Zurn Executives Share Business Strategies for Lead-Free Law

Erie, Pa. — Two Zurn Industries, LLC executives, each instrumental in the firm’s aggressive industry-leading conversion to lead-free, shared their insights and experiences during a presentation at MCAA 2013 in San Antonio, Texas on March 18.

Frank Schaetzke, Vice President of National Accounts, and Sean Martin, Senior Director of Sales, provided an audience of mechanical contractors successful strategies to comply with the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act (42 USC 300G). The new federal law takes effect January 4, 2014.

In a presentation entitled “Lead-Free: It’s Coming, Are You Prepared?” Schaetzke and Martin presented ideas that contractors can use to minimize their exposure, inventory depletion, and bid risk.

The new national law modifies the existing Safe Drinking Water Act to a standard enacted by California and Vermont in 2010. It will require that any valve, fitting or fixture coming in contact with potable water (used for drinking or cooking) must be lead free. Specifically, it will mandate that these plumbing products have a weighted average of less than 0.25 percent lead content (the NSF/ANSI Standard 61-G requirement).

“Our industry can learn from the experiences of California and Vermont,” says Martin. “In those states, manufacturers, suppliers, and contractors had to convert their entire roster of metal fittings, solder, and pipe which caused problems with inventory, material acquisition and bidding. By preparing early, Zurn has provided a successful example to avoid that scenario.”

“We tried to guide the MCAA members through the blocking and tackling fundamentals of this change,” says Schaetzke. “We explained how their firms could adjust their procedures for bidding, purchasing, and installation to remove the lead from inventory.”

The Zurn lead-free initiative sets the standard for the industry, making the company the first to completely convert its broad product offering. For detailed information about Zurn lead-free products and lead-free conversion, visit www.zurn.com/LeadFree.