September 24, 2004

Backflow Assembly Testers (BAT) are allowed to use references during BAT Certification and Professional Growth Examinations through December 2004. The Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water, is pilot-testing the use of two references during the exam: Backflow Prevention Assemblies Field Test Procedure Approved for Use in Washington State and the short version of these procedures. These are being made available at each test-station for examinees to use during the examinations. The Department of Health will review the results of the pilot test early next year to determine whether or not to continue their use.

January 1, 2004 began a new professional growth reporting period for Washington State Certified Backflow Assembly Testers. All certified BAT’s needing to satisfy their BAT professional growth requirement during this reporting period must take and pass the Washington State Department of Health Backflow Assembly Tester Professional Growth Examination by December 31, 2006.

To pass the professional growth exam, the BAT must demonstrate ability to correctly test the RPBA, DCVA, PVBA, and SVBA. They must also demonstrate knowledge and skill of troubleshooting backflow prevention assemblies by correctly diagnosing a simulated failure condition on the RPBA, DCVA, and PVBA.

The test procedures have been clarified and Backflow Assembly Testers should be aware of these modifications to procedures which will help prevent problems during testing.

The RPBA test procedures were modified to prevent the differential pressure relief valve from opening prior to the test of the relief valve. These modifications do not affect the actual testing of the RPBA but rather aid in preventing the accidental and premature opening of the differential pressure relief valve before testing.

The following flushing process will prevent premature opening of the relief valve:

Open and leave open TC #4, TC #3, TC #2, & TC #1, then

Close TC #1, TC #2, TC #3 & TC #4 in sequence.

The process for purging air from the RPBA was also modified as follows:

Slowly open TC #3 and the low side bleed valve, leave open.

Slowly open TC #2 and the high side bleed valve, leave open.

Isolate the assembly by closing SOV #2, then

Close the high side bleed valve, and

After the gauge has reached the upper limits, close the low side bleed valve.

The test procedures for the DCVA, PVBA and SVBA have been clarified and require that the test kit be elevated to the correct level prior to isolating SOV #1 when testing each component. This procedure is currently a requirement of the Backflow Prevention Assemblies Field Test Procedure Approved for Use in Washington State.

The SVBA test procedures have been simplified by eliminating repeated steps to test the CV. This modification allows both the Check Valve and the Air Inlet Valve to be evaluated with one test.

To test the SVBA

1. Notify, identify, inspect, and observe

2. Remove canopy, flush the test cock and the vent valve

3. Connect high side hose of test kit to test cock (end of compensating valve)

4. Purge by:

Opening the test cock

Open and close high side bleed valve on the test kit

5. Isolate by:

Closing shut off valve #2

Elevating test kit at same centerline of the assembly and

Closing shut off valve #1

6. Test the Check Valve

Slowly open (remove) SVBA vent valve (screw)

Wait for the flow of water to stop and for the needle on the gauge to

stabilize

Record psid shown on test kit gauge

NOTE: If the air inlet valve opens at this time, record the gauge reading when it opens as the opening of the air inlet valve & report that the check valve leaks.

7. Test the Air Inlet Valve Operations

NOTE: The test kit must be continued to be held at same

elevation as the assembly.

Slowly open high bleed valve (maximum ¼ turn)

Record psid shown on test kit gauge at time the air inlet valve opens

Continue opening high bleed valve gauge reading is 0.0 psid

Observe that the air inlet valve is fully open

8. Return to service

Close SVBA vent valve

Close test cock

Replace the canopy

Slowly open shut off valve #1

Slowly open shut off valve #2

Remove all test equipment

Notify owner

Fill out test report

Either the modified procedures or the procedures used during the last professional growth reporting period may be used for the BAT Certification and the BAT Professional Growth Examinations.

David Kingsley, BAT Certification and Professional Growth Program Manager

Michael Patten, BAT Examination Proctor