NCC 2022 Volume Three - Plumbing Code of Australia
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Classification
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Classification
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41

Specification 41 Cross-connection hazards

Specification 41 Cross-connection hazards

This Specification sets out cross-connection hazards and corresponding Hazard Ratings.

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, such as a Performance Solution developed using Verification Method B5V1.

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.

(1) Cross-connection hazards within the site must be rated in accordance with—

  1. S41C4 for individual protection at the point of each individual hazard; or
  2. S41C5 for zone protection at the point where a group of hazards can be isolated.

(2) The hazard posed by the site to the Network Utility Operator’s drinking water supply must be rated for containment protection in accordance with S41C6.

(3) Pipework and outlets supplied by a drinking water source downstream of an individual protection backflow prevention device are considered to convey drinking water from an unprotected water service.

VIC S41C3 Protection types and hazard ratings2019: BS5.1.3

Delete subclause S41C3(3) and insert S41C3(3) as follows:

(3) Pipework and outlets supplied by a drinking water source downstream of an individual protection or zone protection backflow prevention device are considered to convey drinking water from an unprotected water service.

(1) The following are Low Hazard for the purpose of individual protection:

  1. Carbonated drink dispensing machines.
  2. Drinking fountains and bottle fillers.
  3. Coils and jackets in heat exchangers, in sealed and non-toxic environments only.
  4. Drink dispensing equipment including vending machines and coffee machines.
  5. External hose taps, with no hazards within 18 m.
  6. Fixtures used for ablutions including baths, basins, showers and bidettes with a minimum 25 mm air gap.
  7. Toilet douche seats where the outlet in all positions is at least 25 mm above the overflow level of the pan.
  8. Fixtures used for food preparation, including sinks.
  9. Flexible connections over domestic fixtures.
  10. Haemodialysis machines in Class 1, Class 2 and Class 10 buildings.
  11. Hair salon basins or troughs.
  12. In-line water softeners and filters.
  13. Photographic processing machines without developer mixing.
  14. Emergency eye wash and shower stations for use with drinking water.
  15. Food preparation or food storage tanks, vats or vessels (without clean-in-place systems).

(2) The following are Medium Hazard for the purpose of individual protection:

  1. Chemical dispensers (low toxicity).
  2. Dental consoles.

(3) The following are High Hazard for the purpose of individual protection:

  1. Chlorinators.
  2. Coils and jackets in heat exchangers, in unsealed and toxic environments.
  3. Steam calorifiers.
  4. Steam boilers.
  5. Antibiotic injectors (agricultural).
  6. Bidets and toilet douche seats where the outlet in any position is not 25 mm above the overflow level of the pan.
  7. Bidettes installed without a minimum 25 mm air gap.
  8. Handheld bidet hoses and trigger sprays.
  9. Chemical dispensers (high toxicity).
  10. Cooling towers.
  11. Demineralising equipment using ion-exchange resins with acid and alkali regeneration.
  12. Equipment used for handling, mixing, measuring and processing chemical and microbiological substances.
  13. Fogging and cleaning sprays with chemical injection or additives.
  14. Mixing of chemicals.
  15. Pan washing apparatus.
  16. Photographic developers with drinking water supply rinse tanks or mixing facilities.
  17. Plants with auxiliary non-drinking water supplies.
  18. Type D irrigation system injected with fertilisers, herbicides, nematicides, insecticides or weedicides.
  19. Weed and pest spraying and water cartage tanks.
  20. Portable and mobile tankers.
  21. Placenta / surgical waste disposal units.
  22. Food preparation or food storage tanks, vats or vessels (with clean-in-place systems).

VIC S41C4 Individual protection2019: BS5.1.4

Delete subclause S41C4(3) and insert S41C4(3) as follows:

(3) The following are High Hazard for the purpose of individual protection:

  1. Chlorinators.
  2. Coils and jackets in heat exchangers, in unsealed and toxic environments.
  3. Steam calorifiers.
  4. Steam boilers.
  5. Antibiotic injectors (agricultural).
  6. Bidets and toilet douche seats where the outlet in any position is not 25 mm above the overflow level of the pan.
  7. Bidettes installed without a minimum 25 mm air gap.
  8. Handheld bidet / douche hoses and trigger sprays.
  9. Chemical dispensers (high toxicity).
  10. Cooling towers.
  11. Demineralising equipment using ion-exchange resins with acid and alkali regeneration.
  12. Equipment used for handling, mixing, measuring and processing chemical and microbiological substances.
  13. Fogging and cleaning sprays with chemical injection or additives.
  14. Mixing of chemicals.
  15. Pan washing apparatus.
  16. Photographic developers with drinking water supply rinse tanks or mixing facilities.
  17. Plants with auxiliary non-drinking water supplies.
  18. Type D irrigation system injected with fertilisers, herbicides, nematicides, insecticides or weedicides.
  19. Weed and pest spraying and water cartage tanks.
  20. Portable and mobile tankers.
  21. Placenta / surgical waste disposal units.
  22. Food preparation or food storage tanks, vats or vessels (with clean-in-place systems).
  23. Buried rainwater tank.

