Friction Material Testing

Regulations by a number of U.S. states limit the amount of asbestos, copper and other constituents used in vehicles’ brake friction materials.The states require that:

• Friction material is tested by an independent third-party lab
• Edge codes are registered by an independent third-party registrar

NSF International can perform this required testing, enabling friction manufacturers and distributors to demonstrate compliance with all the legal requirements.

The laws were enacted to protect the nation’s water and the environment. The U.S. EPA then created a Memorandum of Understanding to promote the reduction of copper in brake pads across the entire U.S.

NSF is an experienced friction test laboratory and currently the only registrar recognized by these states. In fact, NSF is the only organization that can test and register your friction materials all at once.

If you’re interested in more details or pricing information, contact frictionmaterial@nsf.org or call +1.734.214.6210.

Benefits of Testing

To legally sell brake pads in California or Washington, they must be tested by an independent third-party lab and then registered by an independent third-party registrar. Even if you sell or distribute brake pads solely online, they can still be bought in California or Washington. That means your products must comply with the state laws or face fines up to $10,000 per violation. Testing through NSF International will allow you to avoid those fines and meet all of the state requirements.

By combining the requirements of the registrar and lab, NSF can offer:

• Reduced time and cost to complete the entire process
• Less paperwork – one form for all testing and registration
• Test reports that meet all the requirements of SAE J2975: Measurement of Copper and Other Elements in Brake Friction Materials
• A low test price locked in for three years

Why Work With NSF?

NSF International is the only company in the world capable of both testing and registering friction materials for compliance with the state laws.

By testing through NSF you can be sure that your friction materials will:

• Meet the requirements of the states
• Meet the requirements of SAE J2975: Measurement of Copper and Other Elements in Brake Friction Materials
• Be accepted for registration through the world’s only registrar

NSF can accept disk brakes or drum brakes of any shape or size. NSF doesn’t require a specific pressure plate or friction thickness.

Testing Process

NSF is committed to making the friction testing process as easy, fast and affordable as possible. The process involves these steps:

1. Your company submits a completed application to frictionmaterialtest@nsf.org to get pricing information and a contract.
2. After your company signs the contract, NSF will send you a link to an online test request form to complete.
3. Once your company completes the test request form, NSF will send you an individual shipping form for every formulation you want to test.
4. Your company ships the samples to NSF.
5. NSF provides you with your test reports as soon as they’re complete.

Steps 1 and 2 only need to be completed once. Therefore, once you’ve signed a contract with NSF you can start with step 3.