixer or appliance. Dishwashers need shut-off valves with handles that are visible and easy to reach on top of the units; ice makers, coffee machines and similar appliances need accessible shut-off valves too. Connecting pipes and drain hoses are joint-free, tested and approved, and sealed with a flat gasket.

Watertight surfaces and leak detection

In or under the sink unit, and under dishwashers, fridges, freezers and other water-connected appliances, there must be a watertight surface arranged so leaking water is easy to detect, sealed around any floor penetration and folded up against adjacent units. Sinks and inserts need overfill protection or other protection against accidental discharge. The tap must not have such a reach that water can run outside the sink, and supply pipes are clamped close to the tap (copper connections clamped above and below; soft PEX clamped below).

The 2026 upgrade

The 2026:1 edition strengthens kitchen protection significantly: a possible leak must reach a watertight floor, a watertight insert in the sink cabinet, or a collecting tray — and that insert or tray must carry a moisture sensor linked to a leak shut-off valve or alarm that cuts the supply or warns of a leak. Active and passive protection together.

Official source: this is M5's plain-language summary, not the official text. For the full rules see Säker Vatten (sakervatten.se).