Pentair 10" Jumbo Radial Flow Carbon Water Filter Cartridge

Improve water quality while maintaining strong water flow with the Pentair 10" Jumbo Radial Flow Carbon Water Filter Cartridge, designed for high-flow chlorine, taste and odour treatment.

The Pentair Pentek RFC-BB uses a radial flow design that passes water through a bed of granular activated carbon (GAC) from the outside towards the centre of the cartridge. This provides effective carbon treatment while maintaining a very low pressure drop.

A 70 micron porous polyethylene outer shell contains the carbon bed and significantly reduces the release of carbon fines into the filtered water.

With a manufacturer-stated chlorine reduction capacity of more than 189,270 litres at 7.6 L/min and an initial pressure drop of only 0.06 bar at 7.6 L/min, the RFC-BB is particularly well suited to point-of-entry and high-flow whole-house filtration systems.

Pentair Pentek RFC-BB

The Pentair Pentek RFC-BB is a high-flow granular activated carbon cartridge designed for compatible 10" Jumbo / Big Blue water filter housings.

Unlike conventional GAC cartridges that direct water lengthwise through the media, the RFC-BB uses a radial flow configuration. Water enters through the porous outer shell and travels inward through the granular activated carbon before reaching the polypropylene core.

This construction provides chlorine, taste and odour treatment while maintaining a low pressure drop.

The radial design also addresses one of the common issues associated with loose granular carbon — carbon fines. Its 70 micron porous polyethylene outer shell contains the carbon bed and significantly reduces carbon particles passing into the filtered water.

Why Choose This Water Filter Cartridge?

• Radial flow GAC design — water travels inward through the granular activated carbon bed.
• High-flow carbon treatment — designed for point-of-entry and whole-house filtration applications.
• Low pressure drop — initial pressure drop of only 0.06 bar (0.90 psi) at 7.6 L/min.
• High chlorine treatment capacity — manufacturer-stated capacity of more than 189,270 litres at 7.6 L/min.
• Chlorine reduction — activated carbon helps reduce chlorine in the incoming water.
• Taste and odour improvement — improves common taste and odour issues.
• Reduced carbon fines — the 70 micron porous polyethylene outer shell helps contain the granular carbon media.
• 10" Jumbo format — designed for compatible 10" Jumbo / Big Blue housings.
• Wide operating temperature range — suitable from 4.4–51.7°C.
• NSF/ANSI 42 materials certification — certification applies to material requirements only.

How It Works

The Pentair Pentek RFC-BB uses radial flow filtration.

Water first enters through the 70 micron porous polyethylene outer shell.

It then travels radially inward through the bed of granular activated carbon, where the carbon reduces chlorine and compounds responsible for unpleasant taste and odour.

The treated water then reaches the spun polypropylene core before exiting the cartridge.

The filtration path can be represented as:

70 Micron Porous Polyethylene Outer Shell → Granular Activated Carbon → Spun Polypropylene Core

This design provides a large carbon-treatment area while maintaining a low pressure drop, making the RFC-BB particularly useful for higher-flow whole-house applications.

Reduced Carbon Fines

Standard loose granular activated carbon cartridges can release fine carbon particles, known as carbon fines, into the filtered water.

The Pentair RFC-BB uses a 70 micron porous polyethylene outer shell to contain the carbon bed and significantly reduce the release of these fines.

This allows the cartridge to retain the flow characteristics of granular activated carbon while reducing the amount of loose carbon material passing downstream.

Best Suited For

The Pentair 10" Jumbo Radial Flow Carbon Water Filter Cartridge is well suited to:

• Whole-house water filtration
• Point-of-entry filtration
• High-flow carbon filtration
• Chlorine reduction
• Taste and odour treatment
• Mains-water filtration
• Residential water filtration
• Drinking-water treatment
• 10" Jumbo filtration systems
• Big Blue filter housings
• Multi-stage water filtration systems
• Applications where low pressure drop is important
• Disinfected tank or bore-water systems where carbon treatment is required

Where tank or bore water contains significant sediment, install an appropriate sediment pre-filter upstream to protect the carbon media.

Key Specifications

Radial Flow GAC vs Carbon Block

A radial flow GAC cartridge and a carbon block cartridge both use activated carbon, but their construction and flow characteristics are different.

The Pentair RFC-BB uses loose granular activated carbon contained between its porous outer shell and inner core. Water travels radially inward through this carbon bed.

This construction is designed to provide high-flow carbon treatment with low pressure drop, making it particularly useful on main water lines and whole-house systems.

A carbon block uses compressed carbon media and can combine carbon treatment with finer particulate filtration, depending on its micron rating.

Choose the RFC-BB where high-flow chlorine, taste and odour treatment with low pressure drop is the priority.

Chlorine Treatment Capacity

The Pentair Pentek RFC-BB has a manufacturer-stated chlorine reduction capacity of:

More than 189,270 litres at 7.6 L/min

This provides a clearly defined treatment capacity for chlorine applications.

Actual cartridge life will depend on:

• Incoming chlorine concentration
• Water quality
• Daily water consumption
• Operating flow rate
• Sediment loading
• Other substances present in the incoming water

Replace the cartridge when treatment performance declines or chlorine taste and odour begin to return.

