In a significant move to protect public health, the National Construction Code (NCC) has introduced a new limit on the allowable level of lead content in plumbing products.
Published on the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB), the update stated that from May 1st, 2026, any copper alloy plumbing products containing more than 0.25% lead will no longer be allowed for use in plumbing systems that supply drinking water.
Switching to lead free plumbing products is not just about compliance; it’s about prioritising the health and safety of your clients and those who use your facilities.
Here at Gentec Australia, we offer an extensive range of lead free solutions, including high-quality stainless steel tapware products.
Read on to explore why transitioning to lead free taps is so important and how Gentec can help you make it happen.
Futureproof your next industrial or commercial fit-out with lead free tapware from Gentec. Contact us today on (02) 9319 4422.
Understanding Lead
So, what is lead, and why is it a concern in drinking water?
Lead is a naturally occurring heavy metal element found in small amounts in the earth’s crust. As a manufacturing material, it has many benefits, including malleability and flexibility.
Most taps, pipes, and fittings contain small amounts of lead. However, many experts classify it as toxic to humans and animals and say there is no real “safe” amount of lead.
Lead in drinking water can cause health problems if consumed over a long period of time. It can accumulate in the body, making exposure especially risky for young children, pregnant women, and those with existing health conditions.
Lead Leaching
Lead in plumbing, especially lead in tapware, is not as uncommon as many people might think. Many residential homes and commercial buildings built before 1989 used lead-based solder in their pipes, making the risk of exposure to lead a reality for many older properties.
But how does lead from traditional tapware come into contact with drinking water?
Lead can leach into the water supply when water sits in pipes or fixtures containing lead for extended periods. This risk increases when pipes begin to corrode and disintegrate over time, releasing small particles of lead into the water.
This issue was especially common with older brass tapware products, such as fittings and valves, which often contained lead.
Considering that kitchen taps are used for drinking and food preparation, and bathroom taps for washing hands and bodies, the need to remove lead content and reduce frequent exposure to lead is crucial. Ensuring that the water we use for everyday tasks is safe highlights the importance of first addressing potential lead contamination in plumbing systems.
Gentec: Your Eco-Friendly Tapware Solution
For a zero lead or low lead approach to plumbing, you can’t go past Gentec. We take our environmental responsibility seriously and strive to follow the highest health and sustainability standards.
We do this by using innovative technologies that lower emissions and offer real energy and water-saving capabilities. Gentec products are made from environmentally friendly, lead free materials that are long-lasting, reducing the need for frequent replacement. This durability contributes to minimising waste and lowering our overall consumption of resources.
Although many other plumbing fixture companies use chrome plating in their stainless steel products, we don’t. It is a harmful process that can release toxic substances into the air during production. Instead, we offer a polished, machine finish that provides a sleek and modern look whilst being easy to clean and maintain. We also put our finished products in recyclable packaging.
We’re not only conscious of the materials we use, but also how we use them. Sourcing and developing more eco-friendly options means we can further reduce our environmental impact and enhance product safety.
With these new and improved manufacturing methods, we can price our lead free products competitively and give customers significant upfront savings.
Gentec Lead Free Tapware
Lead Free Stainless Steel Tapware
At Gentec, our stainless steel taps are some of the most superior and reliable products in the Australian tapware market.
Even though the government and NCC say that 0.25% lead content is acceptable, we have gone one step closer to achieving ultimate peace of mind. Our stainless steel contains 0% lead. This ensures that it is impossible to leach lead into your water supply for the entire lifetime of the product.
In fact, all products in the GPUREⓇ zero-lead stainless steel tapware range are certified lead free and manufactured from 304 food-grade and 316 marine-grade stainless steel. This makes sure there is no risk of lead contamination in your drinking water.
We have wall-mounted taps to free up counter space, and hob-mounted taps for fixing onto surfaces, offering quick access and a streamlined style. We have mixers with retractable hoses for extended reach and easy cleaning. Our wall-recessed taps provide a clean, minimalist look, and our touch-free sensor taps are water-saving and convenient in high-usage areas.
Our robust stainless steel range offers outstanding water purity and health benefits. They are also incredibly durable and long-lasting, resistant to rust and staining, and easy to maintain. This makes them the most hygienic choice for healthcare and hospitality environments.
Lead Free Brass Tapware
In addition to our popular stainless steel varieties, we offer safe and durable Lead Free brass taps too.
After stainless steel, it is the second-best tapware material on the market, favoured for its high strength and for being highly resistant to corrosion and mineral build-up. It can easily handle heavy use and daily wear and tear, making it the perfect choice in a commercial kitchen or industrial setting.
Built to last, all of our brass tap products are fully NCC and Lead Free compliant and use the Lead Free watermark, so you can now enjoy brass without the risk of high levels of lead leaching into your drinking, cleaning or washing-up water.
Our timed-flow taps reduce water consumption and our space-efficient single-lever mixers allow for simple, one-handed operation, making adjusting water temperature and flow easy.
To ensure the water flowing through your taps is safe and clean, make Gentec your go-to choice for lead free solutions.
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