Have you ever wondered about how backflow testing, procedures and requirements all work? What is all the fuss about and why are you required to follow along with it all? First, in brief, let’s start from the beginning.
Who sets the standards? Who gives the approval for which a backflow device is can be installed and which cannot? This was appointed to USC (University of Southern California) in 1944 by an anonymous group believing that an unbiased educational structure. The Foundation of Hydraulics and Cross-Connection was formed.
The backflow preventer installed at your location has been through a vigorous evaluation process through USC test labs. During the one year, the backflow device is pushed to its limits to see if it’ll hold up in the real world environment. It is during this the USC labs say whether or not it’s ready to move on to the next phase of the approval process. This is also when they determine which orientation the backflow will be allowed. I.e. vertical or horizontal.
The next phase of the process for approval is to find a location where the backflow can be installed and monitored for the next year. This location does not have to be in California but it does make it easier considering USC will send someone from the foundation out to test the device on a regular basis. The backflow device must make it through a complete year without any failures. This makes complete sense. If a customer were to purchase a backflow preventer that doesn’t last even a year before failure then this could become quite costly over time.
Here is some interesting information. All certified backflow testers are tested according to the USC Foundation of Hydraulics and Cross-Connection guide lines described in their 10th Edition manual. Backflow testers must retake the county’s certification test every 2 to 3 years, depending on the county, in order to remain able to perform backflow tests for each county, along with various other strict requirements. For example; San Bernardino County and Riverside County require recertification every 3 years while Orange County require this every 2 years. So, when a backflow tester comes to perform your annual backflow test you’ll have a little bit of an idea of this industry.