Lead-free standard

Definition

The federal lead limit on any pipe, fitting or fixture a house sells for drinking water.

Why It Matters

Solder and flux must hold no more than 0.2 percent lead, and pipe, fittings and fixtures must average no more than 0.25 percent across their wetted surfaces, which is a weighted calculation and not a glance at the alloy. The limit governs what may be introduced into commerce for potable water, so the stock on the shelf is the exposure: a superseded valve that was lawful to manufacture is not lawful to sell into a drinking-water job. Ask what the house still holds for non-potable use and how it is kept apart, because the same fitting serves both worlds and only the marking separates them.