Faucet testing and certification
Faucets, like cars, are heavily regulated in the United States and Canada because of their potential harm to people and the environment; Abide by what are called "mandatory standards." You can't sell new cars that don't meet minimum emissions and safety standards. The same is true of faucets. It's not just any shiny finish used to control the flow of water that can be legally sold as a faucet. It must first be tested and certified by one of seven accredited testing organizations to meet the most stringent North American safety and reliability standards in the world. Three basic faucet standards in effect throughout North America:
ASME A112.18.1/CSA 125.1 (" Plumbing Fixture Fittings "), a joint U.S. and Canadian standard that ensures the safety, reliability and durability of faucets; ANSI/NSF 372 (" Lead-free Piping Products ") limits the amount of lead in parts where faucets come into contact with water, as well ANSI/NSF 61 (" Components of Drinking Water Systems - Health Effects ") to ensure that water flowing through faucets is not contaminated with lead or dozens of other hazardous substances as it passes through the faucets. ANSI/NSF 372: Lead content The ANSI/NSF 372 standard is very strict. It allows a "weighted average" of the part of the faucet in contact with water not to exceed 0.25% (a quarter of 1%). This is often referred to as "content standards". The amount of lead in brass can be measured in a variety of ways, most of which will damage the test sample during testing. The most common and easiest non-destructive method to use is X-ray fluorescence, in which high-energy electrons impinge brass samples to emit X-rays. The detector analyzes the energy spectrum of x-rays to identify elements in the brass and displays the results on a screen. Early detectors were the size of a small car and required considerable expertise to interpret the results, often displayed on a diagram. Modern detectors are hand-held and display the results as values that require no explanation. ANSI/NSF 61: Safe Drinking water The ANSI/NSF 61 Safe Drinking Water standard limits the amount of lead and a variety of other hazardous contaminants that can be absorbed by water when it passes through a faucet. The limit of lead absorption is five parts per billion. To determine absorption levels of lead and other contaminants, the faucets undergo rigorous testing over a three-week period, in which they are exposed to typical household water formulations that include various mineral-rich water mixtures designed to extract specific types of contaminants. If any concentration is found above a level considered safe, the faucet will fail and not be certified. Faucets that pass through are free of lead and other toxic substances, as current technology allows. Other countries have much looser standards for lead and toxic materials. The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has been working on a common European standard for years, but has found it difficult to reach agreement among its member states, which have widely different water systems. Perhaps the most stringent national standard is Germany, which allows 10 parts per billion of lead in drinking water, twice the legal limit in North America. Faucet's "Listing Certificate" is a valid physical document containing the following minimum information: A unique identification number, The name of the certified faucet company, The brand name of the faucet line (if different), The model name and/or number of the faucet, The standard by which faucets are certified, The organization that issued the certificate, The expiration date of the certificate (See sample certificates.) This certificate allows the tap to be positively identified. A plumbing inspector or interested homeowner can look at the certificate and determine without a doubt whether a particular faucet is listed. If it is not listed on the certificate by manufacturer and model name or number, the faucet is not certified, no matter how loudly or fervently the faucet company insists on it. It's that simple. To be certified, faucets must be "listed" in a valid certificate. It is not uncommon for a company without a valid certificate to try to impersonate another company's certificate as its own. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for non-compliant companies to change or falsify certificates. Note: In online display, the identification number can be omitted. Some listings omit the brand name if the company sells only one brand and shares the same company name. Most companies display the expiration date of the certificate, but online displays are inconsistent. No expiry date is shown on the NSF online certificate. If the certificate is displayed, it is current. Do not display expired certificates. Some test agencies will display the release date. The certificate expires one year from the date of issue.
