Repairing Plumbing? Don’t Be Confused — Learn the Facts

If the product is marked “NSF-61” or “NSFpw,” it has been certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61, the U.S. and Canadian national standard for safety when in contact with drinking water. This standard covers all plumbing materials used to supply drinking water, including plastic, brass and other materials for plastic piping systems and components. It includes testing of materials to help ensure that they do not leak any harmful levels of contaminants into the drinking water.

Plastic products are tested and certified to the standard NSF/ANSI 14 and marked according to their end-use. Products marked “NSFpw” are for potable water. Materials used for potable water are also tested for long-term strength at their rated temperature and pressure. Products marked “NSFdwv” are for drain, waste and vent applications. The “NSFrfh” mark is for radiant floor heating applications. So look for the mark that applies to your installation.

If you look at any product, you will probably find ASTM or NSF standards numbers. A consumer doesn’t have to know what all of these mean. Still, you should know that NSF regularly conducts independent tests for health and safety on these products, inspecting manufacturing plants to verify that these standards are being met.

From drinking water to radiant floor heating systems, the most common uses for plastic piping in the home include:

• Water service lines from the street to your home
• Within your home, distribution pipes deliver hot and cold water to your faucets, showers and appliances
• Draining from toilets, showers, sinks and appliances
• Drains, vents, electrical conduits, chemical waste and fire sprinklers