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If you have ever visited the plumbing section of your local hardware or home improvement store, youve probably seen a wide array of labeling printed on the product itself or on the packaging. Some products display standard designations such as NSF, ASTM or AWWA, while others display codes such as PW, RFH or DWV its like alphabet soup and can be confusing if you arent familiar with these markings. Potable Water Markings Products that are intended for contact with drinking water are generally reviewed under NSF/ANSI Standard 61 Drinking Water System Components. This American national standard limits the amount of impurities that a product can potentially introduce into drinking water. Consumer products covered by this standard include: Faucets (kitchen sink and lavatory) Faucet supply lines Pipe (as well as water main and well casing) Valves, meters and pumps Fittings, including solder used to join pipe Depending upon the type of product, one of the following designations may be present either on the product or the product packaging: NSF-61: Indicates the product is certified to NSF/ANSI 61 for potable water contact. NSF-PW: Indicates the product is certified to NSF 61 along with one or more other standards that would address a structural aspect of the product (i.e. ASTM, ASSE standards). Drain/Waste/Vent Another marking that is commonly found on pipe and fittings would be NSF-DWV. The DWV is an acronym that stands for Drain, Waste and Vent applications. Products bearing this mark have been reviewed for either for disposal of water/wastewater or for venting

applications. Products with this marking only should not be used for potable water applications. Annex G and Lead Free Claims Effective January 1, 2010, manufacturers who want to sell products in California or Vermont must demonstrate that their products do not contain more than 0.25 percent lead by weighted average. This will become a national requirement in 2014. The weighted average lead content of a product is determined by multiplying the lead content of each component that is in contact with water by the surface area of that component, then dividing this number by the entire water contact surface area of the product. Other Markings Other markings can also be found on plumbing system components. Some of the more common ones include: NSF-rfh Certified for radiant floor heating applications. CLD23 Product is intended for cold or room temperature applications only (73F). DHOT Product can be used for both cold and domestic hot applications up to 140F. CHOT Product can be used for cold, domestic hot or commercial hot applications (up to 180F). PEX 0006 (or CL-0) No chlorine resistance rating (not used in potable water) PEX 1006 (or CL-1) Product exposed 25% of time at 140F and 75% of time at 73F (formerly CL-TD) PEX 3006 (or CL-3) Product is exposed 50% at 140F and 50% at 73F (formerly Cl-R) PEX 5006 (or CL-5) Product is exposed 100% of time at 140F A list of certified plumbing products can be obtained online at www.nsf.org/certified/plumbing or at www.nsf.org/certified/pwscomponents.

NSF International | 789 N. Dixboro Road, P.O. Box 130140, Ann Arbor, MI 48113-0140 Consumer Hotline: 1-888-99-SAFER | Website: www.nsf.org