EPA Accepts ANSI as WaterSense Accreditation Body
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have signed a memorandum of understanding to mark ANSI’s acceptance as an accreditation body to participate in the WaterSense Program.
The program helps consumers to identify products that conserve water while maintaining high performance levels. Products certified by accredited certification bodies may carry a WaterSense label, giving consumers an easy way to identify quality, water-efficient products.
As the first accreditation body approved to perform accreditation services under the WaterSense program, ANSI is pleased to announce the launch of a new pilot accreditation program for EPA-licensed certification bodies. ANSI accreditation adds value to the certification process, ensuring that certification bodies demonstrate compliance with the WaterSense product certification system and are capable and competent to carry out their responsibilities.
www.ansi.org/accreditation Applications for the pilot program will be accepted through June 30. Applications received after that date will be considered for accreditation following the completion of the pilot program.
“Managing water conservation continues to be a growing concern in the United States,” explained Lane Hallenbeck, ANSI vice president of accreditation services. “ANSI is proud to add value to EPA’s WaterSense program through independent, third-party accreditation, as it enhances market confidence for water-efficient products, programs, and practices.”
Specifically, ANSI will assess the competence of certification bodies against the requirements set forth in:
- International Standard ISO/IEC Guide 65, General requirements for bodies operating product certification systems, developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC);
- International Accreditation Forum – Guidance on application of ISO/IEC Guide 65, and
- U.S. EPA’s own requirements as defined in the WaterSense Product Certification System.
ANSI understands and has demonstrated the importance of accreditation in supporting consumer safety and international trade. The institute’s portfolio of accreditation services includes programs for all types of certification and verification bodies, including those for products, personnel, greenhouse gas emissions, as well as standards developers.
To learn more about the pilot program, contact Reinaldo Figueiredo (rfigueir@ansi.org; 202.331.3611) or Nikki Jackson (njackson@ansi.org; 202.331.3623).