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International
Specialised
Skills
Institute, Inc.
• Fellowship Overview
• Overseas Fellowship Program
• About the Fellow
• Fellowship Aims
• Identified Skills Enhancement
• Recommendations
• ISS Institute
Fellowship Overview
Higher Education & Skills
Group Overseas Fellowship
Sponsor
Department of Education and Training
• is an independent, not-for-profit, national
organisation providing opportunities for
Australians to gain enhanced skills and
experience in traditional trades, professions
and leading-edge technologies, through
overseas applied research Fellowships.
• has worked with industry, government,
education, organisations and individuals for
well over 20 years.
ISS Institute:
Our Mission
To be the leading provider of
Fellowships that address
specialised skills in key areas of
Australian industry and education.
ISS Institute focuses on skill enhancement >>>
Bringing international expertise to Australian industry,
government, education and the wider community.
Global Perspectives
Overseas Fellowship Program
• ISS Institute identifies and researches necessary
skill enhancement through the overseas Fellowship
Program
• Fellows share their learnings through a written
report, and then mandatory education/training
activities, such as conferences or workshops
• Reports are distributed widely to relevant
government, industry and educational institutions to
maximise the skills and experience of the Fellowship
Fellowship Title
Cross Connection Control and
Backflow Prevention,
Opportunities for Improvement
in the Australian Plumbing
Industry
About the Fellow
Peter Wenning
Hydraulic Consultant based in Victoria for
the past 17 years. Background as a
licensed plumber and plumbing inspector.
Developed backflow prevention courses
for Chisholm Institute. Currently teaches
on-line in Diploma of Hydraulic Services
for TAFE Queensland.
Overseas Fellowship Study 2016
1. Attended American Backflow Prevention
Association Annual Conference in San Diego.
2. Completed University of Southern California
Certification as a Cross Connection Control
Program Specialist in March 2016.
Fellowship Aim 1.
To review the relevant competencies in the current
Plumbing Training Package, and identify gaps in
training requirements in relation to backflow
prevention and cross connection control, and to
make recommendations for improvements to the
Industry Reference Committee (currently Artibus
Innovation).
Fellowship Aim 2.
To review variations between regulations in the
various Australian States and Territories that
specify the requirements for installation,
maintenance, registration and testing of backflow
prevention devices, and to make
recommendations for upskilling registered and
licensed plumbing practitioners
Fellowship Aim 3.
To review Australian Standard AS/NZS 3500.1 that
specifies requirements for cross connection control
and installation, maintenance, registration and
testing of backflow devices, and to make
recommendations to Australian Standards
Committee WS-014.
Fellowship Aim 4.
To review Australian Standard AS 2845 that
specifies manufacturing requirements and
procedures for field testing and maintenance of
backflow devices and to make recommendations
to Australian Standards Committee WS-023.
Skills Enhancement Required
When compared to the USA, it can be seen that
significant enhancement is required in the skills and
knowledge related to backflow prevention and cross
connection control in Australia
• Education (from apprentice level to cross
connection control program manager level)
• Australian Standards (for manufacturing,
installation and testing)
Skills Enhancement Required
• Identification of cross connections
• Assessment of risk and assigning hazard ratings
• Awareness of the various causes of backflow
• Awareness of the relationship between pressure and
flow
• Selection of backflow prevention devices
• Correct installation of backflow prevention devices
• Providing for access for on-going testing and
maintenance
• Improved procedures and diagnostics for testing
backflow devices
Australian Context
• Only basic training at apprentice level. The apprentices go
out and become registered plumbers. Registered
plumbers can obtain a plumbing license.
• AS/NZS 3500.1 specifies annual testing but there is
virtually no enforcement (except at the water meter)
• No cross connection surveys and no requirement for
qualifications in managing cc programs
• Virtually no enforcement on substandard installations
• AS 2845.3 has testing procedures that have numerous
errors and are out-of-date.
