Backflow prevention assemblies play an important role in your fire protection system. They are installed on a variety of water supply lines. These include sprinkler/standpipe systems, HVAC units, boilers, and irrigation systems.
Backflow prevents contaminated or toxic water from flowing backwards into a municipality’s water distribution network.It also prevents your sprinkler system from achieving full water flow demand. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), O.S.H.A., your insurance provider, and your local building inspectors require you to perform monthly and annual inspections in accordance with the codes and standards of NFPA.
National Fire Safety’s certified fire protection professionals inspect and test your backflow prevention valves so they do not impede the water flow or fire main pressure. This means an annual full forward flow test.
NFPA 25
NFPA 25 sets out scheduled forward flow and backflow tests, as well as regular inspections. This ensures your sprinkler system has sufficient water pressure when needed. You must also service your backflow preventers annually and send a test report to your municipality’s water works department.
The Fire & Safety Group’s certified fire protection professionals inspect and test your backflow prevention assembly. Then, they issue a report for your municipality, and provide you with deficiency details. When requested, they service your backflow preventers.
Backflow preventers are regulated in connection with sprinkler systems. NFPA 25 requires that backflow prevention valves be inspected and maintained so that they do not impede the water flow or fire main pressure. This means an annual full forward flow test.
NFPA 13
Per NFPA 13, sprinkler systems designed and installed since 1999 should include a testing feature. This could be a bypass with a control valve and test connection or test header-downstream of the back flow prevention valve. This testing feature allows you to conduct the forward flow test. Pre-1999 systems may use a bypass or may flow through the fire department connection to conduct a flow test.
Inspection Requirements
Using a calibrated pitot tube, pressure gauge, or other approved method, a fire protection technician measures and records the flow pressure at the point of the test outlet. The flow pressure should be sufficient to meet the fire protection system’s flow demand.
When a fire protection system is installed or retrofitted with backflow preventers, a complete hydraulic analysis is required to determine adequate flow demand, including the demand from interior or exterior hose connections.
NFPA 25 requires the following inspections:
DAILY / WEEKLY
VISUAL INSPECTION
- Reduced pressure detectors
- Control valves (locked/supervised)
MONTHLY
VISUAL INSPECTION
- Double check valves
- Control valves (locked/supervised)
ANNUAL
FUNCTIONAL TEST
- Full forward flow test
After the forward flow test, a fire protection technician completes a backflow certification test. This is in accordance with your municipality’s water works regulations.
We would be happy to conduct your monthly inspections. We can also train your staff to conduct monthly, weekly, and daily inspections. A fire protection professional, however, should conduct the annual inspection and full load test.
To schedule your back flow test, call one of our fire protection specialist today at 844-692-6785
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