by Shane Henson — December 19, 2011—The call to ensure the public’s health through strongly regulating the lead content within pipes, fittings and fixtures that come into contact with potable water has been taken up by counties, cities and entire U.S states, including Louisiana, which will enforce a new mandate beginning January 1, 2013.
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.
According to IAPMO R&T, North America’s premier plumbing and mechanical product certification agency, the organization is already assisting manufacturers by offering certification to the imminent new mandate.
According to IAPMO R&T, manufacturers have long trusted the organization 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 and are 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.
