As regulated by local law, all commercial, institutional, and multi-residential properties in Edmonton must have backflow preventers, which help stop chemicals from entering public water and creating a potential public health hazard. While these essential safety devices help protect your tenants and the surrounding community, they also have strict testing requirements and regulations. In this guide, we’ll break down all the essentials of backflow prevention in Edmonton and why you should trust a certified Edmonton plumber like Karlen-Kada to take care of your installation, inspections, and repairs. Keep reading to learn more!
What is Backflow?
As the name suggests, backflow is when water flows through your pipes in the wrong direction–pulling chemicals, bacteria, or debris into clean water supplies. Typically, this occurs because the pressure in a piping system changes from burst pipes or using a nearby fire hydrant. Any connection that could allow potable and non-potable water to mix (a cross-connection) is a backflow risk. Common examples of this include:
- Fire sprinkler systems in office high-rises
- Boiler systems in apartment buildings
- Dishwasher drains in commercial kitchens
What is a Backflow Prevention Device?
Any connection that could allow potable and non-potable water to mix requires a backflow preventer. This assembly is installed in your plumbing system to guarantee that contaminated water does not enter your building’s clean water supply. Plumbers in Edmonton commonly install two types of backflow assemblies:
- Double Check Valve Assembly (DCVA): Used for buildings with a moderate risk of backflow, like commercial office spaces, restaurants, and apartment buildings.
- Reduced Pressure Principle Preventer (RPZ): Used in environments with a high backflow hazard, including hospitals, industrial warehouses, and automotive shops.
Backflow Assembly Testing Regulations in Edmonton
According to EPCOR, commercial and multi-unit residential buildings in Edmonton must follow these testing requirements for their backflow prevention assemblies:
- Upon installation.
- When cleaned or repaired.
- When relocated.
- Annually.
- As required by fire protection professionals or other regulatory authorities.
Need Backflow Assembly Installation?
If EPCOR has assessed your building and requires a backflow protector, Karlen-Kada is here to help! Our EPCOR-certified backflow testers can install the recommended system, perform initial testing, and complete comprehensive reporting that exceeds industry standards. After your system has been properly integrated, our contractors will visit your building once a year to complete the required testing and ensure your building is compliant with all local and provincial regulations.
Additional Plumbing Services
Here at Karlen-Kada, our services don’t stop at backflow detection. We also offer these plumbing services:
- Drain and sewer cleaning, and snaking sewer lines.
- High-definition video camera inspections of your plumbing.
- Domestic water repairs & new installations.
- Gasfitting, including installing new gas lines and providing new gas unit heaters, boilers, furnaces, and all roof top equipment.
- Heating system repairs & maintenance, complete boiler service & repairs.
We also offer 24/7 emergency plumbing services. Most of our calls are dispatched in under 90 minutes, so we can help your business get back up and running as soon as possible.
Trust Karlen-Kada for All Your Edmonton Plumbing Needs
With over 50 years of experience in the Edmonton area, our top-notch tradespeople are your trusted partners for all your electrical, mechanical, and fire protection needs. Check out our service page for more information, or give us a call to learn how we can help you!
