NCC 2019 Volume Three
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Part B5 Cross-connection control
Introduction to this Part
This Part sets out cross-connection hazards and corresponding Hazard Ratings.
Explanatory information:
Explanatory information:
OBJECTIVE
BO5
The Objective of this Part is to—
- safeguard people from illness, injury or loss (including loss of amenity) due to contamination of a drinking water supply; and
- ensure that a water service installation is suitable; and
- conserve water and energy; and
- safeguard the environment; and
- safeguard public and private infrastructure; and
- ensure that a water service installation throughout its serviceable life will continue to satisfy the requirements of Objectives (a) to (e).
FUNCTIONAL STATEMENTS
BF5
Water services must be designed and installed so as to operate in a way that avoids the likelihood of contamination of any part of the drinking water supply, and minimises any adverse impact on building occupants, the Network Utility Operator's infrastructure, property and the environment.
Performance Requirements
BP5.1 Contamination control
(1)
Water services must be designed, constructed and installed to avoid contamination.
Application 1:
Application 1:
BP5.1 applies to cold water, heated water, non-drinking water and fire-fighting water services.
Verification Methods
There are no Verification Methods in this Part.
Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions
B5.1 Application
(1)
Performance RequirementBP5.1 is satisfied by complying with B5.2 to B5.4.
B5.2 Drinking water service
(1)
A hazard exists wherever it is possible for water or contaminants to enter a drinking water service or supply. This is via any potential cross-connection between the drinking water service and any of the following:
(a)
Non-drinking water service.
(c)
Alternative water supply.
(d)
(e)
Pipes, fixtures or equipment (including boilers and pumps) containing chemicals, liquids, gases or other substances which may be harmful to health or safety.
(2)
Each hazard must—
(a)
be assigned an individual Hazard Rating or zone Hazard Rating in accordance with BS5.1.4 or BS5.1.5 of Specification B5.1; and
(b)
be isolated from the drinking water service by an appropriate backflow prevention device which is selected and installed in accordance with Section 4 of AS/NZS 3500.1.
(3)
Where a site is served by a Network Utility Operator's drinking water supply, appropriate containment protection must be selected and installed in accordance with Section 4 of AS/NZS 3500.1.
Explanatory information:
Explanatory information:
Performance RequirementBP3.1(2) covers cross-connection of a non-drinking water service with a drinking water service.
B5.3 Non-drinking water service
(1)
A hazard exists wherever it is possible for water or contaminants to enter a non-drinking water service or supply via any potential cross-connection between itself and another separate non-drinking water service on the same site.
(2)
Each hazard must—
(a)
be assigned a containment Hazard Rating in accordance with BS5.1.6 of Specification B5.1; and
(b)
be isolated from the non-drinking water service by appropriate containment protection which is selected and installed in accordance with Section 4 of AS/NZS 3500.1.
Explanatory information:
Explanatory information:
A separate 'non-drinking water service' means one which draws water from a different source. For example, on a site connected to both recycled water and bore water, both are non-drinking water services, but are drawn from separate sources. Therefore, each would be a 'separate non-drinking water service'.
B5.4 Fire-fighting water service
(1)
Each fire-fighting water service must—
(a)
be assigned a Hazard Rating in accordance with BS5.1.7 of Specification B5.1; and
(b)
be isolated from the drinking water service by an appropriate backflow prevention device which is selected and installed in accordance with Section 4 of AS/NZS 3500.1.
Specification B5.1 Cross-connection hazards
BS5.1.1 Scope
(a)
This Specification sets out cross-connection hazards and corresponding Hazard Ratings.
Explanatory information:
Explanatory information:
This Specification only prescribes Hazard Ratings for a limited list of known hazards. It does not cover every potential cross-connection that may arise from time to time.
Where a situation arises which is not listed in this Specification, the appropriate Hazard Rating may be determined as a Performance Solution.
