New national standard promotes development of hardware industry

Since last July, the issue of "lead in faucets" has become a hot topic, triggering public concern and raising questions about the safety of faucet manufacturing. To better understand the current state of copper and stainless steel faucet production among leading brands globally, the National Federation of Industrial and Commercial Sanitary Ware Committee, in collaboration with the United Nations Home Building Materials Testing Center, organized an on-site inspection tour with major Chinese media outlets in early September. This initiative aimed to provide a comprehensive view of the plumbing hardware industry.

Experts from well-known companies like Lu Da, Jiu Mu, Zhong Yu, Shen Lu Da, and Brilliant Plumbing explained that copper and lead often coexist naturally. There is no 100% pure copper in nature. During the production of brass faucets, a small amount of lead is added to improve machinability. Without it, the process would be difficult, and the finished products might crack due to poor corrosion resistance. Xie Xin, Secretary-General of the All-China Federation of Industrial and Commercial Sanitary Ware Committees, emphasized that under normal use, copper faucets are nearly harmless. The daily intake of lead from various sources is within safe limits, and the amount released during water flow is negligible. He stressed that fears of lead poisoning from faucets are unfounded.

Hong Guangming, General Manager of Shenluda Group, noted that in developed countries like the U.S. and Europe, most faucets are made from brass due to its antibacterial properties—something that materials like stainless steel or plastic cannot match. Zhu Jianhong, Deputy General Manager of Luda Group, pointed out that China leads the world in low-lead copper production, with extensive research and advanced processing technologies. Lin Hsiao-fat, Chairman of Jiumu Kitchen, mentioned that while stainless steel faucets may not contain lead, they can have other heavy metals like nickel, chromium, and manganese. These elements, if leached in excess, can also be harmful to human health. Cai Yu, CEO of Zhongyu Sanitary Co., Ltd., clarified that completely lead-free copper faucets do not exist; the term "lead-free" in the market actually refers to low-lead options, which require high-quality components, advanced technology, and strict electroplating processes—only large, capable enterprises can meet these standards.

In 2014, the National Building Materials Industry Construction Hardware Plumbing Product Quality Supervision, Inspection and Testing Center introduced a revised version of GB 18145, replacing the 2003 edition, titled “Ceramic Sealed Tap.” This new standard imposed mandatory requirements for the precipitation of 17 types of heavy metals, aligning closely with the NSF61 standard in North America. Cai Shizhan, Deputy General Manager of Brilliant Plumbing, stated that all leading Chinese sanitary ware companies participated in the development of this standard. Only 30-35% of medium and large enterprises could meet the new requirements, while smaller firms without sufficient resources faced elimination. The updated national standard is expected to significantly drive the industry forward, ensuring higher quality and safer products for consumers.