Pipeline to Confidence
By Tom Bowman
Faulty plumbing can result in serious property damage. It also could put home and business owners at risk for health and safety hazards such as noxious gas, back siphoning, bursting pipes, floods or electrical shorts. Although there are several model plumbing codes in print, regulations regarding design, installation methods and materials may differ from one state, county or municipality to the next.
In February 2007, Underwriters Laboratories (UL), an independent product safety organization, introduced a plumbing certification mark to better serve the needs of manufacturers, users, installers, regulators and consumers by clearly identifying products that meet all applicable health-effect and performance requirements identified in all model plumbing codes. Although UL has not applied the requirements of all jurisdictions (state, county or city), the UL Mark makes it easy for authorities having jurisdiction to make their determination of compliance.
As one of the most widely used, trusted and recognized safety organizations in North America, UL has more than 75 years of experience certifying plumbing products including barrier materials (e.g. coatings, linings), pipes and related products, mechanical devices used in the treatment/transmission/distribution system (e.g. valves, water meters) and mechanical plumbing devices (e.g. faucets, supply stops).
Deciphering the Codes
To reduce safety risks and increase the likelihood of products gaining prompt acceptance in the field, plumbing equipment manufacturers must comply with all appropriate safety, health effect and environmental standards required by the installation codes. However, determining which standards a particular code prescribes can be a difficult, expensive and time-consuming task.
Depending on the application and installation of a product, there may be multiple standards that apply. In addition to code compliance, manufacturers often have to address several other hazards such as basic health protections for products that come into contact with potable water including fire, electric shock, scalding, slipping, drainage and products bursting under pressure. A product that doesn’t meet all the relevant standards can potentially put end-users at risk. Further, failing to address all applicable codes and standards can significantly delay acceptance of products in the field.
The UL Plumbing Mark addresses these issues. Products submitted to UL for evaluation are tested against UL’s strict safety standards and nationally recognized health-effect, safety, and performance standards in addition to review of model installation code compliance. Products bearing the UL Mark indicate representative samples have been tested and found to be free of fire, electrical shock and mechanical hazards as well as any health effects concerns.
Prior to the introduction of the UL Plumbing Mark, manufacturers often submitted their products to multiple organizations in order to achieve widespread acceptance by code authorities, installers, specifiers and distributors. This practice only added to the already time intensive and expensive process.
The UL Plumbing Mark gives manufactures the advantage of using a single mark on their products and components to indicate compliance with national plumbing installation codes in accordance with both the International Plumbing Code (IPC) and the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) — one Mark demonstrates compliance to the plumbing codes used in all 50 states.
As an active participant in the code process, UL goes beyond just testing the products. UL submits proposals to the code development committees to help eliminate conflicts within installation codes and provide clarity to the requirements. In addition to participation in plumbing codes, UL is one of the few certification organizations that participate in the development of building, mechanical and electrical installation codes, which enables it to interpret how other various code requirements may affect plumbing codes or impact plumbing products.
Because plumbing failures can lead to severe property damage, UL also tests submitted plumbing products for performance issues, such as hydrostatic burst testing and long term aging simulation.
The future of plumbing
Two important trends affecting the plumbing industry today are the demand for products that are both water-efficient and have low-lead content.
In the area of water efficiency, UL is helping manufacturers meet the demand for more environmentally responsible products by providing certification to EPA’s WaterSenseSM program which identifies and promotes the use of water-efficient products and services. UL currently offers certification for both high-efficiency toilets and high-efficiency lavatory faucets under this program.
To assist manufacturers in meeting new low-lead requirements, UL has been an active participant in several activities addressing this issue. Beginning January 1, 2010, manufacturers of plumbing components for sale in the State of California will need to demonstrate compliance with new and stricter low-lead requirements set forth by the California Health and Safety Code (116875). As a result of AB 1953, the California Health and Safety Code now requires no more than a weighted average of 0.25 percent lead by weight when used with respect to the wetted surfaces of pipes and pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and fixtures. Similar requirements also have been enacted by the State of Vermont.
The California Department of Toxic Substance Control has now defined the test protocols that will be recognized to demonstrate compliance with this new law. While the delay in defining test protocols had created significant confusion in the industry, UL has been actively engaged in the industry, participating in the ANSI/NSF Standard 61 Task Group that developed Annex G, an optional evaluation method for products for products to demonstrate 0.25 percent weighted average lead content. UL participated in round-robin testing with other manufacturers and certifying bodies in order to establish a clear, reproducible and scientifically sound approach to demonstrating compliance with the California Health and Safety Code (116875).
UL currently offers certification to Annex G that will include testing of metal alloys to demonstrate compliance to the California Health and Safety Code.
Value of third-party certification
The challenges involved in plumbing should not be taken lightly. If appropriate safety measures are not taken, the result could be severe property damage — or even worse injury or death, which is why it’s important to consider using a third-party certification in the overall conformity assessment process.
Using a third-party certifier such as UL can greatly simplify the compliance process for manufacturers by saving them time and money. With its vast knowledge of plumbing codes and standards, experience and active participation in the industry, and extensive brand recognition among regulators, installers, designers and consumers, UL provides confidence to manufacturers that their product will be evaluated to all applicable codes and standards.
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is an independent, not-for-profit product safety certification organization that has been testing products and writing Standards for Safety for over a century. UL evaluates more than 19,000 types of products, components, materials and systems annually with 20 billion UL Marks appearing on 72,000 manufacturers’ products each year. UL’s worldwide family of companies and network of service providers includes 64 laboratories, testing and certification facilities serving customers in 98 countries.
For more information on UL’s Plumbing Mark certification program or any other UL water programs, please visit www.ul.com/water.
Tom Bowman is currently the program owner for UL's Water Systems program. In this role, he oversees quality and certification aspects of UL's Marks programs for water. Tom has been with UL for 17 years and holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Chemistry.