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Backflow preventer

Can someone suggest a backflow preventer for my 1/2" copper boiler water makeup line.

Town wants me to install one...
"Hey, it looks good on you though..."

Comments

  • Steam_Starter
    Steam_Starter Member Posts: 109
    Oh and I am located in NJ....
    "Hey, it looks good on you though..."
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,168
    Watts 9D
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    kcopp
  • Steam_Starter
    Steam_Starter Member Posts: 109
    Thats what I am reading. Thanks, JH.
    "Hey, it looks good on you though..."
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,022
    Do they require a testable style? If so that model will not pass.
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • Steam_Starter
    Steam_Starter Member Posts: 109
    What model if testable? I cant get a straight answer out of the code officials. These are the same people who took 21 days to approve my permit.
    "Hey, it looks good on you though..."
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    edited April 2018
    An expensive one.....and who will test it every year and what will that cost? Then who will police that testing?
    IIWM, I would just put that Watts 9D in and nicely pipe the drain/vent down to the floor. It looks pretty impressive to an inspector who doesn't know the difference. ;)
    Mark Eathertonrick in Alaska
  • Steam_Starter
    Steam_Starter Member Posts: 109
    edited April 2018
    Thats it then. Thanks all.
    "Hey, it looks good on you though..."
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    My only awareness of this is that my hospital asked me to do a water piping survey for Legionella prevention planning.
    Having changed the water heaters out I was somewhat familiar with the boiler room.
    They had 2 steam LWCO feeders, one HWH glycol system connection and the feeder pump pit all connected to the domestic water supply. There were only check valves on the first 3 items and none on the feeder pump pit where the boiler chemicals were added!

    The AHJ was the city water department. It just so happened that the State Rural water safety instructor was in town also.
    We had a meeting in the boiler room and I was informed that all those 4 devices need testable BFD's installed. It turned out that a single 1 1/4" line fed all of them and a Watts RPZ was installed ahead of them all. Fairly simple and the local city water man can test it yearly for a very modest fee.

    To me the Watts 9d would be adequate but the State does require the testable RPZ here. Also considering the high profile for hospital use I understand the risk and made no argument.
  • Mark Eatherton
    Mark Eatherton Member Posts: 5,853
    The Watts 9-d is a double check with intermediate atmospheric vent, and it doesn't meet the requirements for commercial installations, which have to be a reduced pressure principle back flow preventer. The 9-d can be set up to be tested, but it is considered inadequate for commercial/institutional properties.

    Here in Colorado, if we can prove that there is no physical connection between the potable water system and the heating system (using either a PIG or a tank/pumped make up tank) then you needn't install a back flow preventer. A non testable vacuum breaker/back flow preventer on the drain valve used to fill these devices is all thats required, and it doesn't require annual testing/inspection.

    Truth be known, I've never seen in ANY mechanical/plumbing code the requirement for a "make up water connection" to the heating system. If you don't have one, then you don't have to protect it.

    I've never understood their reasoning that its OK for residential applications to have a lesser quality BFP than it is for a commercial property...

    There are ways around it...

    ME
    It's not so much a case of "You got what you paid for", as it is a matter of "You DIDN'T get what you DIDN'T pay for, and you're NOT going to get what you thought you were in the way of comfort". Borrowed from Heatboy.
  • Steam_Starter
    Steam_Starter Member Posts: 109
    I just find it silly. Ball valve is used for shut-off and is obviously only open when I fill, which is rarely during the season. I don't have / need an auto fill. SO basically unless I open the fill valve there is fixed isolation between the boiler and the feed line.

    However, it is what it is....
    "Hey, it looks good on you though..."
  • Mark Eatherton
    Mark Eatherton Member Posts: 5,853

    I just find it silly. Ball valve is used for shut-off and is obviously only open when I fill, which is rarely during the season. I don't have / need an auto fill. SO basically unless I open the fill valve there is fixed isolation between the boiler and the feed line.
    However, it is what it is....


