Lead-Free Sand Cast Parts for Plumbing, Marine, & Drinking Water Applications
TL;DR – Key Article Takeaways
- Eco-brass sand castings made from C87850 silicon brass alloys provide a lead-free alternative to traditional bronze castings for potable water, marine, and industrial applications.
- New regulations such as the Safe Drinking Water Act, California AB1953, and NSF/ANSI 372 standards are accelerating demand for compliant low-lead casting materials across the plumbing and infrastructure industries.
- C87850 eco-brass offers excellent corrosion resistance, dezincification resistance, strong machinability, and pressure-bearing performance while supporting environmental and RoHS compliance initiatives.
- Erie Bronze & Aluminum produces custom eco-brass sand castings for OEMs requiring complex geometries, near-net-shape production, and scalable manufacturing for high-performance lead-free components.
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What Are Eco-Brass Sand Castings?
Eco-brass sand castings are a new alternative to leaded pipe, acting as a lead-free copper alloy casting produced using carefully selected silicon bronze or silicon brass alloys such as C87850. These silicon alloys were developed to replace traditional leaded bronze materials in potable water applications, meeting new regulatory requirements for safety, environmental responsibility, and improved resistance to corrosion.
Unlike conventional or historically used leaded brass alloys, eco-brass sand castings use silicon to improve machinability for end-users and casting performance, while maintaining a safe and extremely low lead content. Many of the modern eco-brass alloys are required to contain less than 0.25% lead to meet the NSF and legislative standards outlined for U.S. drinking water.
As a leading American foundry, Erie Bronze and Aluminum has turned its attention to optimizing production efficiency and capabilities to meet the growing demand for eco-brass sand castings. Our facility provides manufacturers with a practical way to produce high volumes of durable, complex metal components while meeting constantly evolving environmental and regulatory requirements.
Legislation Fueling Demand for Lead-Free C87850 Eco-Brass Castings
Legislation concerning potable water systems has dramatically changed the material requirements for brass and bronze sand cast components over the last twenty years. The following regulations and legislation changes are making eco-brass castings the wave of the future for drinking water systems.
- Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA): Restricted the amount of allowable lead content in plumbing systems and accelerated the demand for lead-free alloys like C87850.
- Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act (S.3874): Reduced the allowable lead percentage to a 0.25% weighted average and forced an expedited transition away from traditional leaded brass castings.
- California AB1953: Implementation of strict lead-free plumbing requirements, originally in California, but quickly became the benchmark for national legislative changes governing the appropriate casting materials for potable water applications.
- NSF/ANSI 372: Verifies lead-free compliance and is integral to any casting manufacturer producing parts or components destined for use in potable water systems.
- NSF/ANSI/CAN 61: A drinking water system certification that is a common requirement for any valves or fittings used in plumbing systems.
Defining C87850 Eco-Brass: Specifications & Advantages
C87850 silicon brass and eco-bronze alloys are widely specified because they combine compliance with lead-free regulations and offer a strong combination of casting and machining performance.
Eco-Brass C87850 Specification Overview
| Property | Typical Characteristics |
| UNS Designation | C87850 |
| Material Type | Silicon Brass / Eco Bronze |
| Primary Alloying Elements | Copper, Zinc, Silicon |
| Lead Content | Typically ≤0.25% for compliant applications |
| Casting Method | Sand casting, continuous casting, centrifugal casting |
| Key Benefits | Corrosion resistance, machinability, and strength |
| Common Standards | SDWA, NSF/ANSI 372, NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 |
| Typical Industries | Plumbing, marine, industrial equipment, valves |
Common Performance Advantages
Many manufacturers also select C87850 because it performs well in aggressive marine and industrial environments while remaining recyclable and environmentally responsible.
- Excellent corrosion resistance
- Strong wear characteristics
- Good machinability
- Resistance to dezincification
- High strength comparable to some stainless steels
- Low-friction properties for moving assemblies
- Strong pressure-bearing capabilities
- RoHS and potable water compliance potential
How Eco-Brass Compares to Traditional Leaded Alloys
There are plenty of reasons beyond the low lead levels as to why eco-brass is becoming a preferred casting alloy for manufacturers. While Erie Bronze & Aluminum does not complete advanced machining services on eco-brass parts, the alloy’s inherent suitability for post-casting machining exceeds that of traditional leaded bronze. A full comparison between the two materials is included in the table below:
| Characteristic | Eco-Brass C87850 | Traditional Leaded Bronze |
| Lead Content | Very low/lead-free compliant | Higher lead content |
| Drinking Water Compliance | Yes | Often restricted |
| Corrosion Resistance | Excellent | Moderate to good |
| Machinability | Very good | Excellent |
| Environmental Compliance | Strong | Increasingly limited |
| Recyclability | Excellent | Good |
| Marine Resistance | Strong | Application dependent |
The Applications for Sand Cast Eco-Brass Parts
While the main focus remains on replacing leaded-brass components in plumbing systems with safer alternatives, there are plenty of additional ancillary applications for eco-brass components. Erie Bronze & Aluminum has a long history of working with customers in these specific sectors and understands the part designs, tolerances, and production volumes required to make projects cost-efficient.
Potable Water Components → Valve bodies, plumbing fittings, water meter housings, faucets, and other various pump or valve components
Marine Hardware → Marine bushings, propulsion components, deck hardware, fittings exposed to seawater, and other parts expected to perform in harsh corrosive environments
Industrial Equipment → Bearings, worm gears, wear plates, hydraulic systems, and various machinery housings
Electrical & Infrastructure Components → Utility hardware, electrical connectors, infrastructure systems, industrial control equipment, and other applications that require high conductivity and corrosion resistance
Eco-Brass Sand Castings from Erie Bronze & Aluminum
Erie Bronze & Aluminum produces custom non-ferrous sand castings for demanding industrial applications. Eco-brass and lead-free bronze alloys can support manufacturers requiring corrosion resistance, regulatory compliance, and complex casting geometries for potable water, marine, and industrial systems.
From prototype castings to production volumes, sand casting remains a flexible manufacturing solution for high-performance lead-free components.
FAQs About Eco-Brass Castings
What is eco-brass or C87850?
Eco-brass alloys, specifically C87850, are primarily composed of copper, zinc, and silicon with extremely low allowable lead content levels, designed to meet new lead-free regulations for potable water systems.
Is C87850 compliant with the lead-free drinking water regulations?
Yes. C87850 alloy is commonly specified for use in any sand casting projects that require compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, California AB1953, and the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act.
What industries specify the use of eco-brass sand cast parts?
Any industry that used previous leaded alloys in their cast parts is now specifying eco-brass. This includes customers in the plumbing, marine, industrial manufacturing, infrastructure, and heavy equipment industries.
Why is sand-casting ideal for eco-brass components?
The sand-casting services offered by Erie Bronze and Aluminum support the development of components with complex shapes and geometries. Our process offers cost-effective tooling with near-net-shape production capabilities that reduce downstream machining requirements and add flexibility for custom component manufacturing.
Are eco-brass alloys corrosion-resistant?
Absolutely. The enhanced corrosion resistance is key for use in plumbing systems, including potable water, along with marine or outdoor environments exposed to saltwater or other corrosive agents.
