Global Certification
NSF helps you gain access to global markets and simplify international product acceptance. The program helps manufacturers of water treatment, distribution, plumbing and residential water filtration products meet multiple strict and complex requirements to sell and compete in major and emerging global markets.
With 75 years of experience working with manufacturers and regulatory agencies, NSF is your single-stop resource for global market access.
Manufacturers all over the world trust NSF, the respected independent testing and certification organization, to provide the approvals needed to leverage new global opportunities. Wherever you need to go, we can get you there.
Australia
NSF has ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for testing to many AS/NZS standards that are required for achieving the Australian WaterMark, which is mandatory for plumbing and water treatment products sold in Australia and New Zealand. The WaterMark certification scheme includes material safety and performance testing as well as an audit of the manufacturing facility or facilities. NSF provides testing services for WaterMark, and our partner in Australia, Global Mark, provides the WaterMark certification.
France
Attestation De Conformité Sanitaire (ACS). The French regulations (French order of 29 May 1997) require the laboratory assessment of products and materials in contact with drinking water to verify that they are not capable of modifying the organoleptic, physico-chemical and microbiological properties of water.
UK-Specific Approvals and Certifications
NSF helps you gain access to UK markets and simplify UK product acceptance. We test against a range of UK and European national and industry standards for the assessment of mechanical and hygienic properties of products serving the needs of manufacturers and suppliers worldwide through our laboratory in Wales (UK).
We also maintain close links with other certification and testing laboratories to assist manufacturers and suppliers with their testing and approval needs.
Test reports and results from this laboratory are accepted by a wide range of certification and approval bodies across the world.
NSF REG4
The NSF REG4 certification scheme represents the best option on the market for independent third-party testing and certification solutions for manufacturers seeking to demonstrate compliance with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, the Water Supply (Water Fittings) (Scotland) Byelaws 2014 and the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009.
These regulations set legal requirements for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of plumbing systems, water fittings and water-using appliances. They prevent misuse, waste, undue consumption and, most importantly, contamination of drinking water.
NSF REG4 testing covers mechanical products with drinking water contact such as valves, backflow prevention devices, taps, mixers, shower heads, pipes and fittings, tanks, cisterns, water meters and many others. NSF REG4 approval also includes non-metallic products such as rubbers, coatings, cements, resins and sealants.
TMV2 & TMV3
NSF offers verification testing and certification services for the TMV2 and TMV3 UK-based certification requirement.
TMV3-designated thermostatic mixing valves are verified as compliant with the performance specification D 08 for valves used in high-risk areas of health care premises. The Department of Health’s HTM 04-01 specifies that these Type 3 valves must comply with the requirements of D 08. This robust performance-based specification ensures the safety of vulnerable people including children, older people, those with reduced mental capacity and users who are unable to react to prevent injury while washing or bathing.
TMV2-designated thermostatic mixing valves are compliant with BS EN 1111 (high pressure) and/or BS EN 1287:1999 (low pressure) and are used in domestic properties or other domestic type situations. The UK Building Regulations Part G requires mixing valves that are compliant with BS EN 1111 and/or 1287:1999 to reduce the risk of scalding.
NSF delivers TMV2 testing and certification against the updated performance standards BS EN 1111:2017 and BS EN 1287:2017.
If your product is certified to the 1999 version of the standards, your certification will naturally expire at the end of your five-year certification period, and thereafter your thermostatic valves will need to satisfy the requirements of BS EN 1111:2017 and BS EN 1287:2017 to be certified as TMV2 compliant.
NSF stopped delivering BS EN 1111:1999 and BS EN 1287:1999 certifications in October 2018 and only certifies against the 2017 versions of the performance standards.
NSF carries out testing to these standards for a wide variety of temperature designations and types. We can also combine tests for the UK, Australian and North American markets.
WRAS
NSF offers third-party testing of fittings to meet the requirements of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, the Water Supply (Water Fittings) (Scotland) Byelaws 2014 and the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009. After our testing is complete, we send the test reports to the WRAS agency, which will provide the approval. This approval requires that a water fitting should not cause waste, misuse, undue consumption or contamination to the water supply and must be of an appropriate quality and standard. Non-metallic materials that contact water are also required to comply with BS 6920.
To make a formal application for testing, please complete an online application. Once we receive this form, we assess the application and advise you of the test requirements, samples required, any additional information required and the costs. We then test your samples and, subject to satisfactory test results, forward the test report to WRAS for approval.
BS 6920
NSF tests products for compliance to BS 6920, a British standard that ensures the suitability of non-metallic products for use in contact with water intended for human consumption. BS 6920 sets out a number of test methods for testing odor and flavor of water in contact with the material, appearance of water, growth of aquatic micro-organisms on the material, extraction of substances that may be of concern to public health and extraction of metals. This is also required for WRAS approval. For some guidance about BS 6920 tests and test sample requirements, view the guidance notes. To make a formal application for testing, please complete an online application:
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- BS 6920 Application
- BS 6920 Application for Elastomeric (Rubber) Products
- BS 6920 Application for Site Applied Products
- BS 6920 Application for Factory Applied Product
Unvented Hot Water Storage Cylinders Regulations
NSF offers testing of all water fittings including unvented hot water storage cylinders. Testing is undertaken by professionals who have extensive experience installing unvented systems in the field and can provide detailed information on all aspects of design, testing and installation requirements.
All unvented hot water storage systems installed in the UK must be in the form of a proprietary unit or package and include the ancillary components (safety kit components) specified in the relevant product standards.
NSF tests all proprietary units and packages to UKAS-accredited test procedures and ensures a proven independent assessment that will clearly demonstrate an acceptable level of verification and performance against the requirements of Building Regulation G3, EN 12897 or BS 6700 as required in the building regulation requirements.
The product standards specify the requirements for materials, design, construction and performance of unvented hot water storage units and packages which are either heated directly by gas or electricity, or are indirectly heated.
To make a formal application for testing, please complete an online application.
OQC Registration for Italian Manufacturers
NSF’s OQC (Origine Qualità Controllata – controlled/certified origin and quality) product registration program verifies the quality and origin of products produced in Italy via documentation review and facility audits.
As the third-party administrator of the new program, NSF verifies that a product complies with OQC guidelines by reviewing quality material safety and performance documentation and performing annual audits of the facility in which the product is made. Registration allows manufacturers based in Italy to confirm production location and demonstrate the safety and quality of their products.
Product categories covered by the OQC product registration program include materials or products that come into contact with drinking water such as mechanical devices used in treatment/transmission/distribution systems, pipes and related products, and mechanical plumbing devices.
In addition to annual facility audits and requiring proof that the product was made in Italy, the OQC product registration program requires validated third-party test reports to demonstrate compliance with NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 61: Drinking Water System Components — Health Effects or other international certifications. Products that comply with these requirements will bear the OQC registration mark.