NSF International
Ann Arbor, MI · Brussels, Belgium
Frequently Asked Questions on Health Effects of PVC Plumbing Products
How do I know plumbing products are safe for use?
All plumbing products conveying drinking water are required to meet the NSF/ANSI Standard 61 to ensure components will not contribute harmful levels of contaminants to the drinking water.
What is NSF/ANSI Standard 61?
NSF/ANSI Standard 61 is entitled Drinking Water System Components-Health Effects. This is the American National Standard for health effects of drinking water system components. It establishes the health effects requirements for the chemical contaminants and impurities that are indirectly imparted to drinking water from products, components and materials used in drinking water systems.
NSF/ANSI Standard 61 is overseen by the NSF Drinking Water Additives Joint Committee comprised of equal representation from the regulatory community, the manufacturing industry and user groups. The American National Standards Institute accredits NSF standards development procedures to ensure a balanced committee of stakeholders develops the standards in an open process. Providing technical oversight is the NSF Council of Public Health Consultants. The council is a group of 30 representatives from academia and local, state and federal regulatory agencies that provide technical advice and oversight of the NSF Standards.
A standing task group is NSF Health Advisory Board. This group consists of toxicologist from USEPA, Health Canada, state and provincial agencies as well as toxicologists from industry and private consulting firms. This group is responsible or reviewing and approving all allowable contaminant concentrations that are published in NSF/ANSI Standard 61.
How is PVC tubing tested?
First, a formulation review is performed on the material to determine what possible contaminants could leach out into drinking water and determines what type of chemical extraction testing is necessary.
Products are exposed to formulated exposure waters, and the exposure waters are analyzed for contaminants. Three separate formulated waters are used during the product exposure. A pH 5 and 10 exposure water are separately used for exposures as these waters are aggressive toward extraction of metallic contaminants. A pH 8 water is used during the exposure for organic based contaminants.
Tubing is conditioned by exposure to the formulated waters for 14 days with water being changed on 10 of those days. The water collected from the final 16-hour exposure period is then analyzed for contaminants. Any contaminants found must be below EPA and Health Canada levels for regulated contaminants. For non-regulated contaminants found, NSF/ANSI Standard 61 sets health based pass/fail levels based on review of available toxicity data using the risk assessment procedures in annex A of the standard.
What types of analysis are performed on PVC products?
Water exposed to PVC products are tested for volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), phenolics, residual chloride monomer (RVCM), antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, selenium, tin, thallium and any other potential contaminant identified during the formulation review.
Page 1 of 2 10/23/2006
P.O. Box 130140 Ann Arbor, MI 48113-0140 USA
734-769-8010 1-800-NSF-MARK Fax 734-769-0109
E-Mail:
info@nsf.org Web:http://www.nsf.org
NSF International
Ann Arbor, MI · Brussels, Belgium
How do I know if products meet this requirement?
Plumbing products meeting the health effects requirements of NSF/ANSI Standard 61 will bear either the NSF-61 Mark or the NSF-pw (potable water) Mark on the print string. The NSF-pw Mark indicates the product meets the health requirements of NSF-61 as well as performance, long term strength and quality control requirements as required by NSF/ANSI Standard 14- Plastic Piping Components are Related Materials.
If a product has only a NSF-dwv mark, this indicates the product has only been evaluated for drain, waste and vent applications.
Where Can I find NSF Listed Products?
NSF certified products can be found on our website
http://www.nsf.org/business/search_listings/What ensures the product consistently meets these requirements?
For products listed for potable water applications, NSF performs at least three unannounced audits of each production facility annually. During the audit, NSF verifies there are no modifications to the product formulation and processing. In addition, NSF verifies quality control tests being done by the manufacturer. NSF also collects samples for laboratory retesting of each product family on an annual basis.
Who can I contact for questions?
If you have questions about the testing and certification of any NSF Certified product, you may contact our Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Hotline at 1-877-867-3435.
Who is NSF?
NSF International, The Public Health and Safety Company™, a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization, is the world leader in standards development, product certification, education, and risk-management for public health and safety. For 60 years, NSF has been committed to public health, safety, and protection of the environment. While focusing on food, water, indoor air, and the environment, NSF develops national standards, provides learning opportunities through its Center for Public Health Education, and provides third-party conformity assessment services while representing the interests of all stakeholders. The primary stakeholder groups include industry, the regulatory community, and the public at large.
NSF/ANSI 61, and subsequent product certification against it, has replaced the USEPA Additives Advisory Program for drinking water system components. USEPA terminated its advisory role in April 1990. For more information with regard to USEPA's actions, refer to the July 7, 1988 Federal Register (53FR25586).
Page 2 of 2 10/23/2006
P.O. Box 130140 Ann Arbor, MI 48113-0140 USA
734-769-8010 1-800-NSF-MARK Fax 734-769-0109
E-Mail:
info@nsf.org Web:http://www.nsf.org