AS/NZS 5328 Certification

Scientific Analytical Services (SAS) Laboratory is a commercial business unit of Urban Utilities and a trusted laboratory services provider to the water sector. SAS Laboratory was a key participant in the development of AS/NZS 5328 Flushable Products. In order to support man­u­fac­tur­ers and agents of flushable products, SAS Laboratory developed the capability to undertake each of the seven tests required to confirm flush­ab­il­ity in accordance with the Standard.

Overview of AS/NZS 5328 Flushable Products #

The objective of AS/NZS 5328 is to provide a framework of test methods and criteria for determining whether products are suitable for disposal by flushing them down a toilet. It also provides guidance on and require­ments for the labelling and marking of products that are likely to be disposed via the toilet.

To be considered flushable, a product must pass each of seven tests that replicate hydraulic and mechanical conditions generally found in wastewater systems.

The Flushability Tests #

Test A – Toilet bowl and drain line clearance test #

This test determines the com­pat­ib­il­ity of products with typical toilet cisterns and drain lines by ensuring that the product does not clog, accumulate within or otherwise interfere with normal operation under likely usage conditions.

Test B – Household pump test #

This test determines the com­pat­ib­il­ity of products with household sewage ejector pump systems by ensuring that the product does not clog, accumulate within or otherwise interfere with normal system operation under high usage conditions.

Test C – Slosh box disintegration test #

This test assesses the dis­in­teg­ra­tion performance of a material when subjected to hydraulic forces typically found in continuous flow conditions in a small diameter wastewater transport system. The hydraulic forces are imitated by the actions of a slosh box under controlled conditions.

Test D – Municipal pump test #

This test determines the com­pat­ib­il­ity of products with municipal sewage pumping system by introducing a product load into a municipal pump while observing the current draw as an indication of incompatibility.

Test E – Settling test #

This test assesses the potential for products to settle or float in sumps, septic tanks, on-site aerobic systems and settling chambers that are associated with pump stations and municipal wastewater treatment plants.

Test F – Aerobic bio-disintegration test #

This test determines whether a product bio-dis­in­teg­rates into pieces less than 1 mm after a 14-day incubation with activated sludge mixed liquor. This method will determine if a product contains materials that do not degrade bio­lo­gic­ally in the presence of oxygen.

Test G – Anaerobic bio-disintegration test #

This test determines whether a product bio-dis­in­teg­rates into pieces less than 1 mm after a 28-day anaerobic incubation with activated sludge mixed liquor. This method will determine if a product contains materials that do not degrade bio­lo­gic­ally in the absence of oxygen.

Zero-Plastic Attestation #

In addition to meeting the criteria for the seven flush­ab­il­ity tests, the product man­u­fac­turer or manufacturer’s agent is required to provide an attestation (and form of evidence) stating that the product does not contain plastic. A Zero-Plastic Attestation template is available on request from SAS Laboratory. Note that form of evidence may be either a ​“bill of materials” provided by the man­u­fac­turer or the results of product testing.

Standards of Service #

Standard Tests: Tests will be conducted and reported exactly as required by AS/NZS 5328.

Turn Around Time: Where all seven tests are requested, results will be reported within six weeks of receipt of test samples. Results will be informally reported as available. Turnaround times for separate tests will generally be as follows, subject to quotation:

To avoid unnecessary expense, SAS Laboratory will immediately report any test failures and seek guidance from the client on whether (and in which order) to conduct remaining tests.

What is needed to start testing? #

Request a quotation for AS/NZS 5328 testing from SAS Laboratory using our enquiry form.