    The AHJ has to look at it as though the homeowner has their system set up for automatic operation. Truth be known, it would be hard for steam to cause contamination of a potable water system, but if there is 1 chance in a million, they HAVE to cover.

    The BIGGEST problem is that most inspectors do not know what they are looking at (a boiler is a boiler is a boiler) so they enforce the worst case scenario, because they do not know any better. To their credit, there are a FEW good inspectors out there that know.

    ME


    It's not so much a case of "You got what you paid for", as it is a matter of "You DIDN'T get what you DIDN'T pay for, and you're NOT going to get what you thought you were in the way of comfort". Borrowed from Heatboy.
  • Dave0176
    Dave0176 Member Posts: 1,177
    Here in NJ it is required for steam boilers too. Years ago the old swing check would suffice but now inspectors want a backflow.
    DL Mechanical LLC Heating, Cooling and Plumbing 732-266-5386
    NJ Master HVACR Lic# 4630
    Specializing in Steam Heating, Serving the residents of New Jersey
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/dl-mechanical-llc

    https://m.facebook.com/DL-Mechanical-LLC-315309995326627/?ref=content_filter

    I cannot force people to spend money, I can only suggest how to spend it wisely.......
  • SuperTech
    SuperTech Member Posts: 2,139
    If I had a dollar for every time I saw an unsafe or malfunctioning piece of equipment that the inspector said was fine.....a few good inspectors is right Mark, a very few.
    BobC
  • CLamb
    CLamb Member Posts: 273
    Does anyone have a code citation for this?
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,168
    It's in the old National Plumbing Code -- but I have temporarily misplaced my copy...

    I do remember the reasoning, though, and it may still be applicable: while the possibility of a steam boiler operating at say 1 psi backflowing into a water supply does look negligible (ditto for, say, a bathtub -- which requires an air gap) -- it really isn't. There are two scenarios, both of which I have seen -- while not as a regular occurrence, a few times. The first, and more common, is a fire with a pumper draughting from a nearby hydrant. That pumper can quite easily and often does pull the water pressure in the mains in the vicinity to below atmospheric -- sometimes well below. The mains pressure can be as low as -10 to -12 psi gauge. The other is a pump failure in some water supplies, which can lead to below atmospheric pressure in the mains until someone can get to fix it or adjust
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    CanuckerZman
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    It happened to my boiler. The 6" main in front of my house had a bad tapping for the neighbor. They could shut off each end of the main to isolate it. When they removed the defective corporation stop (tap) the water drained out of the 6" main.

    Later I noticed my boiler low on water. The draining water out of the main had syphoned water out of the boiler. I had only the PRV on the feeder. ( I was told this would prevent back flow....not so).
    I now have a double check device on the water feeder, added a LWCO and keep the water supply valve closed.

    Now for fire pumpers, we use soft hose with double 2 1/2" hoses connected to the hydrant. They get pretty squishy when you stand on them as you run the pumper to pretty good volume. (that is a high tech test to tell you that you are drawing too much water) we may have the pumper up to 250' from the hydrant. We are drawing a lot of water towards that hydrant.
    Our mains are connected in loops to feed from both directions but somewhere depending upon piping etc there could be a near vacuum produced for some houses. I doubt if we get any part of the mains into a vacuum but certainly could go near zero. So your 12 PSI heating system could back flow into the domestic water in that case. Or your water heater if on the first floor.

    Now if a car breaks off a hydrant the effect would be worse.
    The only one of these I had to deal with was lucky as it had a break away control rod and the water stayed in the pipes.
    (It did not gusher up as seen in the movies)
    Fire hydrants are just like a yard hydrant in the control rod operates the water valve well below the frost/freeze line.
    They also have a drain down port to empty the hydrant when shut off.
  • Gsmith
    Gsmith Member Posts: 431
    from the 2018 International Residential Building Code:
    P2902.5 Protection of potable water connections. Connections
    to the potable water shall conform to Sections
    P2902.5.1 through P2902.5.5.
    P2902.5.1 Connections to boilers. Where chemicals will
    not be introduced into a boiler, the potable water supply to
    the boiler shall be protected from the boiler by a backflow
    preventer with an intermediate atmospheric vent complying
    with ASSE 1012 or CSA B64.3. Where chemicals will
    be introduced into a boiler, the potable water supply to the
    boiler shall be protected from the boiler by an air gap or a
    reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly
    complying with ASSE 1013, CSA B64.4 or AWWA
    C511.
    ratioMark Eatherton
  • Mark Eatherton
    Mark Eatherton Member Posts: 5,853
    The UPC and UMC state basically the same thing, tho not verbatim.

