FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 16, 2009
CONTACT: Greta Houlahan
Phone: 734-913-5723
Email: houlahan@nsf.org
NSF Offers Certification for Low Lead Plumbing Products to Support New State Requirements
Kohler, Moen and Price Pfister Become First Faucet Companies Certified by NSF to Demonstrate Compliance with New Lead Regulations
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – NSF International, a not-for-profit, public health and safety organization, today announced that Kohler, Moen and Price Pfister have become the first faucet companies certified by NSF to have certain plumbing products comply with the new low lead requirements. Certification allows manufacturers to demonstrate compliance with new state laws, established to help protect the public from exposure to lead, well ahead of the January 1, 2010 deadline.
The new section of NSF/ANSI Standard 61 – Annex G – Weighted Average Lead Content Evaluation Procedure to a 0.25 Percent Lead Requirement – includes the recently enacted legislation in California and Vermont that mandates a maximum weighted average lead content requirement of ≤ 0.25 percent. Other states are also considering low lead content legislation. The new lead requirements apply to manufacturers of faucets, valves, water fittings, and other products that come in contact with drinking water. Compliance with NSF/ANSI Standard 61, the American National Standard for Drinking Water Products, is also required.
NSF/ANSI Standard 61: Drinking Water System Components — Health Effects was updated in December to incorporate requirements for use when the ≤ 0.25 percent lead content requirement must be met, in addition to current chemical extraction requirements of the standard. Compliance is determined by a weighted average calculation involving the maximum percent lead content of material specifications and wetted surface areas.
To receive certification, Kohler, Moen and Price Pfister met the new lead content requirement of ≤ 0.25 percent and the requirements of NSF/ANSI Standard 61, Annex G. All three companies have been certified by NSF to Standard 61 for many years, and they now comply with the new low lead requirements well ahead of the deadline. Kohler, Moen and Price Pfister are listed on the NSF Web site with a footnote indicating compliance with the new requirements.
“By obtaining Annex G certification, Kohler, Moen and Price Pfister are emphasizing their commitment to quality and public health protection,” said Nasrin Kashefi, General Manager, NSF Plumbing Programs. “Certification is important because it expands the choices available to consumers when selecting products for their homes. We congratulate these leading manufacturers for being proactive in their response to these new requirements.”
To ensure ongoing compliance with the new lead requirements, NSF will conduct annual, unannounced inspections of the manufacturing facilities for certified products and re-test products on a regular basis.
“Annex G is a consensus standard that took into consideration comments from key stakeholders in California and nationwide. It gives companies a valuable tool for assessing compliance with California’s lead content standard. Companies that meet the standard will be at a competitive advantage,” said Bruce La Belle, Chief, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Environmental Chemistry Laboratory.
For more information on Annex G and NSF/ANSI Standard 61, visit NSF’s Web site. For more information on NSF/ANSI Standard 61 requirements or NSF testing and certification services to the standard, contact Pete Greiner at 734.769.5517 or greinerp@nsf.org. A copy of Annex G as adopted in NSF/ANSI 61 – 2008 is available on NSF’s Web site.
Additional Background
A verification test methodology is under development, which may be added to NSF/ANSI Standard 61. This methodology can be used when there is a need to verify that the actual lead content of a component is within the stated lead content of the material specification. The work being done on this verification methodology is being performed through the Lead Task Group and California’s Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC). Their goal is to establish a consistent protocol that can be used by all.
Informational Links:
- NSF Develops Standard for Low Lead Plumbing Products in Support of New Requirements in California (NSF/ANSI Standard 61 Annex G, which limits the weighted average of lead content in plumbing products)
- New Requirements for Lead to Further Protect Public Health (NSF/ANSI Standard 61 Annex F, which lowers the drinking water criteria for lead)
- The current version of the California Waterworks Standards is available on the California Department of Public Health’s Web site.
- Frequently Asked Questions
About NSF International: NSF International, an independent, not-for-profit organization, helps protect you by certifying products and writing standards for food, water and consumer goods (www.nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting public health and safety worldwide. NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment. Additional services include safety audits for the food and water industries, management systems registrations delivered through NSF International Strategic Registrations, organic certification provided by Quality Assurance International and education through the NSF Center for Public Health Education.
