NSF Int'l Adds Low-Lead Requirements into Drinking Water Standard
January 27, 2009 // Published as a news service by IHS
NSF International incorporated a California standard for low-lead plumbing products into the NSF/American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard for drinking water products to help protect the public from exposure to lead.
Annex G - Weighted Average Lead Content Evaluation Procedure to a 0.25% Lead Requirement allows manufacturers to demonstrate compliance to legislation in California that limits the weighted average of lead content in plumbing products that come in contact with drinking water to 0.25%.
The annex was incorporated into NSF/ANSI Standard 61 - Drinking Water System Components - Health Effects, a standard that includes procedures to evaluate products that come in contact with drinking water and to screen out those products that could contribute excessive levels of contaminants into drinking water.
Products covered in the standard include:
- Pipes and related products.
- Protective and barrier materials, including cement and coatings.
- Joining and sealing materials, including gaskets, adhesives and lubricants.
- Process media, including carbon, sand, zeolite and ion exchange media.
- Mechanical devices, including water meters, in-line valves, filters and process equipment.
- Mechanical plumbing devices, including faucets, drinking fountains and components.
- Potable water materials, including nonmetallic materials.
The inclusion of Annex G is important for manufacturers selling products in California, who must comply with the new lead content requirements in addition to the current chemical extraction requirements of NSF/ANSI Standard 61, according to NSF International.
California recently passed legislation that requires manufacturers to meet the 0.25% weighted average lead content. Other states are also considering low-lead content legislation, said NSF International.
"Annex G establishes a protocol to determine product compliance with the 0.25% maximum weighted average lead content requirement of the California Health & Safety Code," said Pete Greiner, technical manager, NSF Water Treatment and Distribution Systems Program.
"It is our expectation that states with low-lead requirements will recognize Annex G in their regulations and this will provide a uniform method for product evaluation."
The annex was developed by NSF International's lead task group with guidance from regulators, proponents of the California lead bill, industry representatives and the NSF International Standard 61 Joint Committee, which is comprised of representation from public health, user communities and industry.
While California lead content requirements are not scheduled to go into effect until 2010, NSF International will provide product evaluations against the annex now and update NSF 61 listings to indicate compliance with the low-lead requirement.
Source: NSF International.