NSF stands for the National Sanitation Foundation. When a valve, fitting, or pipe is NSF certified, it meets or exceeds particular standards enforced by state and federal laws. And that's the topic of this blog post.
Now, not all NSF standards pertain to food or water. There are numerous standards for a variety of medias. Many relate to commercial and residential plumbing. Others are for pharmaceutical safety, etc. The point is, if the valve you want to purchase and use in your application does not carry an NSF certification and the applications requires one, you should contact a valve expert before installation. It's all about safety and protecting yourself from possible liability and suit.
An inspection that fails to identify NSF-certified valves in places where they should be could be very costly, even devastating to a business or municipality, depending on how many valves and other line components would have to be immediately replaced.
A valve that does not clearly have an NSF rating should not be used for distributing potable water or in food processing. Using a valve that isn't certified when you have an application that calls for an NSF Certification will not pass state and federal inspections, and is simply against the law.
Identifying NSF Certification
Most manufacturers will have the NSF seal of approval on their submittal sheets or specification sheets to inform you upfront as to whether or not a valve is NSF certified. Some will list valves as being certified, while others will let you know which valves are not certified. If an NSF certification isn't mentioned on the manufacturer data sheet, it's best to contact them directly.
In addition, since there are so many different reasons for a product to be NSF certified, the acronym NSF may be followed by a series of numbers specifying its specific media certification. For instance, a marking of NSF-61, or NSF/ANSI 61, indicates the valve or other related product has been approved for a potable water application.
NSF Certification Chart
| Product/System Category | Relevant Standards, Protocols & Systems |
| Automotive | |
| Automotive Collision Repair Shop Certification Program | NSF P458 |
| Automotive Parts Certification Program | NSF P367, P368, P369, P370, P371, P377, P379 |
| Automotive Parts Distributor Certification Program | NSF P394 |
| Friction Material Program | SAE J2975 |
| Building Products and Interiors | |
| Electrical Safety | ANSI/UL 48, 197, 651, 763, CSA C22.2 No. 109, 211.2, NEMA TC2, UL 1795 |
| Fire Safety Products | NSF/ANSI 14, ASTM, UL |
| Gas Distribution Products | NSF/ANSI 14, ASTM D2513, CSA B137.4 |
| Consumer and Retail Products | |
| Cosmetics Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) | |
| Home Product Certification | NSF P386, P387, P388, P389, P390, P400, P402, P403, P405, P406, P407, P408, P412 |
| Kitchen Products | NSF/ANSI 184, NSF P152, P156, P180, P203, P205, P224, P235 |
| Water Filters | NSF/ANSI 42, 44, 53, 55, 58, 62, 177, NSF P231, P473, P477, NSF/JWPA P72, CSA B483.1, INMETRO ABNT/NBR 14908 |
| Dietary Supplements | |
| Athletic Banned Substances Program | NSF Certification Guideline 306 |
| Dietary Supplements | NSF/ANSI 173 |
| Functional Food and Beverages | NSF Certification Guideline 229 |
| Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) | |
| Food Safety and Quality | |
| Bottled Waters and Beverages | |
| Commercial Food Equipment | NSF/ANSI 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 18, 20, 21, 25, 29, 35, 36, 37, 51, 52, 59, 169, NSF P149, P155 |
| Consumer Values Verified Certifications | Gluten-Free, Non-GMO True North |
| HACCP Compliance Verification | |
| Hygienically Clean Napery | NSF P413 |
| ISO 21469 Certified Lubricants | |
| Meat and Poultry Processing Equipment | NSF/ANSI/3-A 14159-1, 14159-3 |
| Nonfood Compounds - White Book™ | |
| Organic and Specialty Certifications | QAI Organic Foods, NSF/ANSI 305 Organic Personal Care Products |
| Processed Foods and Beverages | NSF Certification Guideline 227 |
| Laboratory Equipment and Related Services | |
| Biosafety Cabinetry | NSF/ANSI 49 |
| Class II Biosafety Cabinet Field Certifiers | |
| Management Systems | |
| Management Systems Registration | NSF-ISR Registrations for Quality Management Systems, Environmental Health and Safety Management Systems, Information Security Management |
| Sustainability and Environment | |
| Sustainability and Environmental Programs | Sustainable Product Certification, Sustainable Service Certification, Landfill-Free and Other Claims Verifications |
| Water and Wastewater | |
| Bottled Waters and Beverages | |
| Drinking Water System Components | NSF/ANSI 61 |
| Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals | NSF/ANSI 60 |
| Drinking Water Treatment Units | NSF/ANSI 42, 44, 53, 55, 58, 62, 177, 401, NSF P231, P473, P477, NSF/JWPA P72, CSA B483.1, INMETRO ABNT/NBR 16098 |
| Fabricated Ductile Iron Pipe | AWWA C115, C606 |
| Lead Content Certification | NSF/ANSI 372 |
| Onsite Wastewater Inspectors | |
| OQC Registration | Origine e Qualità Controllata |
| Plumbing System Components | NSF/ANSI 14, 24, 358, NSF P374, ASTM, ASME, CSA, IAPMO, ASSE, AWWA |
| Public Drinking Water Equipment Performance | NSF/ANSI 419 |
| Recreational Water Facility Products | NSF/ANSI 50, APSP, ASME, ASTM, IAPMO |
| Wastewater Treatment Units | NSF/ANSI 40, 41, 46, 245, 350, P157, CAN/BNQ 3680-600, ISO 11143 |
| Other | |
| Authorized Protocol Certifications | P149, P151, P154, P155, P157, P172, P182, P231,P308, P335, P351, P352, P353, P413, P442, P447, P467 |
| Laboratory Accreditation |
Conclusion
When in doubt, of course, just ask a professional valve store/distributor that you can trust, like ValveMan.com. We've been in the industrial valve business for over 60 years, and can provide you with what you want to know regarding standards and regulations.
If you found this article informative, and would like to read another, you might also want to check out The Difference Between #150, #300, and #600 Pound Flanges.
