Piping systems and components in water installations - Approval and certification schemes

Products and components used in installations for water for human consumption and drainage installations are subject to strict requirements to ensure durability and expected life span

A variety of certification and approval schemes document that the product complies with national legislation. Some of these schemes include both the requirements for the mechanical/physical properties and the health-related properties, while other schemes (Hy-Cert and GDV) only cover the health-related requirements.

The drinking water directive (EU) 2020/2184 and the 'European positive lists of starting substances, compositions’ only allow low lead brass alloys.

This means that many well-known alloys with a high lead content will no longer be allowed. To avoid unnecessary costs associated with retesting due to material changes, it may be advantageous to select an alloy included in the positive list.

Certification and approval procedure

To obtain a certificate or an approval for a product or a component, the following requirements generally apply:

• Type testing: This is a test that encompasses all mechanical and physical requirements according to a recognized standard or method. For migration of harmful substances and release of taste and odour, a migration test is conducted followed by an analysis of the migration water.
• Internal control: The manufacturer must establish a quality management system ensuring that the products continuously meet the requirements on which the certificate or approval was based.
• Inspection: Verification that the manufacturer's internal control is effective. The inspection must be conducted by an independent third party.
• Audit test: This is a sample test from the ongoing production validating that the products continuously meet the requirements, including verifying that the products are identical with those tested during the type testing.

Approval and certification bodies

Danish Technological Institute cooperates with several approval and certification bodies such as:

ETA-Danmark: A Danish approval body that issues VA approvals. This is a voluntary scheme for water and drainage products. A VA approval includes the mechanical/physical requirements of the Danish building regulations. For new and complex materials and construction products that do not fit into the existing classification systems, MK approvals can be issued ensuring quality and safety in construction in Denmark such as wet room membranes.

RISE: A Swedish certification body that issues type approvals verifying the compliance of building products with the requirements of the Swedish building regulations.

SINTEF Certification: A Norwegian certification body that issues product certificates verifying the compliance of building products with the requirements of the Norwegian building regulations.

Eurofins Expert Service OY: A Finnish certification body that issues product certificates verifying the compliance of building products with the requirements of the Finnish building regulations.

DVGW CERT GmbH: A German certification body that issues product certificates verifying the compliance of building products with the requirements of the German building regulations. The certification regulations are specified in the ZP.

INSTA-CERT: A voluntary certification scheme consisting of a Nordic group of certification bodies. An INSTA-CERT certificate is valid and applicable in all the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. For verifying plastic pipes, the Nordic Polymark is used.

Hy-Cert: A German certification body that issues UBA Attention of Conformity certificates verifying that products comply with the requirements of the German Drinking Water Ordinance, TrinkwV.

GDV (Approved for Drinking Water): An approval scheme covering products in contact with drinking water in domestic installations. The scheme is administered by the Danish Social and Housing Agency.