Today’s work order took us to Camden, NJ, where we performed an annual backflow preventer test and maintenance service for a commercial office building managed by a third-party property management company. The building, a five-story structure housing various businesses, has a dedicated fire suppression system that requires a reliable Reduced Pressure Detector Assembly (RPDA) to prevent any potential backflow contamination into the municipal water supply.

The backflow device in question was a Watts 909RPDA, a robust unit designed specifically for fire protection applications. This model includes a relief valve, two independent check valves, and a bypass assembly with a meter to detect unauthorized water usage.

Initial Inspection and Testing

We began the job by conducting a visual inspection of the assembly. The unit was housed in a mechanical room in the basement, installed inline with the fire sprinkler system. There were no immediate signs of external damage or leaks, but we did notice a slight buildup of corrosion on the relief valve body.

Next, we connected our test kit and ran a standard backflow preventer test:

1. Check Valve #1 – Passed, holding pressure at 3.2 PSI, above the minimum 2.0 PSI requirement.
2. Check Valve #2 – Passed, holding steady at 2.8 PSI.
3. Relief Valve – Failed; it opened at 1.4 PSI, below the minimum threshold of 2.0 PSI.

Repair and Maintenance

Since the relief valve didn’t meet the required performance threshold, we proceeded with a partial rebuild. This involved:

• Removing the relief valve cover and diaphragm.
• Cleaning the valve seat and flushing out any debris.
• Replacing the diaphragm and seating gasket with new factory-specified parts.

Once reassembled, we retested the relief valve, and it now opened properly at 2.2 PSI, passing the required standard.

Final Steps and Certification

With the unit back in compliance, we completed the required documentation, including:

• Test results and certification for the property manager.
• Compliance report for the Camden Water Department as per city regulations.

We also recommended an annual maintenance schedule to ensure continued compliance and prevent unexpected failures. The property manager was relieved to know their system was back in top shape, avoiding any costly fines or shutdowns.

Another successful job in the books for South Jersey Backflow!