Frequently Asked Questions: WaterSense Certification and Labeling of High-Efficiency Toilets (HETs)

How do I get the WaterSense label for my HET?

The first step toward obtaining the WaterSense label is to enter into a partnership agreement with EPA. A copy of the manufacturer partnership agreement can be found on the WaterSense Web site at <www.epa.gov/watersense>. Under the partnership agreement you will have 12 months to obtain certification for a product that conforms to the WaterSense High-Efficiency Toilet Specification.

The second step is to have your product certified for conformance to the WaterSense High-Efficiency Toilet Specification by a licensed certifying body either accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in accordance with the WaterSense certification scheme (currently under development), or otherwise approved for that purpose by EPA.

How do I submit my product to a licensed certifying body?

Contact the approved licensed certifying body of your choice directly and follow their application procedures.

Which certification bodies are accredited by ANSI or otherwise approved by EPA to certify the product?

A listing of licensed certifying bodies that meet WaterSense criteria will be posted in early 2007 on the WaterSense Web site, or will be obtainable from the WaterSense Helpline at (866) WTR-SENS (987-7367). EPA anticipates that licensed certifying bodies currently approved to certify plumbing products will be on this list.

What criteria must a licensed certifying body meet in order to certify products?

Initially, EPA will approve a licensed certifying body to certify products and authorize the use of the WaterSense label, provided it meets each of the following criteria. Each licensed certifying body:

• Shall demonstrate that it is accredited by ANSI in accordance with ISO/IEC Guide 65, General requirements for bodies operating product certification systems
• Shall have plumbing products or other product categories directly related to WaterSense specifications included in its scope of accreditation
• Shall declare that the laboratories used by the licensed certifying body have the competence and capability to conduct tests in accordance with relevant WaterSense specifications
• Shall declare that it has the technical expertise required in the evaluation of relevant WaterSense products
• Shall declare that its ongoing surveillance requirements for WaterSense labeled products will be equivalent to current surveillance requirements for the certification of similar products
• Shall indicate which WaterSense specification(s) are relevant to its current ANSI accredited scope
• Shall sign a licensing agreement with EPA related to the conditions for authorizing the use of the WaterSense label

Who authorizes the use of the WaterSense label?

ANSI accredited licensed certifying bodies, or those otherwise approved by EPA will authorize the use of the WaterSense label in accordance with EPA. The licensed certifying body that certifies a product will include its name in close proximity to the WaterSense label.

What about products previously tested under the predecessor UNAR¹ specification?

Products previously tested under the UNAR specification must be certified for conformance to the WaterSense High-Efficiency Toilet Specification in order to achieve the WaterSense label.

How much will product certification cost?

The cost structure for product certification is determined by the licensed certifying bodies. EPA anticipates that the testing fee and cost for certification of HETs, which may include opening a certification file or adding models to an existing file, will be in line with the current cost structure for toilet certification by an ANSI accredited licensed certifying body.

How long will certification take?

The exact process and timing will be determined by the licensed certifying body conducting the certification. Licensed certifying bodies recognize that time to market is an important consideration and will compete for a manufacturer's business in this area. EPA anticipates that the time to achieve product certification to WaterSense specifications will be similar to the time it takes to get plumbing products certified to American Society of Mechanical
Engineers (ASME) or other relevant standards.

How will consumers know my product has been certified?

Only products certified to WaterSense specifications are allowed to bear the WaterSense label. In addition, EPA will maintain a master list of certified WaterSense products on the WaterSense Web site.

How will EPA know my product has been certified?

Licensed certifying bodies are required to maintain a listing of all products they certify on their Web sites. They will periodically submit an updated list to EPA so the WaterSense Web registry remains as current as possible. Using the WaterSense product notification form, available on the WaterSense Web site, manufacturers should also notify EPA directly when a new model is certified. This will ensure that EPA has the most current list of certified products possible on the WaterSense Web site.

Will this certification process apply to all products?

EPA will require all WaterSense labeled products to be certified by a licensed certifying body. EPA may, however, adjust the specific certification requirements as appropriate for individual product categories.

This document is also available in PDF (2 pp, 50K, About PDF).