NSF Testing for the UK Market Allows Plumbing Products To Show Compliance

NSF testing using the regulators’ specifications for the UK market allows plumbing products and materials to show compliance.

All manufacturers selling water supply fittings and materials in the UK must comply with Regulation 4(1)(a). The regulators’ specifications help verify that the products conform to the conditions approved by the regulator. There are many regulators’ specifications (also known as test code sheets) that detail the individual tests required for water supply product compliance.

To verify compliance, each type of water fitting (taps, valves, etc.) must undergo tests to multiple specifications to confirm that they cannot be installed, connected, arranged or used in a way that could cause waste, misuse, undue consumption or contamination of the water supply. Nonmetallic materials in contact with water are subject to specification 2111.1 - Effect upon water quality, which requires testing to British Standard 6920.

For appliances comprised of an assembly of products, the regulators’ specifications are applied for each subcomponent used within the assembly, and the complete assembly is then subject to its own additional regulators’ specifications. For example, a washing machine incorporates the following individual components:

  • Flexible supply hoses (pressurised)
  • Solenoid valves
  • Internal flexible hoses (unpressurised)
  • A soap dispenser
  • An air gap arrangement or mechanical backflow-prevention device

If not already certified, each individual component requires a series of regulators’ specifications and tests. The complete assembly will then be subject to additional specifications applied to verify the leak tightness of the complete assembly, and for some appliances, the consumption rate of the machine will also be verified.

Specifications/tests applicable for each generic product are listed below for guidance and may change depending on the design of the product presented for certification. Additional specifications may be applied depending on the materials used and the supply connections available, etc.

We provide testing to each of these specifications as part of NSF REG4, a UKAS ISO/IEC 17065-accredited certification scheme offering an alternative route to water fittings compliance for the UK market. The certification scope includes mechanical products in contact with drinking water, such as appliances, valves, backflow-prevention devices, taps, mixers, shower heads, pipes and fittings, tanks, cisterns, water meters, and many others. It also covers nonmetallic products, such as plastics, rubbers, coatings, cement, resins and sealants.

Please contact us to learn more about the exact specifications and tests that apply to your product(s).

1111.1Closure
1111.2Closure
1111.3Closure - Opening and re-seating pressure test
1111.4Closure - Temperature conditions
1111.5Leak tightness test
1111.6Closure at set outlet pressure
1111.7Closure - Diverter
1111.8Closure under high downstream pressure
1111.9Pressure tightness under a low reverse pressure differential
1111.10Pressure tightness under a high reverse pressure
1111.11Closure under low downstream pressure
1111.18Leak tightness of the downstream check valve. High pressure
1112.1Porosity
1112.2Porosity
1112.6Porosity
1112.7Porosity
1112.8Porosity
1112.9Body strength
1112.14Porosity
1112.15Body strength
1113.1Joint effectiveness
1113.2Joint effectiveness
1113.5Joint effectiveness
1211.1Endurance
1211.2Endurance
1211.3Endurance
1211.4Endurance
1211.5Endurance test
1211.6Endurance
1211.7Endurance
1211.12Endurance
1211.14Endurance
1211.15Flushing device physical endurance and leakage
1211.16Endurance
1211.17Performance test of air bubble unvented hot water storage systems
1211.21Endurance - Remote/non-touch method of actuating the water supply
1212.1Accelerated ageing
1212.3Accelerated ageing
1212.4Accelerated ageing
1212.5Accelerated ageing
1212.6Accelerated ageing
1212.7Accelerated ageing
1212.10Accelerated ageing
1311.1Deflection
1311.2Deflection
1311.3Deflection prevention (inspection only)
1311.5Deflection
1312.1Deformation
1312.3Bending strength
1312.6Deformation
1312.7Impact
1312.8Deformation
1312.9Deformation
1312.10Impact
1312.11Bending strength
1312.12Bending strength
1313.2Impact
1313.4Verification of valve not jamming
1313.7High velocity test
1314.1Tension - Resistance to pull-out of assembled joints - single pull
1314.7Tension - Resistance to pull-out of assembled joints - single pull
1314.8Tension - Resistance to pull-out of assembled joints - multiple pull
1314.9Tension - Resistance to pull-out of assembled joints - single pull
1314.10Tension - Resistance to pull-out of assembled joints - single pull
1314.11Tension - Resistance to pull-out of assembled joints - single pull
1314.12Tension - Resistance to pull-out of assembled joints - single pull
1314.13Tension - Resistance to pull-out of assembled joints - single pull
1314.14Tension - Resistance to pull-out of assembled joints - single pull
1314.15Tension - Resistance to pull-out of assembled joints - single pull
1315.1Torque - Operating mechanism
1315.2Torque - Connection and Disconnection
1315.4Torque - Backnuts
1315.6Torque - Backnuts
1411.3Flushing device: Chemical endurance
1412.1Corrosion protection
1511.2Flush rate
1511.6Flow rate / splashing
1512.1Consumption
1512.2Consumption
1512.3Consumption
1512.5Consumption
1512.8Consumption
1512.10Paper discharge for reduced flush volume
1512.11Solids discharge and after flush volume for maximum flush
1512.12Wash of bowl
1611.1Prevention of contamination - Primary to secondary circuits
1611.2Prevention of waste from frost damage
1611.3Prevention of waste and contamination - materials and construction
1611.4Accessibility for cleaning
1611.5Means for connection and disconnection
1611.8Visual inspection - Seal to be readily renewable
1611.9Visual inspection - Fixing of washer plate
1611.10Visual inspection - Means of operation
1611.11Visual inspection - Means of renewing seat and washer, or seal and washer, if so required
1611.14Visual inspection - Manually operated easing gear
1611.15Visual inspection - Method of operation of dual flush cisterns
1611.16Liquid contaminant, dye retention
1612.1Water tightness of siphonic apparatus
1711.2Operating efficiency
2111.1Effect upon water quality
2111.2Effect upon water quality
2111.3Effect upon water quality (solder test)
2114.2Opacity
2211.1Contamination test
2211.2Contamination - Vacuum when submerged
2211.3Contamination - Mixing of primary and secondary
2211.11Particle Ingress - Vacuum test
2212.1Contamination - Vacuum test under fault conditions
2212.3Vacuum / dimensional
2212.4Contamination - Antisiphonage test
2212.6Vacuum test
2212.11Vacuum test tightness of the upstream check valve
2212.14Vacuum test
2212.15Vacuum test
2212.20Backflow prevention. Regulator’s specification for WC suites
2213.1Dimensional
2213.3Contamination - Dimension of air vent - gas/water air space
2213.5Visual Inspection - Compatibility of cartridge and housing dimensions, sealing etc
2213.7Visual inspection
2213.10Visual inspection - Check valve operation
2213.11Visual inspection - Check valve operation
2213.12Dimensional
2213.13Pressure differential at valve closure
2213.14Dimensional
2213.15Dimensional
2213.16Dimensional
2213.17Dimensional
2213.18Dimensional
2213.19Dimensional
3212.1WC flush volume and water seal depth
5011.1Measurement of linear dimensions
5011.5Measurement of dimension
5011.6Water Seal depth
5011.7Warning pipe and overflow provision
5021.3(c)Measurement of dimension
5031.1Dimension - Capacity
5031.2Dimension - Capacity
6001.1Marking for identification

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