What we are,
and what we aren't.
Valve Warehouse Australia is a supply authority. We sell to licensed plumbers, hydraulics engineers, facilities teams, and trade accounts across Australia. Our credibility is built on three things: inventory depth, technical accuracy, and same-day dispatch. The identity exists to reinforce those three things — never to decorate around them.
The brand promise, reduced
Every major manufacturer, every thread standard, every pressure rating. The catalogue is the product.
Same-day dispatch from Victoria to every postcode. Speed is the service layer on top of inventory.
Built for people who know what a PRV is. We don't explain the basics — we stock the right one.
Who we write for
Our primary reader is a working tradesperson, typically between jobs on a ute or in a workshop. They are time-poor, technically fluent, and tired of being sold to. Respect their expertise — don't perform.
One mark,
three contexts.
The wordmark consists of "VALVE WAREHOUSE" set in Barlow Condensed, paired with the Australia-as-water graphic and the water tank monogram. The lockup never separates. The country shape and tank are part of the trade-heritage signal — they must never be cropped, recoloured, or rearranged.
Do & do not
Use the primary navy + brass version on porcelain or white backgrounds whenever possible.
Reverse to white + brass on the navy or midnight backgrounds for headers, hero sections, or vehicle wraps.
Maintain a clear-space margin equal to the cap-height of the "V" on every side.
Scale proportionally — minimum lockup width is 120px on screen, 30mm in print.
Recolour the brass elements to any other tone. Brass is brass — never gold, mustard, or beige.
Crop, distort, or rotate the country shape or water tank — they are part of the lockup.
Use the primary navy + brass version on patterned, photographic, or low-contrast backgrounds.
Re-set the wordmark in another typeface, even Barlow. The mark is custom — type it, don't re-type it.
Six theme roles,
strict semantics.
Colour is a system, not a palette. Every value maps to a Bootstrap theme variable and a real meaning on the site — primary actions, secondary accents, stock states. Tap any hex value to copy.
Nine stops,
four hues.
For every brand colour we maintain a 100→900 scale. The 500 stop is the canonical brand value. Lighter stops drive subtle backgrounds and borders; darker stops drive emphasis text and active states.
★ marks the canonical brand value used in --bs-primary, --bs-secondary, --bs-info respectively.
Three families,
one system.
Barlow Condensed for display and headings — echoes the logo's industrial weight. Barlow for body — warm, legible, highly readable in long form. JetBrains Mono for technical specifications — SKU codes, part numbers, measurements, pressure ratings. All three are available free through Google Fonts.
Every pressure.
For hero headlines, category signage, packaging lock-ups, and any moment that needs to feel like a printed catalogue cover. Always uppercase, letter-spacing 0.005em, line-height 0.95.
For section headings, product titles, card headers. Sentence case, negative tracking. Use weights 500, 600, 700 for hierarchy within the family.
Stocked deep across seventeen categories. Ball, gate, check, pressure-reducing, thermostatic, solenoid. Every fitting, every thread standard, every pressure rating from domestic mains to heavy industrial.
For all running body text — product descriptions, emails, technical specifications, blog posts. Line-height 1.65 for long-form legibility.
Reserved for SKU codes, order numbers, measurements, part specifications, and any machine-readable string. Never use for body copy.
How we write.
Australian trade English is plain, direct, and slightly understated. We write for people who already know the trade — we don't explain, oversell, or perform enthusiasm. The inventory does the persuasion.
"Dispatched from Victoria at 2pm" beats "fast shipping". Concrete detail is the proof.
Never use exclamation marks. Never write in all caps outside of headlines or logos.
Assume the reader knows the trade. Don't explain what a PRV is. Stock the right one.
- Stocked deep.
- Dispatched same-day from Victoria.
- Every major manufacturer.
- Trade accounts welcome.
- The valve you need, in stock.
- Ask us about spec match.
- Your plumbing partner!
- Australia's best prices.
- Quality you can trust.
- Call us today for a quote!
- No valve too big or too small.
- We're the experts.
Examples from real
customer moments.
The voice lives or dies in these touchpoints — stock alerts, shipping updates, backorder notices, welcome emails. When in doubt, cut adjectives. When still in doubt, cut the whole sentence.
In stock — 1,240 units. Dispatched same-day if ordered before 2pm AEST.
Specific number, concrete cutoff, no hype.
Great news! Plenty in stock and ready to ship fast!
No numbers, two exclamation marks, treats the tradesperson like a retail shopper.
Backorder — next shipment arriving 8 May. We'll dispatch your order the same day it lands.
Real date, clear action, no apology theatre.
So sorry! This item is temporarily unavailable but we're working hard to get it back in stock soon.
Padded with emotion, vague on timing, apologetic without useful information.
Your trade account is active. Trade pricing applies to every SKU in the catalogue.