BS5.1.2 Application
(a)
The Hazard Ratings prescribed in this Specification must be used for selecting the required backflow prevention device, for the purposes of compliance with the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions.
Explanatory information:
Explanatory information:
The Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions referred to in BS5.1.2(a) include any relevant Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions set out in Parts B1, B2, B3, B4 and B6.
(b)
A reference in this Specification to a Type A, B, C or D irrigation system is a reference to such a system as described in Section 7 of AS/NZS 3500.1.
BS5.1.3 Protection types and Hazard Ratings
(a)
Cross-connection hazards within the site must be rated in accordance with—
(i)
BS5.1.4, for individual protection at the point of each individual hazard; or
(ii)
BS5.1.5, for zone protection at the point where a group of hazards can be isolated.
(b)
The hazard posed by the site to the Network Utility Operator's drinking water supply must be rated for containment protection, at the point of connection in accordance with BS5.1.6.
Explanatory information:
Explanatory information:
In some jurisdictions, regulations issued under water supply legislation, and/or rules set by a Network Utility Operator, may prescribe containment protection which differs from this Specification.
If this occurs then those regulations and/or rules should be followed in place of this Specification. This Specification only applies for the purposes of compliance with Volume Three of the NCC. It is not intended to limit or extend the application of other regulations.
(c)
Fire-fighting water services must be rated in accordance with BS5.1.7.
BS5.1.4 Individual protection
(a)
The following are Low Hazard for the purpose of individual protection:
(i)
Carbonated drink dispensing machines.
(ii)
Coils and jackets in heat exchangers, in sealed and non-toxic environments only.
(iii)
Dental consoles.
(iv)
Drink dispensing equipment including vending machines and coffee machines.
(v)
Drinking water in reclaimed water plants.
(vi)
External hose taps.
(vii)
Fixtures used for ablutions including baths, bidettes, basins and showers.
(viii)
Fixtures used for food preparation including sinks.
(ix)
Flexible connections over domestic fixtures.
(x)
Food preparation or food storage tanks, vats or vessels (without clean-in-place systems).
Explanatory information
Explanatory information
A clean-in-place system allows for internal chemical cleaning to occur without the need to disassemble.
(xi)
Haemodialysis machines.
(xii)
Hair salon basins or troughs.
(xiii)
Hose taps located within—
(A)
18 m of a Type C irrigation system; or
(B)
an area provided with zone protection.
(xiv)
In-line water softeners and filters.
(xv)
Laundry troughs.
(xvi)
Photographic developers — water supplying rinse tanks.
(xvii)
Photographic processing machines, without developer mixing.
(xviii)
Steam boilers.
(b)
The following are Medium Hazard for the purpose of individual protection:
(i)
Chemical dispensers (low toxicity).
(ii)
Chlorinators.
(iii)
Coils and jackets in heat exchangers, in unsealed and toxic environments.
(iv)
Steam calorifiers.
(c)
The following are High Hazard for the purpose of individual protection:
(i)
Antibiotic injectors (agricultural).
(ii)
Bidets and douche hoses.
(iii)
Chemical dispensers (high toxicity).
(iv)
Cooling towers.
(v)
Demineralising equipment using ion-exchange resins with acid and alkali regeneration.
(vi)
Equipment used for handling, mixing, measuring and processing chemical and microbiological substances.
(vii)
Fogging and cleaning sprays with chemical injection or additives.
(viii)
Food preparation or food storage tanks, vats or vessels (with clean-in-place systems).
(ix)
Mixing of chemicals.
(x)
Pan washing apparatus.
(xi)
Photographic developer mixing facilities.
(xii)
Plants with auxiliary non-drinking water supplies.
(xiii)
Portable and mobile tankers.
(xiv)
Type D irrigation system injected with fertilisers, herbicides, nematicides, insecticides or weedicides.
(xv)
Weed and pest spraying and water cartage tanks.