Flow & Pressure Drop

One of the key benefits of the Pentair RFC-BB is its very low initial pressure drop.

At a flow rate of 7.6 L/min, the initial pressure drop is:

0.06 bar (0.90 psi)

This low-restriction design makes the cartridge particularly useful for whole-house and point-of-entry applications where maintaining water pressure is important.

The manufacturer-stated >189,270 litre chlorine reduction capacity is also specified at a flow rate of 7.6 L/min.

NSF/ANSI 42 Certification

The Pentair RFC-BB is NSF/ANSI Standard 42 certified for material requirements only.

This certification relates to the materials used in the cartridge that come into contact with drinking water.

It does not certify the stated chlorine reduction performance.

The chlorine reduction capacity of >189,270 litres at 7.6 L/min is manufacturer-stated.

Installation

The Pentair RFC-BB is designed for use in a compatible 10" Jumbo / Big Blue water filter housing.

The cartridge measures 4.50" × 9.75" (114 × 248mm).

To replace the cartridge:

1. Turn off the water supply.
2. Release pressure from the filter housing.
3. Remove the filter housing sump.
4. Remove the existing cartridge.
5. Clean the inside of the housing if required.
6. Check that the housing O-ring is clean and seated correctly.
7. Insert the new Pentair RFC-BB cartridge.
8. Reassemble the housing.
9. Slowly restore water pressure.
10. Check the housing carefully for leaks.
11. Flush the new carbon cartridge before normal use.

Maintenance

Carbon cartridge life depends on incoming water quality, chlorine concentration, water consumption and operating conditions.

The Pentair RFC-BB has a manufacturer-stated chlorine reduction capacity of more than 189,270 litres at 7.6 L/min.

Replace the cartridge when:

• Chlorine taste begins to return
• Unpleasant odour returns
• Carbon-treatment performance noticeably declines
• Water flow becomes excessively restricted
• The cartridge reaches the end of its useful treatment capacity

Where the incoming water contains significant sediment, an appropriate sediment filter installed upstream can help protect the carbon media.

What's Included

1 × Pentair Pentek RFC-BB 10" Jumbo Radial Flow Carbon Water Filter Cartridge

Model: RFC-BB
Part Number: 155141-43

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Pentair RFC-BB do?

The Pentair RFC-BB uses granular activated carbon to reduce chlorine, unpleasant taste and odour.

Its radial flow construction is designed to provide carbon treatment while maintaining a low pressure drop.

What does GAC mean?

GAC stands for Granular Activated Carbon.

The carbon is present as loose granules rather than being compressed into a solid carbon block.

What is radial flow?

Instead of directing water lengthwise through the cartridge, the RFC-BB directs water from the outside inward through the granular activated carbon bed.

This provides a large treatment area and helps maintain a low pressure drop.

Does it reduce chlorine?

Yes. The RFC-BB is designed for chlorine reduction.

Pentair states a chlorine reduction capacity of more than 189,270 litres at 7.6 L/min.

Does it improve taste and odour?

Yes. The granular activated carbon reduces chlorine and helps improve unpleasant taste and odour.

What are carbon fines?

Carbon fines are small carbon particles that can be released from loose granular activated carbon media.

The RFC-BB uses a 70 micron porous polyethylene outer shell to contain the carbon bed and significantly reduce the release of carbon fines into the filtered water.

Is this a carbon block filter?

No. The RFC-BB uses granular activated carbon (GAC) rather than compressed carbon block media.

What is the pressure drop?

The initial pressure drop is only 0.06 bar (0.90 psi) at 7.6 L/min.

Its low pressure drop makes the cartridge well suited to higher-flow point-of-entry and whole-house applications.

How much water can it treat?

Pentair states a chlorine reduction capacity of more than 189,270 litres at 7.6 L/min.

Actual cartridge life depends on incoming water quality, chlorine concentration, water consumption and operating conditions.

Does the 70 micron outer shell make this a 70 micron sediment filter?

The 70 micron specification refers to the porous polyethylene outer shell used to contain the carbon bed.

It should not be treated as a dedicated 70 micron sediment cartridge based on the supplied specifications.

For water containing significant sediment, use an appropriate sediment pre-filter upstream.

Can I use it on tank or bore water?

It can be used as a chlorine, taste and odour treatment stage on adequately disinfected water supplies.

Where tank or bore water contains sediment, pair it with an appropriate sediment pre-filter.

Will it fit my 10" Jumbo housing?

The RFC-BB is designed for compatible 10" Jumbo / Big Blue water filter housings.

The cartridge itself measures 4.50" × 9.75" (114 × 248mm).

What's the difference between radial flow GAC and standard GAC?

The RFC-BB directs water radially through the carbon bed rather than using a conventional lengthwise flow path.

Its design provides low pressure drop while the porous polyethylene outer shell helps significantly reduce the release of carbon fines.

What does the NSF/ANSI 42 certification cover?

For this cartridge, NSF/ANSI 42 certification applies to material requirements only.

It confirms the relevant material requirements but does not certify the stated chlorine reduction performance.

The >189,270 litre chlorine reduction capacity at 7.6 L/min is manufacturer-stated.