Testing for drinking water contact
The quality of water for human consumption is regulated in Europe by Directive (EU) 2020/2184, and at a national level in Germany by the Drinking Water Ordinance (TrinkwV). This sets requirements not only for the drinking water itself, but also for the materials that come into contact with drinking water during production, transmission, and storage.
§ Section 14 TrinkwV regulates this specifically and requires that the materials and products used:
- do not impair human health
- do not adversely affect the odor/taste of drinking water
- do not promote the multiplication of microorganisms
- do not release any substances into the drinking water if possible.
The verification that a product meets these requirements is carried out according to the specifications of the evaluation bases and guidelines of the Federal Environment Agency as well as corresponding DVGW worksheets. This involves both
- migration tests with a subsequent examination of the specified parameters in the generated contact waters, as well as
- testing with regard to the promotion of microbial growth on the materials and products in accordance with DVGW
Worksheet W 270 or DIN EN 16421.
For more information on microbiological requirements click
here.
Testing laboratory for certification bodies
The Ruhr Area Hygiene Institute is a recognized laboratory accredited according to DIN EN ISO 17025:2018 for the required drinking water hygiene tests. This confirms our competence in testing water supply materials and products. The test reports and test certificates prepared on the basis of the assessment principles, guidelines, and DVGW worksheets are recognized by certification bodies such as HyCert and DVGW CERT GmbH.
Here you will find further information regarding the cross-sectional topic of certification and our certification body
HyCert.
Our range of services
We competently perform drinking water hygiene suitability tests on non-metallic materials for you. Our range of services includes not only the testing of organic materials and materials, elastomers, silicones, paints, coatings, lubricants but also of cement-bound materials and enamel / ceramics.
In addition, our department also offers tests for factory production control (FPC) in accordance with the Recommendation for attestation of conformity of product hygiene suitability for drinking water.
We support our customers continuously with a consulting and training service. The following regulations form our testing basis.
