Backflow prevention systems protect residential, commercial, and industrial buildings from the backflow of discharged wastewater and the fire extinguishing system. This article explains why these backflow preventers are needed, how they protect the integrity of the property and the building’s water supply, and why you should invest in a backflow prevention system.
What is backflow, and how does it take place?
Backflow can occur in two ways:
- Back-Pressure: This happens when the amount of water pressure in a property’s plumbing system exceeds the amount of pressure in the water distribution lines, which can cause the water to flow in the opposite direction. This can happen in pressurized systems, such as boilers, pumps, elevated tanks, fire sprinkler systems or recirculating systems.
- Backward Siphonage: In a water distribution system, this happens when the pressure is negative. When water pressure decreases, it overflows into the public system. This may result from a leak in the water main or low water pressure while fighting a fire.
What’s the difference between commercial & consumer backflow preventers?
Let us first look at what commercial and residential backflow preventers have in common: They all work on the same principle and serve the same purpose – to prevent incoming water from flowing back the other way.
The main difference between the two types of devices is that residential solutions usually involve installing just one, while industrial-scale solutions often require much larger backflow preventers and more backflow preventers needed. The latter is used not only for wastewater and drinking water but also for water used for fire extinguishing.
What are the benefits of having a commercial backflow device installed and regularly tested?
- In Colorado, for commercial applications, backflow preventers are legally required to be installed.
- Annual backflow inspections are required by the state of Colorado and must be inspected by a certified fire inspection company, like Complete Fire.
- The use of backflow preventers allows workers and production to have fresh water free of contaminants.
- When your water system is damaged, you will have no access to water for hours or even days, impacting business and operation for this time period. Backflow preventers can prevent an immediate loss of water resources.
- Foreign objects can damage your pipes and lead to expensive repairs if you don’t have your device checked through backflow testing.
Complete Fire Protection provides backflow preventer Inspection, Installation, and Testing
Especially for commercial properties, where often millions of dollars depend on water quality and operational safety, it is vital to install the most suitable backflow preventers for fire system backflow devices. With nearly 30 years of experience designing and building similar systems, you can count on us to provide a stable, long-term solution.
Like we pointed out earlier in the article, backflow prevention systems must be inspected annually. We offer state-approved inspections for both residential and commercial backflow prevention systems.
Complete Fire Protection Inc. offers repairs, inspections, and backflow preventer installation across the front range.
If you just have a question or would like a free quote please give us a call. Our customer support team will be happy to help!