By: Sean Cleary 

If you have read my columns in the past you will remember a number of times I have written about how it is vitally important that all the stakeholders in the industry begin to work together to improve awareness and educate both the industry and the general public about the importance of cross-connection control and backflow prevention. This month I am pleased to announce that several of the major players in the industry have taken a first step in that direction. These groups which include the American Backflow Prevention Association (APBA), the American Society of Sanitary Engineering International (ASSE), the Backflow Prevention Manufacturers Association (BPMA), the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials Backflow Prevention Institute (IAPMO BPI). 

To some the position paper issued by these five organizations concerning basic standards for the training of individuals in backflow assembly testing may not seem like much. To me and many others in the industry, it is a milestone and represents a new commitment to innovation. It is huge leap forward in the right direction. For far too long many groups that share similar interests and goals in protecting our drinking water have been unable to work together and at times have allowed politics, market share, and personalities to stand in the way of any real collaboration. Moving forward it is the hope of the organizations involved in the effort that other groups will sign on to this paper and will join in the effort to help harmonize standards for both the education of individuals working in the industry and for the products standards used to test and approve the assemblies and devices used for cross-connection control throughout North America and beyond. 

Henry Ford once said, “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself”. I think Mr. Ford was correct in his thinking. The Backflow Symposium that was held on February 13th and 14th of last year at IAPMO Headquarters in Ontario, California got this discussion started. At the symposium it became clear that although there were some topics on which consensus among the attendees was impossible, in many other cases it was clear that the opportunity to work together for the common good existed, and a willingness to begin to collaborate on solutions and ideas was within our grasp. 

Moving forward I hope this is a new beginning of cooperation in the cross-connection industry. Let’s continue to build on these first simple steps. We need to establish a forum where new ideas and cooperation spark innovation in our training, in our education, and in our products. Please consider joining us in the work we are doing to protect and preserve of most precious resource, the water that gives us life.

January 1, 2015

This position paper is presented as a united effort with the organizations listed below to enhance the safety of the drinking water and quality of cross connection control and back ow prevention programs throughout the world. We, the undersigned believe proper backflow prevention methods and eld-testing are critical components of effective cross connection control programs. To further this goal we endorse and recommend the following as best industry practices for backflow prevention methods and frequency of testing.

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS:
American Backflow Prevention Association (ABPA), ASSE International (ASSE), International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), IAPMO Backflow Prevention Institute (IAPMO BPI) and Backflow Prevention Manufacturers Association (BPMA).

COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL APPLICATIONS:
It is universally accepted that backflow protection is required for commercial applications that pose a hazard to the public water supply. A common misconception is that residential applications do not pose this same hazard. Hydraulically water acts and reacts identically in commercial and residential applications.

Residential irrigation systems have the same inherent dangers (i.e. fertilizer, pesticide, animal feces, etc.) as a commercial irrigation system and should maintain similar levels of backflow protection. Irrigation sprinkler systems for residential applications and for commercial application is the same basic piping, valves, and outlets. The installation of approved, code specified, backflow prevention commensurate with the degree of hazard remains the same for both commercial and residential applications.

SYSTEM MAINTENANCE AND TESTING IS CRUCIAL IN MAINTAINING PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY:
All mechanical devices are subject to failure due to age, wear, damage, accidents, and corrosion. The associations listed in this position paper support regular field-testing and maintenance of backflow prevention assemblies to ensure their proper operation thereby protecting public health and the water supply. As with any mechanical device, regular maintenance and testing will extend the life of the assembly and help prevent unnecessary replacement. The listed associations concur with various manufacturers’ recommended practice of field-testing all backflow prevention assemblies upon installation, after repairs, and annually thereafter. This practice is consistent with the adopted Building and Plumbing Codes used in the United States and Canada.

Historically, back ow prevention was in response to illness from waterborne contaminants. Reducing the requirements for cross connection control programs is the equivalent of removing a traffic signal from a busy intersection because there are no longer traffic accidents.

July 1, 2014

This position paper is presented as a united effort with the organizations listed below to enhance the safety of the drinking water and quality of cross connection control and backflow prevention programs throughout the world. We, the undersigned believe properly trained and certified backflow prevention assembly testers are of paramount importance to any effective cross connection control program. To further this goal we endorse and recommend the following as a minimum of best industry practices for backflow prevention assembly tester, training, certification and recertification.

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS:
American Backflow Prevention Association (ABPA), ASSE International (ASSE), Backflow Prevention Association of Australia (BPAA), Backflow Prevention Manufacturers Association (BPMA), International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), IAPMO Backflow Prevention Institute (IAPMO BPI), and United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA).

TRAINING

• Should consist of a comprehensive training course in backflow prevention and cross connection control covering the range of knowledge required by the certifying authority. (Typically no less than 40 hours)
• Equivalent work and/or educational experience may be considered in lieu of the training course.

CERTIFICATION

• Should pass a 100 question multiple choice closed book written exam.
• A minimum passing percentage, weighted against the written exam, should be established. (Typically 70%)
• Closed book practical exam. Demonstrate proper field test procedure on RP, DC, PVB, and SVB assemblies1.
• Practical exam should include assemblies in various conditions, including common failure modes.
• Practical and written exams should be developed and administered independent of the training course instructor of record.
• Certification should be valid for a maximum of 3 years.
• Certification applies to certificate holder only.

RE-CERTIFICATION

• Should pass a 100 question multiple choice closed book written exam tailored towards a tester with experience.
• A minimum passing percentage, weighted against the written exam, should be established. (Typically 70%)
• Closed book practical exam. Demonstrate proper field test procedure on RP, DC, PVB, and SVB assemblies.
• Practical exam should include assemblies in various conditions, including common failure modes.
• Practical and written exams should be developed and administered independent of the instructor of record.
• Certification should be valid for a maximum of 3 years.
• Certification applies to certificate holder only.

1 RP - Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Prevention Assembly; DC – Double Check Valve Backflow Prevention Assembly; PVB – Pressure Vacuum Breaker Backsiphonage Prevention Assembly; SVB – Spill-Resistant Pressure Vacuum Breaker Backsiphonage Prevention Assembly