AS/NZS 4020:1999 Products for use in contact with drinking water
Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand
Supersedes: AS 4020(INT)-1994 Products for use in contact with drinking water
This Standard incorporates Amendment No. 1 (May 2001). The changes required by the
Amendment are indicated in the text by a marginal bar and amendment number against
the clause, note, table, figure, or part thereof affected.
In preparing this Standard, consideration has been given to comparable overseas Standards
to minimize duplication of effort and to maintain commonality, wherever reasonable, with
those Standards. Particular consideration has been given to BS 6920, Suitability of
non-metallic products for use in contact with water intended for human consumption with
regard to their effect on the quality of the water. Several of the test procedures and
criteria given in BS 6920 have been adopted or modified for Australian requirements.
This Standard departs from BS 6920 as follows:
(a) Methods of testing and for leaching of toxic substances, because of Australian
experience and established practices.
(b) The requirement for products to be tested at surface area-to-volume ratios that are
not less than those in the intended end-use exposure. Where there is a difference
between test and end-use exposures, provision is made for a scaling factor to be
applied to the test result.
(c) The inclusion of testing for metal extracted from metal products that are often
components of products in contact with drinking water.
Major changes from the previous edition include the following:
(i) Inclusion of an appendix to demonstrate the determination and application of scaling
factors.
(ii) Inclusion of the testing of products in water at high temperatures.
(iii) A revision of the test for mutagenic activity. This test and the test for cytotoxic
activity now make it clear that test results may be referred to an expert in the
respective field for interpretation, as required.
(iv) Modification of the growth of aquatic micro-organisms test to remove requirements
on maximum permitted counts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and coliform organisms.
Attention is called to the fact that, under the provisions of AS 3855, Suitability of
plumbing and water distribution systems products for contact with potable water,
compliance with this Standard becomes mandatory two years after its publication as a full
Standard. During that two year period, it is anticipated that a large range of products will
undergo testing to the Standard. The information gleaned from the results of this testing
will be used to develop a databank for various products, to derive precision data for a
number of tests in the Standard, and to build up a list of products exempt from
undergoing certain tests. This will in turn lead to a constant review of the Standard, and it
is possible that amendments and revisions may be issued, even in excess of the scope of
the usual five-year review cycle of Australian and New Zealand Standards. To this end,
Committee CH/34 will be asked to meet at six-monthly intervals, or less if circumstances
require, to review information acquired from members’ constituencies, and to make
appropriate adjustments to the Standard.
The terms ‘normative’ and ‘informative’ have been used in this Standard to define the
application of the appendices to which they apply. A ‘normative’ appendix is an integral
part of a Standard, whereas an ‘informative’ appendix is for information and guidance
only.
First published in Australia as AS 3855(Int)-1991. Redesignated AS 4020(Int)-1992. Second edition 1994. Jointly revised and designated AS/NZS 4020:1999.
This Standard specifies requirements for the suitability of products for use
in contact with drinking water, with regard to their effect on the quality of water. These
products include all items such as pipes, fittings, components, and materials used in
coating, protection, lining, jointing, sealing and lubrication applications in the water
supply and plumbing industry. The Standard requires that products intended for use in
contact with drinking water be tested by exposure to extractant waters. Where appropriate,
a scaling factor is applied to such tests to compensate for differences between laboratory
and field conditions.
This Standard does not take into account possible changes in materials, methods of
manufacture or installation, nor is any consideration given to the frequency of testing of
products.
This Standard attempts to reproduce the types of conditions experienced during site
application. However, where materials are mixed on site, often in approximate
proportions, and cured in adverse conditions of temperature and humidity, this will not
always be achieved.
Contents:
Foreword
1: Scope
2: Referenced Documents
3: Definitions
4: Test Samples
5: Scaling Factors
6: Test Requirements
7: Hot Water Tests
Appendix A: Sample Preparation
Appendix B: Scaling Factors—Derivation And Application
Appendix C: Test Method—Taste Of Water Extract
Appendix D: Test Method—Appearance Of Water Extract
Appendix E: Test Method—Growth Of Aquatic Micro-Organisms
Appendix F: Test Method—Cytotoxic Activity Of Water Extract
Appendix G: Test Method—Mutagenic Activity Of Water Extract
Appendix H: Test Method—Extraction Of Metals
Appendix I: Test Method — Metals Extraction Test For End-Of-Line Fittings
Appendix J High Temperature Tests
Appendix K Suggested Product Submission Form
Materials In Contact With Drinking Water.