Explanatory information: Clean-in-place systems

For the purposes of S41C4(1)(o) in individual protection, clean-in-place is a method of cleaning the internal surfaces of pipes, vessels, process equipment, filters and associated fittings, without disassembly.

Explanatory information

For the purposes of S41C4(3)(f), the high hazard backflow prevention device can be part of the toilet douche seat or installed separately.

(1) The following are Low Hazard for the purpose of zone protection:

  1. Fire-fighting water storage tanks without chemical additives.
  2. Food storage tanks, vats or vessels.
  3. Hair salon basins or troughs.
  4. Type B irrigation systems.
  5. Water filtration equipment.

(2) The following are Medium Hazard for the purpose of zone protection:

  1. Type C irrigation systems.
  2. Beauty spas and foot salons.

(3) The following are High Hazard for the purpose of zone protection:

  1. Photographic laboratories.
  2. Aircraft facilities.
  3. Secondary school laboratories, including fume cupboards.
  4. Dental and medical procedure rooms and equipment using drinking water.
  5. Clean-in-place systems.
  6. Commercial laundries.
  7. Cooling or heating systems with recirculating water.
  8. Dockside facilities.
  9. Drinking nipples and troughs (agricultural).
  10. Food preparation or food storage tanks, vats or vessels.
  11. Vats and vessels (clean-in-place systems).
  12. In a Class 9 building—
    1. dissecting rooms; and
    2. utility rooms which contain fixtures other than hand basins; and
    3. operating theatres.
  13. Industrial and teaching laboratories.
  14. Industrial process water that has been recirculated.
  15. Mortuary equipment used in funeral parlours, mortuaries and autopsy areas.
  16. Sanitary dump points.
  17. Tanks, vats or vessels associated with electroplating, degreasing, descaling, stripping, pickling, dipping or the like.
  18. Type D irrigation systems injected with fertilisers, herbicides, nematicides, insecticides or weedicides.
NCC Blurbs

(1) The following are Low Hazard for the purpose of containment protection:

  1. A water service provided to a Class 1, Class 2, Class 7a or Class 10 building where—
    1. not more than 12 persons reside; and
    2. the building may only use non-commercial amounts of cleaning products.
  2. Premises served by a rainwater harvesting system, not including any rainwater storage tanks that are buried tanks.
  3. Properties with only a drinking water service provided by a Network Utility Operator.
  4. Properties served by a Network Utility Operator's recycled water supply.

(2) The following are Medium Hazard for the purpose of containment protection:

  1. A water service provided to a Class 3, Class 4, Class 5, Class 6 or Class 7b building where chemicals are not stored.
  2. A water service provided to a property that has—
    1. other non-drinking water services; or
    2. a separate fire water service.

(3) The following are High Hazard for the purpose of containment protection:

  1. A water service provided to a Class 7b building where chemicals may be stored.
  2. A water service provided to a Class 8 or Class 9 building.
  3. A water service provided to a property used for commercial agriculture, farming, turf irrigation, industrial, processing or chemical industries.
  4. A water service provided to a property that has non-drinking water services from multiple sources with potential for health related contamination.

Applications

  1. Medium Hazard properties for the purpose of containment protection include the following—
    1. Caravan parks.
    2. Food and beverage processing plants.
    3. Marinas.
    4. Premises that are connected to a grey water re-use system or a reticulated and disinfected reclaimed water system.
    5. Public swimming pools.
  2. High Hazard properties for the purpose of containment protection include the following—
    1. Abattoirs.
    2. Car and plant washing facilities.
    3. Chemical laboratories.
    4. Chemical plants.
    5. Factories using, processing or manufacturing toxic chemicals.
    6. Hospitals, mortuaries, dental surgeries, clinics or day surgeries and the like containing patient care areas such as an operating theatre, minor procedures consultation room, resuscitation, intensive care and coronary care.
    7. Metal finishing plants.
    8. Pathology laboratories.
    9. Petroleum processing and storage plants and facilities.
    10. Piers, docks and other waterfront facilities.
    11. Premises where access to conduct inspections is restricted.
    12. Sanitary depots.
    13. Sewerage treatment plants and sewerage lift stations.
    14. Universities.
    15. Premises containing wastewater dump points.
    16. Industrial processing.
    17. Chemical industries.

