Flushability Tests

General informations

Flushability refers to the suitability of a product to be disposed of via normal wastewater conveyance and treatment systems.

The target products are mainly single-use products, likely to be used in a bathroom setting or for toile-ting purposes, and which may be contaminated with body fluids.

While there is a consensus that these products should be tested before being marketed as suitable for toilet disposal, and easily identifiable by the consumer as such, there is no international or Euro-pean standard or guidance document accepted by all stakeholders. In fact, several test protocols have been published, with different test methods and/or acceptability criteria.

The CTP’s flushability laboratory is equipped to im-plement various test protocols and support produ-cers and clients in the development and selection of hygiene products.

Technical information and implemented projects

EDANA / INDA Flushability Guidelines GD4

Flushability Guidelines are published by the nonwo-ven product manufacturer associations EDANA and INDA, and the current version was released in 2018. Seven criteria must be met in order for the product to be recognized as «flushable» (see our specific technical sheet “Flushability Assessment”).

IWSFG Flushability Specifications

Specifications have been published by the Interna-tional Water Services Flushability Group (IWSFG). Five criteria must be met based on the following tests:

• Fibre analysis
• Toilet bowl and drain line clearance test
• Slosh box test
• Column settling test
• Anaerobic biodisintegration test

All these tests can be performed at the CTP.

Belgian Royal Decree

Since 2015 in Belgium, all products designed to be disposed of via piping systems have been required by royal decree to have accompanying documentation. This documentation must be presented to the autho-rities on demand, and must show the results of tests performed on the product for the following five criteria:

• Toilet and drainline test
• Fast mechanical disintegration test
• Municipal pump test
• Aerobic biodisintegration test
• Anaerobic biodisintegration test

The CTP is able to assist in the preparation of the documentation by providing test results.

Spanish Standard UNE 149002

In 2019, the Spanish national standards associa-tion UNE published regulations setting out criteria for products used in bathrooms, including but not limited to those specifically designed to be disposed of in toilets. Five criteria must be met:

• Composition test
• Sedimentation test
• Dispersion test
• Aerobic biodisintegration test
• Anaerobic biodisintegration test

The CTP is able to perform these tests and verify compliance with product labelling requirements as specified in the standard.

Australian Standard AS/NZS 5328

In 2022, Australia and New Zealand published a national standard on test methods and acceptability criteria for a product to be flushed down the toilet, and on labelling instructions for these products. The test protocol is based on the GD4 Flushability Guidelines protocol with a more stringent criterion in terms of disintegration in water.