2015 International Plumbing Code (amended) Backflow/Cross-Connection Control Requirements AMENDED SECTION NEW SECTION NOTE: Sections highlighted yellow are sections of the 2015 IPC that were amended. The wording in the yellow sections include the amended language (i.e., if you compare Section 312.10.1 below to that of the 2015 IPC, they will be different because the section below contains Louisiana amendments). Sections highlighted green are new sections added (i.e., there is no Section 312.10.3 in the 2015 IPC as there is in this document, it was added to the Louisiana code via Louisiana amendments). 312.10 Installation, inspection and testing of backflow prevention assemblies, barometric loops and air gaps. Installation, inspection and testing shall comply with Sections 312.10.1 through 312.10.3. 312.10.1 Inspections. Annual inspections shall be made of all backflow prevention assemblies, barometric loops and air gaps to determine whether they are operable, properly installed and maintained, and meet testing/code requirements. Inspections of backflow prevention devices including barometric loops and air gaps used to protect high degree of hazard cross connections shall be documented in writing and the report provided to the owner of the backflow prevention device. 312.10.2 Testing. Reduced pressure principle, double check, pressure vacuum breaker, reduced pressure detector fire protection, double check detector fire protection, and spill-resistant vacuum breaker backflow preventer assemblies shall be tested at the time of installation, immediately after repairs or relocation and at least annually. The testing procedure shall be performed in accordance with one of the following standards: ASSE 5013, ASSE 5015, ASSE 5020, ASSE 5047, ASSE 5048, ASSE 5052, ASSE 5056, CSA B64.10.1, USC’s FCCC & HR’s “Manual of Cross-Connection Control”, or UFL’s TREEO’s “Backflow Prevention – Theory and Practice”. Any backflow preventer which is found to be defective shall be repaired. 312.10.3 Owner Responsibilities. The owner of the backflow prevention assemblies shall comply with the following. i. It shall be the duty of the owner of the backflow prevention assembly to see that these tests are made in a timely manner in accord with the frequency of field testing specified in 312.10.2 of this code. ii. The owner shall notify the building official, and/or water supplier (for those devices associated with containment) in advance when the tests are to be undertaken so that the building official and/or water supplier may witness the tests if so desired. iii. Upon completion, the owner shall provide records of such tests, repairs, overhauls, or replacements to the building official or water supplier (for those devices associated with containment). In addition, all records shall be kept by the owner of the backflow prevention device or method for at least 5 years and, upon specific request, shall be made available to the building official or water supplier. iv. All tests, repairs, overhauls or replacements shall be at the expense of the owner of the backflow preventer. 605.3 Water service pipe. Water service pipe shall conform to NSF 61 and shall conform to one of the standards listed in Table 605.3. Water service pipe or tubing, installed underground and outside of the structure, shall have a working pressure rating of not less than 160 psi (1100 kPa) at 73.4ºF (23ºC). Where the water pressure exceeds 160 psi (1100 kPa), piping material shall have a working pressure rating not less than the highest available pressure. Water service piping materials not third-party certified for water distribution shall terminate at or before the full open valve located at the entrance to the structure. All ductile iron water service piping shall be cement mortar lined in accordance with AWWA C104. 605.3.1 Dual check-valve-type backflow preventer. Dual check-valve backflow preventers installed on the water supply system shall comply with ASSE 1024 or CSA B64.6. These devices, which are commonly installed immediately downstream of water meters by water suppliers, are not approved backflow prevention devices and are only allowed to be installed when no cross connections exist downstream of the device or when all downstream cross connections are properly protected by approved backflow prevention devices, assemblies, or methods in accordance with Section 608 of this code. 607.3 Thermal expansion control. Where a storage water heater is supplied with cold water that passes through a check valve, pressure reducing valve or backflow preventer, a thermal expansion tank shall be connected to the water heater cold water supply pipe at a point that is downstream of all check valves, pressure reducing valves and backflow preventers. Thermal expansion tanks shall be sized in accordance with the tank manufacturer’s instructions and shall be sized such that the pressure in the water distribution system shall not exceed that required by Section 604.8. SECTION 608 PROTECTION OF POTABLE WATER SUPPLY 608.1 General. A