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Recognized certification organizations

When installing plumbing, you must use only materials, devices or equipment designed for the purpose that has been certified or approved by one of the bodies recognized by the RBQ. Whether you are a plumbing contractor or a consumer, this is a rule that applies at all times. The RBQ reminds you that unapproved products may present a danger for your health and safety. It is incumbent on you to demand that the apparatus and equipment meet standards in force.

Do not minimize the risks

Unapproved products may carry serious health and safety risks. Pipes or faucets that have not passed the approval process could prove to be a health risk if they were to contain lead or parts not designed for contact with water. A glass basin or shower door that has not been approved could give way to even a small impact and cause injuries. All the more reason, plumbing devices such as the safety valve on a water heater or a backflow preventer must be certified by a recognized body in order to ensure compliance with manufacturing and operating requirements. Since October 2, 2008, the sale or lease of materials, devices or equipment intended for a plumbing facility that have not been certified or approved by an accredited body is prohibited.

Organizations recognized and accredited by the RBQ

The RBQ provides the list of those bodies:

Canadian Gas Association (CGA)
Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ)
CSA International (CSA)
IAPMO Research and Testing, Inc. (UPC)
Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC)
NSF International (NSF)
Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB)
Quality Auditing Institute (QAI)
Intertek Testing Services NA Ltd. (ITS)
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL)
Water Quality Association (WQA)
ICC Evaluation service (ICC-ES)
LabTest Certification inc.(LC)
any other organization accredited by the Standards Council of Canada as a certification body in the plumbing field and which has advised the RBQ of its accreditation.

Certification seals

Those organizations must affix their seal or label on a product to attest to its compliance with Canadian standards. Certified products must bear a "c" on their seal or label in the eight o'clock position. As this requirement has been in force only since February 24, 1999, there are still products around bearing a certification label without the "c" mark. You should in that case contact the certification body in question to check if the product meets Canadian standards.

Seals and contact information of certification bodies

Certification bodies that have been recognized and accredited by the RBQ must affix their seal or label on their product to attest that it meets Canadian standards.

The RBQ presents the seal and contact information of those bodies:

CANADIAN STANDARDS ASSOCIATION (CSA)

www.csagroup.org This link open an external website of the Régie du bâtiment du Québec in a new window.

NSF International

www.nsf.org This link open an external website of the Régie du bâtiment du Québec in a new window.

Bureau de normalisation du Québec

www.bnq.qc.ca This link open an external website of the Régie du bâtiment du Québec in a new window.

UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES OF CANADA

www.ulc.ca This link open an external website of the Régie du bâtiment du Québec in a new window.

INTERTEK TESTING SERVICES NA INC.

www.intertek-etlsemko.com This link open an external website of the Régie du bâtiment du Québec in a new window.

WATER QUALITY ASSOCIATION (WQA)

www.wqa.org This link open an external website of the Régie du bâtiment du Québec in a new window.

ICC Evaluation Service

www.icc-es.org This link open an external website of the Régie du bâtiment du Québec in a new window.

LabTest Certification inc .

www.labtestcert.com This link open an external website of the Régie du bâtiment du Québec in a new window.

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