Humes and AVK lead the way with lead-free 570/91 gate valves
From May 2026, new regulations in New Zealand and Australia will require all new or replacement plumbing products that come into contact with drinking water to be lead-free, containing no more than 0.25% lead by weight. These changes form part of an update to the New Zealand Building Code (Clause G12: Water Supplies) and will align drinking water standards across both countries.
AVK New Zealand is part of the AVK Global Group, a leading international manufacturer of high-quality valves and fittings for the water, gas, wastewater, and fire protection industries. AVK is also a major supplier to Humes New Zealand.
David Hall, New Zealand Manager for AVK, explains that the new legislation has been signalled by Australian and New Zealand authorities for some time. “As an organisation, we feel strongly that this legislation is essential. Plumbing products that come into contact with drinking water should be lead-free - not only for residential use, but as a standard across the entire water industry. That’s why we have proactively ensured our products meet these requirements and have achieved Lead-Free WaterMark certification.”
Ross Buddle, Customer Development Manager for Humes, adds, “Humes continues to operate at the forefront of world-class product offerings. Our 25-year partnership with AVK has enabled us to consistently deliver globally leading solutions that meet the specification and compliance expectations of local authorities. While compliance is not mandatory until May 2026, Humes and AVK are already ahead of the change and have begun replenishing stock across New Zealand with AS/NZS 2638.2:2026-compliant 570/91 resilient-seated gate valves.”
