Underwriters Laboratories, a not-for-profit product safety certification organization based in Northbrook, Ill., said Apr. 21 it is now providing manufacturers of plumbing related products certification to Annex G of ANSI/NSF 61.
   Annex G is an optional evaluation method for products to demonstrate less than 0.25 percent weighted average lead content. For manufacturers to comply with this standard, products exceeding 0.25 percent weighted average lead content will have to be re-engineered or new products will need to be developed to replace them.
   “UL is aware that test protocols recognized by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control and required in Assembly Bill 1334 are absent from Annex G,” said Jeff Smith, general manager of UL’s global water business. “Confusion around the regulation is apparent so we have developed a course of action to help manufacturers quickly and smoothly navigate the compliance process.”
   In addition to offering the certification to Annex G, UL is creating a separate certification program for low-lead compliance that will include testing of metal alloys to demonstrate compliance to AB 1953. This program will help manufacturers with products that are required to demonstrate compliance with the California law, but are not covered by or specifically included in ANSI/NSF 61. This program will also give manufacturers the option of demonstrating compliance with the law using a means other than Annex G.
   An additional benefit of this standalone program, UL said, is that it can include testing protocols as soon as they are recognized by the DTSC, rather than waiting for adoption of the protocols into Annex G.
   “UL is currently participating in round-robin testing with other manufacturers and certifying bodies in order to establish a clear, reproducible, and scientifically sound approach to demonstrating compliance with AB1953, but there is no guarantee that the California DTSC will recognize the methods,” Smith said. “In the event that testing protocols and methods are added to Annex G of Standard 61, UL will be fully prepared to immediately offer this service.”