Approvals for drinking/potabile water

WRAS

This English legislation provides for a list of permitted substances and ingredients.

The certifications are differentiated according to:

  1. Type of test material (NBR, EPDM, VMQ…)
  2. Operating temperature (23° C, 60° C, 85° C)

The tests carried out by the responsible laboratories are as follows:

  1. Smell and taste of water
  2. Micro-biological test of growth of aquatic micro-organisms
  3. Extraction of heavy metals
  4. High temperature test
  5. Cytotoxicological test with living animal cells

Such certification is valid for a period of five years.

 

KTW

The German company TZW carries out the certifications for the drinking/potabile water sector according to KTW 1.3.13.
This legislation provides for a list of permitted substances and ingredients.
The certifications are differentiated according to:

  1. Contact surface of the joint (A, B, C, D1 and D2)
  2. Operating temperature (23°C, 60°C, 85°C)

The tests to be carried out by the responsible laboratories are as follows:

  1. Smell, taste and appearance of water
  2. Distribution of estimated organic compounds as carbon (TOC)
  3. Diluted chlorine consumption in water
  4. Research for released substances such as formaldehyde, phenol, aromatic amines, PAK
  5. Extraction of heavy metals such as zinc and lead.

Such certification is valid for a period of five years.

 

UBA

Adeguamento Compliance/adaptation of the guideline for natural and synthetic rubber by the German Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt — UBA ) redefining certain aspects :

  1. List of permitted substances
  2. Methods of material analysis (migration test procedure)
  3. Limit values of acceptability

Silicone and thermoplastic compounds (TPE) will continue to be regulated by KTW.
Such certification is valid for a period of five years.

 

DVGW-W2 70

The DVGW-W270 worksheet is required in conjunction with the certifications for the drinking/potabile water sector, according to the KTW 1.3.13 for Germany.
This legislation provides a list of permitted substances (it is the same as KTW certification), so only compounds containing these ingredients can be subjected to laboratory tests.

The test according to the W270 worksheet is a pure compound test/is a test on the compound (Il test secondo il foglio di lavoro W270 è un test puro sulla mescola), so it is to be performed with the material used for the production of the consumer article in the form of plates. (sotto forma di placchette)  I could not find this word in the dictionary.  typo?  W270 test consists in placing the rubber material inside a current water pipe for a period of 3 months. The result is a volumetric evaluation of bacteriological growth, which is scraped from the walls of the plates. In this case, too, the requirements vary according to the categories related to the contact surface of the article (A, B, C, Dl and D2), the same as the KTW standard.
Such certification is valid for a period of five years.

 

N 681-1

The N 681-1 is a European standard that specifies the physical-mechanical requirements of the materials used in the seals for the following applications:

  1. The supply of cold drinking water (up to 50°C)
  2. The supply of drinking and non-drinking hot water (up to 110°C)
  3. Sewage, drainage and rainwater supply systems.
  4. Sistemi di convogliamento di acque di scarico, di acque fognarie e di acque piovane.

This legislation distinguishes different designations (WA, WB, WC, WD, WE, WF, WG) of the seals according to type, application and requirements to be met. The tests included: hardness, load and elongation at break, compression set, resistance to ageing when exposed to air, relaxation of the compressive force, change in volume in water, resistance to ozone.

 

DVGW-W534

DVGW-W534 is a regulation issued by DVGW, which applies in particular to seals for the press-fitting sector, and therefore to contact with hot drinking water.

The DVGW-W534 standard provides that the materials comply with the KTW regulations (for the organoleptic tests to be carried out on the materials) and EN 681-1 (for the physical-mechanical tests). In addition,  a compression set test in water, in conditions of 3000h to 110°C, with detection of values every 1000h. This test has the clear intention of evaluating the behaviour of the material in a very significant time span. The maximum compression set value allowed is 40%, but it is important that the performance deterioration every 1000h is not more than 5%.
The DVGW-W534 stipulates a surveillance contract between our company and DVGW, which sends its employees to verify our production process and to take samples for testing.  This process occurs annually.

 

NSF

The N5F is the American organisation that carries out different types of certifications for the drinking/potabile water sector, food and more. Each type identified with a standard.
Standard 61 refers to the drinking water sector.
The first step of the certification involves the verification, by a toxicological laboratory, of the formulation of the material; here is a list of permitted substances, for which only compounds containing these ingredients may be subjected to laboratory tests.
The second phase of the certification involves a visit of the NSF (there is a typo in the ITALIAN section that says N5F) employees at the production site, who verify the quality production methods according to which the company operates.
The third step is the extraction tests to be carried out on the materials.
The certifications are differentiated according to:

  1. Article contact surface (expressed in sq. In./L)
  2. Operating temperature (up to a maximum of 82°C)

Tests carried out by the external laboratories include the extraction and detection of dangerous substances which may be released into water, such as:

  1. Aromatic hydrocarbons and hydrocarbons
  2. High molecular weight semi-volatile components
  3. High molecular weight volatile components

This certification has an annual validity, which requires an audit by the NSF authority (there is a typo in the ITALIAN section that says N5F) of our quality system and process, with the relevant product samples to be analysed.
Standard 51 refers to the food sector.
In this case the certification process is the same as described above for standard 61,  the only difference being that the positive reference list is that provided by the FDA.

 

KIWA

KIWA is the Dutch organisation responsible for the certification of the drinking water sector according to BRL 2013. This legislation provides for a list of permitted substances, so only compounds containing these ingredients can be subjected to laboratory tests. The certifications are differentiated according to the temperature of use, which in this case are comparable to those already described for EN 681-1.
The tests carried out by the assigned/ responsible laboratories are as follows:

  1. Smell, taste and appearance of water
  2. Micro-biological aquatic micro-organisms growth test
  3. Physical-mechanical tests (almost equivalent to EN 681-1 regulations).

This certification has an annual validity, which provides for an audit by the KIWA delegates of our quality system with related sampling to be analysed.

 

ACS

The ACS (Attestation de Confarmité sanitaire) is issued by the laboratories responsible for carrying out the certifications for the drinking/potabile water sector, according to the certifications circolari issued by the French Ministry of Health.

This certification refers to two guidelines:

  1. DGS/V54 n° 2000/232 of 27/04/2000
  2. DGS/V54 n° 99/217 of 12/04/1999

The first of the two guidelines refers to a list of permitted substances to be respected for the materials to be certified. The second guidelines, in addition to the previous one, requires a long series of migration tests carried out according to the XP P 41-250 standard.

The certifications are differentiated according to:

  1. Article contact surface (expressed in cm2/L)
  2. Temperature of use

Such certification is valid for a period of five years.

 

D.M. n° 174

The Ministerial Decree n° 174 of 06/04/2004 establishes, according to Italian legislation, the requirements of materials intended for use in contact with drinking water and requires a positive list of substances, to be verified for the materials to be certified.
The tests carried out by the responsible laboratories are as follows:

  1. Immersion tests in distilled water
  2. Overall migration tests
  3. Peroxide migration tests
  4. Colour, smell and taste tests of water

 

FDA

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is the American body responsible for carrying out certifications for the food sector.
It deals with a wide range of products, each identified by a specific section of the legislation.