Independent Lab Of The Midwest Becomes First In North America To Perform Full Flushability Testing

Appleton, WI /PRNewswire-iReach/ - Recently expanding to add a new, state-of-the art simulation lab, Wisconsin-based IPS Testing is currently the only independent testing laboratory in the United States and North America set up to perform the full series of flushability testing.

The Midwest company serves multiple industries internationally with a full array of paper and pulp, personal care and non-woven testing, and is now equipped to test wipe products according to industry standards.

IPS Testing will administer all seven of the tests outlined within the Flushability Guidelines on behalf of manufacturers and suppliers. These standards were first established – and recently revised – by the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) and its European Disposables and Nonwovens Association (EDANA) affiliate.

With the end goal of determining which wipes are truly flushable, products will go through custom-designed testing stations that simulate the real-life flushing scenario from toilet bowl to drain-line and through disintegration. Some of the assessments include drain-line clearance, settling and household/municipal sewage pumps.

Chris Reitmeyer, IPS vice president, explained that the nonwovens industry is working together proactively to educate the public about which wipes are meant to be flushed and which are not in hopes of eliminating future clogging issues. "With these new protocols in place, the intent is to determine which wipes will properly pass through the waste and sewer systems and better educate consumers through a universal labeling system," he said.

If a product fails any test within the seven-step series, it is deemed un-flushable based on a Code of Practice directive within INDA's Flushability Guidelines and will require standard "Do Not Flush" labeling.

The flushable wipes industry has experienced significant growth in recent years and Reitmeyer said its products have often been misrepresented as the source of the problem for waste and sewer system clogging.

He also noted that wipe products that meet the protocol outlined by INDA and EDANA are able to adequately break down through the flushing process, while things like diapers, baby wipes, paper towels, hand towels, feminine care items and other materials are not. These non-flushable items are the bulk of what is discovered when evaluating clog masses.

Kyra Dorsey, chair of the INDA Flushability Task Force, agreed, adding, "A study of municipal waste water systems shows that over 90% of the material found in clogs consists of articles that were never intended to be flushed. This issue can only be addressed by educating the consumer. The nonwovens industry is taking a hands-on approach in doing so by testing and appropriately labeling products."

Reitmeyer added, "At this point, testing is voluntary. Manufacturers are on board with it and want to do the right and responsible thing by ensuring their wipe products meet all flushability standards."

A unique feature, IPS will open its flushability lab and equipment to clients for product development purposes. "If a wipe doesn't meet the guidelines during testing, our lab technicians will meet with the client to provide explanation and work through the problem areas discovered," Reitmeyer said.

The company has completed equipment installations and validations and is now accepting work requests for flushability testing.

IPS Testing serves as an independent testing laboratory for many industries including, paper, pulp and print materials; nonwovens; medical supplies; personal care and absorbent products; food packaging; and allied industries. IPS Testing combines physical and analytical testing along with interpretive data analysis to offer clients testing services that help improve and ensure the quality of their products. For more information, contact Chris Reitmeyer at 920-609-1024, or visit http://www.ipstesting.com.