backflow at funeral home

mikedo · June 20

the water company is asking for a backflow on the water main at a funeral home i work at i already have 009s to protect the embalming room seems unnecessary any thoughts thanks mike

ratio · June 20

Do what they want or get turned off? I guess do it, or get the lawyers involved, or ignore it & see what happens.

The city just came through here last year & added a requirement for a whole building backflow device & apparently deleted the requirement for one on the boiler. Go figure. I did it, but left the one on the boiler.

mattmia2 · June 20

do they want rpz on the service or something less? Having a backup seems reasonable in a high risk application.

HydronicMike · June 20

It’s a good idea and a fight you won’t win. Make sure you have a properly installed domestic expansion tank installed also.

And of course you’ll probably need the BFP inspected/certified annually.

Intplm. · June 20

A main premise, BFP might be a code requirement for that type of business in your area. Its more likely that the department of public health requires a main premise BFP as well as point of use protection in the form of a vacuum breaker VB or BFP.Go ahead and put one in. Better safe than sorry… for so many reasons.

hot_rod · June 21

BFDs at the equipment protect the water inside the building. A BFD on the mainline assures that no water that has entered the building can go back into the mains.

The type of BFD required depends on the hazard level there are many different types of devices, both back pressure and back siphon type. I'm guessing the AHJ may require one of the high hazard versions, ASSE 1013. They need to be tested yearly and recertified. Some cities, most of Florida keep a data base to know that the device does get tested yearly.

Mad Dog_2 · June 21

RPZ....Absolutely....Air Gap even better. Funeral homes are super high risk of back siphonage, backflow & cross connections. My mother's side of the family has been in "the business" since the late 1800s. I know all the horror stories. Mad Dog

Mad Dog_2 · June 21

To be on the safe side, NEVER drink from a water fountain in a funeral home OR a hospital....EVER...Mad Dog

CTETeach · June 26

I ran into a similar situation. The funeral home only did 5-6 funerals per year. The water department told him he needed an RPZ when we gave him the quote, I thought he was going to need his own services. He tried to fight city hall. He didn't win they shut off the water to his building that was also his house. His wife didn't love that. He was calling us thieves one minute now he's your best friend and wants it installed yesterday.