Confirms the fact, names the benefit, ends.
Welcome aboard! We're so excited to have you as part of the VWA family!
Family language, exclamation mark, no actual information about what changed.
Every valve. Every pressure. Every trade. Australia's deepest valve inventory, dispatched same-day from Victoria.
Rhythm, scope, proof. Tells you what they do and where.
Welcome to VWA — your one-stop shop for all your plumbing needs!
Generic, meaningless, indistinguishable from every other trade site.
Live in the wild.
Reference examples of the brand applied to the highest-traffic UI components on the site: buttons, stock-status badges, inline alerts, and forms. Every example below is a real Bootstrap component — you can right-click and inspect to copy markup directly.
Primary · Brass · Outline
Four states, semantic colour
Inline status messaging
Your order of 24 brass ball valves will ship from Victoria by 2pm AEST.
Order soon to secure current batch. Next reorder: Friday.
Tracking number has been sent to your registered email.
Manufacturer restock confirmed. We'll dispatch the same day stock lands.
Trade input pattern
For the build team.
The complete SCSS token file is the single source of truth. The snippet below is the override layer used at runtime via Bootstrap CSS custom properties. For production, compile _vwa-tokens.scss with Bootstrap source instead of using the CDN.
:root {
/* Theme colors — AAA-tuned for buttons where white text sits on */
--bs-primary: #0A1F2E; /* Deep Meridian · 16.82:1 with white */
--bs-secondary: #C9A961; /* Brass · 7.47:1 with navy */
--bs-success: #1F5A3F; /* Verdigris-dark · 8.10:1 with white (button) */
--bs-info: #446083; /* Slate · Shipping */
--bs-warning: #B88A2E; /* Aged brass · Low stock */
--bs-danger: #9A2E25; /* Signal-dark · 7.52:1 with white (button) */
--bs-light: #FAFAF7; /* Porcelain */
--bs-dark: #06151F; /* Midnight */
/* Body & text — all pairs AAA on white AND porcelain */
--bs-body-color: #0A1F2E;
--bs-secondary-color: #3A4752; /* 9.12:1 on porcelain, AAA */
--bs-tertiary-color: #445360; /* 7.57:1 on porcelain, AAA */
--bs-border-color: #E5E5E0;
/* Typography */
--bs-body-font-family: 'Barlow', -apple-system, sans-serif;
--bs-font-monospace: 'JetBrains Mono', ui-monospace, monospace;
--bs-body-font-size: 0.9375rem;
--bs-body-line-height: 1.65;
/* Brand-specific (not in Bootstrap) */
--vwa-brass-800: #665226; /* Link hover, 7.50:1 AAA */
--vwa-input-border: #6B7A85; /* 4.42:1, exceeds §1.4.11 */
}
| Body navy on white | 16.82 : 1 | AAA |
| Body secondary on porcelain | 9.12 : 1 | AAA |
| Tertiary text on porcelain | 7.57 : 1 | AAA |
| Brass ⇄ Navy (button) | 7.47 : 1 | AAA |
| Link hover (brass-800) | 7.50 : 1 | AAA |
| Danger button (signal-dark) | 7.52 : 1 | AAA |
| Input border (UI §1.4.11) | 4.42 : 1 | AAA-UI |
| Alert borders (all 6) | 3.25–4.82 : 1 | AAA-UI |
| Focus ring vs white | 16.82 : 1 | AAA-UI |
- Compile
_vwa-tokens.scssv2.1.1-AAA + Bootstrap source - Self-host the three Google Fonts (no CDN dependency in prod)
- Serve both voices: default (trade) and Easy Read (
?voice=plain) - Publish
/glossary/and/accessibility/pages - QA on iPhone SE (375px) and 12-inch laptop (1280px)
- Run Lighthouse, axe DevTools, and WAVE sweeps
- Manual keyboard-only and screen-reader pass (NVDA + VoiceOver)
The Bootstrap colour utilities,
applied to the VWA system.
Every theme token above is exposed through Bootstrap 5.3's standard utility classes. Use these in markup whenever possible — they keep the system tokens as the single source of truth, and they automatically inherit any palette change made in _vwa-tokens.scss.
For the canonical reference see Bootstrap utilities · Colors and Helpers · Color & background. The tables below show only the live render of each utility against the v2.1.1-AAA tokens — every pairing has been audited for AAA contrast.
