Backflow prevention and cross-connection control issues fly under the radar of far too many plumbers. In looking for leadership, we’d be wise to observe the US plumbing industry which is well ahead of Australia. Simeon Barut reports.

Peter Wenning, a well respected industry expert and backflow trainer had long suspected Australia was behind in a number of ways which limited the potential of the local backflow sector.

With an inquisitive mind and initiative, Peter applied for scholarship funding from the International Specialised Skills Institute in order to see for himself the state of the sector in the North American market in an attempt to potentially bring back some knowledge to share among Australian contractors and trainers.

In addition to attending two conferences in the US – American Backflow Prevention Association National Conference in San Diego and Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research in Los Angeles – he networked and formed valuable industry and trade links.

“The process of the report was to review all of those competencies that were relevant to supply of water,” Peter says.

“The training requirements aren’t very specific and don’t really require any outcomes for backflow prevention, they might vaguely go over it but when it comes to the physical testing of backflow competency, it’s practically nonexistent.

“There is a large disparity due to a lack of education and training of registered and licensed plumbers, both at entry level and throughout their careers.”

While it is written into the Plumbing Code that all testable devices on private facilities are meant to be monitored and tested annually, anecdotal evidence suggests that less than 50% of such devices are actually being tested.

This can be put down to a combination of premise owners avoiding annual testing costs, owners ignorant of their obligation to test and a lack of vigilance by plumbers. Most importantly, this is where the industry needs to be more proactive in promoting this service to the market. Prior to Peter visiting the US, he spent time putting together a simple SWOT (strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis to understand the status of the Australian market.

These are as follows:

Strengths:

• National Training Package and Industry Reference Committee.
• Water authorities acknowledge deficiencies and support change.
• Backflow Prevention Association of
  Australia as a central organisation supports the need to improve knowledge and skills
• Universal recognition that Australian Standards need improvement

Weaknesses:

• Industry resistant to change
• No compulsory continuing professional development
• Lack of consistency in state and territory plumbing regulations
• Lack of expertise and understanding at regulatory level

Opportunities:

• Processes and procedures have been established in the USA
• Recent release of Australian Building Codes Board Plumbing Code Development Research Report: Backflow Prevention

Threats:

• Wasted time, expense and resources on re-working plumbing
• Apathy of plumbing practitioners
• Low interest and confidence in using Australian Standards
• Perception of low risk to health and safety (lack of education)
• Contamination of drinking water supplies

In line with the analysis, Peter also put together a list of skills and knowledge that he thought needed attention so that there would be forward progression towards the prevention of backflow.

Most notably, the testing of backflow prevention devices is deemed the most important by Peter along with the constant maintenance of any that are installed. To complement this diligent nature, all devices should be registered and include reports of all testing results.

Peter’s time in the US allowed him to transfer knowledge and outcomes towards the state of backflow training in Australia. The document outlines that reviewing training programs in the Plumbing Training Package and the relevant Australian Standards and Codes would benefit the plumbing industry and backflow prevention the most.

Due to the US investing a significant amount of resources in establishing standards and training when it comes to backflow prevention and cross connection control, learning from their specialists allowed Peter to put together a list of recommendations relevant to Australia.

Peter’s recommendations

Government:

1. Individual state and territory government agencies responsible for regulation of on-site plumbing must support continuing education of Plumbing Inspectors through completion of:
2. Mandatory ‘Backflow Prevention Testing’ course which is typically delivered in three days
3. Optional completion of a Cross Connection Control Program Specialist course
4. Individual State and Territory government agencies responsible for regulation of onsite plumbing must support continuing education of Plumbing Practitioners through the development of instructional sheets providing examples of hazard assessment and implementation of measures to prevent backflow and contamination of the drinking water supply.
5. Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) adopt a policy of retaining relevant Performance Requirements in National Construction Code Volume 3, and all Deemed to Satisfy Solutions for backflow prevention and cross connection control, including hazard assessment. This is the optimum solution for training organisation and practitioners that overwhelmingly refer to Australian Standards for installation requirements.

