The European drinking water Directive (EU-DWD) sets the future framework for ensuring high-quality drinking water throughout the European Union. While also harmonizing the hygienic conformity standards across the European Union states, it establishes strict health and safety requirements for materials and products in contact with water intended for human consumption - from well to tap, including both sanitary products and distribution components incl. mixers, valves, pumps, pipes, meters, storage, fittings, etc.

The directive aims to protect public health by preventing contamination of drinking water, ensuring compliance with rigorous standards for chemical and microbiological safety, and promotes the use of certified materials.

When fully implemented, manufacturers and suppliers must meet these standards to ensure their products are safe and compliant, contributing to the reliable delivery of clean drinking water across Europe.

Article 11 of the revised directive sets out the framework for minimum hygiene requirements for materials in contact with drinking water. The aim is to reduce administrative burdens for manufacturers and national authorities, while also preventing contamination of drinking water.

The minimum hygiene requirements relate to all materials, components and products in the whole drinking water supply line and aims to prevent microbial growth and the migration of harmful substances into the drinking water.

The Drinking Water Directive requires that starting substances, compositions, or constituents used in manufacturing materials that come into contact with drinking water, from the water source to the tap, must be listed in one of four European positive lists:

• Organic materials
• Metallic materials
• Cementitious materials
• Enamel, ceramic or other inorganic materials.

Materials and components are evaluated through a risk-based approach defining different risk groups. The evaluation of materials is based on the following two conditions:

• The conformity of the formulation of the material or object to European positive reference lists
• The conformity of the migration and microbial test results with respect to acceptability criteria

The requirements to materials and substances are quite similar with the existing German UBA criteria, with some differences in positive lists of substances and two added testing parameters; testing migration in chlorinated water and a mandatory GC-MS screening for unexpected substances.

Eurofins Product Testing is fully accredited to perform evaluation, and all tests needed to demonstrate compliance with the regulation set out in the Drinking Water Directive and can additionally offer guidance through the complexities of European legislation on consultancy basis.

You are more than welcome to contact us if you would like to hear more about the EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184 and having Eurofins’ assistance with consultancy or testing services.

We offer:

•  Advice and consultancy on testing drinking water installations
• Testing of drinking water installation products and materials

German hygiene requirements for organic materials 

Products and materials for drinking water installation application must be hygienically suitable for being in contact with drinking water intended for human consumption. 

In Germany, the hygiene requirements originate from the German Drinking Water Ordinance (TrinkwV) and the KTW-BWGL (Kunststoff-TrinkWasser). Evaluation and assessment criteria are specified by the national environmental authorities, the Umweltbundesamt, short UBA. 

KTW-BWGL specifies the general hygienic requirements for organic materials that are intended for contact with drinking water. The following organic materials currently come under the scope of application of the KTW-BWGL evaluation criteria document:

Plastics, organic coatings, lubricants, elastomers and thermoplastic elastomers (TPE).

According to KTW-BWGL, products or components of organic materials shall be assessed based on the starting substances used to manufacture them. Assessed starting substances are listed in material-specific positive lists in the annexes to KTW-BWGL evaluation criteria document.

In addition, based on the risk class of a component or material, there is a requirement for substance migration testing, in order to ensure that the material does not leach any harmful or contaminating substances into the drinking water. Generally, migration testing is required, involving starting substances with restrictions and additional requirements (potential reaction and degradation products).

Additionally, the material and certain kind of components shall also be assessed for the potential enhancement of microbial growth. Hence, microbiological test must be carried out in accordance with the EN16421 standard to clarify whether the material gives rise to microbiological growth.

Finally, migration water samples must be assessed for adverse impact on odour and visual appearance.

Eurofins performs both assessments of the chemical composition of the material in relation to the KTW-BWGL positive lists and offers accredited analyses and tests in accordance with both the KTW-BWGL and other UBA guidelines. Additionally, we can offer our vast experience on consultancy basis, guide you through the process of complying with German KTW-BWGL requirements, and issue the final product or material certification. 

You are more than welcome to contact us if you would like to hear more about KTW-BWGL testing and having Eurofins’ assistance with consultancy or testing services.

We offer:

• Advice and consultancy on testing drinking water installations
• Testing of drinking water installation products and materials
• Certification of products and materials according to KTW-BWGL 

The GDV scheme is based on Executive Order no. 1007 of June 29, 2016, on the marketing and sale of construction products in contact with drinking water in Denmark.

