Backflow Preventor Compliance

Listed in: Life Safety

With the adoption of the 2018 edition of the Life Safety Code, and even back to the adoption of the 2015 edition, Florida facilities have had to ensure compliance with a more stringent edition of NFPA 25 in regards to the inspection, testing, and maintenance of backflow preventors. The Florida adopted 2017 edition of NFPA 25, as compared to the CMS adopted 2011 edition, has an additional five-year requirement for backflow preventers found under 13.7.1.3. This says:

• 13.7.1.3* Backflow prevention assemblies shall be inspected internally every 5 years to verify that all components operate correctly, move freely, and are in good condition.

It is important to note that the NFPA 25 standard only applies to water-based fire protection systems, however. Many facilities will have more than one backflow preventor because there are separate services for the potable water system and the irrigation system. In this case, only the fire protection system backflow preventor must have the five-year internal inspection required by NFPA 25, 2017 edition. There are instances where the same service line provides water for the potable system and the fire protection system, so it is important that facilities work with their vendor to ensure they know exactly how their water service lines are set up.

Some may note the asterisk included in 13.7.1.3, which indicates some explanatory material in the annex of NFPA 25. The annex for 13.7.1.3 simply notes that “Where annual maintenance includes an internal inspection performed by a qualified person, this requirement is satisfied.” This is another reason to coordinate with your fire protection system vendor on the internal inspections of the backflow preventors, as they already may be doing this on an annual basis.