NSF Standards are the yardstick for objectively comparing drinking water filters. But before evaluating any drinking water filtration products, begin by understanding what your filtration objectives are. You must understand the characteristics of the source water that you are filtering and identify the water quality problems you want to address.
What does NSF stand for in standard?
NSF International was founded in 1944 from the University of Michigan 's School of Public Health as the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) to standardize sanitation and food safety requirements. The process established to develop NSF International's first standards regarding the sanitation of soda fountain and luncheonette equipment, became ...
What are NSF Food Equipment Standards?
NSF food equipment standards include requirements for material safety, to ensure the product will not leach harmful chemicals into food; design and construction, to ensure the product is cleanable and is not likely to harbor bacteria; and product performance.
What does it mean to be NSF certified for Sport?
NSF International’s Certified for Sport ® program meets the growing demands of athletes, coaches and all those concerned about banned substances in dietary supplements and functional foods. We verify that these products do not contain unsafe levels of contaminants, prohibited substances or masking agents, and that what is on the label ...
What is NSF certified for water treatment systems?
- General water filtration devices
- Reverse osmosis systems
- Distillation systems
- Shower filters
- Ultraviolet (UV) systems
- Water softeners
What are NSF water standards?
NSF Standards for Drinking Water Treatment Units NSF/ANSI Standard 42 covers POU and POE systems designed to reduce specific aesthetic or non-health-related contaminants (such as chlorine, taste and odor, and particulates) that may be present in public or private drinking water.
Is NSF 42 better than 53?
Standards for Water Filters Standard 42 covers aesthetic (taste and odor) claims, while Standard 53 addresses health-related claims. Although both standards cover drinking water filters, the methods of performance testing found in the standards vary.
What does NSF test for?
NSF International sets and tests public health and environmental safety standards. In the majority of U.S. states, virtually every product in a commercial kitchen is NSF certified. Examples: sinks, dishwashers, small appliances, cutting boards, etc..
What are the NSF ANSI requirements for food equipment?
NSF food equipment standards include requirements for material safety, to ensure the product will not leach harmful chemicals into food; design and construction, to ensure the product is cleanable and is not likely to harbor bacteria; and product performance.
What does NSF 58 mean?
NSF/ANSI 58 is the American National Standard for point-of-use (POU) reverse osmosis (RO) systems. It was. developed by a joint committee with equal representation from regulators, manufacturers and end users.
What does NSF 61 stand for?
NSF-61 is a set of regulations that covers products that come in contact with drinking water in the USA including pipes, hoses, fittings, gaskets, adhesives, coatings, lubricants, faucets, drinking fountains, filters, water meters, valves, filters, and more.
What is NSF in food safety?
Benefits of NSF Certification The National Sanitation Foundation Institute is a sanitation and safety authority that certifies food equipment that is hygienically designed and built in accordance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food safety and environmental health standards.
What is NSF audit?
NSF testing, auditing and certification services assure suppliers, retailers, regulators and consumers that an independent organization has reviewed a product or system to comply with specific standards for safety, quality, sustainability or performance.
What does NSF mean on equipment?
National Sanitation FoundationFounded in 1944, NSF (short for National Sanitation Foundation) is a non-for-profit organization that develops standards for food safety. When a product is NSF certified, this ensures that the product has been tested by one of the most important organizations in the food service industry.
What are NSF 7 standards?
NSF/ANSI 7: Commercial Refrigerators and Freezers NSF/ANSI 7 establishes minimum food protection and sanitation requirements for the materials, design, manufacture, construction and performance of commercial refrigerators and freezers and their related components.
What standards organizations are commonly involved in the testing of food equipment?
Four agencies play major roles in carrying out food safety regulatory activities: the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS); the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA); the Environmental Protection Agency ( ...
Is NSF 61 a food grade?
NSF-61 is the standard for “Drinking Water System Components-Health Effects”, and deals with materials and products used in contact with drinking water. NSF-51 is the standard for “Plastic Material and Components used in Food Equipment”, and deals with materials and products used in contact with foods and beverages.
What are the NSF standards?
NSF food equipment standards include requirements for material safety, design, construction and product performance.
What is NSF/ANSI 18?
NSF/ANSI 18 establishes minimum food protection and sanitation requirements for the materials, design, construction and performance of equipment and devices that manually dispense food or beverages, in bulk or in portions, and their related components.
