Specific Requirements

The Grand Rapids Water System will require specific backflow prevention devices in the following situations:

(a) Air Conditioners:

Potable water for the use of air conditioning in excess of eight gallons of water per hour per ton of cooling capacity is prohibited. The potable water supply to air conditioning equipment shall be protected against backflow by a reduced pressure principle backflow preventer conforming to American Society of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE)

1013, American Water Works Association (AWWA) C511 or Canadian Standards Association (CSA) B64.4.

(b) Beverage Dispensers:

The water supply to a carbonated beverage dispenser shall be protected against backflow by a double check valve with an intermediate atmospheric vent conforming with ASSE 1012, CSA B64.3 or ASSE 1022, and any piping installed downstream of the device shall not be of the type affected by carbon dioxide gas.

(c) Boilers:

The potable water supply connection to a low pressure, non-chemically treated boiler shall be permitted to be protected against backflow by a double check valve with an intermediate atmospheric vent conforming with ASSE 1012 or CSA B64.3. High pressure boilers, or boilers where chemicals are introduced, or may have been introduced into the system in the past, the potable water supply shall be protected against backflow by a reduced pressure principle backflow preventer conforming with ASSE 1013, AWWA C511 or CSA B64.4.4.

(High pressure boilers are defined in the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Cross Connection Rules Manual as 30

PSI or above for water and 15 PSI or above for steam).

(d) Cooling Towers and Re-Circulated Cooling Water:

The makeup water supply to cooling towers and recirculation systems shall be protected against backflow with a reduced pressure principle backflow preventer conforming to ASSE 1013, AWWA C511 or CSA B64.4 or by an air gap of at least twice the diameter of the supply pipe above the flood level rim of the receptacle.

(e) Fire Protection Systems:

The potable water supply to automatic fire sprinkler systems, standpipe systems and private fire hydrants shall be protected against backflow by a double check valve assembly conforming with ASSE 1015, AWWA C510 or ASSE 1048, or by a reduced pressure principle backflow preventer conforming with ASSE 1013, AWWA C511, CSA B64.4 or ASSE 1047. Where systems contain chemical additives or antifreeze, or where systems are connected to a nonpotable secondary water supply, the potable water supply shall be protected against backflow by a reduced pressure principle backflow preventer. Existing fire protection systems (serving buildings not greater than three stories in height) shall be

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permitted to be protected against backflow by alarm checks, single checks and detection check meters, so long as the existing system does not contain chemical additives in which case it would be required to install a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device that conforms to ASSE 1013, AWWAC511 or CSA B64.4. For location requirements, see Section 8.11 Requirement for Fire Protection System Supply. Exception: Isolation of the water distribution system is not required for deluge, preaction or dry pipe systems, unless equipped with a fire department connection.

(f) Flow Through Prohibited:

Customers that have more than one water service connection from the public water main to their premises shall not be permitted to arrange their water piping system in a manner that would connect the two water services and permit flow through. If the customer's water piping system must be arranged in this manner, each water service shall be protected against flow through by installing a reduced pressure principle backflow preventer conforming to ASSE 1013, AWWA C511 or CSA B64.4 or the system must be protected against flow through by another approved method. On water services provided for domestic use, the devices shall be installed downstream of the water meter and upstream of all branches or connections to the customer’s piping system.

(g) Frost Proof Yard Hydrants:

Frost Proof Yard Hydrants shall be of an approved type and model as listed in the latest edition of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Cross Connection Rules Manual.

(h) Funeral Homes, Mortuaries, and Morgues:

The hot and cold water supplies to preparatory rooms shall be protected against backflow with a reduced pressure principle backflow preventer conforming with ASSE 1013, AWWA C511 or CSA B64.4, or by a pressure vacuum breaker conforming with ASSE 1020 or ASSE 1056 located near the ceiling and at least 12 inches above the highest point of contamination, or by another approved method.

(i) Heat Exchangers:

Heat exchangers utilizing an essentially toxic transfer fluid shall be separated from the potable water supply by double-wall construction. An air gap open to the atmosphere shall be provided between the two walls. Heat exchangers utilizing an essentially nontoxic transfer fluid shall be permitted to be of single-wall construction.

(j) Hose Connections:

Sillcocks, hose bibbs, wall hydrants and other openings with a hose connection shall be protected against backflow by a sillcock or wall hydrant with a built in vacuum breaker conforming with ASSE 1019 or CSA B64.2.2, or by a pressure vacuum breaker conforming with ASSE 1020 or ASSE 1056, or by a permanently attached hose connection vacuum breaker conforming with ASSE 1011 or CSA B64.2, or by a permanently attached hose connection backflow preventer conforming with ASSE 1052, or by a reduced pressure

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principle backflow preventer conforming with ASSE 1013, AWWA C511 or CSA B64.4.

(k) Identification of Potable and Non-Potable Water:

In buildings where two or more water distribution systems, one potable water and the other nonpotable water, are installed, each system shall be clearly labeled.

(l) Installation of Backflow Prevention Devices:

All backflow prevention devices shall be installed and utilized in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and governing plumbing codes.

(m) Lawn Irrigation System:

The water supply to irrigation systems shall be protected against backflow by an atmospheric vacuum breaker conforming with ASSE 1001 or CSA B64.1.1, or by a pressure vacuum breaker conforming with ASSE 1020 or ASSE 1056 located at least 6 inches above the highest head, or by a reduced pressure principle backflow preventer conforming with ASSE 1013, AWWA C511 or CSA B64.4. Where chemicals are introduced into the system, the potable water supply shall be protected against

backflow by a reduced pressure principle backflow preventer.

(n) Plumbing Fixtures:

All plumbing fixtures, sillcocks and hose connections shall be supplied with potable water.

Exception: Hose connections that are supplied with water from a nonpotable process piping system and used for a nonpotable purpose shall be clearly labeled nonpotable. The potable water supply shall be protected against backflow at the point of connection to the nonpotable piping system by an approved backflow prevention

device.

(o) Portable Equipment:

All portable equipment connecting to the potable water system shall be protected against backflow in accordance with the latest edition of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Cross Connection Rules and governing plumbing codes.

(p) Urinals:

The potable water supply to a urinal shall be protected against backflow by a flushometer valve conforming to ASSE 1037 with a vacuum breaker conforming to the performance requirements of ASSE 1001 or CSA B64.1.1, or by another approved flushing device with a vacuum breaker conforming with the performance requirements of ASSE 1001 or CSA B64.1.1.

41 (q) Water Closets:

The potable water supply to a water closet shall be protected against backflow by a flushometer valve conforming with ASSE 1037 with a vacuum breaker conforming to the performance requirements of ASSE 1001 or CSA B64.1.1, or by an anti-siphon ballcock conforming to ASSE 1002 or CSA B125. The ballcock/fill valve backflow preventer shall be located a minimum of 1 inch above the full opening of the overflow pipe.

(r) X-Ray and Photo Developers:

The potable water supply to any tank or vessel used for film development shall be protected against backflow by an air gap of at least two times the diameter of the water supply pipe above the flood level rim of the receptacle, but not less than 1 inch, or by an atmospheric vacuum breaker conforming with ASSE 1001 or CSA B64.1.1, or by a Pressure Vacuum Breaker conforming with ASSE 1020 or ASSE 1056, or by a reduced pressure principle backflow preventer conforming with ASSE 1013, AWWA C511 or CSA B64.4.