Following and implementing water system and plumbing codes should become easier for many installers, building inspectors and others under a new agreement announced in February by NSF International and the International Code Council (ICC).

According to the announcement, the agreement will make NSF/ANSI standards for drinking water products and food equipment available to building and plumbing code officials through the ICC.

Both organizations say they will work together to provide ICC members, who include many local and state code enforcement officials, as well as contractors and builders, with all NSF/ANSI standards referred to in the International Plumbing Code.

The groups indicate that ICC members should enjoy time and cost savings as a result of consolidation of the requirements throughout the construction industry.

Included in the International Plumbing Code are these NSF/ANSI standards that govern the work of many in the water treatment, water-supply and bottled water industries:

• Standard 14: Plastics Piping System Components and Related Materials

• Standard 42: Drinking Water Treatment Units - Aesthetic Effects

• Standard 44: Residential Cation Exchange Water Softeners

• Standard 53: Drinking Water Treatment Units - Health Effects

• Standard 58: Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Treatment Systems

• Standard 61: Drinking Water System Components - Health Effects

• Standard 62: Drinking Water Distillation Systems

“This is the beginning of a collaborative effort between both organizations to support the plumbing and HVAC industries,” says ICC CEO Rick Weiland.

NSF vice president of water systems Bob Ferguson states, “Working together, we will provide services to building code and plumbing code officials to make sure they obtain the information they need regarding code and regulatory compliance. We are two organizations with a similar mission - we help the world live safer.”