Are Ella tubs approved in Massachusetts, and can I use another filler?

Massachusetts does not approve plumbing products by brand. The Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters accepts products one at a time, so the way to confirm an Ella tub model or a tub filler is to look up that exact product in the state's Accepted Plumbing Products Online System. If a product is not listed there, or its acceptance has expired, it is not approved for use in Massachusetts, and a different filler can be used as long as that exact faucet is on the accepted list. State acceptance is separate from the electrical safety listings every Ella tub carries, which are explained in Safety Certifications on Ella Tubs and Faucets: UL, ETL, CSA and IAPMO Marks, Where the Label Is, and What They Mean for Canada.

How Massachusetts Acceptance Works

Massachusetts requires that plumbing products and materials used in the state be accepted by the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters. Acceptance is granted product by product rather than for a whole brand, so a manufacturer may have some items accepted and others not. That is why the question of whether Ella tubs are approved does not have a one word answer. The answer belongs to each specific tub model and each specific filler, and it can change when an acceptance expires.

• The state's Accepted Plumbing Products Online System is the public record. Anyone can search it for a specific tub model or tub filler.
• A product that does not appear in the system, or whose acceptance has expired, is not approved for use in Massachusetts.
• The Board has also heard individual variance requests for fixtures that are not listed, so an unlisted fixture is not always the end of the road. Your licensed plumber is the right person to raise that with the Board.

Checking a Specific Ella Tub or Filler

1. Identify the exact product. Your model name and SKU appear on your proposal or invoice. The faucet package is a separate product from the tub, so confirm which one your order includes from the same paperwork.
2. Search the Accepted Plumbing Products Online System for the tub model, then search again for the filler.
3. Check that each acceptance is current rather than expired.
4. If either product is missing or expired, ask your licensed plumber whether a variance request makes sense or whether an accepted filler is the simpler path.
5. Have the plumber confirm acceptance with your local plumbing inspector when the permit is pulled, before the tub is installed.

Doing this before you order avoids the worst outcome, which is a tub on site that the inspector will not sign off. If you are unsure which model or faucet package your order includes, contact your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, or open a request at ellasbubbles.com/support with your order details.

Using a Different Filler with an Ella Tub

Because acceptance follows the product, a filler from another manufacturer can be used on an Ella tub in Massachusetts as long as that exact faucet or filler is on the accepted list. A few things change when you make that choice.

• Warranty. Non-Ella brand faucets carry only their own manufacturer's warranty, so a problem with the filler goes to its maker rather than to Ella. The tub itself keeps its own warranty coverage.
• Thermostatic mixing. Ella walk-in tubs equipped with an Ella thermostatic faucet package include a built-in thermostatic control valve that mixes hot and cold to a set temperature, and that valve carries a 1-year limited warranty. If you substitute a filler, scald protection depends on what that filler provides.
• Marks on the faucet. The certifications article explains which marks an Ella faucet carries. A substitute filler has its own label, and the inspector reads that label.

Why UL and ETL Marks Are Not State Acceptance

Ella walk-in tubs are built and tested to conform to UL Standard 1795 for hydromassage bathtubs and CSA Standard C22.2 No. 218.2, and the pumps, in-line heaters and other electrical components are ETL certified and clearly marked. The listing information an inspector wants to see is printed on the label inside the tub itself. Those marks describe the electrical safety of the equipment. They do not replace a licensed electrician or your local code requirements, and they do not change the wiring rule that every jetted Ella tub needs its own dedicated GFCI protected circuit.

Massachusetts plumbing acceptance is a different review by a different board, and holding a UL or ETL listing does not by itself place a product in the Accepted Plumbing Products Online System. Expect two separate checks on a Massachusetts installation: the plumbing inspector looks for product acceptance, and the electrical side looks at the listing label inside the tub.

Working with Your Licensed Plumber

Massachusetts requires a licensed plumber for this work, and that plumber can confirm acceptance and handle the permit with your local plumbing inspector before installation. Ella does not send technicians. The tub is installed by a local licensed plumber and electrician, and Ella's technical support guides them with manuals and live video help. Some plumbing companies also sell and install Ella tubs through the Ella's Bubbles Reseller Program, which can make it easier to find a plumber who already knows the product.

The video on this page shows what the plumber connects on a larger Ella installation. The dual T-type 4-port drains can be run with all four ports or with two, capping the unused side, and the installer picks the configuration that suits the house plumbing. Two inch main drains are recommended for faster draining, but a tee or wye connection into a 1 1/2 inch house drain also works. Easily accessible shutoff valves close to the tub and 3/4 inch supply lines are recommended for faster filling. Walk through these with your plumber at the permit stage so the inspector sees the whole plan at once. The wall finish above the tub is chosen separately and is covered in Installing the SMC 12-Piece Wall Kit, Acrylic Tub Surrounds, the 3-Panel Kit, Tongue-and-Groove Wall Tiles and Palisade Vinyl Tiles.

Watch: Ella's Bubbles: Installation Tips For The Ella Big4One with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Guides

• Electrical requirements by model: dedicated GFCI circuits for your walk-in tub
• Do I need 3/4 inch supply lines for the Ella fast-fill faucet?
• Installation Documents for Your Contractor: Spec Sheets, Electrical Diagrams, Manuals and the Live Video Session

Common Questions