Trends in backflow prevention
By Jim Purzycki T
o revive a quote from the Clinton/Bush election era, “It’s the economy, stupid!” Businesses in backflow prevention and construction are reacting to the shift
in the economic realities of the last few years. Those that are waiting for a return or rebound to old levels are in for a long wait. Business as we know it has changed and so, too, must we — and the products we sell. The hydraulic conditions of backflow (backpressure and backsiphonage) are still running rampant in our piping systems. Products are being influenced by two key economic factors, the economy and legislation. Recent legislative changes have led to a dramatic
change in products being brought to market. In California and Vermont, new laws requiring a lower percentage of lead in bronze were enacted on January 1, 2010. Federal and state governments have always known the hazards of lead and have required lead free products. The problem was that the definition of “lead free” was not clear. Some federal requirements for backflow preventers and other plumbing products stated that bronze “shall contain less than 8.0% by composition to be considered lead free.” In an effort to further remove exposure to lead,
California and Vermont defined “lead free” at the lower level of 0.25% of the exposed wetted area. Although many people may say, “Who cares what they do in California?” the problem is that on January 5, 2011, the 112th Congress of the United States passed an amendment to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SB-3874) requiring the federal defi-
This Ames C400N assembly demonstrates ease of instal- lation and use of non-bronze materials (stainless steel).
nition to mirror the California and Vermont legislation. The federal requirement takes effect January 5, 2014; all bronze plumbing products, including backflow preven- ters, will have to change by that date. Since before the Roman Empire ruled the world, lead
has been used in bronze to improve the alloy. Lead has certain properties that make bronze a well-rounded, usable alloy. The reduction in allowable lead content has caused manufacturers to look for new metals to replace the 8% of lead to form an economical and easy to use bronze alloy. Some manufacturers are even looking at alternative non- bronze alloys, such as stainless steel and engineered poly- mers, to assure that their products are in compliance. These new materials, however, require significant increas- es in machining and manufacturing costs. Backflow prevention manufacturers have always been
A Wilkins’ 375 backflow preventer is compact in design and easy to repair.
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under pressure to produce a reliable product more eco- nomically. Anyone can design something cheaper, but the product must still work to prevent hydraulic backflow. To assure their reliability, an approval process for all back- flow prevention products has become mandatory. The Foundation for Cross Connection Control & Hydraulic Research at the Engineering School of the University of Southern California has become the internationally recog- nized expert on approval of these products. Their work and research have guided manufacturers in developing
Continued on page 40 March 2011
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