Is the NSF Standard A Must For Your Liquid Containment Product?

When it comes to internationally recogonized standards, only a select few are as comprehensive and recognized as the NSF/ANSI 61 standards (NSF 61). NSF certifications guarantee that the product manufacturer has potentially minimized the chances of any contamination, which is one of the most essential considerations when it comes to food storage.

NSF 61 Standard Overview

NSF 61 was developed by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), a global independent public health and environmental organization, and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which oversees the development of manufacturing and procedures standards in the US and Canada.

While developed in North America, the NSF standards are generally accepted throughout the world as the mark of premium quality. Not only do NSF 61 certifications ensure regulatory compliance in 48 U.S. states and 11 Canadian provinces, but they also meet/fulfill the testing requirements for several other countries.

One of the main reasons behind the global acceptance of the NSF 61 is its comprehensive nature. There are multiple general and specific standards used throughout the world, but only a few of them cover every single aspect of the product.

NSF covers everything; from the material specifications to the entire production process. This automatically allows NSF-certified businesses to comply with multiple other standards. Because at the end of the day, the requirements and expectations from your business to minimize the chances of any contamination of food items are similar everywhere.

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How does the NSF Certification help my business?  

Businesses dealing with the storage and transportation of edible items are in a delicate position. They have a moral and business responsibility to ensure that no contamination occurs in the entire process lifecycle. NSF certifications give your customers the confidence that all your processes and materials have gone through a comprehensive list of tests to ensure reliability and performance.

From Australia to Europe and the Middle East, NSF certifications are recognized everywhere and build trust in your brand. Having this certification can open doors to new markets for your business and help you satisfy more customers with premium quality backed by international standards.  

Maintaining the certification status is quite easy as well. All you’ll need is to appear for the annual testing of your product line and manufacturing facility to continue your status. If you meet the requirements, your products will bear a label indicating NSF compliance that could open the doors to a plethora of opportunities in the developed world, letting you expand in new markets and locations.

Why Your Liquid Storage Tank Should Be NSF Certified

Flexible tanks used to store liquids are lightweight, foldable bladders. Often, the liquids being stored are drinking water or foods such as oils, wine, or milk. When used in these applications in the United States, Canada, and several other regions globally, tanks and their components must meet stringent requirements and be certified under a recognized safety standard.

In the case of flexible liquid storage tanks, the tank fabric is classified as a “Protective (barrier) Material” and the contact coating is classified as a “Liner.” Barrier materials and liners are rated according to:

• Water surface to volume: a calculated ratio that results in a Water Contact Size Restriction limit, and
• End-use water temperature or Water Contact Temperature

All Erez coated fabrics intended for flexible tank use are rated CDL 23 (cold water), meaning they are “intended to apply to product applications where the product is used for continuous exposure to ambient water temperatures.”⁽¹⁾ Erez tank fabrics have contact-size restrictions ranging from 50 – 20,000 gallons.

Erez Fabric Coatings for Liquid Storage Applications

Erez flexible-tank coated fabrics with NSF 61 certification are manufactured from high-tensile-strength polyester or Nylon fabrics coated with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or alloys coatings on both sides.

Erez is a world leader in the production of innovative coated textiles for a wide range of flexible storage tank applications, and for over 30 years has supplied coated technical fabrics for top-brand manufactures in the industry. All Erez products can be glued or welded by HF and Hot Air methods and our PP-coated fabric is available in colors.

Erez products are thoroughly tested to ensure extreme resistance to chemicals, abrasions, and punctures, as well as high UV stability, and offer excellent mechanical properties.  Our tank fabrics are specifically designed for storing and transporting liquids for extended periods while maintaining flexibility and durability.

Why Choose an Erez Coated Textile 

When choosing an Erez coated fabric for your tank project, your product is backed by six certified barriers for portable applications requiring a CDL 23 rating for nearly any volume of liquid. All are certified by the major international standard-certification bodies, including the FDA, MIL-T specs, NSF/ANSI 61, WRAS, and AS/NZS 4020:2018.

All NSF 61 certified manufactures and products are listed in a publicly-available online directory. View the Erez liners listing on the NSF website here.

By choosing Erez coated textiles that meet NSF 61 and other international standards, you are guaranteed the highest quality products that ensure worldwide marketability and safety for you and your end-users.

• Definition from SPECIAL LISTING INFORMATION FOR NSF/ANSI STANDARD 61 PRODUCTS
  http://info.nsf.org/Certified/PwsComponents/watercontacttemp.html