Explanatory information

  • Clause (2)(a); building classes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7b are likely to have greater than 12 occupants (residents and/or workers) and may contain moderate amounts of cleaning or commercial chemicals, or a separate fire-fighting water service.
  • Clause (3)(b) and (3)(c); a property presents a risk from wastewater effluent irrigation system, process water and/or bore water. The property has an increased potential for cross-connection between drinking water and non-drinking water with high consequences such as chemicals, recycled sewerage, medical, biological, toxic or hazardous substances.
  • 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.
NCC Title

Containment protection

NCC State
VIC
NCC Variation Type
Replacement
NCC SPTC Current
Containment protection

(1) The following are Low Hazard for the purpose of containment protection:

  1. A water service provided to a Class 1, Class 2, Class 7a or Class 10 building where—
    1. not more than 12 persons reside; and
    2. the building may only use non-commercial amounts of cleaning products.
  2. Premises served by a rainwater harvesting system, not including any rainwater storage tanks that are buried tanks.
  3. A water service where there are no non-drinking water services within the property.

(2) The following are Medium Hazard for the purpose of containment protection:

  1. A water service provided to a Class 3, Class 4, Class 5, Class 6 or Class 7b building where chemicals are not stored.
  2. A water service provided to a property that has—
    1. other non-drinking water services; or
    2. a separate fire water service.

(3) The following are High Hazard for the purpose of containment protection:

  1. A water service provided to a Class 7b building where chemicals may be stored.
  2. A water service provided to a Class 8 or Class 9 building.
  3. A water service provided to a property used for commercial agriculture, farming, turf irrigation, industrial, processing or chemical industries.
  4. A water service provided to a property that has non-drinking water services from multiple sources with potential for health related contamination.

Applications

  1. Medium Hazard properties for the purpose of containment protection include the following—
    1. Caravan parks.
    2. Food and beverage processing plants.
    3. Marinas.
    4. Premises that are connected to a grey water re-use system or a reticulated and disinfected reclaimed water system.
    5. Public swimming pools.
  2. High Hazard properties for the purpose of containment protection include the following—
    1. Abattoirs.
    2. Car and plant washing facilities.
    3. Chemical laboratories.
    4. Chemical plants.
    5. Factories using, processing or manufacturing toxic chemicals.
    6. Hospitals, mortuaries, dental surgeries, clinics or day surgeries and the like containing patient care areas such as an operating theatre, minor procedures consultation room, resuscitation, intensive care and coronary care.
    7. Metal finishing plants.
    8. Pathology laboratories.
    9. Petroleum processing and storage plants and facilities.
    10. Piers, docks and other waterfront facilities.
    11. Premises where access to conduct inspections is restricted.
    12. Sanitary depots.
    13. Sewerage treatment plants and sewerage lift stations.
    14. Universities.
    15. Premises containing wastewater dump points.
    16. Industrial processing.
    17. Chemical industries.

Exemptions

  1. Clause (1)(b) does not apply to a non-drinking water service provided to the property by a Network Utility Operator as part of a dual water supply.
  2. Clause (2)(b)(i) does not apply to a non-drinking water service provided to the property by a Network Utility Operator.

Explanatory information

  • Clause (2)(a); building Classes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7b are likely to have greater than 12 occupants (residents and/or workers) and may contain moderate amounts of cleaning or commercial chemicals, or a separate fire-fighting water service.
  • Clause (3)(b) and (3)(c); a property presents a risk from wastewater effluent irrigation system, process water and/or bore water. The property has an increased potential for cross-connection between drinking water and non-drinking water with high consequences such as chemicals, recycled sewerage, medical, biological, toxic or hazardous substances.
  • 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.

(1) The following fire-fighting water services are Low Hazard:

  1. A fire-fighting water service which has—
    1. a direct connection to a Network Utility Operator's water supply; and
    2. does not contain a tank, reservoir, connection to another water supply, antifreeze or other additives, or fire brigade booster connection from an auxiliary water supply,
  2. Domestic fire sprinkler systems installed in Class 1 buildings.
  3. FPAA101D fire sprinkler systems.
  4. Fire-fighting water storage tanks.

(2) Any fire-fighting water services not referred to in (1) are Medium Hazard.

Notes

Fire hose reels located within an area where a cross-connection hazard exists have a Hazard Rating the same as the areas within reach of the hose.