Green Drain's ASSE 1072 certification and IAPMO cUPC listing provide an equivalent compliance pathway to Ontario's Building Materials Evaluation Commission (BMEC) approval. This document explains why these certifications meet or exceed BMEC requirements for barrier-type trap seal protection devices.
In Ontario, Canada, the Building Materials Evaluation Commission (BMEC) is a product approval pathway that certifies building materials meet performance requirements under the Ontario Building Code. For trap seal protection devices, BMEC verifies compliance with plumbing code provisions related to sewer gas prevention, pathogen control, and material safety. Some plumbing inspectors in Ontario may specifically ask to see BMEC approval before allowing a product to be installed.
Green Drain's equivalency statement demonstrates that the product's existing certifications, specifically ASSE 1072-2020 compliance and IAPMO cUPC listing, cover the same functional performance criteria that BMEC evaluates. ASSE 1072 is a nationally and internationally recognized performance standard that is referenced by the National Plumbing Code of Canada (NPC), making it a valid compliance pathway in Canadian jurisdictions.
This is not a separate third-party certification. It is a compliance pathway document that bridges the gap between Green Drain's existing North American certifications and Ontario's jurisdiction-specific approval requirements. The argument is straightforward: ASSE 1072 tests for the same performance outcomes that BMEC evaluates (odor prevention, pathogen control, material durability, drainage performance), and in many cases, ASSE 1072's testing requirements are more rigorous than what BMEC requires for this product category.
The equivalency argument rests on a direct comparison of what BMEC evaluates against what ASSE 1072 tests. In every functional category, Green Drain's existing certifications meet or exceed BMEC requirements.
BMEC evaluates: Whether the device prevents sewer gas from entering occupied spaces through floor drains.
ASSE 1072 tests: Section 3.2 (Evaporation Test) directly measures the device's ability to maintain a seal under accelerated evaporation conditions. Green Drain blocked over 99% of evaporation with a clean seal and over 96% even with a wire obstruction holding the valve partially open. The test runs for 96 hours at 100F and 20% relative humidity, simulating months of real-world drain inactivity.
BMEC evaluates: Whether the device contributes to building health by preventing pathogen transmission through the plumbing system.
Supporting evidence: Beyond ASSE 1072, Green Drain has been independently tested by SGS (Report QDF25-0049810-01) for viral aerosol retention. The device blocked greater than 99.9% of aerosolized MS2 bacteriophage, a validated viral surrogate. Control measurements without the device ranged from 18,000 to 72,500 PFU. With Green Drain installed, readings were below the detection limit of 5 PFU across all three test rounds.
BMEC evaluates: Whether the materials are safe, durable, and appropriate for plumbing system use.
ASSE 1072 tests: Section 3.8 (Life Cycle Test) subjects the device to 2,500 open/close cycles with alternating hot (140F) and room-temperature water. Green Drain showed zero degradation after the full cycling protocol. Independent CRT Labs testing confirmed the silicone membrane has a split tear strength of 23.38 kN/m, which is 93 times the minimum requirement. The material passed brittleness testing at -40F, ozone resistance (100 hours at 150 pphm), chemical resistance (sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide), and UV resistance (500 hours exposure).
BMEC evaluates: Whether the device allows adequate drainage without causing backups or flooding.
ASSE 1072 tests: Section 3.1 (Flow Test) requires the device to handle the minimum flow rate for its drain size. The GD-4 sustained 73 GPM (276.3 L/min) for 10 continuous minutes without water exceeding the 1" mark on the test assembly. Section 3.4 (Opening Test) confirmed the device opens with just 32 g of water, far below the 113.4 g maximum, meaning even minor water events drain immediately.
BMEC evaluates: Whether the device performs reliably in actual building conditions, not just clean laboratory settings.
ASSE 1072 tests: Three separate sections address real-world contaminants. Section 3.5 (Dirt and Debris) tests performance after sand contamination. Section 3.6 (Floor Wax) tests whether dried acrylic floor finish prevents the valve from opening. Section 3.7 (Grease) tests whether solidified grease from food service environments causes the device to stick. Green Drain passed all three, maintaining full seal integrity after sand exposure and opening normally after both dried wax and solidified grease.
Additional certifications: Green Drain holds NSF/ANSI 2 certification for food equipment and HACCP International endorsement (Certificate I-PE-891-GRE-RG-04), confirming the product is "suitable for use in the food industry and free from hazards to food safety." These certifications go beyond what BMEC evaluates for trap seal devices and provide additional assurance for food service and healthcare applications in Ontario.
This equivalency pathway is relevant to healthcare facilities, restaurants and food processing, schools and universities, and commercial and institutional buildings across Ontario where floor drains require code-compliant trap seal protection. Ontario hospitals, long-term care homes, and medical clinics must meet strict infection control requirements, and the BMEC equivalency combined with SGS pathogen testing data provides the compliance documentation that healthcare facility managers need. Ontario's food service industry is regulated by local public health units, and Green Drain's NSF/ANSI 2 and HACCP certifications complement the equivalency for commercial kitchens and food processing plants. School boards managing thousands of buildings can specify Green Drain across their portfolio without navigating a separate Ontario-specific approval process, which is especially valuable for drains that go unused during weekends, holidays, and summer breaks. Property managers of office towers, retail centres, and government buildings can use the equivalency statement to satisfy plumbing inspectors during tenant improvements and renovation projects.
