Plastics

NSF can help ensure you comply with all major building, plumbing and mechanical codes through our comprehensive testing and certification services.  Our proven expertise includes pressure testing, chlorine resistance testing, hydrostatic design stress (HDS), DWV, sewer, chemical resistance and more.

Additionally, our global network allows you to access new markets like Brazil, China, the Middle East and Africa. Get certified by NSF – the most widely recognized and respected certification mark in the plastic piping industry.

Electrical Conduit

NSF international provides testing and certification of PVC and HDPE electrical conduit pipe, fittings, bends and telecommunications duct to UL and NEMA standards. NSF certification of electrical conduit provides listing and labeling on electrical conduit to ANSI/UL 651 Schedule 40 and 80 Rigid PVC Conduit and Fittings as well as the Canadian counterparts CSA-C22.2 No. 211.1 and No. 211.2.

Acceptance of NSF’s listed and labeled electrical products is widespread and based on our designation as an OSHA Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) for electrical safety and our accreditation by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC).

Conduit pipe, fittings and bends undergo an extensive evaluation process including product testing, materials testing and formulation review, facility inspection and annual review.

Fire Safety

It is crucial that every component in a fire sprinkler system performs as intended. This is why all major building and plumbing codes have strict requirements for products to be tested by an independent third party to ensure they meet industry-accepted standards.

Trusted by the regulatory community for 75 years, NSF is a fully accredited organization that provides fire safety testing and certification to industry standards to verify product safety and quality.

We are authorized to test a wide variety of fire safety components including:

  • Fire sprinkler pipe and fittings — UL 1821, ULc ORD C199P
  • PVC fire service main pipe and fittings — UL 1285, ULc ORD C1285
  • Smoke and flame ratings — ASTM E84, ULc S102, ULcS102.2

Gas Piping and Distribution Systems

NSF certification ensures your gas pipeline products meet the highest quality requirements and provides gas utilities, code/regulatory officials and consumers with confidence in the quality and safety of your product. NSF has a long history in the plastics industry. Our experts actively serve on committees — including the Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) Hydrostatic Stress Board, ASTM, ASME and AGA — to promote the long-term quality and safety of plastic pipe for a variety of applications.

Geothermal Piping Systems

NSF has been testing and certifying many different kinds of plastic piping and plumbing components for over 50 years.

To help ensure the utmost quality and efficiency for geothermal piping systems, we facilitated the development of a series of American National Standards. These standards define minimum physical and performance requirements and establish product testing, long-term strength and quality control requirements. Each standard addresses particular types of polyethylene and piping fixtures and fittings, all with geothermal end-uses. Clients only need to be certified to the standard that applies to their product.

The standards are:

  • NSF/ANSI 358-1: Polyethylene Pipe and Fittings for Water-Based Ground-Source (Geothermal) Heat Pump Systems
  • NSF/ANSI 358-2: Polypropylene Pipe and Fittings for Water-Based Ground-Source “Geothermal” Heat Pump Systems
  • NSF/ANSI 358-3: Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) Pipe and Fittings for Water-Based Ground-Source “Geothermal” Heat Pump Systems
  • NSF/ANSI 358-4: Polyethylene of Raised Temperature (PE-RT) Pipe and Fittings for Water-Based Ground-Source “Geothermal” Heat Pump Systems

This standard series requires quality control testing at your manufacturing site to help your company display continuous compliance and product performance to your customers. Certification to any NSF/ANSI 358 standard satisfies requirements of the International Mechanical Code (IMC) and the Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC).

North American Requirements

Compliance to NSF/ANSI 14: Plastics Piping System Components and Related Materials is required by all major plumbing codes including the Uniform Plumbing Code, the National Standard Plumbing Code and the International Plumbing and Residential Code.

NSF/ANSI 14 establishes minimum physical, performance, health effects, quality assurance, marking and recordkeeping requirements for plastic piping components and related materials such as:

  • Thermoplastic materials
  • Thermoset materials
  • Non-plastic components
  • Piping and tubing
  • Fittings and valves
  • Appurtenances
  • Joining materials and gaskets
  • Ingredients of materials
  • Special engineered products and materials

NSF has the qualifications and reputation to help your business meet the needs of the market and get the recognition and acceptance that is critical to your company’s success.

