NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 addresses lead content, while NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 addresses contaminant leaching and related drinking-water health effects. A 372 mark alone does not establish 61 compliance or suitability for every installation. Read the exact valve's certification listing, application and temperature limits, and ask for manufacturer confirmation when markings are incomplete.
What the two identifiers establish
EPA's June2024 certification-mark guide distinguishes NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 from NSF/ANSI/CAN 61. Its table identifies 372 as a lead-content standard. It describes 61 as also meeting leachate requirements for contaminants, including metals and non-metals.
A product showing only 372 should not therefore be described as certified to 61 without separate evidence. Conversely, evaluate a current 61 certification through its applicable listing and EPA guidance rather than assuming its marking has the same meaning as an old, unverified label.
Check the valve you are actually buying
Record the full manufacturer, model and suffix. Look for the certifier's mark and its nearby standard identifier on the product or packaging. EPA notes that small products or packaging may lack marks for space or other reasons and directs readers to the manufacturer for confirmation.
Request the product's current certification listing, not an unrelated family brochure. Check that it covers the actual valve materials, size and intended potable-water application. A claim attached to an irrigation or industrial product cannot be transferred merely because a similar body fits the pipe.
Materials certification is not a treatment claim
NSF's piping-certification explanation distinguishes health-effect evaluation from other product requirements. Material health-effect certification does not prove that the installed plumbing has no leaks, that the valve has the required mechanical rating, or that the incoming water is contaminant-free.
For a device intended to reduce a contaminant, use the separate water-filter claim verification guide. A valve's 61 or 372 designation is not a filter reduction claim.
Keep the installation limits with the paperwork
Read the manufacturer instructions for pressure, temperature, connection type and approved sealant. Installation code and mechanical compatibility remain relevant even when the material certification is appropriate. Do not use a higher operating limit from another model because both carry a similar mark.
If your concern is lead already present at the tap, use the existing lead-testing guide and an appropriate drinking-water laboratory. Identifying a certified replacement component and testing existing water are different tasks; neither can be completed by reading the words lead-free alone.