What is NSF 2?
NSF/ANSI 2 establishes minimum food protection and sanitation requirements for the materials, design, fabrication, construction and performance of food handling and processing equipment (such as bakery, cafeteria, kitchen and pantry units) and other food handling and processing equipment (such as tables and components, counters, hoods, shelves and sinks).
What is NSF food equipment?
NSF food equipment standards include requirements for material safety, design, construction and product performance. NSF standards and protocols can provide credibility and industry acceptance for emerging technologies, and certification from NSF, the most trusted name in food equipment, can give standing to new products and help them succeed.
What is NSF standards?
NSF's life-cycle based, multi-attribute sustainability assessment standards and protocols are the benchmarks that define sustainability for products or services in many industries.
What is NSF 305?
NSF offers certification to the only American National Standard that defines labeling and marketing requirements for organic personal care products, NSF/ANSI 305. Sustainability Standards and Protocols. NSF's life-cycle based, multi-attribute sustainability assessment standards and protocols are the benchmarks that define sustainability ...
How many food equipment standards are there?
Food Equipment Standards. NSF has facilitated the development of more than 75 standards and protocols for sanitary food equipment, and has certified thousands of products as safe to use in restaurant and commercial kitchen settings.
Why is NSF certification important?
Because of three letters: NSF. NSF certification is your key to making sure that the products you use meet strict standards for public health protection. Choosing a product certified by NSF lets you know the company complies with strict standards and procedures imposed by NSF.
Is NSF certification one time?
Most importantly, NSF certification is not a one-time event , but involves regular on-site inspections of manufacturing facilities and regular re-testing of products to ensure that they continue to meet the same high standards required to maintain certification over time.
What is NSF International?
NSF International: Standards. NSF is seeking experts to serve on various NSF Joint Committees. Members provide technical guidance, review and vote on revisions to NSF/ANSI Standards, and address public health and safety issues. Members are needed to represent Industry, Public Health and Safety / Regulatory, and User stakeholders;
How often is NSF maintained?
NSF's standards are maintained using ANSI's "continuous maintenance" option, meaning that they may be open for comment at any time, and are revised, reaffirmed or withdrawn at least once every five years. For further detail, see NSF's standards development and maintenance policies.
How many standards does NSF develop?
Standards Development. For over 75 years, NSF International has led the development of more than 100 American National Standards for public health, environment and sustainability assessment. NSF.
What is NSF International?
NSF International protects and improves global human health. Manufacturers, regulators and consumers look to us to facilitate the development of public health standards and provide certifications that help protect food, water, consumer products and the environment. NSF leads you forward to help achieve your food safety goals.
What is the NSF mark?
The NSF mark is your assurance that a product has been tested by a trusted independent certification organization. It is valued by consumers, manufacturers, retailers and regulatory agencies worldwide. Learn more about the NSF mark.
Who is the NSF International co-founder?
In honor of NSF International co-founder and first executive director Walter F. Snyder, the award celebrates contributions to environmental health. Waterloo Region collaborates with NSF International to educate businesses and recognize establishments that meet COVID-19 safety requirements.
Is Waterloo Region a NSF?
Waterloo Region collaborates with NSF International to educate businesses and recognize establishments that meet COVID-19 safety requirements. New study finds hidden pharmaceutical cocktails never tested in humans in 17 supplement products available in the United States.
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
The Safe Drinking Water Act was introduced by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This federal law was established in 1974, and is intended to ensure that public drinking water is safe and free from harmful or dangerous contaminants.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
The American National Standards Institute, or ANSI for short, offers accreditation to companies that manufacture a broad range of products, including water filters.
NSF Certified Drinking Water Treatment Units (DWTU)
Manufacturers of water filters have the option to apply to join NSF’s catalog of certified drinking water treatment units. To be featured in this catalog, water filters must adhere to NSF’s requirements for whatever standard they aim to be certified for.
NSF P231
NSF P231 applies to drinking water purifiers that offer microbiological contaminant reduction. Water treatment filters with an NSF P21 certification offer a performance that meets NSF’s standards for purifying water at the biological level and making it safe to drink.
NSF P477
NSF P477 focuses on microcystin reduction. Microcystins are a class of cyanotoxins, a group of bacterial contaminants, that have been found in drinking water sources in the US. Otherwise known as blue-green algae, these contaminants can be highly toxic and harmful to human health.