Oxidative Resistance Testing

NSF’s advanced pipe test facility has the largest oxidative resistance testing capacity worldwide, providing the unique ability to quickly and effectively measure and evaluate material performance over time. Our capabilities include accelerated testing of the potential impact of disinfectants on the long-term performance of materials in potable water applications (most commonly PEX, PE, PE-RT and PP) as well as proprietary testing methodologies and leading edge proprietary analysis methodologies.

We currently test to:

  • ASTM F2023 – Standard Test Method for Evaluating the Oxidative Resistance of Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) Tubing and Systems to Hot Chlorinated Water
  • ASTM F2263 – Standard Test Method for Evaluating the Oxidative Resistance of Polyethylene (PE) Pipe to Chlorinated Water

Plastic Pipe and Fitting Testing

NSF is the plastic industry’s leading testing and certification organization, with proven experience in certifying various types of plastic pipes and fittings used in today’s global applications. From drinking water to radiant floor heating systems, our experts can help ensure your product is tested and certified against the appropriate standards for your distribution and can even help you expand into international markets with ease.

The NSF mark is the industry’s most widely recognized and most respected certification mark for plastic piping products.

Pressure Testing (HDS)

NSF has the largest hydrostatic testing capacity in North America. We utilize standard pressure testing methodologies to determine a material’s hydrostatic design basis (HDB) and hydrostatic design stress (HDS). These test methods allow NSF to forecast the long-term material strength to help ensure safe use in the field.

HDB: The categorized long-term hydrostatic strength (LTHS) in the circumferential or hoop direction, for a given set of end use conditions as established by ASTM D2837.

HDS: The recommended maximum hoop stress that can be applied continuously with a high degree of certainty that pipe failure will not occur.

We currently test to:

  • ASTM D1598 – Standard Test Method for Time-to-Failure of Plastic Pipe Under Constant Internal Pressure
  • ASTM D1599 – Standard Test Method for Resistance to Short-Time Hydraulic Pressure of Plastic Pipe, Tubing, and Fittings
  • ASTM D2837 – Standard Test Method for Obtaining Hydrostatic Design Basis for Thermoplastic Pipe Materials or Pressure Design Basis for Thermoplastic Pipe Products
  • ISO 9080 – Plastics piping and ducting systems – Determination of the long-term hydrostatic strength of thermoplastics materials in pipe form by extrapolation
  • CSA B137.0 – Definitions, General Requirements, and Methods of Testing for Thermoplastic Pressure Piping

Reclaimed Water Piping

NSF has decades of experience certifying piping for reclaimed water end uses. This PVC or PE piping transmits non-potable water through municipally reclaimed distribution lines and is purple to distinguish it from potable water piping. Products bearing the “NSF rw” certification mark are suitable for use in reclaimed or recycled water, treated grey water and rain water applications. Our certification ensures that pipes meet long-term strength, physical and performance specifications, as well as the quality assurance requirements of NSF/ANSI 14.

Slow Crack Growth/Rapid Crack Propagation

Slow Crack Growth: The majority of field failures in piping are attributable to slow crack growth (SCG) fractures. These fractures are characterized by the stable growth of a crack with little deformation in the plastic material. SCG testing involves accelerating the growth mechanism and can be done through elevated temperature, concentrated stress, constrained geometry, surfactants or some combination of these factors. These test methods are applicable to polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polybutylene (PB) piping.

Rapid Crack Propagation: Rapid crack propagation (RCP) is a fast fracture type of failure. Cracks are thought to initiate at internal defects on an impact of impulse event and can travel long distances quickly. RCP occurs in pressurized systems with enough stored energy to drive cracks faster than energy is released. Cracks tend to have a smooth fracture surface. RCP is affected by temperature, energy driving force, material, pipe size and processing efforts.  We can test a variety of pipe diameters including 4”, 8”, 10”, 12” and 110 mm.

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