Your Macerator Has to Be Code-Compliant — Here's What That Actually Means

If you're planning to add a bathroom in your basement, convert an attic into a living space, or build out an ADU, you've probably come across macerating toilets as a practical plumbing solution. They're flexible, they don't require breaking concrete, and they work where gravity drainage simply isn't possible.

But before you buy the first macerator you find online, there's something you need to know: the U.S. plumbing code has very specific requirements about which macerators you're legally allowed to install. And "any macerator with good reviews" is not the answer.

Two Codes, One Requirement

The United States operates under two major model plumbing codes depending on where you live. The International Plumbing Code (IPC), published by the International Code Council, is adopted in the majority of U.S. states. The Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), published by IAPMO, governs western states including California, Arizona, Washington, and Oregon.

Both codes say the same thing about macerators: they must comply with ASME A112.3.4/CSA B45.9 — the joint North American product standard for macerating toilet systems. This applies to residential projects, commercial projects, and everything in between. There is no exception for small jobs, DIY installs, or "minor" bathroom additions.

What the Standard Covers

ASME A112.3.4/CSA B45.9 is not a marketing badge. It is a rigorous third-party testing standard co-published by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and CSA Group, an OSHA-accredited Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory. It covers:

• Materials — certified material grades required for all components in contact with wastewater or electrical systems
• Construction — structural integrity of the housing, blade, motor, and seal assembly
• Performance — pump capacity, grinding efficiency, and discharge pressure under real operating conditions
• Testing — conducted by an independent, accredited laboratory, not self-certified by the manufacturer
• Markings — the product must display its certification mark on the unit itself, not just on packaging

If a product hasn't been independently tested and certified to this standard, it does not meet the requirements of U.S. plumbing law.

The Problem With Cheap Imports

A growing number of macerating products — sold on Amazon, through discount plumbing suppliers, and increasingly in big-box stores — carry no recognized third-party certification at all. Some display a CE mark, which is a European self-declaration and is not accepted under U.S. plumbing codes. Others claim to "meet standards" without specifying which ones or providing any independent verification.

These products may look similar to certified units. They are not equivalent. Their materials, construction, and performance have never been independently tested to the standard that U.S. code requires. Most of the budget macerator brands proliferating online — including the ones undercutting certified products by hundreds of dollars — carry no ASME A112.3.4 certification. Installing one under a permit is a guaranteed inspection failure, and when they fail in service, homeowners discover they have no recourse. We've documented real cases where this happened. 

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IPC vs. UPC: Same Outcome Either Way

One common point of confusion is the IPC vs. UPC divide. From a product certification standpoint, it doesn't matter which code your jurisdiction uses. Both require ASME A112.3.4/CSA B45.9 compliance. A certified product works under both code families. The differences between the codes matter more for installation details — pipe sizing, venting configurations, fixture counts — than for which products you're allowed to use.

Before You Buy: A Simple Check

Before purchasing any macerating toilet system, verify three things:

1. The product bears a CSA mark (CSA Group) or a cUPC mark (IAPMO R&T) — on the product itself, not just on the box
2. The certification explicitly references ASME A112.3.4/CSA B45.9
3. The product's certification can be verified through the CSA Group Product Listing at csagroup.org/testing-certification/product-listing/ — the authoritative public certification database

If any of these checks fail, the product is not code-compliant, regardless of what the product page says.

Every product in the Saniflo lineup is certified by CSA Group to ASME A112.3.4/CSA B45.9. That means your installation is backed by code, by certification, and by a manufacturer that has been building these systems since 1958.