CSA Standard B483CSA Standard B483An OverviewAn Overview

Scott MacdonaldScott MacdonaldEnvirogard Products LimitedEnvirogard Products Limited

Discussion PointsDiscussion Points

• CSA B483CSA B483– Background & historyBackground & history– BasicsBasics– Products affectedProducts affected– Future of B483Future of B483

• Canadian Regulatory StructureCanadian Regulatory Structure– BackgroundBackground– Related to B483Related to B483

• Effect on water treatment industryEffect on water treatment industry– ManufacturersManufacturers– DealersDealers

A word about CSAA word about CSA

• CSA International is an CSA International is an internationally recognized internationally recognized testing laboratory accredited testing laboratory accredited by by Standards Council of Standards Council of CanadaCanada and and Occupational Occupational Safety & Health Safety & Health Administration, ULAdministration, UL and and ANSIANSI..

• CSA is the most widely CSA is the most widely accepted certification mark in accepted certification mark in Canada for manufacturers Canada for manufacturers and consumers.and consumers.

• CSA marks are accepted by CSA marks are accepted by regulatory authorities in the regulatory authorities in the occupational health and occupational health and safety, electrical, gas, safety, electrical, gas, building, plumbing and many building, plumbing and many other fields in the U.S. and other fields in the U.S. and Canada. Canada.

CSA B483 - BackgroundCSA B483 - Background

• Desired by Ottawa when Bill C14 failed Desired by Ottawa when Bill C14 failed – (i.e. regulate through the plumbing code)(i.e. regulate through the plumbing code)

• Helped along by Quebec who wanted to Helped along by Quebec who wanted to regulateregulate

• Facilitated by CSA as the creator of Facilitated by CSA as the creator of plumbing standards in Canada.plumbing standards in Canada.

CSA B483 - BackgroundCSA B483 - Background

• Most are familiar with Most are familiar with – CSA standards like B125 for CSA standards like B125 for

plumbing or with CSA marks plumbing or with CSA marks on plumbing products on plumbing products

– NSF/ANSI Standards which NSF/ANSI Standards which are material safety, product are material safety, product performance and mechanical performance and mechanical integrity based.integrity based.

• B483 is essentially the B483 is essentially the NSF/ANSI standards and NSF/ANSI standards and some mechanical some mechanical provisions added to provisions added to harmonize them with the harmonize them with the mechanical requirements of mechanical requirements of the Canadian Plumbing the Canadian Plumbing Code for similar Code for similar componentscomponents

Some mechanical RequirementsOf Canadian Plumbing Code

CSA B483

+

CSA B483 - BackgroundCSA B483 - Background• These mechanical provisions relate to These mechanical provisions relate to

fittings/components such as faucets, valves , fittings/components such as faucets, valves , diverters, tubing, etc.diverters, tubing, etc.

• Additional tests beyond those in ANSI/NSF Additional tests beyond those in ANSI/NSF standards are required such as: standards are required such as: – Lifecycle on/off – Lifecycle on/off – (Valves diverters & swing spouts)(Valves diverters & swing spouts)– Quality of coating finishes – e.g. corrosion, flaking etc.Quality of coating finishes – e.g. corrosion, flaking etc.– Thermal cycling for faucet devicesThermal cycling for faucet devices– Electrical components must meet CSA standards.Electrical components must meet CSA standards.– Backflow preventer tests, where applicableBackflow preventer tests, where applicable– Solenoid tests, if used Solenoid tests, if used – Open tank overflow preventionOpen tank overflow prevention

CSA B483 – Products AffectedCSA B483 – Products Affected• POE and POU products that currently fall under any of POE and POU products that currently fall under any of

the NSF/ANSI standards. Additional POE products with the NSF/ANSI standards. Additional POE products with no standard.no standard.

• POU products have to comply with all applicable POU products have to comply with all applicable NSF/ANSI requirements PLUS B483 requirements.NSF/ANSI requirements PLUS B483 requirements.

• All POE products have to comply only with the material All POE products have to comply only with the material safety and mechanical integrity requirements and safety and mechanical integrity requirements and not the not the performance requirement of the applicable NSF/ANSI performance requirement of the applicable NSF/ANSI std. std. – This was proposed by industry to help with POE devices This was proposed by industry to help with POE devices

assembled in low volumes and many variationsassembled in low volumes and many variations

• Other products affected Other products affected – filters in refrigerators, filters in refrigerators, – perhaps filters in water coolers or water coolers themselves.perhaps filters in water coolers or water coolers themselves.

CSA B483 – What’s in future?CSA B483 – What’s in future?

• May see both the NSF/ANSI logo and the May see both the NSF/ANSI logo and the CSA B483 logo or just the B483 logo on CSA B483 logo or just the B483 logo on products products 

• Further meetings of the Committee may Further meetings of the Committee may result in changes to the standard and the result in changes to the standard and the ultimate form existing at the time of the ultimate form existing at the time of the next edition of the Code (2010) will be the next edition of the Code (2010) will be the one included.one included.

• If you want to join and participate contact If you want to join and participate contact Kevin Wong (CWQA) for details.Kevin Wong (CWQA) for details.

