NSF International Opens One-Of-A-Kind Laboratory For Chlorine Resistance Testing Of Plastic Piping

Only U.S. lab accredited and fully automated to conduct chlorine resistance testing to verify plastic pipe performance against national standards and plumbing code

NSF International, an independent, public health and safety organization, has opened a new chlorine resistance testing laboratory at its Ann Arbor, Michigan headquarters.

NSF's engineers work directly with companies to meet their needs for chlorine resistance testing, R&D projects and pre-production testing. The accredited lab also has been automated in order to help plastic pipe manufacturers meet regulatory testing requirements with expedited turn-around times.

Plumbing Codes and Product Standards require chlorine testing for products such as PPR (Polypropylene Random Copolymer), PEX and PE-RT (polyethylene of raised temperature resistance) pipes. The NSF laboratory evaluates all types of plastic piping from polyethylene (PE) to cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) to polypropylene (PP). NSF provides chlorine resistance testing against:

• ASTM F2023: Standard Test Method for Evaluating the Oxidative Resistance of PEX Tubing and Systems to Hot Chlorinated Water
• ASTM F2263: Standard Test Method for Evaluating the Oxidative Resistance of PE Pipe to Chlorinated Water

As with other NSF plastic pipe testing labs, the new lab is accredited by IAS (International Accreditation Service) to perform testing. Plumbing inspectors look for third-party certification to confirm that pipes have been tested and certified by an accredited laboratory.

"NSF International has built the new chlorine resistance testing laboratory to expand our testing and R&D capabilities and to provide faster turn-around times to support NSF Certification," said Nasrin Kashefi, General Manager, NSF International Plumbing Programs. "It is the only lab of its kind in the U.S that verifies performance claims of plastic pipes and evaluates long-term resistance to chlorinated water."

NSF developed NSF/ANSI Standard 14: Plastics Piping System Components and Related Materials, which establishes minimum physical, performance, health effects, quality assurance, marking, and record keeping requirements for plastic piping components and related materials. NSF International also developed the American national public health standards for all chemicals used to treat drinking water and materials/products coming into contact with drinking water.

"NSF International is the leader in testing and certifying plastic pipe and has been for more than 45 years. By adding this state-of-the-art laboratory, NSF significantly expands its R&D services and offers companies the opportunity to work directly with NSF engineers on their chlorine resistance projects," said Bob Frayer, Director of NSF International's Engineering Laboratory.

About NSF International's Water Systems and Plumbing Programs: NSF International developed the American national public health standards for all chemicals used to treat drinking water and materials/products coming into contact with drinking water. In 1988, the U.S. EPA replaced its own drinking water programs with these NSF standards, which are now the national standards for drinking water. NSF International is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

• NSF/ANSI Standard 60: Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals is the nationally-recognized health effects standard for chemicals used to treat drinking water.
• NSF/ANSI Standard 61: Drinking Water System Components is the nationally-recognized health effects standard for all devices, components and materials that come in contact with drinking water.

NSF tests and certifies products ranging from municipal water systems to home plumbing including: chemicals, pipes, fittings, valves, faucets, showers, toilets, etc. Consumers can look for the NSF Mark on these products to make sure they have been tested and certified.

About NSF International: NSF International, an independent, public health and safety organization, certifies products and writes standards for food, water and consumer goods to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment. Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide and operates in more than 120 countries. NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment.

Additional services include Education and Training, safety audits for the food and water industries, dietary and nutritional supplement certification, management systems registrations (e.g. ISO 14001) delivered through NSF International Strategic Registrations and sustainable business services through NSF Sustainability. For more information, visit www.nsf.org

SOURCE: NSF International