About Backflow Prevention
- What is backflow?
- What is a Backflow Prevention Assembly (BPA)?
- Where are BPAs located?
- Why does a BPA need to be tested each year?
- What would cause a BPA to fail the test? How long do they last?
About Backflow Tech
- How long have you been in business?
- Who certifies your testers?
- What does a tester need to know?
- Are you insured?
- Do you install or replace BPAs also?
About Testing
- How do I know if I need a test?
- What if my BPA fails the test?
- What do you test for?
- Do I need to do anything to prepare for a test?
- How long will a test take?
- Will a test or repair make a mess?
- Will you shut off the water during a test?
- Do you disable my fire sprinkler system during a test? What if there is a fire?
- How will the water company know I have passed the test?
About Backflow Prevention
What
is backflow?
Backflow is an undesirable reversal of
the flow of water in a water system
(potentially causing non-potable water to flow into
the
potable water supply). When unprotected
backflow
occurs it can pose a significant health
hazard to water consumers; causing
illness and death.
It is caused by two conditions: backsiphonage and backpressure. Backsiphonage occurs when there is a drop in supply line pressure which has the same effect on water in the pipes as sucking on a straw. Backpressure forces a reversal in flow and most often results from the weight of water above the point of use, from expansion in the volume of water in the system due to a rise in water temperature, or from the creation of downstream pressure due to the use of pumps or similar mechanical devices.
What
is a Backflow Prevention Assembly (BPA)?
A BPA is
a hydro-mechanical device designed to prevent backflow.
Where
are BPAs located?
BPAs are most often found on a
location's main service line
where they prevent
on-site contaminants
from polluting the public supply
of drinking water. They are
also found at various locations within
a building
to protect
the
building's occupants from contamination
in one part of the building
from affecting the water supply throughout
the building.
A very common application is
to use a BPA to
protect
the drinking water in a building
from the tainted water contained
in the
fire sprinkler
system.
Why
does a BPA need to be tested each year? (link to
state & water
district regs?)
BPAs are precision
mechanical devices which are subject
to significant
pressures, temperature
changes, and chemical exposures
(even clean drinking water
contains chlorine,
bromine, fluoride and other
chemicals which can degrade
rubber, plastic
and metal BPA components).
Testing to ensure
that
a BPA is functioning properly
and within appropriate
tolerances is essential to
safeguarding the
health of water consumers.
What
would cause a BPA to fail the test? How long do
they
last?
BPA performance can be
compromised by accumulated
debris in
internal check valves,
by component
failure or degradation,
or by structural breaches
(most
often
the result
of freeze-related
damage. If located in a
warm, ventilated and well
drained
environment a
properly-maintained
BPA can perform effectively
for decades.
About Backflow Tech
How long have you been
in business?
Backflow
Tech has served customers in Colorado
for more than 35
years --- since
1985.
Who certifies
your testers?
Out testers
are certified by ASSE (American
Society of Sanitary
Engineering),
ABPA
(American Backflow
Prevention Association)
or both.
What does a tester
need to know?
Testers must
master testing
procedures
from their
certifying body
for all types
and sizes
of BPAs and must
learn how to
properly maintain/repair/replace
all of
the components
of all
types and
sizes
of BPAs. All
Backflow
Tech testers
complete additional
training
in properly testing
backflow assemblies
installed
on fire
suppression systems.
Are
you insured?
Backflow Tech
maintains greater-than-average
business liability
and worker's
compensation
insurance.
Do
you install or replace
BPAs also?
We contract
with licensed
BPA
plumbing
specialists
to support
our customers
with high-quality
installation
and
replacement.
About Testing
How do I
know
if I need a
test?
In most
cases,
your
water
company
will
send
you an
annual
notice
that
you
must
test
a backflow
assembly;
usually
specifying
if it
is
on
your
domestic,
irrigation,
or
fire
line.
Generally
they
will
also
advise
you
to use
that
tester's
visit
to ensure
that
you
have
adequately
protected
your
drinking
water
from
on-site
sources
of
contamination.
Those additional
devices
also
require
annual
testing.
What
if my
BPA
fails
the test?
If your
assembly
fails
the test,
Backflow
Tech
will
repair
the device
(if possible)
and then
re-test
it. In
some
cases,
the assembly
might
require
replacement.
It is
our
statutory
obligation
to notify
your
water
company
of
a device
in
a
temporarily
failed
state,
but we
will
work
with
you
and them
to ensure
that
you continue
to receive
water
until
a replacement
assembly
can
be installed
and tested.
What
do
you test
for?
We
test
the
internal
mechanical
components
of
the
assembly
to
make
sure
that
water
flows
to
your
building
when
you
need
it,
and
that
the
assembly
is
protecting
you
and
the
public
water
supply
from
contamination
in
the
event
of
backflow.
Do
I
need to
do
anything
to
prepare
for
a
test?
Please
provide
us
with
clear
and
detailed
directions
to
your
BPAs
(if
you
can),
and
advise
us
if
it
will
be
necessary
to
work
in
a
confined-entry
space
or
in
a
location
requiring
special
safety
measures,
if
it
will
be
necessary
to
take
a
fire
or
safety
alarm
service
off-line, if
there
are
any
unusual
access
considerations
(time
of
day,
security
measures,
special
parking),
and
if
a
brief
disruption
to
your
water
supply
might
pose
a
significant
inconvenience
or
hazard.
How
long will
a test
take?
Typically
less than
one half
hour per
device if
no repair
is necessary.
Will
you shut
off the
water during
a test?
It
is necessary
to shut
off the
water during
a test,
but Backflow
Tech testers
are trained
to minimize
inconvenience to
our customers.
If multiple
devices need
to be
tested at
a location,
our testers
restore service
between device
tests. In
the event
that an
assembly needs
repair, our
testers carry
a large
inventory of
parts so
that service
disruption can
be minimized.
Will
a test
or repair
make a
mess?
Testing
a BPA
demands some
flow of
water, but
a proper
BPA installation
should provide
for adequate
drainage. It
is a
standard and
required practice
for Backflow
Tech testers
to remove
excess water
and discarded
parts from
any work
site. Our
goal is
to leave
any job
site at
least as
well-maintained as
it was
before our
visit.
Do
you disable
my fire
sprinkler system
during a
test?
It
is necessary
to temporarily
disable fire
sprinkler systems
water during
a test,
but Backflow
Tech testers
are trained
to properly
notify monitoring
companies and
fire departments,
to minimize
the duration
of shut-off,
to implement
fire watch
procedures when
necessary, to
perform a
main drain
test as
needed, and
to confirm
that the
fire alarm
system has
been restored
to a
ready state
at the
conclusion of
the testing process.
How
will the
water company
know I
have passed
the test?
We
will notify
your water
company of
your test
results; typically
within three
days of
the completion
of your
test. When
it is
necessary, or
at a
customer's request,
we would
be pleased
to contact
the water
authority sooner
by phone
or to
expedite the
transmission of
your test
results.
Will
I get
a copy
of the
test report?
Absolutely.
If a
customer is
present at
the time
a test
is conducted,
we provide
a copy
of the
report which
will be
sent to
the water
company. Otherwise,
we send
a copy
to the
customer at
the same
time we
forward one
to the
water company.