In pump manufacturing, standards and accreditations ensure safety, performance, compatibility, and quality assurance, providing both manufacturers and end users with confidence in the reliability and efficiency of their equipment. By adhering to recognized standards, pump makers can design and produce systems that meet rigorous operational requirements while remaining compliant with regional and international regulations.

This series will explore international and industry standards—namely ANSI, API, ASME, and ISO—as well as safety and compliance certifications, including CE, ATEX, IECEx, and QPS. 

INTERNATIONAL AND INDUSTRY STANDARDS

International and industry standards such as ANSI, API, ASME, and ISO play a critical role in pump certifications, ensuring safety, reliability, and performance consistency across global markets. These standards establish precise design, manufacturing, and testing requirements, giving end users confidence that pumps will operate effectively under demanding conditions. Compliance also streamlines global trade, as certified pumps meet recognized benchmarks accepted across industries and regions.

ANSI (American National Standards Institute)

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a non-profit organization that oversees the development and implementation of standards used throughout industries in the United States. 

ANSI does not develop these standards themselves. Instead, they work with organizations, government agencies, and other stakeholders to facilitate the development of guidelines and technical standards that ensure safety, quality, and efficiency across a wide range of sectors, including technology, manufacturing, and healthcare.

These standards address every aspect of manufacturing, including processes, distribution, testing, training, and employee safety. To ensure that these standards are consistent when it comes to definitions, terms, and the way products are tested, ANSI also accredits organizations that develop standards, ensuring that these standards are created through a fair and open process. Test labs that are approved to evaluate products to ANSI standards are accredited by OSHA and called a Nationally Recognized Test Lab (NRTL).

To date, there are 9,500 ANSI standards representing the best practices from accredited organizations all over the United States. Additionally, ANSI represents more than 270,000 companies and organizations and a total of 30 million professionals worldwide.

ANSI’s role in international business cannot be understated. Currently, standards and technical regulations affect more than 90 percent of global trade. To safeguard American interests in global standards development, ANSI represents the U.S. in international standardization bodies with the aim to enhance the quality, safety, and competitiveness of the U.S. businesses. By intentionally matching ANSI standards with international standards, the Institute assures that American products can be used around the globe.

API (American Petroleum Institute)

Widely used in oil, gas, petrochemical, and chemical industries, the American Petroleum Institute (API) develops widely adopted standards as well as accreditations for these industries. 

API standards specify the design, materials, testing, and performance requirements for manufacturers within the oil and gas space to ensure reliability, safety, and interchangeability in these demanding environments.

In addition to publishing standards, the API accredits manufacturers through its Monogram Program. This licensing system provides accreditation to manufacturers that have demonstrated compliance with the applicable API standards. 

In order to secure this accreditation, manufacturers must first implement a quality management system (QMS) that meets API Q1 requirements, which are their equivalent to ISO 9001, but more rigorous for oil and gas. Next, manufacturers must pass an independent audit by API inspectors. Once they are granted API Monogram Program accreditation, manufacturers need to maintain ongoing compliance through periodic audits and documentation.

ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers)

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is a professional organization that develops codes and standards, provides certifications, and promotes engineering knowledge, training, and collaboration.

On the standards side, ASME creates widely recognized engineering standards, especially for pressure vessels, boilers, mechanical systems, and piping. The ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) is one example of these standards and is used globally to ensure safety and reliability, most notably for pump casings.

The ASME “U” stamp certification denotes that a manufacturer and/or product is in full compliance with the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC), Section VIII, Division 1. Specifically, it signifies that the company or product in question has met key quality requirements, including design, material, and fabrication requirements. Additional prerequisites include inspection and testing, documentation, and quality control. 

While it originated in the United States, ASME standards are used internationally in industries like energy, oil and gas, manufacturing, and power generation.

ISO (International Organization for Standardization)

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent, non-governmental international body made up of national standards organizations from over 160 countries. As the “global rulebook” for best practices within specific industries, the ISO develops and publishes international standards that ensure quality, safety, and efficiency across a number of industries in a myriad of sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare, technology, energy, supply chain, and more. 

To date, the ISO has published more than 25,000 standards, covering applications such as:

  • Food safety 
  • Occupational health and safety
  • Energy management
  • Environmental management
  • Quality management

Manufacturers that have demonstrated compliance with specific ISO standards worldwide can get ISO-certified through accredited certification bodies.

A LOOK AHEAD

For the next step in this series, we’ll provide an overview of the different safety and compliance certifications pump manufacturers rely upon to meet the varied regulatory and operational guidelines around the globe and across different markets. Certifications such as CE, ATEX, IECEx, or QPS are often used by end-users as a sign of quality, easily communicating that equipment has been designed and tested to minimize potential risks to their critical applications or the environment. For manufacturers, they present instant credibility whenever an OEM brings a new product to market or expands existing products into a new region. 

Casey Bowes is the owner/CEO of Finish Thompson, Inc. in Erie, Pennsylvania. Finish Thompson Inc. designs and manufactures pumps for the safe transfer of a wide variety of corrosive fluids. Products include sealless mag-drive centrifugal pumps with run-dry capability, mechanically sealed pumps, drum/barrel pumps, vertical mag-drive pumps, multi-stage pumps and the FTI Air line of air operated double diaphragm (AODD) pumps. For more information, visit www.finishthompson.com.