Noryl FDA & Potable Water Compliance — NSF-61 Status

Noryl (SABIC modified PPO+PS) is primarily an electrical and structural engineering plastic, not a food-contact material by default. However, specific Noryl grades have been tested and approved for potable water contact under NSF/ANSI 61, and Noryl's dimensional stability, chemical resistance to water, and low moisture absorption make it a practical choice for pump components, valve bodies, and water handling equipment — provided the correct grade with confirmed NSF certification is specified.

At a glance:

• Noryl is NOT a standard FDA food-contact plastic — it is primarily electrical grade
• NSF/ANSI 61 potable water approval is available on select Noryl grades
• For pumps, valves, and water system components: confirm NSF-61 lot documentation
• Noryl resists hydrolysis in hot water service within the 93°C continuous-use limit
• Do not use Noryl for direct food contact without explicit FDA compliance documentation for the specific grade

NSF/ANSI 61 for Potable Water

NSF/ANSI 61 (Drinking Water System Components — Health Effects) sets extractable substance limits for materials in contact with drinking water. SABIC has tested and listed specific Noryl grades (including some EN265 and 731 formulations) under NSF-61 for potable water contact.

What NSF-61 Covers for Noryl

NSF-61 certification means that extractables from the Noryl grade at the test conditions (relevant water temperatures, contact times, and water chemistries) do not exceed health-based limits. This makes NSF-61 certified Noryl appropriate for:

• Hot and cold water distribution system components (valves, fittings, pump housings)
• Water purification system components
• Water meter bodies and housings
• Irrigation system controls and valve bodies

How to Confirm NSF-61 Status

NSF-61 certification is:

• Grade-specific: Not all Noryl grades are listed. Confirm the specific grade designation (e.g., EN265, 731) against the current NSF product listing.
• Lot-documented: For regulated applications, request a Certificate of Conformance (COC) confirming NSF-61 compliance for the production lot.
• Periodically renewed: NSF listings are maintained through ongoing testing; verify currency of the certification.

SABIC's NSF-certified Noryl grades are searchable through NSF's official product and service listing at NSF.org.

Noryl vs FDA 21 CFR for Food Contact

Noryl is not a standard FDA 21 CFR food-contact material in the same way that acetal, PETG (177.1630), or PEEK (177.2415) are. Noryl EN265 contains flame-retardant additives that would require explicit FDA clearance for the specific formulation before food contact is permissible.

Do not specify Noryl for direct food contact applications unless you have specific FDA compliance documentation for the grade. For food-zone machined parts requiring the kind of performance Noryl offers, consider:

• Acetal (Delrin): FDA 21 CFR 177.2470; good electrical insulation
• PET-P (Ertalyte): FDA 21 CFR 177.1630; excellent dimensional stability
• PEEK: FDA 21 CFR 177.2415; for high-temperature food zone applications

Water Handling Performance

Even where NSF-61 is not required (industrial, commercial, HVAC, non-potable water), Noryl's properties make it an excellent choice for water handling components:

Noryl outperforms nylon in all water-handling metrics. Nylon absorbs up to 9.5% moisture at saturation with 2% dimensional change; Noryl at <0.01% dimensional change maintains machined clearances throughout the service life of the component.

Chemical Cleaning Agent Compatibility

For pump and valve components cleaned with standard industrial agents:

Regulatory Summary

More related guides

Applications

• Pump & Valve Components
• Electrical Insulation Components

Industries

• Water Treatment
• Electrical & Electronics

Compare to other materials

• Noryl vs. Polycarbonate

Frequently asked questions — Noryl FAQ