The Danish GDV approval scheme, Godkendt til DrikkeVand (Approved for Drinking Water), covers construction products intended for drinking water installations, from the property boundary line to tapping point. The GDV scheme is an approval scheme for building components in contact with drinking water, allowing products such as faucets, mixers, fittings, valves, etc. to be approved for marketing and sale in Denmark.

The GDV approval scheme for components and materials in contact with drinking water only covers the health properties of building components, namely the migration of potentially harmful substances into drinking water.

The overall coverage and requirements of GDV are:

• All components and products in contact with drinking water that are part of the fixed water supply installation from the property boundary to tapping point are covered by the GDV scheme
• The materials used in these products must not cause migration of chemical substances to drinking water, and hence pose potential health risks
• The composition of the materials must be documented, and a test program established, so that relevant migration tests can be carried out
• Filter systems must not give rise to the accumulation and release of microorganisms.

Eurofins offers advice on product grouping as well as toxicological assessment and establishment of test programs. Our drinking water laboratory is fully accredited to test products according to the GDV requirements and we can offer our consultancy assistance in the process of getting the necessary documentation in place as well as handling the application process.

The Danish Authority of Social Services and Housing is the regulatory authority for the approval scheme and are managing the processing of applications for GDV approval.

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency under the Ministry of Environment and Gender Equality advises the Danish Authority of Social Services and Housing on requirements and test methods in order to ensure that the quality requirements for building components in contact with drinking water are fulfilled, when the water reaches consumers.

You can read more about the Danish GDV requirements here (in Danish).

https://www.sbst.dk/byggeri/byggevarer/byggevarer-i-kontakt-med-drikkevand/gdv-ordningen.

Construction products in contact with drinking water can also be marketed and sold in Denmark if they are certified according to either the Swedish Type Approval, the German KTW-BWGL requirements or the requirements for materials, components and products in contact with drinking water in The Netherlands.

You are more than welcome to contact us if you would like to hear more about the GDV approval scheme and having Eurofins’ assistance with consultancy or testing services for your products.

We offer:

• Advice and consultancy on testing drinking water installations
• Testing of drinking water installation products and materials

Testing of pipes and related products in drinking water supply networks.

DK-VAND (DK-Water) is a Danish product certification scheme that covers PE and PVC pipes as well as PE and PP fittings and containers intended for application in the drinking water supply network, from well to property boundary line. 

The purpose of DK-VAND is to ensure and prove that the Danish requirements regarding the possible migration of substances harmful to health as well as taste and odour are complied with. DK-VAND applies only to certain products in the drinking water supply network, whereas products intended for installation within buildings are covered by the GDV requirements. DK-VAND is established by the Danish water supply utilities organizations and plastic pipe suppliers in cooperation with the Danish Technological Institute. It is being administrated by DANCERT, a Danish certification body.

DK-VAND's certification is composed of several analyses that combined must prove that harmful substances from the polymer, antioxidants, additives, dyes, etc. are not released from the finished product. In addition, the analysis also aims to prove that the product neither has a negative effect on the clarity of the water nor releases taste or odour to the drinking water. Based on the analysis results, a toxicological assessment shall be made to determine whether the requirements have been met before the product can be certified.

Eurofins performs the accredited analyses for the certification of PE and PVC pipes, homogeneous plastic fittings of PE or PP and plastic storage tanks according to DK-VAND.

• Testing regulations for PE and PVC pipes
• Testing regulations for Homogeneous Plastic Fittings of PE or PP
• Plastic Storage Tanks

To obtain DK-VAND certification, the product has undergone a wide range of migration analyses, and an independent, accredited inspection body has carried out an inspection of the production site.

Eurofins Product Testing A/S offers accredited testing for the release of substances harmful to health, according to the test program available for the product and guide you through the process of obtaining DK-VAND certification for your product. As a manufacturer, you will also receive the DK-VAND label as visible proof that your product meets these strict requirements and that your product is certified according to DK-VAND's certification regulations, thus providing an ideal opportunity to market your product with this certificate.

You are more than welcome to contact us if you would like to hear more about the DK-VAND testing and certification and having Eurofins’ assistance with consultancy or testing services.

