Oxford Flow, the pressure control equipment specialist for the municipal water, natural gas distribution and industrial process industries, announces that it has been awarded the NSF/ANSI 61 and 372 accreditation for its polymer water pressure regulating valve (PRV) range.
Developed by NSF International, a global public health and environmental organization, and the American National Standards Institute, the NSF/ANSI 61 and 372 certification sets standards for the health effects of drinking water system components. This includes equipment such as mechanical devices, valves, process media and pipes. The accreditation required by 48 US states and 11 Canadian territories provides municipalities and water utilities globally with assurance that components will not leak harmful contaminants, such as lead, into the distribution network.
The comprehensive certification process saw Oxford Flow undergo a number of steps including product formulation and toxicology information, plant audits and samples as well as laboratory testing. This accreditation adds to Oxford Flow’s recent American Water Works Association (AWWA) standard qualification for AWWA C350 for its polymer valves.
Already in extensive use in the UK and Mexican utilities sectors, Oxford Flow’s polymer water PRVs are constructed from Acetal, a highly engineered thermoplastic, weighing a fraction of the weight of conventional cast iron valves while elevating performance, ease of installation and reliability. The innovative design also eliminates the need for a rubber diaphragm removing the source of most water distribution PRV leaks.
Following the accreditation, Oxford Flow will now enter into a series of field trials with more than 10 different municipalities across the United States to be conducted in Q1 2019.
