Balloon-type ball backwater valve product topic for joint Canada-U.S. Standard pilot project

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) has selected the balloon-type ball backwater valve as the product topic for the plumbing/heating sector joint Canada-U.S. Standard pilot project. The pilot project, one of two bi-national pilots launched in July 2013, is focused on new or emerging product areas where neither standards nor regulations currently exist. A selection panel of Canada-U.S. industry representatives, including members of the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) and several U.S. organizations, evaluated project submissions and determined that standards development for balloon-type ball backwater valves would benefit the greatest number of Canadian and American users.

“We have consulted with industry and our allied associations on both sides of the border, and the consensus is that the balloon-type ball backwater valve pilot project will help industry in both countries to avoid inefficiencies and to contain potential development costs. Our ultimate goal is to improve speed toward harmonization, especially in new technology areas with the end result being one standard, one mark, one test accepted in both Canada and the USA,” said Ralph Suppa, CIPH president and general manager. 

SCC will solicit proposals from accredited standards development organizations (SDOs), and provide as-needed funding to facilitate the development of a joint Canada-U.S. voluntary standard for balloon-type backwater valves. In order to be selected, entities must be accredited to develop national standards in both countries—whether as a single SDO with dual accreditation, or through a partnership of U.S.-Canada SDOs. The joint standard, when completed, will be submitted for approval by both the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and SCC.