Canadian Regulatory Structure & B483Canadian Regulatory Structure & B483• Feds do research, direct discussion for Feds do research, direct discussion for

legislation and regulation and arm twist legislation and regulation and arm twist the provinces as best they can to work the provinces as best they can to work as a unified whole especially where as a unified whole especially where health is concerned.health is concerned.

• But the provinces are in charge of water But the provinces are in charge of water quality regulations and they may quality regulations and they may regulate as they see fit.regulate as they see fit.

• After B483 standard publishes, After B483 standard publishes, provinces can choose to adopt it in provinces can choose to adopt it in whole, or in part, in their regulatory whole, or in part, in their regulatory requirements. requirements.

• Adoption by a province, likely through Adoption by a province, likely through regulation, also takes time as they regulation, also takes time as they typically go through a review of their typically go through a review of their current regulations and usually (but not current regulations and usually (but not always) ask for public input  to the always) ask for public input  to the changes.changes.

Feds(Research, Discussion

& Regulation)

Provinces(Regulate as they

See fit)

COMPLIANCE

Canadian Regulatory StructureCanadian Regulatory Structure& B483& B483

• B483 published on April 19B483 published on April 19thth, 2007, 2007• Some Provinces may choose to wait until it is Some Provinces may choose to wait until it is

part of the National code before adopting it.part of the National code before adopting it.• It will not be included in the National It will not be included in the National

Plumbing Code until 2010 (next update)Plumbing Code until 2010 (next update)• It can be adopted by any province after It can be adopted by any province after

being published as a CSA standardbeing published as a CSA standard• Therefore, new regulations won’t happen Therefore, new regulations won’t happen

immediately right across the countryimmediately right across the country• Likely that by 2010 (or shortly thereafter) Likely that by 2010 (or shortly thereafter)

most provinces will regulate to B483 most provinces will regulate to B483 standardstandard

B483 & the Provinces as of NowB483 & the Provinces as of Now

Quebec plans to modify its Quebec plans to modify its current regulations shortly current regulations shortly and may adopt it in whole or and may adopt it in whole or part this year through the part this year through the regulatory process regulatory process (including public discussion (including public discussion we hope).we hope).

Ontario has expressed interest Ontario has expressed interest in reviewing and adopting it in reviewing and adopting it through regulatory changethrough regulatory change

Alberta has expressed Alberta has expressed some interest at this pointsome interest at this point

B483 – Effect on Our IndustryB483 – Effect on Our Industry

• Depends on Depends on – What products you are involved withWhat products you are involved with– Where you are selling - which province(s)Where you are selling - which province(s)

• ManufacturersManufacturers– Are more or less along in the process of Are more or less along in the process of

testing to NSF/ANSI standards and some testing to NSF/ANSI standards and some additional testing that may be required for additional testing that may be required for certain products to comply with B483certain products to comply with B483

– Timeline depends on the two factors aboveTimeline depends on the two factors above

B483 – Effect on Our IndustryB483 – Effect on Our Industry

• Depends on Depends on – What products you are involved withWhat products you are involved with– Where you are selling - which province(s)Where you are selling - which province(s)

• DealersDealers– Those purchasing certified complete products (POU Those purchasing certified complete products (POU

and POE ) will likely see those product acquire the and POE ) will likely see those product acquire the new B483 standard (more or less quickly) based on new B483 standard (more or less quickly) based on the two factors above - so little changethe two factors above - so little change

– those buying uncertified complete products (POU and those buying uncertified complete products (POU and POE) – will have more or less time to certify those POE) – will have more or less time to certify those products to B483 products to B483 oror switch to buying certified switch to buying certified products depending on the two factors above, the products depending on the two factors above, the latter is more likely due to cost of certifyinglatter is more likely due to cost of certifying

B483 – Effect on Our IndustryB483 – Effect on Our Industry

• Dealers selling POU or POE products under their own Dealers selling POU or POE products under their own brand brand – will need companion certifications from the will need companion certifications from the

manufacturer (may be an administrative charge ) manufacturer (may be an administrative charge ) or or – will drop the private labelwill drop the private label

• Those assembling POU products from components Those assembling POU products from components – Will have to certify these products to B483 – unlikely Will have to certify these products to B483 – unlikely

due to high costdue to high cost• Those assembling POE products Those assembling POE products

– Will need to acquire certified components only and Will need to acquire certified components only and then get their assembled product certified (should not then get their assembled product certified (should not be that costly) be that costly) oror switch to purchasing complete switch to purchasing complete certified unitscertified units

For further informationFor further information

Canadian Water Quality AssociationCanadian Water Quality Association295 The West Mall, Suite 330295 The West Mall, Suite 330Toronto, ON M9C 4Z4Toronto, ON M9C 4Z4Tel: 416-695-3068Tel: 416-695-3068Fax: 416-695-2945Fax: 416-695-2945Toll Free: 1-866-383-7617Toll Free: 1-866-383-7617

E-Mail : k.wong@cwqa.comE-Mail : k.wong@cwqa.com