BS5.1.5 Zone protection
(a)
The following are Low Hazard for the purpose of zone protection:
(i)
Dental and medical surgeries.
(ii)
Fire-fighting water storage tanks.
(iii)
Food storage tanks, vats or vessels.
(iv)
Hair salon basins or troughs.
(v)
Photographic laboratories.
(vi)
Type B irrigation systems.
(vii)
Water filtration equipment.
(b)
The following are Medium Hazard for the purpose of zone protection:
(i)
Aircraft facilities.
(ii)
Secondary school laboratories, including fume cupboards.
(iii)
Type C irrigation systems.
(c)
The following are High Hazard or the purpose of zone protection:
(i)
Clean-in-place systems.
(ii)
Commercial laundries.
(iii)
Cooling or heating systems with recirculating water.
(iv)
Dockside facilities.
(v)
Drinking nipples and troughs (agricultural).
(vi)
Food preparation or food storage tanks, vats or vessels (clean-in-place systems).
(vii)
In a Class 9c building—
(A)
dissecting rooms; and
(B)
utility rooms which contain fixtures other than hand basins; and
(C)
operating theatres.
(viii)
Industrial and teaching laboratories (except as referred to in BS5.1.5(b)(ii)).
(ix)
Industrial process water that has been recirculated.
(x)
Mortuary equipment used in funeral parlours, mortuaries and autopsy areas.
(xi)
Sanitary dump points.
(xii)
Tanks, vats or vessels associated with electroplating, degreasing, descaling, stripping, pickling, dipping or the like.
(xiii)
Type D irrigation systems injected with fertilisers, herbicides, nematicides, insecticides or weedicides.
BS5.1.6 Containment protection
(a)
The following are Low Hazard for the purpose of containment protection:
(i)
Class 1a buildings.
(ii)
Premises served by a rainwater harvesting system, not including any rainwater storage tanks that are buried tanks.
(iii)
Premises served by a Network Utility Operator's recycled water supply.
(b)
The following are Medium Hazard for the purpose of containment protection:
(i)
Caravan parks.
(ii)
Food and beverage processing plants.
(iii)
Marinas.
(iv)
Premises that are also connected to a—
(A)
grey-water re-use system; or
(B)
reticulated and disinfected reclaimed water system.
(v)
Public swimming pool.
(c)
The following are High Hazard for the purpose of containment protection:
(i)
Abattoirs.
(ii)
Car and plant washing facilities.
(iii)
Chemical laboratories.
(iv)
Chemical plants.
(v)
Factories using, processing or manufacturing toxic chemicals.
(vi)
Hospitals, mortuaries, clinics and the like.
(vii)
Metal finishing plants.
(viii)
Pathology laboratories.
(ix)
Petroleum processing plants or storage plants.
(x)
Piers, docks and other waterfront facilities.
(xi)
Premises where access to conduct inspections is restricted.
(xii)
Premises with an alternative water supply, except as referred to in BS51.6(a)(ii) or BS5.1.6(b)(iv) or BS5.1.6(c)(vi).
(xiii)
Sanitary depots.
(xiv)
Sewage treatment plants and sewage lift stations.
(xv)
Universities.
BS5.1.7 Fire-fighting water services
(a)
Fire-fighting water services with—
(i)
a direct connection to a Network Utility Operator's water supply; and
(ii)
no tank, reservoir, connection to another water supply, antifreeze or other additives, or auxiliary water supply within 180 m of a fire brigade booster connection,
are Low Hazard.
(b)
Note 1:
Note 1:
Fire hose reels located with an area where a cross-connection hazard exists have a High Hazard that is the same as the areas within reach of the hose.
(b)
Any fire-fighting water services not referred to in BS5.1.7(a) are Medium Hazard.
Exemption 1:
Exemption 1:
The following are deemed Low Hazard:
- Domestic (Class 1) fire sprinkler systems.
- FPAA101D fire sprinkler systems.
- Fire-fighting water storage tanks.