General Overview:
NSF International is a global public health organization that facilitates standards development, and tests and certifies products for the food, water, health sciences and consumer goods sectors to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment. Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide. NSF International is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center on Food Safety, Water Quality and Indoor Environment.
NSF tests and certifies pool and spa components (e.g. pumps, drain covers, filters, etc.) and has developed an American National Standard that specifies pool equipment requirements.
NSF/ANSI 50: Equipment for Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs and Other Recreational Water Facilities, the existing standard that applies to the water leisure industry, was developed by a committee of experts comprised of manufacturers, public health officials and users. No other standard in the world has such complete evaluation and testing criteria.
NSF/ANSI 50 specifies requirements for the material health effects, corrosion resistance, performance, disinfection efficacy, durability testing, design and construction, marking and user instructions for many types of equipment used at a water-park, pool or spa equipment and components. The standard covers every form of pool and spa, public and private, and every component, from pumps and chemicals to suction fittings and water test devices. Equally important, NSF/ANSI Standard 50 is in a constant state of evolution, incorporating the latest product and material test methods and regulations.
Background Information:
For decades, NSF International has worked with key industry stakeholders to make pools, spas and recreational water products safer. In 1977, NSF facilitated the development of NSF/ANSI 50 with the American National Standards Institute to establish minimum requirements for virtually every component at public and private recreational water facilities and spas, including pumps, drain covers, filters, treatment chemicals, suction fittings, grates, ozone and UV systems and water test devices. Specifically, the standard addresses material health effects, corrosion resistance, performance, disinfection efficacy, durability testing, design and construction, marking and user instructions.
In 2016, the NSF/ANSI 50 Joint Committee began considering a request to develop a new section of the standard to address safety surfacing for interactive water play venues. The joint committee is an impartial consensus-based standards development group comprised of a balanced number of representatives from regulatory, industry, academic and consumer groups. After three years of standards writing, method development and verification, the NSF/ANSI 50 Joint Committee validated and approved the new section, which will be published in the 2019 version of the standard.
Latest News:
A new section of NSF/ANSI 50: Equipment and Chemicals for Swimming Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs and Other Recreational Water Facilities establishes minimum criteria for safety flooring at interactive water play venues. Considered the premier pool and spa safety standard, NSF/ANSI 50 is required by most commercial swimming pool codes.
Useful Links:
To purchase the NSF 50-2017 standard,
click here.
To learn more about the NSF/ANSI 50 standard or to get involved in the revision process
, click here.