Drinking water installation products
Our testing capabilities
European drinking water Directive 2020/2184 testing
The European drinking water Directive 2020/2184 are harmonised EU hygienic requirements for products, materials, and components in contact with drinking water. Testing according to this framework verifies product compliance with these upcoming harmonised EU requirements, with certification possible from 2027.
KTW-BWGL testing
KTW-BWGL testing covers the German hygienic requirements set out by UBA, the federal environment agency of Germany. Testing to this standard verifies your materials, components, or products' compliance with the legal hygienic requirements in Germany, which are also recognised in many other countries across Europe.
GDV testing
The Danish GDV (Godkendt til Drikkevand) is an approval scheme for building components in contact with drinking water. Demonstrating compliance with GDV hygienic test requirements, allows products such as faucets, mixers, fittings, valves, etc. to be approved for marketing and sale in Denmark.
DK-Vand testing
DK-VAND is a Danish test and certification scheme for PE and PVC pipes as well as PE and PP fittings and containers, intended for application in drinking water supply networks. Eurofins Consumer Product Testing laboratories offer all accredited hygienic tests and analyses required to demonstrate compliance and obtain this Danish certification.
NKB4 testing
The NKB4 is a Nordic migration test for brass and other metallic products in contact with drinking water. NKB4 testing demonstrates that your product does not migrate certain heavy metals (Nickel, Cadmium and Lead) over specific limits, and is commonly used in the Nordic region, especially in Finland and Denmark.
Mechanical and hydraulic testing
Demonstrate your products’ quality and ensure compliance with the current European state-of-the-art standards in terms of durability and safe use.
Our certification capabilities
UBA certification
Demonstrate your compliance with the German hygienic requirements set out by UBA, the Umweltsbundesamt. Eurofins Product Testing Denmark A/S is an accredited certification body providing inspection and certification services according to the German UBA recommendation for attestation of conformity of product hygiene suitability for drinking water.
EU DWD certification
By securing EU DWD Certification, manufacturers demonstrate the hygienic compliance of their products with the common requirements of all member state markets. Eurofins Product Testing Denmark A/S is a Notified Certification Body for certification in accordance with the harmonised minimum hygiene requirements set out by the European Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184.
Consultancy services
Eurofins Consumer Product Testing laboratories provide consultancy services to support mandatory and voluntary testing and certification requirements within Europe.
The complex field of regulations and requirements for drinking water installation products can be a challenge to navigate. Eurofins Consumer Product Testing provides consultancy services to help you get a clear overview of current and future regulations, as well as mandatory and voluntary testing and certification requirements within Europe, so you can bring safe and compliant products to market.
Challenged by drinking water changing regulations?
In the context of European national regulation and the recast of the EU Drinking Water Directive, Eurofins Consumer Product Testing laboratories help you to get a solid understanding of current and future harmonised regulations and requirements, as well as the actions required to futureproof your products.
Benefits beyond compliance
We are a well-trusted advisor and partner for the testing and certification of materials, components, and products in contact with drinking water.
- Our experienced team, state-of-the-art laboratory and continuously growing capacity, ensures that we can offer among the fastest TAT times in the industry.
- As a fully accredited TIC service provider, we are your efficient one-stop-shop for consultancy, testing and certification requests.
- Our expertise and knowledge, gained both from industry experience and participation in relevant regulatory committees, ensure that we are on the pulse of industry and regulatory developments.
Why trust us with your drinking water compliance?
Global expertise and accreditation
With extensive knowledge in the TIC (Testing, Inspection, Certification) industry, industry-leading accreditations, and the capacity to test your products efficiently, we ensure your needs are met swiftly and accurately.
State-of-the-art laboratory
The Eurofins Consumer Product Testing network is comprised of state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and state-of-the-art measurement and sampling equipment. Eurofins Consumer Product Testing laboratories offer a broad portfolio of accredited methods and analyses (including microbial growth, metal composition, and migration testing) and technical expertise with an international presence.
