IAPMO R&T Offers Certification to Louisiana’s New ‘Lead‐Free’ Plumbing Law

Ontario, Calif. — On Jan. 1, 2013, Louisiana will join the growing list of U.S. states, counties and cities to strongly regulate the lead content within pipes, fittings and fixtures that come into contact with potable water. IAPMO R&T is already assisting manufacturers by offering certification to the imminent new mandate.

Louisiana House Bill HB.471 “prohibits the use, installation or repair, introduction into commerce, or selling pipes, fittings, fixtures, solder, or flux that is not ‘lead free’ when used for conveying water for human consumption.” According to the bill, “lead free" is defined as not more than 0.2 percent lead when used with respect to solder and flux and not more than a weighted average of 0.25 percent when used with respect to the wetted surfaces of pipes and pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and fixtures.

IAPMO R&T was one of the first third‐party certification bodies in North America to offer listings to the various recently passed “low‐lead” standards and laws. These include:

• Section 116875 of the California Health & Safety Code (commonly known as AB1953)
• Federal Lead Plumbing Law (commonly known as U.S. Senate Bill No. S.3874 “Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act”)
• Vermont's Lead Reduction Law (commonly known as Vermont Act 193)
• Maryland’s Lead Reduction Law (commonly known as Maryland House Bill HB.372)
• Louisiana’s Lead Reduction Law (commonly known as Louisiana House Bill HB.471)
• NSF/ANSI 372‐2010
• The latest edition of the NSF/ANSI 61 Annex G

All federal and state plumbing laws, as well as NSF/ANSI 61 Annex G and NSF/ANSI 372, certified by IAPMO R&T will be listed in one file. Manufacturers need only specify to IAPMO R&T which standard(s)/law(s) they wish to apply.

Manufacturers have long trusted IAPMO R&T for its foresight in assisting them to meet the dynamic legislative demands on their faucets, valves, fittings and other products that contact drinking water. IAPMO and IAPMO R&T have been certifying plumbing products to be in compliance with standards governing their use since the 1940s.

IAPMO R&T is fully qualified and accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Standards Council of Canada (SCC) to provide certification services and listing to Louisiana’s or any other applicable lead-reduction law.

Manufacturers can request more information on low‐lead certification by contacting Anish Desai at (909) 472‐4121 or anish.desai@iapmort.org. For more information on this and other services provided by IAPMO R&T, please visit www.iapmort.org.