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Hansgrohe/Axor Compliant With Low-Lead Legislation

The California and Vermont initiatives took effect on January 1st and the District of Columbia currently has a "lead-free" plumbing bill pending.

Staff -- Interior Design, 1/6/2010 12:00:00 AM

Axor Citterio kitchen prep faucet

Once again, Hansgrohe is ahead of the curve. The kitchen and bath fixture manufacturer has just announced that all of its relevant products under its Hansgrohe and Axor brands meet California's and Vermont's new regulations which limit the lead content of pipe and plumbing fixtures and fittings that handle water for human consumption through drinking or cooking.

Packaging for the two brands will now carry a checkmark for each product that is compliant with California and Vermont's new laws. Their initiatives took effect January 1 and are at the forefront of a "lead-free" plumbing movement.

The new laws go far beyond the current federal Safe Drinking Water Act, last amended in 1996, which allows up to 8 percent lead content in plumbing fixtures, fittings, and pipes. California's new law allows only for between 0.2 and .25 percent lead and Vermont's calls for .25 percent for equivalent products.

Hansgrohe Talis S kitchen faucet

For their part, Hansgrohe has been preparing for the change through product development and availability since 2007, shortly after California signed its bill into law. Nicolas Grohe, the company's director of marketing and product development for North America, says, "Our launch schedule was designed to give plumbing professionals adequate time to adjust their inventories before the law's effective date of January 1, 2010."

Russ Wheeler, general manager of Hansgrohe North America adds, "Anticipating that most other states will adopt this legislation, Hansgrohe is proud to have decided to swich all relevant products to be compliant with the California and Vermont acts."

The District of Columbia is currently the only other jurisdiction with a "lead-free" plumbing bill pending. It is scheduled to take effect in 2011.