San Diego — The American Society of Sanitary Engineering’s Cross-Connection Control Technical Committee has formally recognized the field test procedure for backflow preventers known as the “one-hose method.”
The committee voted unanimously to approve the procedure on Nov. 5 during ASSE’s annual conference in San Diego. This procedure will be incorporated into ASSE’s Series 5000 Professional Qualifications Standard for Backflow Prevention Assembly Testers, Repairers and Surveyors with its next printing.
Field test procedures for the health and safety products known as backflow preventers must be evaluated by an independent laboratory using the specific requirements outlined in the Series 5000 standard, which is an American National Standards Institute consensus document.
“The one-hose method provides solid absolute results when a valve is isolated from the piping system, and it is not subjected to pressure fluctuations that have historically provided erroneous compromised results from other procedures,” said Bernie Clarke, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) committee member. “Professionals using this method will identify performance failures undetected with previous industry test procedures.”
The Series 5000 standard also establishes criteria for certified professionals that test and repair backflow preventers and conduct surveys for cross-connection hazards. The standard may be obtained from ASSE by going to the on-line bookstore at www.asse-plumbing.org.
“I’m pleased ASSE is now able to include this important new procedure into the Series 5000 standards,” said Sean Cleary, committee chair and former ASSE president.
This field test procedure was adopted by IAPMO’s Backflow Prevention Reference Manual committee in 2006 for inclusion in the Manual.
“The IAPMO committee determined that the field test procedure provided the most accurate results, in addition to being readily understood and used by certified industry professionals,” said Dr. Stu Asay, PE, director of IAPMO’s Backflow Prevention Institute. For more information on obtaining the Backflow Prevention Reference Manual, please contact Blanca Martinez at 909-472-4208 or blanca.martinez@iapmo.org.
Last modified: December 19, 2023