Customised testing solutions
We partner with you to understand your product’s requirements and compliance goals, offering tailored solutions for your testing and certification needs and ensuring your product quality and your brand are protected.
Entire supply chain in view
We offer a unique combination of material insight and analytical expertise and have significant experience in collaboration with all elements of the supply chain from raw material manufacturers to final assembled product manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers.
On the pulse of legislation
Our participation in the leading regulatory working groups and standards committees ensures that we always have our finger on the pulse of legislation and the latest information at our fingertips.
Consulting services
Our highly qualified staff will guide you through the complexity of European and national legislation and other requirements for your specific products.
Efficiency guaranteed
We take the time to get a holistic understanding of your supply chain, and establish an optimised, cost-efficient test and certification programme that truly supports your goals.
Trusted partner for drinking water product testing
With years of experience, dedicated expertise and reliable service, we guide you through the world of testing requirements and certification regulations for materials, components, and products in contact with drinking water.
Learn more about the requirements
The European Drinking Water Directive (EU-DWD) establishes the future framework for ensuring high-quality drinking water throughout the European Union. It harmonises hygiene and conformity standards across EU member states and introduces strict health and safety requirements for materials and products that come into contact with water intended for human consumption — from source to tap. This encompasses both sanitary products and distribution components, including mixers, valves, pumps, pipes, meters, storage vessels, fittings, and more.
The Directive aims to protect public health by preventing the contamination of drinking water, ensuring compliance with rigorous chemical and microbiological safety standards, and promoting the use of certified materials. Once fully implemented, manufacturers and suppliers will be required to meet these standards to ensure their products are safe and compliant, thereby contributing to the reliable delivery of clean drinking water across Europe.
Article 11 of the revised Directive establishes the framework for minimum hygiene requirements for materials in contact with drinking water. Its objectives are to reduce the administrative burden on manufacturers and national authorities, whilst preventing contamination of drinking water.
The minimum hygiene requirements apply to all materials, components, and products throughout the entire drinking water supply chain, and are designed to prevent microbial growth and the migration of harmful substances into drinking water.
The Directive requires that starting substances, compositions, or constituents used in the manufacture of materials that come into contact with drinking water — from source to tap — must appear on one of four European positive lists:
- Organic materials
- Metallic materials
- Cementitious materials
- Enamel, ceramic or other inorganic materials
Materials and components are evaluated using a risk-based approach that defines different risk groups. Evaluation is based on two conditions:
- Conformity of the material or object formulation with the European positive reference lists
- Conformity of migration and microbiological test results with the applicable acceptability criteria
The requirements for materials and substances are broadly similar to the existing German UBA criteria, with some differences in the positive lists of substances and the addition of two testing parameters: migration testing in chlorinated water and mandatory GC-MS screening for unexpected substances.
The Eurofins Consumer Product Testing network is fully accredited to carry out all evaluations and tests required to demonstrate compliance with the Drinking Water Directive. We can also provide expert guidance on the complexities of European legislation on a consultancy basis.
Please do not hesitate to contact us to find out more about EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, or to enquire about our consultancy or testing services.
We offer:
- Advice and consultancy on drinking water installation testing
- Testing of drinking water installation products and materials
KTW-BWGL requirements from UBA (Germany)
German hygiene requirements for organic materials
Products and materials intended for use in drinking water installations must be hygienically suitable for contact with drinking water intended for human consumption.
In Germany, hygiene requirements derive from the German Drinking Water Ordinance (TrinkwV) and the KTW-BWGL (Kunststoff-TrinkWasser). Evaluation and assessment criteria are specified by the national environmental authority, the Umweltbundesamt (UBA).
KTW-BWGL defines the general hygiene requirements for organic materials intended for contact with drinking water. The following organic materials currently fall within the scope of the KTW-BWGL evaluation criteria:
Plastics, organic coatings, lubricants, elastomers, and thermoplastic elastomers (TPE).
