I’m happy to be able to report that in April we completed WaterSense® certification of Encino, Calif.,-based Cyber Rain’s line of weather-based commercial and residential irrigation controllers, making IAPMO R&T the first third-party certification body to certify such a product as meeting the latest WaterSense® efficiency specification.
Weather-based irrigation controllers use local weather data to tailor irrigation schedules to actual site conditions. Last November, we received approval to begin certifying these products to the U.S. EPA’s final specification for the WaterSense® consumer product-labeling program, the first outdoor product category eligible to earn the WaterSense® label.
James Crug, Cyber Rain CEO said he was “happy to have worked with IAPMO R&T to achieve our EPA WaterSense® partner certification” because “the process was clear and efficient, and the people with whom we worked are real pros.”
I’m highlighting Mr. Crug’s extremely kind words because even though WaterSense® certification of this technology is new to IAPMO R&T (and everybody else in the industry), certification of outdoor irrigation products is something IAPMO R&T has been providing for decades. When Mr. Crug says we are “real pros,” we take it as both a compliment and validation that our decades-strong experience with these products translates effortlessly to our handling of the new WaterSense® specification.
Among the well-known manufacturers who have trusted — and continue to enlist the services of — IAPMO R&T for certification of their sprinkler valves, vacuum breakers and other outdoor irrigation products are Toro, Hunter, Orbit and Rain Bird. Time and again they return to IAPMO R&T because we know what we’re doing, we do it in a fast, efficient manner, and we issue a mark of conformity that is readily recognized and trusted throughout the United States or Canada — credibility that now extends to WaterSense® labeling of weather-based irrigation controllers, as well.
IAPMO R&T provides independent certification to prospective WaterSense®-labeled models that meet EPA’s water-efficiency and performance criteria, “ensuring that they are able to meet the water needs of the plants without overwatering,” according to the EPA.
IAPMO R&T is a WaterSense® certification licensed certifying body since 2007, certifying the first high-efficiency toilet (HET) to the standard in April of that year. To date, IAPMO R&T has certified thousands of lavatory faucet, toilet, urinal and showerhead models to the WaterSense® specifications. Products bearing the WaterSense® label must not only save water, but also perform as well or better than conventional models on the market.
Manufacturers desiring to have their irrigation controllers carry the WaterSense® label must submit the product for testing and certification by one of EPA’s licensed certifying bodies such as IAPMO R&T, which is accredited to certify these products by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
For more information on having irrigation products listed, contact Brenda Madonna (brenda.madonna@iapmort.org) at (877) 4-UPC-MARK.
Ohannes Dembekjian
Last modified: December 29, 2022