CSA Standard B483 An Overview

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CSA Standard B483An Overview

• Scott Macdonald
• Envirogard Products Limited

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Discussion Points

• CSA B483
• Background history
• Basics
• Products affected
• Future of B483
• Canadian Regulatory Structure
• Background
• Related to B483
• Effect on water treatment industry
• Manufacturers
• Dealers

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A word about CSA

• CSA International is an internationally
  recognized testing laboratory accredited by
  Standards Council of Canada and Occupational
  Safety Health Administration, UL and ANSI.
• CSA is the most widely accepted certification
  mark in Canada for manufacturers and consumers.
• CSA marks are accepted by regulatory authorities
  in the occupational health and safety,
  electrical, gas, building, plumbing and many
  other fields in the U.S. and Canada.

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CSA B483 - Background

• Desired by Ottawa when Bill C14 failed
• (i.e. regulate through the plumbing code)
• Helped along by Quebec who wanted to regulate
• Facilitated by CSA as the creator of plumbing
  standards in Canada.

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CSA B483 - Background

• Most are familiar with
• CSA standards like B125 for plumbing or with CSA
  marks on plumbing products
• NSF/ANSI Standards which are material safety,
  product performance and mechanical integrity
  based.
• B483 is essentially the NSF/ANSI standards and
  some mechanical provisions added to harmonize
  them with the mechanical requirements of the
  Canadian Plumbing Code for similar components

Some mechanical Requirements Of Canadian Plumbing
Code
CSA B483
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CSA B483 - Background

• These mechanical provisions relate to
  fittings/components such as faucets, valves ,
  diverters, tubing, etc.
• Additional tests beyond those in ANSI/NSF
  standards are required such as
• Lifecycle on/off (Valves diverters swing
  spouts)
• Quality of coating finishes e.g. corrosion,
  flaking etc.
• Thermal cycling for faucet devices
• Electrical components must meet CSA standards.
• Backflow preventer tests, where applicable
• Solenoid tests, if used
• Open tank overflow prevention

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CSA B483 Products Affected

• POE and POU products that currently fall under
  any of the NSF/ANSI standards. Additional POE
  products with no standard.
• POU products have to comply with all applicable
  NSF/ANSI requirements PLUS B483 requirements.
• All POE products have to comply only with the
  material safety and mechanical integrity
  requirements and not the performance requirement
  of the applicable NSF/ANSI std.
• This was proposed by industry to help with POE
  devices assembled in low volumes and many
  variations
• Other products affected
• filters in refrigerators,
• perhaps filters in water coolers or water coolers
  themselves.

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CSA B483 Whats in future?

• May see both the NSF/ANSI logo and the CSA B483
  logo or just the B483 logo on products 
• Further meetings of the Committee may result in
  changes to the standard and the ultimate form
  existing at the time of the next edition of the
  Code (2010) will be the one included.
• If you want to join and participate contact Kevin
  Wong (CWQA) for details.

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Canadian Regulatory Structure B483

• Feds do research, direct discussion for
  legislation and regulation and arm twist the
  provinces as best they can to work as a unified
  whole especially where health is concerned.
• But the provinces are in charge of water quality
  regulations and they may regulate as they see
  fit.
• After B483 standard publishes, provinces can
  choose to adopt it in whole, or in part, in their
  regulatory requirements.
• Adoption by a province, likely through
  regulation, also takes time as they typically go
  through a review of their current regulations and
  usually (but not always) ask for public input  to
  the changes.

Feds (Research, Discussion Regulation)
Provinces (Regulate as they See fit)
COMPLIANCE
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Canadian Regulatory Structure B483

• B483 published on April 19th, 2007
• Some Provinces may choose to wait until it is
  part of the National code before adopting it.
• It will not be included in the National Plumbing
  Code until 2010 (next update)
• It can be adopted by any province after being
  published as a CSA standard
• Therefore, new regulations wont happen
  immediately right across the country
• Likely that by 2010 (or shortly thereafter) most
  provinces will regulate to B483 standard

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B483 the Provinces as of Now
Quebec plans to modify its current regulations
shortly and may adopt it in whole or part this
year through the regulatory process (including
public discussion we hope).
Alberta has expressed some interest at this point
Ontario has expressed interest in reviewing and
adopting it through regulatory change
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B483 Effect on Our Industry

• Depends on
• What products you are involved with
• Where you are selling - which province(s)
• Manufacturers
• Are more or less along in the process of testing
  to NSF/ANSI standards and some additional testing
  that may be required for certain products to
  comply with B483
• Timeline depends on the two factors above

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B483 Effect on Our Industry

• Depends on
• What products you are involved with
• Where you are selling - which province(s)
• Dealers
• Those purchasing certified complete products (POU
  and POE ) will likely see those product acquire
  the new B483 standard (more or less quickly)
  based on the two factors above - so little change
• those buying uncertified complete products (POU
  and POE) will have more or less time to certify
  those products to B483 or switch to buying
  certified products depending on the two factors
  above, the latter is more likely due to cost of
  certifying

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B483 Effect on Our Industry

• Dealers selling POU or POE products under their
  own brand
• will need companion certifications from the
  manufacturer (may be an administrative charge )
  or
• will drop the private label
• Those assembling POU products from components
• Will have to certify these products to B483
  unlikely due to high cost
• Those assembling POE products
• Will need to acquire certified components only
  and then get their assembled product certified
  (should not be that costly) or switch to
  purchasing complete certified units

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For further information

• Canadian Water Quality Association295 The West
  Mall, Suite 330Toronto, ON M9C 4Z4Tel
  416-695-3068Fax [phone]Toll Free
  1-866-383-7617
• E-Mail k.wong_at_cwqa.com