NSF Partners with International Code Council to Ensure Ongoing Compliance with International Plumbing Code

February 7, 2006 – Ann Arbor, MI and Falls Church, VA — NSF International and the International Code Council (ICC) today announced a first-of-a-kind agreement that will make NSF American National Standards available to building code and plumbing code officials through the International Code Council.

Under the new agreement, both non-profit organizations will work together to provide ICC members all NSF/ANSI standards referenced in the International Plumbing Code (IPC).  IPC currently references several NSF/ANSI drinking water product and food equipment standards.  The IPC includes regulations for plumbing facilities without restricting the use of new materials, products or methods of construction.

Having ready access to the standards referenced in IPC will result in additional time and cost savings for building and plumbing officials and will help consolidate these requirements throughout the industry.  Members who will benefit from the new agreement include:

• fire officials,
• architects,
• engineers,
• builders,
• contractors,
• elected officials,
• manufacturers, and
• others in the construction industry (state, county and municipal code enforcement).

“This agreement demonstrates our commitment to public health protection,” said Bob Ferguson, NSF Vice President of Water Systems.  “Working together, we will provide services to building code and plumbing code officials to make sure they obtain the information they need regarding code and regulatory compliance.  We are two organizations with a similar mission – we help the world live safer.”

These NSF/ANSI standards referenced in the IPC include: 

• NSF/ANSI Standard 3: Commercial Warewashing Equipment
• NSF/ANSI Standard 14: Plastics Piping System Components and Related Materials
• NSF/ANSI Standard 18: Manual Food and Beverage Dispensing Equipment
• NSF/ANSI Standard 42: Drinking Water Treatment Units – Aesthetic Effects
• NSF/ANSI Standard 44: Residential Cation Exchange Water Softeners
• NSF/ANSI Standard 53: Drinking Water Treatment Units – Health Effects
• NSF/ANSI Standard 58: Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Treatment Systems
• NSF/ANSI Standard 61: Drinking Water System Components – Health Effects, and
• NSF/ANSI Standard 62: Drinking Water Distillation Systems

“The agreement between ICC and NSF underscores our commitment to public health and safety,” said International Code Council CEO Rick Weiland. “This is the beginning of a collaborative effort between both organizations to support the plumbing and HVAC industries.”

NSF is a non-profit organization committed to protecting the public by certifying products and writing standards for food, water, air and consumer goods.  Similarly, ICC is committed to providing quality codes, standards and services to stakeholders concerned with the safety and performance of the building environment. 

If you would like additional information on the NSF/ICC agreement, please contact Bob Ferguson at 734.827.6883 or ferguson@nsf.org.

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