To choose a water filter, compare its design, its intended use, and model-specific evidence. A certification, a test report, and a technical data sheet provide different information; they should not be confused.
1. Verify the scope of a certification
The exact product reference and the covered features are essential. NSF/ANSI 42 primarily concerns the aesthetic effects of water, and NSF/ANSI 53 concerns certain reductions of contaminants that present a health concern. This does not mean that any product mentioning one of these standards has been certified for all the contaminants it may cover.
Material safety, a specific reduction performance, and the certification of a complete system are not interchangeable pieces of information. The organization's official directory specifies the references and the scope of the certification.
2. Read test results substance by substance
A report describes results for a sample and under specified test conditions. Examine the date, filter identification, concentrations before and after treatment, units, and any limits. The number of rows in a table does not necessarily correspond to the number of distinct contaminants.
A result for one substance does not automatically extend to its entire family. Similarly, a report that does not describe monitoring up to a given capacity does not guarantee the same reduction throughout the filter's stated service life.
3. Compare the design: Impérial GF and Impérial AMB
| Feature | Impérial GF | Impérial AMB |
|---|---|---|
| Outer shell | Silver-impregnated microporous ceramic | Silver-impregnated microporous ceramic |
| Internal medium | Granular activated carbon and zeolite | Compressed activated carbon block and zeolite |
| Filter manufacturing | United States | United States |
| Operation | Gravity-fed, pressureless | Gravity-fed, pressureless |
| Element format | Height 7 inches; diameter 2.75 inches | Height 7 inches; diameter 2.75 inches |
| Intended use | Cold potable tap water | Cold potable tap water |
| Surface maintenance | Ceramic shell cleanable according to instructions | Ceramic shell cleanable according to instructions |
A quantity of material, a thickness, or the shape of the carbon alone does not allow one to conclude that there is better reduction of all contaminants. Such a comparison requires comparable tests on the models concerned.
4. Manufacturer documents: dates and scope for the Impérial range
Monderma publishes an Envirotek report no. 16-112 from 2016 and a manufacturer's NSF/ANSI 42 document dated October 1, 2020. The report concerns the tested sample and does not present two sets of results separately identified for GF and AMB. The copy of the certificate does not specify the Monderma GF and AMB commercial references or their certified claims.
These documents are therefore presented as manufacturer documents, and not as proof of a specific Monderma certification or of the same reduction percentage for both versions. Their full scope and the files are accessible on the Tests, certificates and technical documentation page.
The commercial launch of the Monderma Impérial range in 2026 is distinct from the date of the tests and the date of the certification documents.
5. Choose according to your use
Check the dimensions and mounting suitable for your fountain, the type of water intended, and the maintenance instructions. To target a specific substance, rely only on performance justified for that substance and for the exact model. A test on another reference or a general statement about activated carbon is not enough to establish this performance.
Discover Impérial GF · Discover Impérial AMB · Ask us a question
Reference sources: NSF — Water treatment standards and NSF — Filtration media certification. Data from manufacturer documents can be consulted via the links above.
Updated September 28, 2026. The table compares the design of the two Impérial references; it does not rank the brands according to their efficiency.