Under KTW-BWGL, products or components made from organic materials are assessed on the basis of the starting substances used in their manufacture. Assessed starting substances are listed in material-specific positive lists contained in the annexes to the KTW-BWGL evaluation criteria document.
In addition, depending on the risk class of a component or material, substance migration testing may be required to ensure that the material does not leach harmful or contaminating substances into the drinking water. Migration testing is generally required where starting substances carry restrictions or additional requirements, including potential reaction and degradation products.
Materials and certain categories of components must also be assessed for their potential to promote microbial growth. Microbiological testing must therefore be carried out in accordance with EN 16421 to determine whether the material gives rise to microbiological growth.
Finally, migration water samples must be assessed for any adverse effects on odour and visual appearance.
The Eurofins Consumer Product Testing network carries out both assessments of chemical composition against the KTW-BWGL positive lists and accredited analyses and testing in accordance with KTW-BWGL and other UBA guidelines. We can also draw on our extensive experience to provide consultancy support, guide you through the process of achieving compliance with German KTW-BWGL requirements, and issue the final product or material certification.
Please do not hesitate to contact us to find out more about KTW-BWGL testing, or to enquire about our consultancy or testing services.
We offer:
- Advice and consultancy on drinking water installation testing
- Testing of drinking water installation products and materials
- Certification of products and materials in accordance with KTW-BWGL
GDV testing (Denmark)
The GDV scheme is based on Executive Order No. 1007 of 29 June 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 to the point of use. It is an approval scheme for building components in contact with drinking water, enabling products such as taps, mixers, fittings, and valves to be approved for marketing and sale in Denmark.
The GDV scheme covers only the health-related properties of building components — specifically, the migration of potentially harmful substances into drinking water.
The overall scope and requirements of the GDV scheme are as follows:
- All components and products in contact with drinking water that form part of the fixed water supply installation from the property boundary to the point of use are covered by the scheme
- The materials used in these products must not give rise to the migration of chemical substances into drinking water that could pose a risk to health
- The composition of materials must be documented, and a test programme established, so that the relevant migration tests can be carried out
- Filter systems must not give rise to the accumulation and release of micro-organisms
The Eurofins Consumer Product Testing network offers advice on product grouping, toxicological assessment, and the establishment of test programmes. Our drinking water laboratory is fully accredited to test products in accordance with GDV requirements, and we can provide consultancy support throughout the process of compiling the necessary documentation and managing the application process.
The Danish Authority of Social Services and Housing is the regulatory authority for the approval scheme and manages the processing of GDV approval applications. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency, under the Ministry of Environment and Gender Equality, advises the Authority on requirements and test methods to ensure that quality requirements for building components in contact with drinking water are met by the time water reaches consumers.
Further information about the Danish GDV requirements (in Danish) is available at:
https://www.sbst.dk/byggeri/byggevarer/byggevarer-i-kontakt-med-drikkevand/gdv-ordningen.
Construction products in contact with drinking water may also be marketed and sold in Denmark if they are certified in accordance with 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.
Please do not hesitate to contact us to find out more about the GDV approval scheme, or to enquire about our consultancy or testing services.
We offer:
- Advice and consultancy on drinking water installation testing
- Testing of drinking water installation products and materials
DK-VAND testing (Denmark)
Testing of pipes and related products for drinking water supply networks
DK-VAND (DK-Water) is a Danish product certification scheme covering PE and PVC pipes, as well as PE and PP fittings and containers intended for use in drinking water supply networks, from source to property boundary. Products intended for installation within buildings fall under the GDV requirements rather than DK-VAND.
The purpose of DK-VAND is to demonstrate that Danish requirements concerning the migration of substances harmful to health, as well as taste and odour, are met. The scheme was established by Danish water supply utility organisations and plastic pipe suppliers in collaboration with the Danish Technological Institute, and is administered by DANCERT, a Danish certification body.