    ME
    It's not so much a case of "You got what you paid for", as it is a matter of "You DIDN'T get what you DIDN'T pay for, and you're NOT going to get what you thought you were in the way of comfort". Borrowed from Heatboy.
  • STEAM DOCTOR
    STEAM DOCTOR Member Posts: 1,952
    Got to ask. What is wrong with boiler water if there are no chemicals. Obviously doesn't taste too great. Is it a health hazard? I have a buddy who's helper drank some steam boiler water just for kicks. Guy was a bit nutty.
  • STEAM DOCTOR
    STEAM DOCTOR Member Posts: 1,952
    Keeping in mind that boiler water will be diluted under backflo conditions
  • Gsmith
    Gsmith Member Posts: 431
    Ours is (usually) not to reason why--on code issues.
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,168
    Nothing wrong with boiler water, @STEAM DOCTOR -- if there are no chemicals. Big if. Considering the range of chemicals out there which are touted for fixing all the problems in the world, and which are readily available to the homeowner or clueless tech., and considering the toxicity of some of them... would you, as the supplier of water to your community, wish to guarantee that the water you supply would be safe? Not me... sorry.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    edited April 2018
    If your boiler does not ever need water supplied thru the PRV valve then that line would be considered a "dead end " or dormant pipe sitting with old water in it. Some things can grow in dead end piping.
    If you had the scenario that happened to my boiler as posted above, then that stagnant water would be drawn into your pipes and possibly out into the main where it could be fruitful and multiply, so to speak.
  • Steam_Starter
    Steam_Starter Member Posts: 109
    WOW. What did I start here? I have to say I love the vigorous conversations and knowledge here that everyone brings.

    Putting in the BFP Sunday. I’ll put up a pic or two for critique.
    "Hey, it looks good on you though..."
  • Steam_Starter
    Steam_Starter Member Posts: 109
    Well it’s in. My sweating job is not great. Way out of practice. But it’s in....
    "Hey, it looks good on you though..."
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    Look good, let us know if it passes.
  • Steam_Starter
    Steam_Starter Member Posts: 109
    Will do. Inspections are on Friday 4/20. Will update then.
    "Hey, it looks good on you though..."
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,022
    does the installation manual allow vertical installation? Some brands suggest horizontal only.
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • Steam_Starter
    Steam_Starter Member Posts: 109
    Spec sheet calls out vertical or horizontal installation.
    "Hey, it looks good on you though..."
  • Steam_Starter
    Steam_Starter Member Posts: 109
    Sorry for the late reply.

    Inspector came and went. No issues. I asked why it is needed and he said "actually in your case it's really not needed. You do have an auto-feeder but we can't selectively apply the code."

    He did like my 3" dropped header, though...
    "Hey, it looks good on you though..."
  • Leonard
    Leonard Member Posts: 903
    edited April 2018
    Other issue is boiler "water" could be antifreeze. Neighbor who went to florida for the winters changed it to antifreeze so he could leave house unheated.

    Here in NH don't think backflow preventer is required for single family houses unless have outside underground lawn sprinklers/piping. Strange because a vac in water line might be able to pull water back from a toilet tank that had been filling, oh well politics.....

    But preventer is required for restaurants. Here city water dept comes in to test restaurant's preventer I think every 6 or 12 months and it's charged for on the quarterly water bill. On ours' there's 3 test ports and need to have good shut off valves before and after preventer so can leak pressure test it.