Water industry

Water suppliers should adopt a policy that all Backflow Prevention Program Managers must be trained and certified as a Cross Connection Control Program Specialist.

Education and Training

a. Artibus Innovation as the contact for Construction, Plumbing and Services Industry Reference Committee assigned responsibility for the Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package, should arrange for appropriate amendments to the Training Competencies to ensure that:

• i. There is a requirement for appropriate knowledge in the hazard assessment, selection and installation of backflow prevention devices.
• ii. Where there is a requirement in critical aspects of evidence for installation of any water services, then the requirement is extended to hazard assessment, selection and installation of backflow prevention devices
• iii. Where there is a requirement in critical aspects of evidence for design or sizing water services, then the requirement is extended to hazard assessment, selection and specification of backflow prevention devices

b. Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) as the peak industry body representing the urban water industry in Australia and New Zealand should adopt a policy that all Backflow Prevention Program Managers must be trained and certified as a Cross Connection Control Program Specialist.

Whilst no such course or certification currently exists in Australia, WSAA should seek out and establish a partnership with a RTO to develop and deliver a course equivalent to the University of Southern California Course with appropriate adaptations for:

• i. Australian/New Zealand Standards and Regulations context in relation approval of plumbing products
• ii. Australian/New Zealand Standards and Regulations context in relation to installation of plumbing
• iii. Australian/New Zealand Standards and Regulations context in relation to testing of backflow prevention devices
• iv. Australian/New Zealand context in understanding hydraulic principles and theory based upon International System (IS) derived units of measurements

Mandatory pre-requisites for the course are:

• i. White card’ course which is typically delivered in one day (CPCCOHS1001A – Work safely in the construction industry)
• ii. ‘Backflow Prevention Testing’ course which is typically delivered in three days – CPCPWT4022A – Commission and maintain backflow prevention devices

Historically, the Water Industry through policy to protect the integrity of the mains water supplies has been the primary driver for education in backflow prevention in the plumbing industry.

With further education, Water Industry Backflow Prevention Program Managers through their interactions with Licensed Backflow Testers can improve the standard of plumbing at the metered service connections.

Standards Australia

a. Australian Standards Joint Technical Committee WS-014 implement amendments to Australian Standard AS/NZS 3500.1: 2015

b. Australian Standards Committee WS-023 implement amendments to AS 2845.3: 2010. Note: An application was lodged to Standards Australia by the fellow under Project Prioritisation Round 13. The Fellow received approval of the application from Standards Australia on 25 November 2016

c. Australian Standards Committee WS023 implement amendments to AS/ NZS 2845.1: 2010

Australian Building Codes Board A conflict exists between: NCC 2016 Volume Three – Plumbing Code of Australia, NSW B1.2 General requirements (a) (i) (B) and NSW Figure B1.2 Typical Cooling Tower Connections

Australian Building Codes Board A conflict exists between: NCC 2016 Volume Three – Plumbing Code of Australia, NSW B1.2 General requirements (a) (i) (B) and NSW Figure B1.2 Typical Cooling Tower Connections

And,

AS/NZS 3500.1: 2015 Section 4.6.2.1 (a).

Where NCC Volume 3 allows an air gap or registered air gap between water supply and cooling tower basin to be in a corrosive or polluted atmosphere.

It is recommended that the relevant NSW amendment be removed from NCC 2016 Volume Three.

Peter says that the document has received a large amount of feedback since its release but will require extended support from governing bodies in order to see continuous forward momentum.

“It’s very important because this document is a snapshot of where we are now. It identifies areas that I’ve researched and believe that need extra focus to move the industry on,” Peter says.

Backflow Prevention Association of Australia national president Peter McLennan says that the work Peter has put towards the document will go a long way in steering the plumbing industry in the right direction when it comes to backflow and cross-connection prevention.

“I want to congratulate Peter on such a well researched and written document. The findings and recommendations make this work invaluable as a reference piece to anybody involved in the development of the backflow industry in Australia,” Peter says.