Rahco Rubber is pleased to announce the introduction of another rubber compound that has been developed to pass NSF 61: Drinking Water System Components regulations with UL Certification. For use of non-leaching materials in potable water, this advanced EPDM compound is resistant to hot water chloramines and compliant to ASTM D 6284-98.

While this new EPDM compound isn’t Rahco’s first and won’t be the last to adhere to regulatory and quality system standards, it serves as a reminder that custom rubber formulations matter. Here are three high-level elements to keep in mind:

1, Understand the Importance NSF 61: Drinking Water System Components

NSF/ANSI 61 is intended to cover specific materials or products that come into contact with drinking water, drinking water treatment chemicals or both.

It is an American National Standard that establishes minimum health-effects requirements for the chemical contaminants and impurities that are indirectly imparted to drinking water from products, components and materials used in drinking water systems.

The products and materials covered by the scope of this standard include but aren’t limited to:

  • Protective barrier materials (cements, paints, coatings)
  • Joining and sealing materials (gaskets, adhesives, lubricants)
  • Mechanical devices, including treatment products (water meters, valves, filters)
  • Pipes and related products (pipes, hoses, fittings)
  • Plumbing devices (faucets, drinking fountains)
  • Process media (filter media, ion exchange resins)
  • Nonmetallic potable water materials

The standard is routinely monitored and updated by a joint committee comprised of equal parts public health experts, end users and industry members.

To learn more, NSF has made the NSF/ANSI 61— Drinking Water System Components – Health Effects —  standard available for educational purposes. Click this link from NSF to view in full.

2. Understand the Benefits of EPDM

EPDM is the abbreviation for Ethylene Propylene Diene monomer, which is a high-density synthetic rubber.

EPDM parts are very durable and can offer a long life-span in most suitable applications. While the material is not commonly recommended for parts used in environments with oil, gas or hydrocarbon present, its resistance to chemicals, ozone, UV, heat and general weathering make it a great option in industrial settings for gaskets, seals, stoppers and dampening mounts.

EPDM is commonly used with applications that require water resistance. Rahco’s EPDM compound is well-suited for applications that must be NSF 61 compliant and resistant to the effects of chloramines, which can have an impact on rubber at high temperatures. In cold temperatures, it maintains its elastomer properties and remains stable over long periods of time. EPDM is also a fairly cost-effective polymer and may be ideal to meet your specific application and performance requirements.

Rahco’s advanced EPDM compound is resistant to hot water chloramines and complaint to ASTM D 6284-98 with UL Certification.

For assistance in identifying the appropriate polymer or material, or to develop and formulate an EPDM rubber compound for a new or existing part, please contact Rahco today or check out our Custom Formulation Capabilities.

3. Understand our Quality Commitment

Mixing rubber compounds in house is a core competency, and is an instrumental tool in formulation development and production batch scale up.

While coming up with the right recipe or “rubber formulation” is the critical starting point in providing best in class rubber parts, it all begins and ends with a company-wide culture of quality.

Everyone at Rahco assumes responsibility for their part in the process. Standards are high, and compromises are unacceptable! We aren’t satisfied until our materials are capable of molding zero defects and processing efficiently.

Put our 50 years of knowledge to work for a robust formulation based on your material specification(s), end item application’s necessities, testing and performance standards.

Rahco’s strong, constant and measured manufacturing processes guarantee your material’s consistency. Our quality system is aggressively structured to ensure that all requirements are met or exceeded, and tools and processes are designed to support our goal of superior quality and manufacturing efficiency.

Our ISO certification is 9001:2015 and our registrar is DNV. Our library of materials includes compounds with UL Certification, and compliance with NSF/ANSI 61.

Collectively, our goal is to be a world-class supplier of custom formulated and precision molded components.

If you’re developing new products, facing performance challenges with existing ones or concerned about the materials in your current parts and their alignment to specification — Rahco Rubber can help!