Standards

Potable Water Quality Standards

All plastics and non-plastics material used as components of Polybutene-1 piping systems when in permanent or temporary contact with water which is intended for human consumption must not adversely affect the quality of the drinking water in accordance with the applicable EC Directives and EFTA Regulations on the quality of drinking water. Currently, however, unilateral European standards are unavailable for the accreditation of potable water piping systems. Consequently in June 2000, in an attempt to address this situation, the European Commission initiated a European Acceptance Scheme (EAS) with the objective of harmonising the existing national certification procedures for testing construction products in contact with water intended for human consumption, under the umbrella of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. The accreditation bodies responsible for drinking water quality in each of the member states are contracted to undertake the necessary development work in four co-operative
working groups. Until the scheme comes into force, national accreditation procedures for potable water systems will still apply. Polybutene-1 grades marketed for pipe production in Europe conform to all existing national standards. Manufacturers of polybutene-1 piping systems however are responsible for obtaining national accreditations for their own specific products in the countries where they are marketed. Questions on product accreditations should therefore be addressed to the specific manufacturer.

The responsibility of obtaining approvals for manufactured products and assembled systems from national/international hygiene and water quality authorities lies with the manufacturer of such products.
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Existing ISO/EN water quality standards
ISO FDIS 7686 (EN) Plastics pipes and fittings - Opacity - Test method
Of importance when algae growth must be considered; at present being revised
ISO 8795 (EN) Plastic piping systems for the transport of water intended for human consumption - Migration assessment - Determination of migration values of plastics pipes and fittings and their joints
Evaluation of the data is described in ENV 852
EN 578 Plastics piping systems - Plastics pipes and fittings - Determination of the opacity
Of importance when algae growth must be considered
EN 806 Specification for installations inside buildings conveying water for human consumption
Contains details on planning and designing, including the use of symbols
ENV 852 Plastic piping systems for the transport of water intended for human consumption - Migration assessment - Guidance on the interpretation of laboratory derived migration values
Deals with data obtained according to EN ISO 8795; (see above at ISO 8795); ENV is a non-mandatory guidance
EN 1420 Influence of organic materials on water intended for human consumption - Determination of odour and flavour of water in piping systems
Testing water in pipes and evaluating the results
EN 12873 Influence of materials on water intended for human consumption - Influence due to migration
Test method and interpretation; referred to in EN ISO 15876
EN [155W1 120] Plastics piping systems for the conveyance of water intended for human consumption
Test method for microbiological assessment

Until requirements and methods are set up on an international level for all piping systems and associated components in contact with potable water, the applicable regulations on water quality and health relating to each country must be observed.

The European national water authorities/accreditation bodies are as follows:

The Netherlands: KIWA N.V.
France: Centre de Recherche et de Controle des Eaux de Paris
France: Laboratoire d'Hygiene et de Recherche en Santé Publique
UK: WRcplc
Austria: OVGW - Österreichische Vereinigung fúr das Gas und Wasserfach
Germany: DVGW - Technologiezentrum Wasser
Denmark: Dansk Toksikologi Center
Spain: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Italy: Istituto Superiore di Sanità
Sweden: SP Swedish National Testing and Research Institute
Portugal: Empresa Portuguesa das Águas Livres, SA

Components made from Polybutene-1 intended for use in the conveyance of water for human consumption fulfil all existing requirements of national/international applicable standards in Europe.