IAPMO has published four standards that are designed to evaluate scale reduction water treatment devices. This column will explain the scope and purpose of each standard, along with how they are being used today.
IAPMO IGC 91-2009: Electrical or High-Density Magnetic Anti-scale or Water Conditioning Appliance
IAPMO IGC 91 was developed to establish general acceptance criteria for electrical or high-density magnetic anti-scale water conditioning products. Its purpose is to provide requirements for the materials used in these products, ensure that the product is structurally sound, measure the pressure drop that the device creates, evaluate the appliance’s ability to prevent scale buildup in a sediment filter, and to measure the strength of the electrostatic field or high-density magnetic flux.
The scope of the standard includes electrical anti-scale or water treatment equipment in nominal pipe sizes (NPS) from ½ inch through 3 inches for configurations that include slip fittings and male and female nominal pipe threads for plastic and metal fittings. For nominal pipe sizes 3 inches to 16 inches, flanged connections must be used with the anode and cathode isolated from each other. It is not the intent of this standard to rate or verify the product’s effectiveness of reducing or eliminating scale in water piping systems.
IAPMO IGC 303-2014a: Catalytic Scale-Prevention Devices
The purpose of IAPMO IGC 303 is to establish general acceptance criteria for catalytic scale prevention water treatment equipment. The standard specifies requirements for material types, material safety and lead content, physical characteristics, performance testing for structural integrity, and ability to prevent scale build up in a sediment filter. The standard also includes requirements for product markings.
This standard covers catalytic scale prevention devices in sizes NPS-3/8” to NPS-4” intended for residential and commercial buildings. It is not the intent of this standard to rate or verify the product’s effectiveness reducing or eliminating scale in water piping systems.
IAPMO IGC 335-2018: Rapid Scaling Test for Scale Prevention Devices
The purpose of the standard is to provide a rapid scale test protocol for testing scale prevention devices using different water sources. This rapid scaling test can be used as an early indicator of water characteristics that may affect the performance of the device. The standard specifies requirements for electrical, material safety and lead content, rapid scale comparison, and requirements for the test reports. IAPMO Research and Testing does not certify products to this standard because it was designed to provide a quick test protocol for evaluating a product’s performance at a specific water quality. This test report must be accompanied by the findings for each location of site-specific water that is tested.
The scale prevention devices covered by this standard are intended for residential and commercial applications. It is not the intent of this standard to rate or verify the product’s effectiveness of reducing or eliminating scale in water piping systems.
IAPMO/ANSI Z601-2018: Scale Reduction Devices
Although several alternatives to ion-exchange water treatment devices have the potential to offer solutions to consumers in need of scale reduction, there was no appropriate test protocol that could be used to certify their effectiveness. IAPMO/ANSI Z601 was developed to enable the testing of devices that have the potential to reduce encrusted scale in residential water heaters and downstream associated plumbing. To encourage competition for the benefit of the consumer, the definition of a “device” was intentionally left open so that any appropriate means and methods with the effect of reducing scale could be tested for the effectiveness. The standard includes the following requirements: material safety, electrical requirements, structural integrity, and scale reduction performance testing for tank-type water heaters and tank-less water heaters requiring a minimum of 70% reduction in scale formed in the hot water heater and downstream piping.
The scope of the standard covers scale reduction devices intended for residential and similar water heating applications. It is the intent of this standard to rate or verify the product’s effectiveness of reducing or eliminating scale in hot water systems and downstream water piping systems.
The development of IAPMO/ANSI Z601 allows companies to verify the scale reduction performance of their device. It also allows certification bodies the ability certify the scale reduction performance utilizing an American National Standard, as designated by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
