NSF International’s Plumbing Program recently introduced a new geothermal listing for piping products that will ultimately produce cost-effective and environmentally-friendly methods to heat and cool buildings.

NSF International’s Plumbing Program recently introduced a new geothermal listing for piping products that will ultimately produce cost-effective and environmentally-friendly methods to heat and cool buildings.

NSF’s new geothermal listing service tests and certifies Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP) piping system products that meet the following requirements:

• Final performance of the product, which includes testing to ASTM D3035 or AWWA C901 requirements for short-term burst, pressure testing and environmental stress crack resistance
• Physical properties of the material used in production – this testing includes density, flexural modulus, tensile strength, and a PENT of at least 192 hours as required by the Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) Part Q
• Long-term hydrostatic stress test – includes evaluation of materials to the requirements of the PPI’s Technical Report 3 (PPI TR-3) as well as testing to European and Asian temperature and pressure requirements
• Health effects testing to ensure compliance with Section 4 of NSF/ANSI Standard 61: Drinking Water System Components - Health Effects if products are to be used in potable water applications

Certified pipe manufacturers will bear the NSF-geothermal mark.

According to Nasrin Kashefi, general manager, NSF Plumbing Programs. “By having the NSF-geothermal mark prominently displayed on products, manufacturers can demonstrate their commitment to the environment, while reassuring consumers that all testing requirements have been met.”

After meeting all testing requirements, Centennial Plastics’ PE has received NSF’s first geothermal certification. 

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, geothermal systems average 40 percent greater efficiency than air-source heat pumps, 48 percent better than natural gas furnaces and 75 percent better than oil furnaces.