Nursing Home Fireline Backflow Requirements

[BrentIEIFP]

Hello everyone. Our company works primarily in nursing homes throughout Indiana. A few years ago we started an in-house sprinkler division. Currently the person we have quoting work seems to be more concerned with creating work ($$$) than code. He has cited several nursing home customers for not having a backflow device connected to the fire protection sprinkler system. I asked him to provide me with NFPA code references so that when the customer asks why they have never been cited/required to have a backflow device I could answer accordingly. This is what was sent to me: "Indiana Administrative Code 327 8-10, Facilities That Require a Backflow Prevention Device, mandates that certain residential, commercial and industrial customers served by a public water system install and maintain backflow prevention devices within water service lines." I just want to make sure that a backflow device IS required and we aren't citing them for lack of backflow just to generate business. I would think if a backflow device WAS needed on fireline that either the life safety inspector or local fire inspector would have noted this at some point during previous annual inspections.

 

[itsmoked]

Can't speak specifically for Indiana but in California you can't hook even a dog house to the city mains without a backflow preventer. Every new house has an ugly BFP sprouting somewhere, often in the front lawn.

If the city mains lost pressure you would have the years-stagnant puke-water standing in a fire sprinkler system injecting back into the city mains because of any dissolved air or trapped air bubbles in the sprinkler piping.

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[Artisi]

Not sure in the US, but from memory in Aust. the insurance underwriters have the final say on approval, I would therefore run your question past them for clarification.

It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. (Sherlock Holmes - A Scandal in Bohemia.)

 

[coloeng]

Most states have primacy on regulations dealing with the Safe Drinking Water Act. You should check with the State's department of public health to verify their requirements for backflow devices. Additionally, the local water provider probably has regulations that address this issue.

In Colorado all non single family connections require a backflow device, unless given a waiver by the State Department of Public Health. Fire sprinkler systems require a minimum of a double check assembly and may require a reduced pressure backflow assembly, depending on what the local authority has determined is the potential level of hazard.

I would think that most states have similar requirements.

 

[saplanti]

I guess the main issue is the water contamination occurs at user side. Without the backflow preventer the water on user area will be sucked by the water main in case there is a pressure drop in the main, and contaminated water will be in the main water system. No one wants this happens.
This probably is the major reason to use it for all services.

 

[PEDARRIN2]

Indiana Building Code which encompasses the plumbing and fire codes requires it. They did not use to for fire systems which got away with a the alarm check. But whenever we design a renovation or new work, it has at least a DCDA type. Some jurisdictions will require the RPZ on the fire system as well.

 

[cvg]

I am currently working on inspections for two commercial developments and both have backflow prevention devises installed at the point of connection to the watermain. not sure you need a separate device on just the sprinkler system

 

[bimr]

Many inspectors do not have the qualifications required to do inspections. If you read the building permit, the permit will state that if an error is made during the inspection process by the building inspector, the error does not relieve the owner of meeting the requirements of the building code.

To prevent contamination from fire lines, IDEM requires a double check assembly for fire sprinkler systems that do not use chemicals and an air gap or a reduced pressure principle assembly for systems
that use chemicals.

IDEM CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL AND BACKFLOW PREVENTION MANUAL