New York City Cross-Connection Program Handbook

Published: Tue, 01/09/18

E-NEWS

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To Our Valued Clients:

Re: New York City Cross-Connection Program Handbook (May 2017 Edition)

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection Cross Connection Control Unit (NYC DEP CCCU) has issued a revised New York City Cross-Connection Control Program Handbook. This newly revised handbook, just as the revision before, is a supplement guide to the New York State Department of Health’s Handbook for Cross Connection Control. The handbook provides guidelines that clearly outline what an acceptable design and installation of a Backflow Prevention Assembly consists of in the City of New York. NYEA is providing this memo to our clients in order to highlight some of the new guidelines and the clarifications which may be of significant importance to the plumbing community.

Clearances

The previous NYC DEP CCCU handbook (June 2008 edition) indicated that “at least 8-inches of clearance should be maintained from the back side of the device to the nearest wall or obstruction. This clearance may need to be increased for models that have mounted test cocks or relief valves that would be facing the back wall.” The new handbook now clearly indicates that 12" minimum clearance shall be provided for such models that have mounted test cocks or relief valves that face a back wall or obstruction.

Valves

All valves within DEP jurisdiction (House Control Valve, Test Tee valve, Meter Inlet Control Valve, and Meter Outlet Control Valve) that are 2-1/2" or larger must be rising stem, resilient wedge seated, and epoxy coated gate valves. Valves 2" and smaller must be full-port ball valves. The valve must be free of any type of built-in plug or test port. The shut-off valves on the backflow prevention assemblies themselves may be butterfly, ball, or non-rising stem gate valves as long as it is an approved backflow assembly located in the University of Southern California’s Foundation for Cross Connection Control and Hydraulic Research (USC-FCCCHR) List of Approved Backflow Prevention Assemblies. The house control valve for a fire sprinkler service may be a butterfly valve as long as it is equipped with an indicating flag and equipped, if required, with a tamper switch or chain lock. The shut-off valves of the backflow prevention assembly may NOT be utilized as the house control valve or meter inlet control valve. Valve handles must be installed at a height no greater than 66" and backflow assemblies at a height no greater than 60" from centerline above a finished floor or OSHA approved permanent platform and ladder must be provided.

Drainage

Drainage shall be provided for all installations of Double Check Valve (DCV) and Double Check Detector Assemblies (DCDA) to accommodate discharge during testing, maintenance, or draining of the assembly without creating a safety hazard or inconvenience. Drainage is to ideally flow by gravity to the city water sewer system however sump pumps or sewer ejector pumps that pump drainage to a gravity sewer line connected to the city sewer system are acceptable for DCV and DCDA’s. Providing a bucket or pale for DCV and DCDA’s will no longer be acceptable by NYC DEP CCCU.

In addition to these new guidelines, there are more clarifications to the filing and testing procedures of backflow assemblies. For example, exemptions will no longer be granted to non-residential properties or buildings regardless of its water usage. Also, the new guidelines set forth the required minimum pressure drops across the relief valve (2 psi or greater) and 1st check valve (3 psi greater than the pressure drop across relief valve) for reduced pressure zone assemblies.

If you have any questions please contact our office and refer to E-News No. 2018-001, dated 1/9/18.

New York Engineering Associates, P.C. / [email protected] / http://www.nyeapc.com

Disclaimer: The services provided by New York Engineering Associates, P.C., its officers, managers or employees are non-legal services. As such, the protection of the attorney-client relationship does not exist with respect to the services provided. The information contained in the above Newsletter is the opinion of the writer and his/her interpretation of the various NYC Construction Codes, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and/or other Laws referenced therein. It is also based on information that we have been provided. Although every effort was made to provide for a complete and thorough analysis, neither New York Engineering Associates, P.C., nor any of its officers, managers or employees guarantees the accuracy of any information contained herein. Reliance upon the information contained herein is entirely at your own risk. As this opinion is only for advisory, the final decision is the responsibility of the designated authority charged with the administration and enforcement of said codes.

New York Engineering Associates, P.C., 270 Spagnoli Road, Ste.204, Melville, NY 11747