Sourcing Kitchen Faucets from China: What to Specify

Faucets are usually added to a sink order as an afterthought, and that is exactly when they cause problems. The specification is more technical than it looks, the certifications are market-specific, and the finish has to match the sink it sits behind. Here is what to settle before you ask for a quotation.

Start with the cartridge

The cartridge is the part that decides how the faucet feels and how long it lasts. Ceramic disc cartridges are the standard for residential kitchen faucets and are rated in cycles, commonly 500,000 and above for a good unit. Ask for the cartridge make and the cycle rating in writing, because this single component accounts for most warranty claims. Where the faucet is sold into commercial kitchens, a heavier-duty cartridge and a metal, not plastic, handle assembly are worth specifying separately.

The body and the finish

• Body material. Brass is the reference; some entry-level products use zinc alloy or plastic internals. Ask what the visible body is made of, and what the waterways are made of.
• Finish. Chrome remains the volume finish, while PVD coatings in matte black, brushed gold, rose gold and gunmetal now lead the mid and high end. PVD holds colour and resists scratching better than painted finishes, so ask for a salt spray or abrasion test result rather than a description.
• Consistency with the sink. If the sink is matte black, the faucet should come from the same coating process. Sourcing the two from different suppliers is the most common reason a matched kitchen set looks mismatched on arrival.

Function and flow

Decide the spout type before the price: pull-down and pull-out spouts need a hose, a counterweight and a docking system, all of which add cost and all of which can fail. Check the spray modes offered, and confirm the flow rate against the market. North American specifications often sit around 1.8 gallons per minute, while European and Australian ranges are frequently supplied at 6 to 9 litres per minute with a water-saving aerator. In water-scarce markets the flow rate is a selling point; in others it is a compliance requirement.

Certification, by market

• North America: cUPC listing and compliance with the low-lead requirements of NSF/ANSI 61 and 372.
• Europe: CE marking with the applicable EN standard for the faucet type.
• Australia: WaterMark certification, with the relevant AS/NZS standard for the product category.
• United Kingdom: WRAS approval, which matters for products connected to mains supply in regulated installations.

Certification is not interchangeable between markets, and a supplier who cannot produce the specific listing for your destination is not a supplier for that market. Ask for the certificate number and the scope, not just the logo on a brochure.

Packaging, spares and terms

Faucets are damaged more often in transit than sinks, so specify individual bagging, protective foam on the spout and a carton that survives a drop test. Ask for spare cartridges, aerators and mounting hardware to be available as separate line items, because a customer who needs a cartridge two years later is a customer you can keep. For reference, TEGAO works to a minimum of 100 pieces per item, a 35-45 day production lead time, EXW, FOB or CNF terms, payment by T/T or L/C, and loading from Guangzhou or Shenzhen.

What to put in the enquiry

• Spout type and height, and the deck space available behind the sink.
• Finish, with a physical sample or the sink finish code it must match.
• Certification required and the destination market.
• Flow rate and any water-saving requirement.
• Packaging standard and whether your own branding is required.

Faucets sit alongside the sink range at TEGAO, which supplies stainless steel pressed sinks, handmade sinks, bathroom basins and shower products to importers and project buyers. Send your specification through the contact page and the factory will confirm what can be produced against your market's certification requirements.