New International standard tightens lead leaching criteria for plumbing products
September 22, 2020 | By HPAC Magazine
Changes to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61, the drinking water product standard required in Canada and the U.S., affects endpoint devices such as faucets and other plumbing components like connector hoses and small shut-off valves.
NSF International, the global public health organization that facilitates standards development, and tests and certifies products, has published changes to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61, the drinking water product standard required in Canada and the U.S., to further restrict the amount of lead that can leach from plumbing products.
The new pass/fail criteria for certification to the standard will require the maximum amount of lead leaching to be reduced from 5 micrograms (µg) to 1 µg for plumbing endpoint devices that dispense drinking water such as faucets, and from 3 µg to 0.5 µg for other plumbing components such as connector hoses and small shut-off valves.
In-line mechanical devices and other product categories under NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 are not subject to the new requirements.
Under the new standard, certification of applicable products to the lead leaching criteria is optional for the next three years to allow manufacturers time to comply. On Jan. 1, 2024, all products will be required to meet the stricter requirements.
Revisions to the standard were approved by the Council of Public Health Consultants and ratified by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), according to their standards development processes.