DK-VAND certification comprises a series of analyses which, taken together, must demonstrate that harmful substances from polymers, antioxidants, additives, dyes, and similar sources are not released from the finished product. The analyses also aim to confirm that the product has no adverse effect on water clarity and does not impart taste or odour to drinking water. A toxicological assessment of the analytical results is then carried out to determine whether the requirements have been satisfied before certification can be granted.
The Eurofins Consumer Product Testing network performs accredited analyses for the certification of PE and PVC pipes, homogeneous plastic fittings of PE or PP, and plastic storage tanks in accordance with 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 must have undergone a comprehensive range of migration analyses, and an independent, accredited inspection body must have carried out an inspection of the production site.
The Eurofins Consumer Product Testing network offers accredited testing for the release of substances harmful to health, in accordance with the applicable test programme for the product, and can guide you through the process of obtaining DK-VAND certification. As a manufacturer, you will also receive the DK-VAND label as visible proof that your product meets these stringent requirements — providing an excellent opportunity to market your product with this certification.
Please do not hesitate to contact us to find out more about DK-VAND testing and certification, or to enquire about our consultancy or testing services.
We offer:
- Advice and consultancy on drinking water installation testing
- Testing of drinking water installation products and materials
NKB4 test for heavy metals migration (Nordic countries)
NKB4 (Nordiske Komité for Bygningsbestemmelser, Product Rules 4) is a Nordic standard for heavy metal migration testing of brass and other metallic products in contact with drinking water.
Compliance with NKB4 is required, for example, to obtain Finnish Type Approval, which is mandatory for drinking water contact components and products installed in Finland. The NKB4 standard is also recognised for Swiss SVGW certification.
Brass and metallic products intended for drinking water installations include products such as taps, mixers, ball valves, water meters, fittings, manifolds, and pipes.
Under NKB4, the quantities of lead, cadmium, and nickel migrating into test water are analysed using an accredited method with clearly defined detection limits, sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the applicable legal threshold values.
Compliance with the NKB4 heavy metal migration test demonstrates that your product meets the specific heavy metal migration requirements applicable in the Nordic countries.
The Eurofins Consumer Product Testing drinking water laboratory is fully accredited to test products and components in accordance with NKB4 requirements. We can also provide consultancy support throughout the process of obtaining NKB4 certification and other legally required documentation for selling and marketing your products in the Nordic countries.
Please do not hesitate to contact us to find out more about NKB4 migration testing, or to enquire about our consultancy or testing services.
We offer:
- Advice and consultancy on drinking water installation testing
- Testing of drinking water installation products and materials
Mechanical hydraulic, mechanical, and other
EN 817 – Sanitary tapware: Mechanical mixing valves (PN 10)
EN 817 specifies requirements for mechanical mixing valves used in sanitary tapware systems, covering dimensional specifications, leak-tightness, pressure resistance, hydraulic performance, mechanical strength, endurance, corrosion resistance, and acoustic characteristics. The standard also sets out test methods to verify compliance with 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, covering marking, identification, chemical and hygiene requirements, dimensions, leak-tightness, pressure resistance, hydraulic performance, mechanical endurance, and acoustic characteristics. The standard applies to single and mixer taps fitted 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 provision for higher temperatures where required. The standard places particular emphasis on safety features such as anti-scald protection, designed to prevent burns — especially for vulnerable individuals including children, elderly people, and those with disabilities. TMVs within the scope of this standard are suitable for domestic use in kitchens, bathrooms, and washrooms, typically controlling single or small groups of outlets. Compliance is verified through type testing.
EN 1112 – Sanitary tapware: Shower outlets for water supply systems of type 1 and type 2
EN 1112 specifies requirements for shower outlets used in sanitary tapware systems, covering 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, and sets out testing procedures to verify compliance.
Further requirements
Further mechanical, hydraulic, acoustic, and surface testing is available through our global network of Eurofins Consumer Product Testing laboratories. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information on 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 water supply systems of type 1 and type 2
- EN 1717 – Protection against pollution of potable water in 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
