Among their many services, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Group develop and issue standards for the engineering community. The ASME A112 standards create a comprehensive series comprised of over forty plumbing standards which provide expectations for performance and tests for a wide range of plumbing products and assemblies. Some of these products include:
- Bathtubs
- Bidets
- Drinking fountains
- Lavatories
- Shower bases
- Sinks
- Urinals
- Water closets
- Flexible water connectors
- Plastic, stainless steel, and cast-iron waste fittings
While the standards are specific to a product type or assembly, many of these standards have overlapping performance and durability testing requirements. ASME A112.19.1/CSA B45.2 (Enamelled Cast Iron and Enamelled Steel Plumbing Fixtures), ASME A112.19.2/CSA B45.1 (Ceramic Plumbing Fixtures), and ASME A112.19.3/CSA B45.4 (Stainless Steel Plumbing Fixtures) have several overlapping test methods such as the field-installed tiling-flange seal test, the overflow test for lavatories and sinks, and the warpage test. These standards provide requirements for product design, material durability, and overall structural performance.
It’s natural for consumers to assume that the bathtubs and toilets they purchase, and use, to stand up to normal use. It’s reasonable to expect bathtubs to not crack and fixtures to hold up over time. ASME A112 standards define “normal use” through performance, material requirements, and durability tests. Products tested through the ASME A112 standards must pass rigorous testing procedures to ensure that products and assemblies will perform throughout a product’s normal use life cycle.
When enforced, ASME A112 standards help ensure plumbing products and assemblies perform as intended in residential and commercial settings. Plumbing manufacturers have the responsibility of proving to local officials and other authorities having jurisdiction that all their plumbing products, components, and assemblies meet the requirements of the adopted plumbing code. Plumbing manufacturers can provide that proof through a trusted, accredited third-party certification, supported by test reports from an accredited, third-party test lab, of their products, components, and assemblies to the appropriate ASME A112 standard.
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Sources:
“The American Society of Mechanical Engineers.” ASME. www.asme.org/about-asme. Accessed 10/05/2022.
ASME A112.19.1/CSA B45.2. ASME, 2018.
ASME A112.19.2/CSA B45.1. ASME, 2018.
ASME A112.19.3/CSA B45.4. ASME, 2017.
