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Previously, we looked into the essence of getting a bathroom faucet with cUPC® certification. We learned that fixtures showing such a uniform plumbing code guarantee public safety, energy efficiency, and cost savings.
In this article, we will talk about another certification that protects human health: NSF International, a mark that represents technical excellence for public health and safety.
Like the cUPC® label, it’s critical to purchase NSF-certified products, especially if you’re buying items intended for contact with drinking water like kitchen faucets.
Short for National Sanitation Foundation, NSF is a global organization that sets health and safety standards for consumer, commercial and industrial products. It’s widely recognized for facilitating standards development and testing programs essential for public health and the environment.
The NSF mark is not only found on plumbing and faucets but also on many other products, including bottled water, dietary supplements, food equipment, home water treatment products, home appliances, and more.
Products bearing an NSF certificate or label guarantee that they have been rigorously tested to comply with standard requirements and procedures for material safety, design, construction, and performance.
Lead exposure is one of the major public health concerns worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lead exposure is responsible for nearly 1.5 percent of annual deaths—and young children are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning.
Unfortunately, lead is everywhere. It is found inside everyone’s household, from dinnerware to ornaments, car keys, food cans, ceramics, batteries, metal jewelry, cosmetics, and tap water.
Among all these sources, taps can have higher levels of lead. Tap water used for cooking, preparing baby formula, and drinking poses health risks—and this is where choosing a kitchen faucet with NSF certification comes to play.
The NSF mark in kitchen faucets confirms that the product and its manufacturer meet or exceed the minimum requirements for the following:
NSF International has set testing programs and standards that tackle lead content and leaching in kitchen faucets. Before we look at these standards, let’s first check what these two are.
Lead content refers to the amount of lead present in plumbing devices. Some products claim to have low lead content, while others claim to be lead-free.
Lead leaching happens when plumbing materials or fixtures containing lead corrode, which causes small amounts of lead to seep into the water.
1. NSF 372
NSF 372 is an American National Standard designed for determining or verifying a product’s compliance to lead reduction. The standard establishes procedures that help manufacturers meet the Safe Drinking Water Act’s (SDWA) lead-free plumbing requirements.
The NSF 372 standard includes the following:
2. NSF 61
While NSF 372 only addresses lead content, NSF 61 contains requirements for lead content and lead leaching. This standard restricts the amount of lead leaching from plumbing endpoint devices, like faucets and drinking fountains.
The NSF 61 standard also looks into lead content and other potential contaminants in pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing, and fixtures; and establishes chemical extraction requirements.
Selecting a kitchen faucet with an NSF mark brings you peace of mind knowing that the product adheres to health and safety regulations.
At Lulani, we ensure our faucets and the components we use in manufacturing them meet the highest international standards, including NSF International.
Check out our complete collection of high-quality kitchen faucets at www.lulani.com/collections/kitchen.
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