New features for the most popular mains pressure tap in New Zealand have been introduced to meet expected changes to the revised New Zealand Building Act.

Robertson Agencies, importers of the Laska taps, have overseen the changes with their Ideal Standard manufacturer to meet what the company anticipates will be higher standards for tapware written into the new act.

Branded as Ideal Standard, the Laska tapware has been popular with plumbers for years. Laska is the only tap offering a manufacturer's lifetime drip-free warranty, which is one of the reasons why builders and plumbers use it so commonly.

The Laska range covers the basin, bidet, shower, diverter mixer (a bath-shower mixer), kitchen mixer and a second kitchen mixer with pull-out spray.

Robertson Agencies Marketing Manager, Michael Lamb, says the range and the features and benefits of the Laska tapware contribute to it probably being the most popular tapware for high rise developments as well.

Features recognised by plumbers and builders include a flat mounting plate with accessible fixing points, male connections, a screw on face plate providing an improved water seal and easily visible hot and cold indicators for both adults and children.

Laska also offers a safety precaution known as the hot limited safety stop, a limitation on going 'full hot' on the shower mixer.

Michael says the pre-set feature can be changed by plumbers during installation. For the shower mixer, there is a long lever version suited to use in hospitals, and by the aged.

A 47mm click cartridge for water conservation giving a two stage water flow and an "AAA" water rating which will become part of the tapware code as AS/NZS 6400. The 47mm cartridge – the only tap on the market with such a large cartridge – allows for better water flow and contributes to quietness.

"The Laska tapware is an example of a product being sold on its features and benefits rather than just on price. It is a trade tap where plumbers converted over years to Laska tapware insist on its use with their builder clients.

"The plumber is already sold on the features and benefits and tells his builder that Laska is his choice."

With the free trade agreement with China prevailing, Robertson Agencies is a strong supporter of consistent, high standards to regulate and control the quality of imported products.

"We have to move from a cost driven philosophy to a solution driven one. Laska is way undervalued for its features and benefits," Michael says. "For example, the manufacturer's lifetime warranty on the cartridge stands even in high-end commercial uses."