Chapter 4101:2-51 (the Ohio Plumbing Code) of the Ohio Administrative Code, entitled Plumbing, is part of the Ohio Basic Building Code and contains the following rules that are directly concerned with backflow prevention and cross-connection control:
4101:2-51-33 Water Supply
4101:2-51-36 Water Storage Tanks 4101:2-51-38 Backflow 4101:2-51-76 Test of Water Supply System
(a) 4101:2-51-33 Water Supply. The water distributing system of a building, which is intended to deliver a public water supply or other potable water supply to outlets, fixtures, or devices where such water is made available or convenient for human consumption or culinary purposes, shall be entirely independent of any piping system conveying a nonpotable water supply.
Nonpotable water may be used for flushing water closets and urinals and other fixtures not requiring potable water, provided such water shall not be accessible for drinking or culinary purposes.
Overflow pipes from a water-supply tank shall not be directly connected with any drain, soil, or waste pipe.
(b) 4101:2-51-36 Water Storage Tanks. Water storage tanks used for storage of public water supply or other potable water supply, shall have watertight covers and shall be protected at all times against contamination of such water supply.
(c) 4101:2-51-38 Backflow.
(1) The potable water supply shall be protected against backflow and syphonage both natural and induced. All equipment connected to the potable water system being capable of polluting or contaminating the potable water distribution system or any part thereof by means of a reversal of flow, pressure drop, primary or auxiliary pumping system connected thereto must be isolated and contained by means of approved backflow devices or acceptable engineering practices.
(2) The potable water supply, as mentioned in subsection (c)(1) hereof, does not include the lines supplying fire suppression systems.
(3) Backflow devices meeting ASSE Standards 1013, 1015, and 1020 must be tested at the time of installation and at least once every twelve months thereafter by a person certified by the Ohio Department of Health or other recognized agency in the use of the proper testing equipment designed for this purpose. In accordance with accepted engineering practices, backflow preventers meeting ASSE Standard 1013 must be completely rebuilt every five years and backflow preventers meeting ASSE Standards 1015 and 1020 must be completely rebuilt every thirty months.
(d) 4101:2-51-76 Test of Water Supply System. Upon completion of a section or of the entire water supply system, it shall be tested and proved tight under a water pressure of 125 pounds but not less than 10 percent in excess of the working pressure under which it is to be used. The water used for tests shall be obtained from a potable source of supply.
(Ord. 167-96. Passed 9-16-96.)