Green Drain's certification portfolio covers every performance criterion that BMEC evaluates for trap seal devices.
Ontario's plumbing inspection process sometimes creates a gap between nationally recognized certifications and jurisdiction-specific approval pathways. A plumbing inspector may be familiar with BMEC approval but unfamiliar with ASSE 1072 or IAPMO cUPC listings. The equivalency statement bridges that gap by showing inspectors that Green Drain has already been tested against the same performance criteria that BMEC evaluates, through a certification pathway that is arguably more rigorous.
ASSE 1072 is referenced in the National Plumbing Code of Canada (NPC), which forms the basis for provincial plumbing codes across the country. The IAPMO cUPC listing carries SCC (Standards Council of Canada) accreditation, giving it formal recognition within the Canadian standards system. Together, these certifications provide a compliance pathway that extends beyond Ontario to any Canadian province that references the NPC.
For engineers and specifiers working on Canadian projects, this equivalency statement eliminates a potential barrier to product adoption. Rather than waiting for a separate BMEC evaluation (which can take months and is limited to Ontario), Green Drain can be specified immediately using its existing ASSE 1072 and cUPC credentials. The equivalency document provides the documentation that inspectors need to approve the installation.
The supporting certification portfolio further strengthens the case. Green Drain carries international approvals including CE marking (ETA-18/0536) for Europe, WaterMark (WM-022837) for Australia and New Zealand, and WMTS-522 compliance. SGS pathogen testing confirms greater than 99.9% viral aerosol blockage. This breadth of third-party validation from laboratories across four continents demonstrates a level of testing that exceeds what any single jurisdiction-specific approval process typically requires.
The complete equivalency document showing how Green Drain's ASSE 1072 certification and cUPC listing provide equivalent compliance to Ontario's BMEC requirements. Use this document for plumbing inspector submittals, project specifications, and compliance files.
BMEC stands for Building Materials Evaluation Commission. It is an Ontario-specific product approval pathway that certifies building materials meet performance requirements under the Ontario Building Code. For trap seal protection devices, BMEC evaluates whether the product prevents sewer gas and pathogen transmission, uses safe and durable materials, and maintains adequate drainage performance. Plumbing inspectors in Ontario may ask for BMEC approval because it is the product evaluation process they are most familiar with, even though nationally recognized certifications like ASSE 1072 and IAPMO cUPC cover the same performance criteria.
The equivalency statement demonstrates that Green Drain's ASSE 1072 certification and cUPC listing cover every performance criterion that BMEC evaluates for trap seal devices. ASSE 1072 is referenced in the National Plumbing Code of Canada, and the IAPMO cUPC listing carries SCC (Standards Council of Canada) accreditation. While individual inspectors have discretion in their jurisdictions, the equivalency document provides the technical evidence they need to approve the installation. Green Drain's sales and engineering team can provide additional support for specific inspection situations.
Green Drain does not hold a separate BMEC approval. Instead, the company provides an equivalency statement showing that its existing certifications (ASSE 1072-2020, IAPMO cUPC File No. 9301) meet or exceed BMEC performance requirements. The equivalency approach is based on the fact that ASSE 1072 is a more comprehensive standard that tests for the same outcomes BMEC evaluates, including sewer gas prevention, material durability, contaminant resistance, and drainage performance. This approach is supported by additional certifications including SGS pathogen testing, NSF/ANSI 2, and HACCP International endorsement.
Yes. While the equivalency statement was specifically created to address Ontario's BMEC approval pathway, the underlying certifications have broader Canadian applicability. The IAPMO cUPC listing carries SCC accreditation, and ASSE 1072 is referenced in the National Plumbing Code of Canada (NPC), which forms the basis for provincial plumbing codes across the country. Green Drain can be specified in any Canadian province that references the NPC and accepts cUPC-listed products.
Green Drain holds a comprehensive portfolio of international certifications. In addition to ASSE 1072 and cUPC listing, the product is CE marked in Europe (ETA-18/0536), WaterMark certified in Australia and New Zealand (WM-022837), NSF/ANSI 2 certified for food equipment, and HACCP International endorsed for food safety. SGS laboratory testing confirmed greater than 99.9% viral aerosol blockage. CRT Labs testing demonstrated silicone membrane tear strength 93 times the minimum requirement, plus resistance to ozone, chemicals, UV exposure, and temperature extremes from -40F to 212F. This breadth of third-party validation from laboratories across four continents provides confidence that exceeds what any single jurisdiction-specific approval process typically requires.
Download the BMEC equivalency statement, request specification language for your Canadian project, or contact our team for inspector support in Ontario and other provinces.