• Water authorities experiencing many non-complying meter
installations
USA Experience
• Highly evolved testing procedures (USC Manual
of cross connection control 10th Edition)
• Both water supplier and health department co-
operation in cross connection control surveys
• Mandatory training for personnel managing cross
connection control programs
• Industrial water user supervisors
• Enforcement on installation of devices in
accordance with device approvals
• Some agencies require repeat cross connection
control surveys
Standards that are contradictory Extract from AS/NZS 3500.1
“4.6.2 Location of devices
4.6.2.1 General
The location of each backflow prevention device shall comply with
the following:
(a) Backflow prevention devices shall not be located in a corrosive or
polluted atmosphere, where the contaminated air can enter the piping
system through the air”
Standards that are contradictory
Extract from
NCC Volume 3: 2016
NSW Variation
A Cooling Tower is a polluted
atmosphere
Standards that are inadequate
Extract from AS/NZS 3500.1 Table G1
Extract from AS 3498 Section 7.1 (e)
No specification or requirement for double wall heat exchangers
as a means of backflow prevention.
Standards that are inadequate
Extract from AS/NZS 3500.1
Specified clearances are required.
Standards that are inadequate
Specified clearances are required.
Hazard ratings and risk assessment
• Currently being reviewed by ABCB
• Extract from ABCB “Backflow Report”: “Conclusions from the
Preliminary Research process. From the research summarised above, it can
be concluded that adequate information may exist to enable the development
of a credible risk analysis process for backflow prevention, however much of
it is based on US conditions and experience. Therefore, an understanding of
the Australian experience is needed to place the US information in context.
For this to be realised contemporary, complete and accurate information
about backflow incidents in Australia, and how and why they have occurred
would be necessary”
Hazard ratings and risk assessment
• Currently being reviewed by ABCB
• Not included in the ABCB “Backflow Report”: The USC Manual of
Cross Connection Control 10th Edition, Chapter 11 contains a list of
697 backflow incidents with references to source information
(available on CD in Microsoft Excel format)
• ABCB “Backflow Report”: Appendix E contains only 62 reported
backflow incidents, of which only 15 were in Australia
Hazard ratings and risk assessment
• The ABCB “Backflow Report” only contains one reference to USC
Manual of Cross Connection Control 10th Edition
• Three simple questions:-
1. Is the connection a direct or indirect cross-connection?
2. Is the cross-connection to a pollutant (non-health hazard) or a
contaminant (health hazard)?
3. Is the connection under continuous use or pressure (used for more
than twelve of any twenty-four hours)?
Hazard ratings and risk assessment
USC Manual: Addressing the three simple questions:-
1. Is the connection a direct or indirect cross-connection? ie: Is there
potential for back-pressure? Yes=direct
2. Is the cross-connection to a pollutant (non-health hazard) or a
contaminant (health hazard)? Refer to MSDS.
3. Is the connection under continuous use or pressure (used for more
than twelve of any twenty-four hours)? Only relevant where there
is no back-pressure (no elevated pipework at the outlet of the
connection)
Hazard ratings and risk assessment
USC Manual:
Addressing the three
simple questions:-
Hazard ratings and risk assessment
• USC Manual 10th Edition includes a Hazard rating titled
“Lethal” where an air gap is the preferred method of
protection. (applies to connections where there is radioactive
material and raw sewage)
• Further consideration need to be given in Australia to a
“Lethal” hazard rating as there are water supplies to some
industrial processes where there are biological hazards or
toxic gases.
Valve orientation • AS/NZS 2845.1: 2010 does not require testing of valves in
different orientations
• Some of the valves imported and sold in Australia have only been
approved by University of Southern California in limited
orientations
• See http://www.usc.edu/dept/fccchr/list.html
• Examples:..
Valve orientation, USC
Valve orientation, USC
Valve orientation, Australia
Findings • Key Issues For Australia • Much to be learned from the USA in terms of risk
assessment and cross connection control
management
Key Issues • Hazard and risk assessment
• Education on cross connection control program
management
• Manufacturing and testing standards
• Clarity in installation standards
• Specifying critical aspects of evidence in training
competencies
Recommendations
Industry Reference Committee • Update 18 training competencies relating to
water supply to include backflow prevention in
critical aspects of evidence
Industry • Embrace Continuing Professional Development
• Participate in improving Standards
• Support training organizations
Water authorities / councils • Establish Cross Connection Program Manager
• Co-ordinate efforts and partner with an RTO to
develop a course to a recognised qualification.
Training Organisations • Update learning resources to include basic
training on pressure loss, and risk assessment
and identification of hazards
• Include installation of different backflow devices
Recommendations
Standards Committee WS-023 • Proposal to be submitted Standards Australia
to update AS 2845 Water supply – Backflow
prevention devices under Project Prioritisation
Round 13
Australian Building Codes Board • Work with industry and Standards Committee
WS-014 for a project to update AS/NZS 3500.1
Recommendations
