NSF International Certifies First Piping Product To American National Standard For Geothermal Heat Pump Systems

Geothermal piping systems standard NSF/ANSI 358-1 evaluates safety and performance of polyethylene pipe and fittings

NSF International, an independent global organization that writes standards, and tests and certifies products for the water, food, health sciences and consumer goods industries, has certified Centennial Plastics, Inc.’s CenFuse geothermal pipes to the American National Standard for Ground-Source Geothermal Piping Systems – NSF/ANSI Standard 358-1: Polyethylene Pipe and Fittings for Water-Based Ground-Source "Geothermal" Heat Pump Systems. Centennial Plastics is the first company to earn certification to this standard, providing engineers, regulators and users assurance that its certified geothermal products meet minimum performance and safety requirements.

Centennial Plastics’ CenFuse geothermal pipes are utilized as part of geothermal piping systems that provide heating or cooling by moving heat, rather than by creating heat like conventional systems (e.g. furnaces). Geothermal systems can produce the desired heating and cooling temperature by relying on underground temperatures, which remain relatively constant year round. Geothermal piping systems for residential and commercial building applications have innumerable benefits such as low operating costs and environmental impact, long-term durability and ease of retrofitting.

“Our CenFuse geothermal pipe certification to NSF/ANSI Standard 358-1, which includes both the pipe and the fittings, provides engineers, distributors and contractors assurance that not only the pipe but the entire ground loop heat exchanger, meets the safety and quality levels their customers demand,” said David Schnase, V.P. of Sales & Marketing for Centennial Plastics, Inc. “Centennial is also the first manufacturer to earn the NSF certification to NSF/ANSI Standard 358-1. Our leadership and commitment to the geothermal industry continues to be at the forefront of our product offerings.”

To earn certification to NSF/ANSI 358-1: Polyethylene Pipe and Fittings for Water-Based Ground-Source "Geothermal" Heat Pump Systems, Centennial Plastics completed several product evaluation and facility inspection requirements including testing to verify that these products meet minimum requirements for strength and material safety. The facility audit included a review of Centennial Plastics’ product formulation, manufacturing process, use of authorized raw materials, quality control procedures and product marking. As a prerequisite for the geothermal piping certification program, Centennial Plastics’ CenFuse geothermal pipes also earned certification to NSF/ANSI Standard 14: Plastics Piping System Components and Related Materials.

“This new NSF American National Standard provides a credible, science-based foundation that will help grow the geothermal pipe industry by helping these products gain acceptance and use by contractors, engineers and regulators,” said Shannon Murphy, General Manager of NSF International’s Plumbing Programs. “Manufacturers such as Centennial Plastics that earn certification to NSF/ANSI Standard 358 will help increase confidence and product acceptance by ensuring geothermal pipe complies with all of the standard’s requirements.”

Background on the development of NSF/ANSI 358:The International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) reports that geothermal heating systems can reduce energy consumption by 20-50 percent and last up to 50 years.

To help support the acceptance of this technology, NSF International worked with expert engineers, piping manufacturers, and academic and regulatory representatives to develop the consensus-based standard. NSF/ANSI 358-1: Polyethylene Pipe and Fittings for Water-Based Ground-Source “Geothermal” Heat Pump Systems establishes minimum physical and performance requirements for geothermal piping system components, including long-term strength, chemical resistance and quality control requirements that are key to ensuring product performance in the field. Additionally, the standard incorporates key requirements from standards developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and the American Water Works Association (AWWA).

About NSF International
NSF International is a global independent organization that writes standards, and tests and certifies products for the water, food, health sciences and consumer goods industries to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment (nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide. Operating in more than 150 countries, NSF is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and has been collaborating with the World Health Organization since 1997 in water quality and safety, food safety and indoor environments.

NSF led the development of the American National Standards for all materials and products that treat or come in contact with drinking water. In 1990, the U.S. EPA replaced its own drinking water product advisory program with these NSF standards. Today, all major plumbing codes require certification to NSF standards for pipes and plumbing components in commercial and residential buildings. NSF International is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Additional NSF services include management systems registration through NSF-ISR; sustainability standards development, claims and product verification through NSF Sustainability; food safety and quality programs through the NSF Global Food Safety Division; and testing and certification programs for bottled water and beverages, dietary supplements and consumer product industries.