Commercial kitchen plumbing questions

[Zapster]

Hello,

Does the installation of a commercial soda pop fountain require a backflow prevention valve for the supply water?

Is there a code requirement for floor drains in walk in coolers?

 

[friartuck]

In the uk, the soda pop has to be treated as a category of risk. These range from 0 to 5, with 0 being no contamination, 1 is a water that has undergone change due to colour or temperature but otherwise is not considered a health hazard, 5 is a substance that may be carcinogenic or some other nasty like body fluids etc.

I would guess that soda pop is either category 1 or 2 although the local water board would help in the categorisation.

In the very least I would suggest a double non -return valve with verification connection.They are not expensive (£20 or less)

Friar Tuck of Sherwood

 

[imok2]

Several persons became ill with severe and instantaneous vomiting after sipping soda pop or juice in a buffet style restaurant. Both dispensers plus a drinking fountain were served by a single 1/2 inch water service line; there was no sign of backflow prevention valves. All outlets showed high concentrations of copper. High demand on the juice machine caused the carbon dioxide from the pop machine to backflow into the copper holding tank. I woud definately install a new back-flo valve.

 

[PEDARRIN2]

In the US (at least where the International Plumbing Code is applied) a backflow preventor (a dual check, not a double check) is required for soda fountains.

Imok,

From your description, it sounds like there was an equipment problem that a backflow preventor on the water line would not remedy.

I am assuming the holding tank was part of the equipment. If there was backflow into the copper holding tank, a backflow preventor on the water pipe would not prevent the problem.

 

[Zapster]

So if I have a Bunn Coffee machine and a soda fountain, the International Plumbing Code requires a BFP for the machines. With a single BFP feeding both machines in the kitchen, the problem that imok2 described could happen. Would it be good engineering practice to require both the coffee machine and the soda fountain to have their own BFP or is it a IPC requirement for each of the machines to have their own BFP?

 

[imok2]

Weather required or not I say better safe then sorry

 

[PEDARRIN2]

The backflow preventors are for protecting the water supply system. If you hook up more than one piece of equipment after the backflow preventor, you would be protecting the water supply, but still could have backflow problems downstream of the the device.

I would install one on both, especially since you have a piece of equipment that uses CO2. Equipment that uses CO2 does exhibit the problem of backflow. I also know that sometimes the syrup lines get contaminated with bacteria if not cleaned properly. This is from personal experience. I used to work in a convenience store and saw what can happen.