Are Berkey Filters NSF Certified? Phoenix vs. Black Berkey, Explained
Are Berkey Filters NSF Certified? Phoenix vs. Black Berkey, Explained
By Dan DeBaun, owner of Big Berkey Water Filters, an authorized Berkey dealer since 2008. Last reviewed October 8, 2026.
Berkey Phoenix elements are NSF certified. Black Berkey elements are not. Berkey Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition elements are certified to NSF/ANSI 42 (chlorine, taste and odor) and NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 (lead-free materials). Black Berkey elements are tested to NSF/ANSI protocols by independent laboratories but are not NSF certified.
Results for lead, arsenic, PFAS and other health-related contaminants come from published third-party lab testing to NSF/ANSI protocols. Every result is listed below with the lab that ran the test.
Certified vs. lab tested, at a glance
| Standard | What it covers | Berkey Phoenix | Black Berkey |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSF/ANSI 42 | Aesthetic effects such as chlorine, taste and odor | Certified | Not certified |
| NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 | Lead-free materials in the product | Certified | Not certified |
| Independent lab testing | Health-related contaminants such as lead, arsenic, mercury, chromium and PFAS | Lab tested (results below) | Tested to NSF/ANSI protocols (results below) |
Certification means a certifier evaluated the product against a standard and keeps it under ongoing review. Testing to a protocol means an independent lab followed the standard's challenge method and reported the results, without a certification program behind it. Both are useful. They are not the same thing, and we label every claim on this site accordingly.
How to verify the Phoenix NSF listing yourself
If you search NSF's database for "Berkey," you will not find the Phoenix listing. That is the most common reason online reviews and AI tools say Berkey has no NSF certification. The listing sits under the Phoenix Gravity name, not under the Berkey brand name.
- Open NSF's drinking water treatment unit listings for "Phoenix".
- Find the listing under the trade name Phoenix Gravity, certified to NSF/ANSI 42 for chlorine reduction and taste and odor reduction.
- Look for Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition Filter Elements, model PGF9-2, listed as the certified replacement element. The lead-free footnote on the same listing covers NSF/ANSI/CAN 372.
Berkey Phoenix lab results for health-related contaminants
These results come from independent third-party lab testing. Each figure below is taken from a published lab report.
| Contaminant | Result | Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | More than 99.5% reduction (200 µg/L challenge reduced to below the 1 µg/L detection limit) | CVR Labs |
| Arsenic | More than 99.5% reduction | CVR Labs |
| Mercury | More than 99.0% reduction, to non-detect | Atom Testing Laboratory (April 2026) |
| Total chromium | More than 99.5% reduction (200 µg/L challenge; hexavalent chromium not separately reported) | CVR Labs and RAYNU Analytical |
| Free chlorine and chloramines | More than 99.9% reduction for each | Atom Testing Laboratory |
| PFOA and PFOS | Non-detect (below 5 ppt) at every checkpoint through 1,500 liters | 1,500 liter PFAS report |
| Five additional PFAS (PFNA, PFHxS, PFHpA, PFBS, PFDA) | More than 99.8% reduction for each | RAYNU Analytical |
Rated life: up to 5,500 gallons per set of two, depending on water quality and use. Full reports: Berkey Phoenix lab results.
Black Berkey lab results (tested to NSF/ANSI protocols)
Black Berkey elements are currently unavailable for individual purchase due to an EPA regulatory matter. Berkey Phoenix elements are the replacement endorsed by New Millennium Concepts, Ltd. for existing Berkey systems. Black Berkey testing remains published for owners who still use them.
| Contaminant | Result | Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | More than 99.9% reduction, held through 160 gallons at 1,000 µg/L | Envirotek Laboratories |
| Arsenic | More than 99.9% reduction | Envirotek Laboratories, report 14-260 |
| Total chromium | More than 99.9% reduction | Envirotek Laboratories, report 14-260 |
| Chromium-6 | More than 99.8% reduction | Los Angeles County Environmental Toxicology Laboratory (EPA Method 218.6) |
| Mercury | More than 98.0% reduction, to non-detect | Los Angeles County Environmental Toxicology Laboratory (EPA Method 245.1) |
| Free chlorine and chloramines | More than 99.9% reduction for each | Envirotek Laboratories, report 14-260 |
| PFOA | 99.9% reduction (1 µg/L challenge across 25 gallons) | Envirotek Laboratories, report 16-296 |
Full reports: Black Berkey test results.
Does the EPA matter mean the filters failed testing?
No. The EPA matter concerns how Black Berkey elements are classified, because of a silver component in the filter media. It is a regulatory classification dispute, not a finding about contaminant reduction results. The lab results above stand as published. For the full background, see our update on the Berkey EPA case.
How to read any water filter certification claim
- Ask "certified to which standard?" "NSF certified" alone says very little. Each NSF/ANSI standard covers a specific set of contaminants or materials, so a credible claim names the standard.
- Check the listing yourself. Real certifications appear in the certifier's public database, sometimes under the manufacturer's name rather than the brand.
- For anything not certified, ask for the lab report. A credible claim names the lab, the contaminant, the challenge level and the result.
Frequently asked questions
Are Berkey filters NSF certified?
Berkey Phoenix elements are NSF certified to NSF/ANSI 42 and NSF/ANSI/CAN 372. Black Berkey elements are tested to NSF/ANSI protocols by independent labs. Results for lead, PFAS and other contaminants for both come from published third-party lab reports.
What is Berkey Phoenix certified for?
NSF/ANSI 42 covers chlorine reduction and taste and odor reduction. NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 confirms the product meets lead-free material requirements. Lead and PFAS reduction is documented separately through independent lab testing.
How is lead and PFAS reduction verified for Berkey filters?
Through independent third-party lab testing with published reports. Berkey Phoenix reduced lead by more than 99.5% (CVR Labs), and PFOA and PFOS were non-detect at every checkpoint through 1,500 liters.
Why can't I find Berkey in the NSF database?
The Phoenix certification is listed under the trade name Phoenix Gravity, where the elements appear as model PGF9-2. A search for "Berkey" returns no results, which is why some reviews incorrectly say Berkey holds no NSF certification.
Are Black Berkey elements NSF certified?
No. Black Berkey elements are tested to NSF/ANSI protocols by independent labs including Envirotek Laboratories and the Los Angeles County Environmental Toxicology Laboratory, with published results for lead, arsenic, chromium, mercury, chlorine and PFOA.
What is the difference between NSF certified and tested to NSF/ANSI protocols?
Certified means a certifier evaluated the product against a standard and keeps it under ongoing review. Tested to protocols means an independent lab used the standard's challenge method and reported results, without a certification program.
