What is NSF/ANSI Standard 61?
NSF the Organization
The National Sanitation Foundation was originally founded in 1944 as an organization dedicated to standardizing sanitation and food safety regarding soda fountains and luncheonette equipment. Today, NSF International has grown to become an accredited, independent third-party certification body that tests and certifies a wide range of products to verify they meet certain public health and safety standards. NSF is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to develop American National Standards and uses a ballot system similar to ANSI to revise and maintain those standards. Products that meet these requirements bear the NSF mark.
NSF Standards
NSF/ANSI Standard 61 pertains to products in contact with potable or drinking water in the United States. This is a performance-based standard that evaluates the amount of contaminants that leach from the products into drinking water, rather than setting prescriptive limits on content. These products include butyl bladders, pipes, gaskets, hoses, faucets, water fountains, filters, valves lubricants, coatings, adhesives and more.
The National Sanitation Foundation’s standards help keep potable water in safe, drinkable conditions for the public. The NSF/ANSI Standard 61 certification signals that a product is safe to be installed in a potable water system for public use or consumption and is verified by a 3rd party.
NSF Certification and Compliance
A product must undergo independent, 3rd party verification to be NSF certified. Regular on-site inspections and audits of materials, facilities, and product testing must be conducted to ensure rigorous adherence to NSF standards over time. Products that are NSF compliant adhere to the same strict standards but are not subject to the same independent testing. Wessels is proud to use parts that comply with NSF/ANSI Standard 61 in our relevant products.