§1285.8. Lead-free pipe, fitting, fixture, solder, or flux; exclusions; definitions

A.(1) No person shall use any pipe, pipe or plumbing fitting or fixture, solder, or flux that is not lead free in the installation or repair of any public water system or any plumbing in a facility providing water for human consumption, except when necessary for the repair of leaded joints of cast iron pipes.

(2) No person shall introduce into commerce any pipe, pipe or plumbing fitting, or fixture intended to convey or dispense water for human consumption through drinking or cooking that is not lead free, including kitchen faucets, bathroom faucets, and any other end-use devices intended to convey or dispense water for human consumption through drinking or cooking.

(3) The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to the following:

(a) Pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, or fixtures, including backflow preventers, that are used exclusively for nonpotable services such as manufacturing, industrial processing, irrigation, outdoor watering, or any other uses where the water is not anticipated to be used for human consumption.

(b) Toilets, bidets, urinals, fill valves, flushometer valves, tub fillers, shower valves, showers, safety shower flushes, service saddles, or water distribution main gate valves that are two inches in diameter or larger.

(c) Materials purchased or acquired by public water systems prior to January 1, 2013.

B.(1) No person engaged in the business of selling plumbing supplies, except a manufacturer, shall sell solder or flux that is not lead free.

(2) No person shall introduce into commerce any solder or flux that is not lead free unless the solder or flux bears a prominent label stating that it is illegal to use the solder or flux in the installation or repair of any plumbing providing water for human consumption.

C. For the purposes of this Section, "lead free" means not more than 0.2 percent lead when used with respect to solder and flux and not more than a weighted average of 0.25 percent when used with respect to the wetted surfaces of pipes and pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and fixtures. The weighted average lead content of a pipe and pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, and fixture shall be calculated by using the following formula: The percentage of lead content within each component that comes into contact with water shall be multiplied by the percent of the total wetted surface of the entire pipe and pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, or fixture represented in each component containing lead. These percentages shall be added and the sum shall constitute the weighted average lead content of the pipe and pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, or fixture.

D. All pipe, pipe or plumbing fittings or fixtures, solder, or flux shall be certified by an independent American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited third party as being in compliance with this Section.

E. The Louisiana Department of Health shall promulgate rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this Section.

Acts 2011, No. 362, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2013; Redesignated from R.S. 40:1299.27.1 by HCR 84 of 2015 R.S.