shower filter certification scientistWhen we think about buying any new product there are many factors which help us make up our minds about whether or not this product is the best one for us. Whether that be recommendations from friends, online user reviews, advertising that we've seen or product certifications from independent bodies.

 

When choosing the right shower filter it can be quite daunting as there are many on the market that all profess to do the same thing, how does one choose between them all?  In this article we will discuss shower filter certifications. What companies certify shower filters and what do they offer in their certifications.

 

NSF Certifications


(All logos are property of copyright owner and are displayed for educational purposes only).


The NSF (originally named National Sanitation Foundation, but they changed their name to NSF International in 1990) are a global independent body which provides safety accreditation for products. They produce standards for public health and safety, manufacturers and regulators can then go ahead and commission the NSF to scientifically test their products independently to make sure that their products meet those safety standards which have been devised by the NSF.

 

In terms of shower filter and water filter certifications, seeing an NSF mark accompanying the product is a very strong indication that the product has been rigorously tested in a scientific manner and conforms to the claims made.
The NSF have a huge range of safety standards for a huge range of products and situations, but specifically they have a standard for shower filters. This is their standard NSF/ANSI177, any certified shower filter that has this mark ensures that it has been scientifically proven to confirm to material safety, structural integrity, minimum flower performance and its ability to reduce free available chlorine.
http://www.nsf.org/services/by-industry/water-wastewater/residential-water-treatment/residential-drinking-water-treatment-standards/

Here are the shower filters we have that are certified by the NSF:

NSF Certified Shower Filter
NSF Certified Fixed Shower Filter Shower Head
NSF Certified Shower Filter Rainfall Shower Head

Paragon Luxury Rainfall Shower Filter

 

Water Quality Association

Certification Logos :

(All logos are property of copyright owner and are displayed for educational purposes only).

 

Another certification board for water filters and shower filters is the Water Quality Association. Unlike the NSF the Water Quality Association deals only with certification of water related products. On their webpage they state that they are; "WQA is a resource and information source, a voice for the industry, an educator for professionals, a laboratory for product testing, and a communicator to the public."

 

Quite like the NSF, the WQA also have ANSI standards which manufacturers can commission them to test their products and services against. When a product has actually been tested and certified by the WQA it will hold a WQA Gold Seal. WQA say on their website that the Gold Seal Product Certification ensures that the product is constructed from safe materials, the claims listed on the packaging are backed by test data, and the product will hold up under normal usage conditions

 

Generally you will see WQA certifications more on drinking water filters than certified shower filters because they do not hold a standard specifically for shower filters. Yet many shower filter manufacturers will be a member of the Water Quality Association and are thus able to display their logo. Meaning they are associated with the WQA and are a recognised organisation in the water treatment industry.

 

When it comes to being knowledgeable about what you are getting for your money, then a certification seal certainly should be a large factor in your buying decision. Now that you know what to look out for we hope that this article has helped identify the different types of shower filter certifications and hopefully will help you make a more informed decision.

 

When it comes to choosing a certified shower filter, we suggest any of our Paragon Shower Filter systems. Paragon has both been certified by the NSF shower filter standards and also is a member of the Water Quality Board.  All of our shower filters also contain KDF-55 which is an NSF certified filter medium which is certified by the NSF to standard 42 - drinking water treatment units.