Washington, D.C. (Jan. 6, 2011) — The market for low-lead plumbing products has gotten another boost with President Obama’s signing of the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act, and manufacturers soon will face the challenge of ensuring their customers know that their wares meet these stricter requirements. Although this new law does not require products be listed by a certification agency, IAPMO R&T has been and remains available to help manufacturers prepare and/or certify their products to this new requirement, as the effective date is slated for January 2014.
These new requirements laid out in the newly signed legislation, S. 3874, closely mirror similar guidelines that California adopted in 2006 and became mandatory on Jan. 1, 2010. Just as was done in California and other states that have adopted similar measures, IAPMO R&T stands ready to provide certification services that will result in demonstrating compliance with S. 3874, which reduces the weighted average amount of lead content that is acceptable in plumbing products carrying drinking water to a maximum of 0.25 percent.
Introduced in the U.S. Congress by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., the legislation includes a formula for measuring the weighted average lead content of a pipe, pipe fitting, plumbing fitting or fixture. In addition to the 0.25 percent lead limit on wetted surface areas of fixtures, the law sets the benchmark for solder and flux at 0.2 percent.
Since 1936, IAPMO R&T has been a trusted name among manufacturers for being ahead of the curve when it comes to helping them prepare for and adapt to the ever-changing legislative demands placed on products that come into contact with drinking water. IAPMO R&T was among the first bodies to certify products to California’s low-lead law and now offers a service that covers this new federal law, along with California’s lead law and other states’ requirements. This will benefit manufacturers, as their clients and inspectors can look at one listing certificate to confirm compliance.
“IAPMO R&T has been at the forefront of low-lead certification bodies, having offered the service in California prior to its inception,” said Charles Gross, director of Global Sales for IAPMO R&T. “When it comes to something as crucial as product certification, choosing a fully accredited, widely respected organization such as IAPMO R&T is an obvious choice.”
Manufacturers can request more information on the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act by contacting Charles Gross at (909) 472-4136 or charles.gross@iapmort.org. For more information on this and other services provided by IAPMO R&T, please visit www.iapmort.org.
IAPMO R&T certifies and lists solar, electrical, plumbing and mechanical products according to established U.S. and Canadian codes and standards, ensuring continuous compliance to such documents. IAPMO R&T is part of The IAPMO Group’s family of companies.
Last modified: January 6, 2011