potable water supply system shall be designed, installed and maintained in such a manner so as to prevent contamination from non-potable liquids, solids or gases being introduced into the potable water supply through cross-connections or any other piping connections to the system. Backflow preventers shall conform to the applicable Standard referenced in Table 608.1. Backflow preventer applications shall conform to Table 608.1, except as specifically stated in Sections 608.2 through 608.16.27 and Sections 608.18 through 608.18.2. TABLE 608.1 APPLICATION OF BACKFLOW PREVENTERS DEGREE OF APPLICABLE DEVICE HAZARDa APPLICATIONb STANDARDS High or low Backsiphonage or Air gap ASME A112.1.2 hazard backpressure High or low Backsiphonage or Air gap fittings for use with plumbing ASME A112.1.3 hazard backpressure fixtures, appliances and appurtenances Antisiphon-type fill valves for gravity ASSE 1002, CSA High hazard Backsiphonage only water closet flush tanks B125.3 Backpressure or Backflow preventer for carbonated Low hazard backsiphonage ASSE 1022 beverage machines 1 3 Sizes /4″ – /8″ Backpressure or Backflow preventer with intermediate Low hazard backsiphonage ASSE 1012, CSA B64.3 atmospheric vents 1 3 Sizes /4″– /4″ High or low Barometric loop Backsiphonage only (See Section 608.13.4) hazard ASSE 1015, AWWA Double check backflow prevention Backpressure or Low hazard C510, CSA B64.5, CSA assembly and double check fire backsiphonage 3 B64.5.1 protection backflow prevention assembly Sizes /8″–16″ Backpressure or Double check detector fire protection backsiphonage Low hazard ASSE 1048 backflow prevention assemblies (Fire sprinkler systems) Sizes 2″–16″ Backpressure or Dual-check-valve-type backflow preventer Low hazard backsiphonage ASSE 1024, CSA B64.6 1 Sizes /4″–1″ Low head backpressure, rated working pressure, ASME A112.21.3, High or low Hose connection backflow preventer backpressure ASSE 1052, CSA hazard or backsiphonage Sizes B64.2.1.1 1 /2″–1″ Low head backpressure or ASME A112.21.3, High or low Hose connection vacuum breaker backsiphonage ASSE 1011, CSA B64.2, hazard 1 3 Sizes /2″, /4″, 1″ CSA B64.2.1 High or low Low head backpressure and Laboratory faucet backflow preventer ASSE 1035, CSA B64.7 hazard backsiphonage Pipe-applied atmospheric-type vacuum High or low Backsiphonage only ASSE 1001, CSA 1 breaker hazard Sizes /4″–4″ B64.1.1 High or low Backsiphonage only ASSE 1020, CSA Pressure vacuum breaker assembly 1 hazard Sizes /2″–2″ B64.1.2 Reduced pressure principle backflow Backpressure or ASSE 1013, AWWA prevention assembly and reduced pressure High or low backsiphonage C511, CSA B64.4, CSA principle fire protection backflow prevention hazard 3 Sizes /8″–16″ B64.4.1 assembly Backsiphonage or Reduced pressure detector fire protection High or low backpressure ASSE 1047 backflow prevention assemblies hazard (Fire sprinkler systems) High or low Backsiphonage only Spill-resistant vacuum breaker assembly 1 ASSE 1056 hazard Sizes /4″–2″ Low head backpressure or ASME A112.21.1, Vacuum breaker wall hydrants, High or low backsiphonage ASSE 1019, CSA frost-resistant, automatic draining type hazard 3 Sizes /4″, 1″ B64.2.2 For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm. a. Low hazard—See Pollution (Section 202). High hazard—See Contamination (Section 202). b. See Backpressure (Section 202). See Backpressure, low head (Section 202). See Backsiphonage (Section 202). 608.2 Plumbing fixtures. The supply lines and fittings for plumbing fixtures shall be installed so as to prevent backflow. Plumbing fixture fittings shall provide backflow protection in accordance with ASME A112.18.1/CSA B125.1. 608.3 Devices, appurtenances, appliances and apparatus. Devices, appurtenances, appliances and apparatus intended to serve some special function, such as sterilization, distillation, processing, cooling, or storage of ice or foods, and that connect to the water supply system, shall be provided with protection against backflow and contamination of the water supply system. Water pumps, filters, softeners, tanks and other appliances and devices that handle or treat potable water shall be protected against contamination. 608.3.1 Special equipment, water supply protection. The water supply for hospital fixtures shall be protected against backflow with a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly, an atmospheric or spill-resistant vacuum breaker assembly, or an air gap. Vacuum breakers for bedpan washer hoses shall not be located less than 5 feet (1524 mm) above the floor. Vacuum breakers for hose connections in health care or laboratory areas shall not be less than 6 feet (1829 mm) above the floor. 608.4 Water service piping/Containment to protect potable water supplies. Water service piping shall be protected in accordance with Sections 603.2 and 603.2.1. 608.5 Chemicals and other substances. Chemicals and other substances that produce either toxic conditions, taste, odor or discoloration in a potable water system shall not be introduced into, or utilized in, such systems.