Standard Faucets
The term “non-standard” generally refers to products that are not manufactured under the supervision of the Iranian National Standards Organization and, as a result, have not passed standard testing during production. These standards also apply to sanitary faucets, and manufacturers are required to adhere to these standards to produce standard faucets.
According to the Iranian National Standard, which is derived from European criteria, the first assessment in evaluating standard faucets is conducted on the raw materials used in their construction. According to the DIN 1213 standard (1999), all materials in contact with drinking water must not degrade the food quality, appearance, smell, or taste of the water consumed by humans.
This standard recommends certain types of brass alloys for faucet bodies that contain a maximum of 2.5% lead, and any brass alloy with a higher lead content is not permissible. Since brass and bronze faucets are among the most commonly used components in household water systems and one of the primary sources of lead leakage into drinking water, ensuring their compliance with standards is essential to prevent diseases and health issues.
It is worth noting that lead is one of the most persistent and widely spread heavy and toxic elements in the environment, and when it comes into contact with skin and is sufficiently absorbed, it can cause poisoning in humans. Lead exposure can lead to biochemical changes even at low levels of pollution, affecting the nervous system and potentially causing death in severe cases of poisoning. Since lead has no known benefit or positive function in the human body, it should be avoided.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 10 to 20% (or more) of the lead contamination humans are exposed to comes from drinking water, with this figure rising to 40 to 60% for infants. Given the numerous problems caused by lead accumulation in the body and the fact that the best way to treat lead poisoning is to eliminate the sources of contamination in the living and working environment, manufacturers of these faucets must ensure that the brass and bronze alloys used for potable water applications are compliant with standards and that their manufacturing processes do not exceed permissible levels of lead leakage.
Standard Faucet Testing
In general, the list of tests conducted to assess the standard compliance of sanitary faucets is as follows:
- Component sealing test
- Body sealing test
- Seat sealing test
- Angled base sealing test
- Handle and cartridge test (durability)
- Faucet coating test
- Washer and O-ring test
- Brass alloy test
- Dimensional measurement test
- Sampling and marking
Experts’ Opinions on Lead Use in the Faucet Industry
Abbas Marjani, Vice Chairman of Rasan Faucets, in an interview with the Market Analysis website, discussed the presence of lead and said:
“Brass is an alloy, not an element. In faucet manufacturing, 60% copper, 35% zinc, and less than 2.5% lead are used. The remaining 2.5% consists of 19 different elements. The small amount of lead used in brass alloy production, which is approved by standards, is necessary to make the brass ingot machinable. Without this small amount, faucets cannot be designed or machined.”
Mohammad Reza Rafiei, a senior standardization expert, also shared his views on standard faucets in an article in Shargh newspaper, stating:
“The material of the faucets should be brass, composed of 58 to 60% copper as the primary component, with zinc making up 37 to 40% of the alloy. However, the maximum permissible lead content in brass alloy, which is added for better fluidity and formability, should be 2.5%. Any lead content beyond this limit is not allowed because lead does not dissolve in the brass alloy. Metallographic images can easily show the lead particles in brass, which can dissolve in hot water, entering the drinking water and human digestive system.”
How to Identify Standard Faucets
To ensure the purchase of standard faucets, make sure that the standard mark is stamped on the faucet body and, if necessary, on the packaging. Additionally, the faucet brand should be reputable and certified by the Iranian Standards Organization.
Every cheap product has a reason, and nowadays, many non-standard and illegal faucets are being produced with higher lead content, posing significant health risks to humans.
Source: luxshir
