NSF/ANSI 372 — The North American Lead Rule
NSF/ANSI 372 is a drinking-water health standard that limits the weighted average lead content of wetted surfaces to 0.25%. It is the baseline for the US and Canada, and it underpins state-level requirements such as California and Vermont low-lead laws. For a faucet, "NSF" in a buyer’s email almost always means NSF/ANSI 372 compliance of the brass body and waterway components.
EN 817 — The European Mechanical Standard
EN 817 covers mechanical mixing valves — single-lever faucets in plain language. It specifies performance: pressure resistance, leak tightness, mechanical endurance and torque, plus permanent marking. It does not itself set chemical limits, so European buyers may additionally ask for drinking-water approvals on wetted materials, such as DVGW/KTW in Germany or ACS in France, depending on the destination.
- US / Canada: NSF/ANSI 372 lead content, often plus ASME A112.18.1 performance
- EU: EN 817 mechanical performance and marking
- Germany / France: additional drinking-water material approvals (DVGW/KTW, ACS)
- Other markets: usually accept one of the above as evidence
| Framework | Region | What it covers | Typical evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSF/ANSI 372 | US / Canada | Lead ≤ 0.25% weighted average on wetted parts | Third-party certificate + listing |
| ASME A112.18.1 | North America | Performance: pressure, endurance, finish | Accredited lab report |
| EN 817 | European Union | Mechanical strength, leaks, endurance, marking | Lab test report |
| DVGW/KTW · ACS | Germany / France | Drinking-water material hygiene approval | Approval certificate |
What Buyers Should Ask Suppliers For
Ask which laboratory issued each report — SGS, TÜV, Intertek and similar third parties are the credible names — and check that the report scope matches the actual product family, not just "similar model". Lead-content compliance depends on the brass ingot and every wetted component, so a report from two years ago on a different body casting proves little. Reputable manufacturers refresh reports per production family and can supply them within days.
FAQ
Does NSF/ANSI 372 also test performance?
No. It covers lead content only. Performance for North America comes from ASME A112.18.1, which tests pressure, endurance and finish durability. Buyers often reference "NSF and ASME" together for this reason.
Can one report cover a whole product family?
Only if the family shares the same waterway components and brass. A new body casting or a different cartridge invalidates the scope — always check the model list attached to the certificate.
What is cUPC?
cUPC is the combined US-Canada certification mark issued by IAPMO. For faucets it bundles NSF/ANSI 372 lead compliance with ASME A112.18.1 performance — one mark covering both questions.
Do European buyers need NSF certificates?
Usually not. They ask for EN 817 test evidence, plus drinking-water material approvals (DVGW/KTW in Germany, ACS in France) where regulations require. NSF appears mainly when products are dual-listed for export to North America.
References
- https://www.nsf.org
- https://www.asme.org
- https://www.iso.org
- https://www.iapmo.org
Conclusion
Treat the two frameworks as complementary: NSF/ANSI 372 (with ASME A112.18.1) opens North America, EN 817 opens Europe. Match each certificate to the exact product family and the issuing laboratory, and certification stops being a bottleneck in your sourcing plan.
