Regulatory changes for Lead in Brass fittings

[Prospekt]

The safety of brass for using in a brewing setup has been kicked around many times in this forum. The general consensus seems to be: no brass should be considered safe for use in a still. There isn't enough data to tell us how much lead leaches in the presence of heated solvents and low pH mashes, and the brass pickling procedure also seems to be controversial.

There's legislation that has come into place this year and is briefly described http://www.cambridgebrass.com/sef/relea ... ive/3.html here.

Is it safe to say that if we use these "low lead" or "lead free" components, that we're at a safe level for our use?

[Prairiepiss]

The use of new brass fittings in a still. Is up to the user. The problem is many store shelves still have many old brass fitting on them. So knowing what you are getting. Is the main problem. If you know without a doubt. That the fitting you are buying are without lead. Then go ahead and use it. If you do not know. Then use it with caution. Pickleing as necessary will help mitigate the lead contact. But doesn't remove it all.

How long do you really think it will take for these new standards to take effect. And how long after that will it take for all the shelves to start filling with the new fittings?

[Prospekt]

Good point. I recently called a plumbing supply store to ask whether or not one of their brass bushings was lead free (this was a large franchise store). They said that all new brass is lead free, although this particular piece is not a hot item and could have been sitting on the shelf for years. I got their manufacturer's info, gave them a call, and was told that if the fitting had a certain part number, it would be lead free. Unfortunately, the store just dumps all their product into bins and doesn't keep track of new vs old shipments. I guess this isn't really a sensitive issue in the plumbing/HVAC world. There could be a leaded fitting that remains in a bin for 10 years...

I ended up purchasing the part and performing a bit of an overkill treatment on it because I would rather be safe than sorry. For anyone interested, it involved:
1. A caustic wash (I used 30 mins in a sonicated, 10% Sodium hydroxide solution)
2. A rinse in deionized water
3. A carboxylic acid wash (I chose 45 minutes in a 0.1M Acetic acid solution, in a sonicating bath)
4. A second water rinse
5. A Phosphoric acid wash (I used approximately 2 mL of H3P04 in 500 mL wash, for about 10 minutes)
6. A final water rinse.

This method is based off of US Patent 6,197,210 B1 (I found it via google).
I haven't confirmed the success of this method with a controlled study, but the actual document has data that seems sound.

[BigSwede]

This has been on my mind since I started building.

Certain metals, alloys, are just incredibly inert, but unfortunately the traditional leaded brasses are not among them, and they can and will leach some lead into a hot distillate. How much, and is it harmful? Is debatable, but the best answer is to simply avoid brasses that have an unknown pedigree.

But the new certified lead free brasses... Most of the ones I have seen are clearly labeled or have a tag on them. If they don't, the next step is to check for serial or product numbers on the container, and if the store has adequate turn over, it might be OK.

IMO, the way to go with these is to order them on line from a good company, like PEX supply. You'll know what you are getting.

I have some and am using them in my current build. I'm completely comfortable with it, but it is a personal choice. It never, ever hurts to err on the side of caution.

[Scribbler]

It also makes a difference what you will be using it for. It isn't a big deal if it never comes into contact with anything food related... for instance: If you are using a brass fitting to control coolant flow into or out of the condenser jacket.

[SoMo]

Go to a commercial supply company and ask for a current MSDS simple as that. There is new virgin brass that is lead free available just like everything else, research it.

[cob]

search for stainless instead of brass, the prices are similar.
almost every fitting made with brass is also made with stainless, and some are made with copper.
so search in the stainless dept. or on the stainless page and be suprised at what you can buy in stainless.

[SoMo]

I went into the local lowes for a few parts today instead of my usual supplier and found that new lead free brass sold there now has LF stamped on all the union pieces to denote lead free, look close when you get parts and be sure they are truly lead free.