CSA Group offers testing and certification services to validate products against low lead requirements, including NSF/ANSI/CAN 372. Products that successfully meet applicable requirements for certification may display the cCSAus mark with the low lead content indicator. Obtaining the CSA Group mark helps manufacturers and retailers demonstrate compliance with relevant safety and performance requirements.

With a global network of offices and testing laboratories, we possess the technical expertise and capacity to assist manufacturers in navigating necessary North American and international standards — helping facilitate your product’s market access on a worldwide scale.

At CSA Group, we can test and certify your plumbing products against the following low lead requirements:

NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 is a standard that pertains to drinking water system components. It establishes criteria for the amount of lead permitted in wetted materials used in various plumbing products. The standard aims to help ensure that materials used in components, such as pipes and fittings, meet specific requirements for low lead content, contributing to the safety of drinking water. Demonstrating compliance with NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 is essential for manufacturers and suppliers in the water industry to meet regulatory requirements and provide consumers with access to safe and clean drinking water.

In Canada, provincial and territorial jurisdictions have adopted the National Plumbing Code (NPC) and may make amendments as needed. The 2020 Codes were released in March 2022 and reference standards up to July 15, 2019.

Many plumbing standards referenced in the NPC require compliance with NSF/ANSI/CAN 372. Nearly all plumbing products that come into contact with water that is intended for human consumption must meet these low lead content requirements.

The U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) outlining the low lead requirements took effect in 2011. The act limits the amount of lead allowed to be present in plumbing materials, such as brass and bronze, that may contact drinking water. The SDWA requirements closely align with California regulations, including a maximum allowable lead content of 0.25% on wetted surfaces.

The EPA’s Final Lead Rule (21CFR138B — Use of Lead-Free Pipes, Fittings, Fixtures, Solder, and Flux for Drinking Water) came into effect in September 2023, reinforcing the earlier mandate of manufacturers and suppliers having to obtain certification from an accredited third-party certification body, such as CSA Group.

Manufacturers and suppliers aiming to comply with the U.S. and Canadian low lead content requirements must demonstrate adherence to the NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 standard and the National Plumbing Code. The majority of potable water plumbing products sold in the U.S. and Canadian markets must meet the stipulated low lead content requirements for each jurisdiction.

As a trusted global provider of testing and certification services with more than 100 years of experience, you can rely on CSA Group to evaluate and certify your plumbing products in accordance with the NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 standard and the National Plumbing Code. When you work with CSA Group, you will interact directly with the certifier and/or technician assigned to your project — granting you direct access to a wealth of technical expertise to help you navigate through the standards that affect your business.