.text-*| Class | Live render | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| .text-primary | Sample text | Brand emphasis links and highlighted content |
| .text-primary-emphasis | Sample text | Strongest brand emphasis on light bg |
| .text-secondary | Sample text | Brass accents — use sparingly |
| .text-success | Sample text | Confirmation, positive state |
| .text-success-emphasis | Sample text | Strongest confirmation, e.g. on subtle bg |
| .text-danger | Sample text | Errors, alerts, destructive |
| .text-danger-emphasis | Sample text | Strongest error tone, on subtle bg |
| .text-warning | Sample text | Caution — never on white text |
| .text-warning-emphasis | Sample text | Caution on subtle warning bg |
| .text-info | Sample text | Neutral status, dispatch info |
| .text-info-emphasis | Sample text | Strongest neutral on subtle bg |
| .text-body | Sample text | Default body — same as no class |
| .text-body-emphasis | Sample text | Highest contrast body — headings, leads |
| .text-body-secondary | Sample text | Supporting copy, captions |
| .text-body-tertiary | Sample text | Hints, placeholders, light meta |
| .text-black | Sample text | True black — rarely used |
| .text-white | Sample text | Reverse-on-dark — always pair with dark bg |
| .text-black-50 | Sample text | ⚠ Fails AAA on white (3.40:1) — avoid for text |
| .text-white-50 | Sample text | ⚠ Use only for decorative, non-essential text |
.bg-*Solid backgrounds. When using as a fill behind text, prefer the .text-bg-* helpers below — they automatically pair the right foreground colour.
.text-bg-*The recommended pattern for badges and pill-shaped status markers — for most theme colours. .text-bg-* sets background and a contrasting foreground in one class. Two helpers in this set fail AAA at the system's 7:1 floor and should not be used — see the note below.
.text-bg-warning pairs aged brass #b88a2e with white at 3.13:1 — fails AAA. .text-bg-secondary pairs brass #c9a961 with white at 2.25:1 — also fails. Both helpers exist in Bootstrap because their default palette values can carry white text; the VWA palette values can't.
Use the subtle triad instead — .bg-warning-subtle .text-warning-emphasis .border .border-warning-subtle hits 7.72:1 AAA. The same pattern works for secondary. See the next demo block for both.
.bg-*-subtle + .border-*-subtle + .text-*-emphasisThe three classes are designed to compose. Every triad is AAA-verified — see §6 Voice & the alert reference in §8 Components for application examples.
Reach for .text-bg-* when filling a badge or pill — Bootstrap picks the AAA-correct foreground for you.
Combine the three subtle classes (bg-*-subtle + border-*-subtle + text-*-emphasis) for inline status messages and alerts.
Use .text-body-secondary and .text-body-tertiary for hierarchy in body copy — both pass AAA on white and porcelain.
Don't use .text-warning or .text-secondary on white surfaces for body text — both fail AAA. Use the -emphasis variants on the matching subtle bg instead.
Don't use .text-black-50 or .text-white-50 for any text that conveys information — they fail AAA contrast and are reserved for purely decorative type.
Don't combine .bg-* with arbitrary .text-* classes by hand — the text-bg-* helper exists to prevent accidental contrast failures.
WCAG 2.2 Level AAA,
with a clear scope.
VWA publishes this brand system as WCAG 2.2 Level AAA conformant via the supplemental-version pathway permitted by the standard. The main site keeps the trade voice. Everyone who needs plain-language content reaches it through a persistent toggle in the top bar: Easy Read. This section documents exactly what's covered, exactly what's out of scope, and the testable ratios behind the claim.
What AAA means here
§1.4.6 Contrast (Enhanced) — all text pairings hit 7:1 or higher. Large display type clears 4.5:1.
§1.4.11 Non-text Contrast — input borders, alert borders, and all functional UI boundaries hit 3:1 or higher.
§2.4.11 & §2.4.12 Focus Not Obscured — focus indicator is never partially or fully obscured by fixed headers, cookie banners, or overlays.
§2.4.13 Focus Appearance — 3px ring with 2px contrasting offset. Navy on light surfaces, brass on dark surfaces.
§2.5.8 Target Size — every interactive element has a minimum 44×44 CSS pixel touch target.
§3.1.5 Reading Level, §3.1.3 Unusual Words, §3.1.4 Abbreviations — satisfied by the Easy Read supplemental version (see Section 11).
Native video or audio — the catalogue doesn't use either, so §1.2.3–1.2.9 don't apply.
Third-party embedded content (external maps, social widgets, live chat) — not used; would be assessed separately if added.
User-generated content — there isn't any. If product reviews are added later, §3.1.5 would need a content-moderation policy.
PDFs and downloaded spec sheets — separate AAA audit needed per document.
External links — we can't audit what's on the other side of the link.
The two layers of the AAA claim
WCAG 2.2 §5.2.5 permits a "supplemental version" pattern: when the primary version can't meet a content-level criterion, a conforming alternate version reached from every page satisfies the standard for the site as a whole. VWA uses this pattern deliberately — it's the only way to hold the trade voice and meet AAA at the same time.
Everything visual is AAA everywhere
Both voices share the same token file. The homepage in trade voice and the homepage in Easy Read mode use the same navy, the same brass, the same focus rings, the same target sizes. Accessibility isn't a different skin — it's the same skin applied to different copy.
