More and more you hear the term “NSF61 certified” or “NSF61 compliant”.  So just what is the NSF61 standard?  Very briefly, it is a standard you must meet if you manufacture, sell or distribute water treatment or distribution products in the US or Canada.  Developed by a team of scientists, industry experts and key industry stakeholders, NSF61 sets health effects criteria for many water system components including:

  • Protective barrier materials (cements, paints, coatings)
  • Joining and sealing materials (gaskets, adhesives, lubricants)
  • Mechanical devices (water meters, valves, filters)
  • Pipes, tanks and related products (tubes, hose, fittings)
  • Plumbing devices (faucets, drinking fountains)
  • Process media (filter media, ion exchange resins)
  • Non-metallic potable water materials

Drinking water system components that are used in centralized water treatment plants and water distribution systems up through the water meter are typically regulated by state or provincial drinking water agencies.

All but one U.S. state and two Canadian provinces have legislation, regulations or policies requiring drinking water system components to comply with, or be certified to, NSF61.  So no matter where your geographic territory is in those two countries, NSF61 applies.

Why do we hear more about NSF61 lately?  Because even though this standard has been on the books for a while in most locations, many FRP equipment owners have not specified that their water systems comply with NSF61.  And now these owners have FRP equipment that does not comply with the law, and they may be compelled to comply.  This situation represents an opportunity for those that can provide NSF61 compliant equipment such as FRP tanks, pipes and field service.

Diamond Fiberglass and Fibrex Piping Systems can provide NSF61 certified tanks and pipes for water systems.  Diamond Fiberglass is also an ASME RTP-1 tank facility (see post Nov. 27, 2019 titled “Diamond Fiberglass RTP-1 Certification Continues”).

Here’s the link to the NSF website:

https://www.nsf.org/testing/water/municipal-water-systems/nsf-ansi-can-61

For more information, contact Diamond Fiberglass:

www.diamondfiberglass.com

(361) 572-4040