by jbs040510 J3 — April 7, 2010—The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the American Society of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE), and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA Standards), all members and accredited standards developers of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), have signed an agreement to harmonize five standards for plumbing products. This initiative aims to bring clarity and consistency to the plumbing community and manufacturers of plumbing devices.
The organizations’ goal in harmonizing the standards is to assist U.S. and Canadian manufacturers by eliminating duplicate efforts of writing standards for the same products in different countries. This will allow each product to be designed, manufactured and tested to a common standard. The standards will be maintained to address new technologies, allow for regional or regulatory differences, and move towards performance-based requirements and standards wherever possible.
The standards included in the agreement address automatic compensating valves, anti-siphon fill valves, trap seal primers, pressurized flushing devices (flushometers), and water temperature limiting devices. The first standard to be addressed under the new agreement will cover performance requirements for automatic compensating valves for individual showers and tub/shower combinations. It is expected to be completed and ready for distribution later in 2010.
