Where protection lives
Commercial buildings generally
Every mechanical room, roof tank, cooling tower and tenant improvement adds potential cross-connections behind the meter over a building's life.
The protection you will typically see
Containment at the service is the authority's backstop for whatever happens inside; individual hazards get isolation assemblies.
Who decides
The water authority assigns the required protection by degree of hazard and enforces the test schedule. Requirements vary by jurisdiction; the authority's cross-connection control program is the answer to every "do I have to" question on this page.
What the owner should know
The building's assembly inventory, test records and authority correspondence belong in the same folder as the fire inspection reports. Ask for them at purchase and at lease.
Common questions
Why do commercial buildings generally need backflow protection?
Every mechanical room, roof tank, cooling tower and tenant improvement adds potential cross-connections behind the meter over a building's life.
What kind of backflow preventer is used?
Containment at the service is the authority's backstop for whatever happens inside; individual hazards get isolation assemblies. The assembly type is assigned by your water authority based on the degree of hazard, not chosen by the property owner.
How often does it get tested?
Testing is typically annual where required, on a schedule set and enforced by the water authority. A certified tester performs the test, tags the assembly, and files the report.
Other places protection lives
| Lawn irrigation systems |
| Fire sprinkler systems |
| Boilers and hydronic heating |
| Restaurants and commercial kitchens |
| Apartment and multifamily buildings |
| Medical and dental facilities |
The three-year clock sheet
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