Easy Read satisfies §3.1.5
The default trade voice is written for licensed plumbers. The Easy Read version of every page is rewritten to a Year 9 reading level, expands every abbreviation on first use, and links every unusual word to a glossary definition. The toggle is session-sticky — once you turn it on, it stays on.
What we publish and where
The full accessibility statement lives at /accessibility/, linked from every footer. It names: the conformance target (WCAG 2.2 AAA via supplemental version), the last audit date, the tools used (Lighthouse, axe DevTools, WAVE, manual NVDA and VoiceOver passes), known limitations, and a contact for reporting issues. This is required under EN 301 549 for any site that claims AAA, and is a good-faith requirement under Section 508 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Australia).
A second voice,
for the same brand.
Easy Read is the parallel voice that satisfies the content-level AAA criteria (§3.1.3, §3.1.4, §3.1.5). It's not a different brand. It's the same brand, written to a Year 9 reading level. Every trade page has an Easy Read twin reachable via the toggle in the top bar. Both versions carry the same navy, the same brass, the same restraint — just different words.
How Easy Read differs
First use of any acronym includes the full term. "PRV" becomes "pressure-reducing valve (PRV)". After the first expansion in a section, the abbreviation alone is fine.
One idea per sentence. Maximum 20 words where possible. Replace Latin-origin jargon with Germanic everyday words — "dispatch" becomes "send", "inventory" becomes "stock".
Trade terms like "thermostatic mixing valve" stay — tradespeople recognise them — but get linked to a glossary definition on every first use in a section.
The same message, both voices
Every valve. Every pressure. Every trade. Australia's deepest valve inventory, dispatched same-day from Victoria.
Three-beat rhythm, confident, understated.
We stock valves for every trade in Australia. We have the widest range in the country. We send your order the same day from Victoria.
Three plain sentences, no rhetorical devices, same facts.
In stock — 1,240 units. Dispatched same-day if ordered before 2pm AEST.
Specific number, concrete cutoff, trade shorthand.
We have 1,240 of these in stock. Order before 2pm today and we will send it today. (AEST is Australian Eastern Standard Time.)
Same number, expanded abbreviation, no shorthand.
Backorder — next shipment arriving 8 May. We'll dispatch your order the same day it lands.
Real date, clear action, no padding.
This item is out of stock. The next lot arrives on 8 May. We will send your order on the same day the lot arrives.
"Backorder" replaced, one idea per sentence, same promise.
Brass ball valve, full-bore lever. 1/2" BSP. 20 bar WP. DR brass. WaterMark certified.
Pure spec string — a tradesperson scans this in two seconds.
A brass ball valve with a full-size opening and a lever handle. The thread is 1/2 inch BSP (British Standard Pipe). Working pressure is 20 bar. The body is DR brass (dezincification-resistant). This product is WaterMark certified for Australian plumbing.
Every abbreviation expanded, one fact per sentence. Same information.
Writing for Easy Read
Expand every acronym on first use in a section. "TMV" becomes "thermostatic mixing valve (TMV)".
Replace Latin-origin words with short everyday ones. "Dispatch" → "send". "Inventory" → "stock". "Utilize" → "use".
Keep sentences under 20 words where possible. Break longer thoughts into two shorter ones.
Link every trade term to its glossary entry on first use per page.
Keep specific numbers. "1,240 in stock" stays exactly as is. Numbers are accessible.
Strip specific details for simplicity. "1,240 units" should never become "lots of stock".
Add emotional softeners. "We're so sorry to say" is still out of scope — Easy Read is plain, not apologetic.
Explain WaterMark certification in body copy. Link to the glossary entry instead.
Change the product names or SKU codes. Proper nouns stay intact — WCAG specifically exempts them.
Use Easy Read as an excuse to be condescending. Plain language is not simple-minded language.
How the toggle works
A persistent pill in the top bar, right of the phone number. Reads "Easy read ↻ Trade mode" — the active state on the left, the alternate on the right.
URL parameter ?voice=plain plus a session cookie. Session-sticky across pages. Bookmarkable. Shareable. Works without JavaScript when served from the server.
Every trade term in Easy Read mode links to the glossary at /glossary/. First-use in each section; further mentions stay clean.
What's in /glossary/
The glossary ships with ~20 seed entries covering the abbreviations and trade terms that appear in the homepage and catalogue mockup (PRV, TMV, BSP, WP, DR brass, WaterMark, AS/NZS, AEST, backorder, thermostatic mixing valve, pressure-reducing valve, ball valve, gate valve, check valve, solenoid valve, full-bore, reduced-bore, compression fitting, NPT thread, hydraulics). Definitions are written to Year 9 reading level. The team expands the glossary over time as new categories and SKUs are added to the catalogue — the structure is designed to grow.