We offer:

• Advice and consultancy on testing drinking water installations
• Testing of drinking water installation products and materials

The NKB4 (Nordiske Komité for Bygningsbestemmelser, product rules 4) is a Nordic heavy metals migration test standard for brass and other metallic products in contact with drinking water.

Compliance with the standards set out in the NKB4 test are for example required for obtaining a Finnish Type Approval, mandatory for drinking water contact components and products installed in Finland. Further, the NKB4 test standard is also recognized for Swiss SVGW certification. 

Brass and metallic products intended for drinking water installations, can include products such as faucets, mixers, ball valves, water meters, fittings, manifolds, pipes, etc.

In NKB4, the amount of lead, cadmium and nickel migrating into the test water is analyzed according to an accredited method for analysis of water samples for these specific metals. The method applied must have clear detection limits that can show that the legal requirement values ​​are complied with. 

Compliance with the NKB4 heavy metals migration test is proof that your product meets the specific requirements for heavy metal migration in Nordic countries.

Eurofins’ drinking water laboratory is fully accredited to test products and components according to the NKB4 requirements and we can offer our consultancy and assistance in the process of obtaining NKB4 and other legally required documentation for selling and marketing your products in the Nordic countries.

You are more than welcome to contact us if you would like to hear more about the NKB4 migration testing and having Eurofins’ assistance with consultancy or testing services.

We offer:

• Advice and consultancy on testing drinking water installations
• Testing of drinking water installation products and materials

EN 817, sanitary tapware - Mechanical mixing valves (PN 10).

EN 817 specifies requirements for mechanical mixing valves used in sanitary tapware systems. It covers aspects such as dimensional specifications, leak tightness, pressure resistance, hydraulic performance, mechanical strength, endurance, corrosion resistance, and acoustic characteristics. The standard also outlines test methods to verify these characteristics.

EN 816, sanitary tapware - Automatic shut-off valves PN 10.

EN 816 specifies requirements for automatic shut-off valves used in sanitary tapware systems. It covers aspects such as marking, identification, chemical/hygiene requirements, dimensions, leaktightness, pressure resistance, hydraulic performance, mechanical endurance, and acoustic characteristics. The standard applies to single and mixer taps with automatic shut-off.

EN 1111, sanitary tapware - Thermostatic mixing valves (PN 10).

EN 1111 defines requirements for thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) used in sanitary tapware systems operating at PN 10 pressure. It ensures stable mixed water temperature regulation, typically below 45°C, with provisions for higher temperatures if required. The standard emphasizes safety with features like anti-scald protection, designed to prevent burns, particularly for vulnerable individuals such as children, the elderly, and disabled persons. TMVs under this standard are suitable for domestic use in kitchens, bathrooms, and washrooms, often controlling single or small groups of outlets. It also includes performance verification through type tests to ensure compliance with its specifications.

EN1112, sanitary tapware - Shower outlets for sanitary tapware for water supply systems of type 1 and type 2.

EN 1112 specifies requirements for shower outlets used in sanitary tapware systems. It covers aspects such as dimensional, leak tightness, mechanical, hydraulic, and acoustic characteristics. The standard applies to shower heads and hand showers, ensuring compatibility with sanitary tapware for baths and showers. It also outlines testing procedures to verify compliance with these characteristics.

Further requirements:

Further mechanical/ hydraulic, acoustic and surface testing can be provided by one of our Eurofins network laboratories. You are more than welcome to contact us if you want to hear more about the specific requirements of the standards listed below:

EN 274 - Waste fittings for sanitary appliances.

EN 200 - Sanitary tapware - Single taps and combination taps for water supply systems of type 1 and type 2.

EN 1113 - Sanitary tapware - Shower hoses for sanitary tapware for water supply systems of type 1 and type 2.

EN 1717 - Protection against pollution of water intended for human consumption in potable water installations and general requirements for devices to prevent pollution by backflow.

EN 13618 - Flexible hose assemblies in drinking water installations - Functional requirements and test methods.

EN 15091 - Sanitary tapware - Electronic opening and closing sanitary tapware.

EN 248 - Sanitary tapware - General specification for electrodeposited coatings of Ni-Cr.

ISO 3822 - Acoustics - Laboratory tests on noise emission from appliances and equipment used in water supply installations.

ISO 6509 - Corrosion of metals and alloys - Determination of dezincification resistance of copper alloys with zinc.