NSF/ANSI 60 Certification
NSF/ANSI/CAN 60 establishes health-based requirements for chemicals used in the treatment of drinking water across North America and international markets.
The standard ensures that treatment chemicals, when applied at defined dosing levels, do not introduce contaminants that could pose a risk to human health.
A structured approach helps define certification scope, manage formulation requirements and coordinate testing and certification activities to support safe and compliant use within drinking water systems.
What is NSF/ANSI 60?
NSF/ANSI 60 (also referenced as NSF/ANSI/CAN 60) is a North American standard that applies to chemicals used in drinking water treatment.
It establishes minimum requirements for:
- Health effects and contaminant limits
- Chemical composition and formulation control
- Maximum use levels and dosing conditions
- Product evaluation and ongoing compliance
The standard ensures that any impurities or contaminants introduced through treatment chemicals remain within acceptable limits when applied under defined use conditions.
It is widely adopted across North America and increasingly referenced within international regulatory frameworks and procurement specifications.Where NSF/ANSI 60 Applies
NSF/ANSI 60 applies to a broad range of chemicals used in drinking water treatment processes.
This commonly includes:
- Coagulants and flocculants
- Disinfection and oxidation chemicals
- Corrosion and scale control chemicals
- pH adjustment and softening chemicals
- Fluoridation and specialty treatment chemicals
- Membrane and system maintenance chemicals
Understanding applicability early is critical, particularly where certification is required for supply into public water systems or inclusion within approved product lists.
Certification & Compliance Process
Achieving NSF/ANSI 60 certification requires alignment with defined health-based criteria and certification body processes.
This typically involves:
- Identification of product function and maximum use level
- Submission of detailed formulation and ingredient data
- Review of formulation to determine evaluation requirements
- Manufacturing facility audit and production review
- Laboratory testing for regulated contaminants and impurities
- Assessment of results against defined health-based limits
- Certification, product listing and ongoing surveillance
Changes to formulation, raw materials or suppliers require review and approval, with annual audits and testing necessary to maintain certification.
How AquaCompliance Supports
AquaCompliance provides structured advisory and project support across NSF/ANSI 60 certification, helping manufacturers manage requirements from initial assessment through to approval.
- Regulatory Pathway Definition — Establishing certification scope based on product type, application and target markets
- Documentation Review — Assessing formulation data, ingredient information and supporting documentation to identify gaps and readiness for submission
- Laboratory & Certification Coordination — Working with laboratories and certification bodies to define testing scope and align programme timelines
- Certification Engagement — Supporting communication with certification bodies to address technical queries and progress approvals
- Commercial & Technical Alignment — Identifying opportunities to align certification activities across standards and programmes where appropriate
- Application & Project Management — Coordinating activities across internal teams, laboratories and certification bodies to support delivery through to certification
Key Considerations
NSF/ANSI 60 certification is influenced by several formulation and application-specific factors that should be defined early:
- Chemical composition and formulation transparency
- Maximum use level and dosing conditions
- Presence of regulated contaminants and impurities
- Availability and accuracy of supporting technical data
- Certification body requirements and timelines
In addition, several technical and commercial factors can influence testing scope, timelines and cost:
- Formulation complexity — Multiple ingredients and trace contaminants may expand evaluation requirements
- Supplier consistency — Changes in raw materials or suppliers require reassessment and approval
- Product variation — Different formulations or grades may require separate evaluation
- Testing scope — Contaminant analysis based on formulation and use conditions can impact timelines
- Certification body approach — Differences in evaluation and monitoring requirements may influence programme structure
- Programme alignment — Where multiple standards are being pursued, there may be opportunities to coordinate audit activity and reduce disruption
Certification requirements are defined within NSF/ANSI 60 and applied through certification body programmes, with testing conducted by accredited laboratories.
Clear definition of formulation, use conditions and certification pathway supports progression and reduces the risk of delays.Related Requirements
NSF/ANSI 60 applies specifically to chemicals used in drinking water treatment and is typically defined independently based on formulation, dosing conditions and intended application.
In certain applications, there may be opportunities to align required documentation with broader regulatory frameworks, helping streamline the certification process and reduce time to approval.
This may include:
- Regulation 31 (Reg31) — where chemicals are used within public water supply systems in the UK
- EU Drinking Water Directive (DWD) — where chemical safety and water quality requirements are defined at a regulatory level
While NSF/ANSI 60 focuses on the health effects of treatment chemicals, these frameworks address wider system-level requirements for drinking water safety and compliance.
A structured approach helps ensure that chemical approvals are aligned with broader regulatory expectations where required.
If you are planning certification or market entry for drinking water treatment chemicals, early clarity on formulation requirements and certification pathways is essential.
AquaCompliance supports manufacturers in defining certification scope, coordinating testing and certification activities, and maintaining alignment with regulatory and certification requirements across global markets.
Explore our full range of water compliance services.