This column will be a regular feature in ASSE International’s new magazine, Working Pressure. We will be sharing news about ASSE professional qualifications standards, as well as information about ASSE certification programs – those that are well established and those that are just now in development. A lot of work is being done by our committees, working groups, and staff to develop certification programs that will aid you in your professions, assist AHJs in protecting the public, and, as has always been ASSE’s mission, protect the potable water.
We also want to be sure that you have the tools you need to best understand and apply ASSE standards to the work that you do. Over the years, we have developed reference materials to assist with that goal. Now we are making those reference materials easier to access and use, whether you are out in the field or in an office, by making them available in electronic format. Access the materials on your phone, tablet, or computer, and easily search for whatever you need. Whether you are an engineer, plumber, fitter, or inspector, we want to be sure that you have the tools you need to do your job.
We have started with the Guide to Cross-Connection Protection Devices and Assemblies – Application and Selection. This booklet has charts that help users determine what type of backflow assembly or device is required under different conditions. When you are choosing a backflow assembly or device, you begin by determining the type of hazard (high or low) and the type of backflow (backpressure and/or backsiphonage) you are protecting against. You also need to know if it is for isolation protection or containment. This guide spells out the correct device or assembly to be used under each condition, and also describes and illustrates the different assemblies and devices to help you identify them. As an engineer designing the piping for a building, or a plans reviewer going over the drawings, you’ll find this book to be helpful. Lists of standards can begin to look like alphabet soup, so we want to help take some of the confusion out of your day.
For more than 10 years, training centers that offer ASSE backflow tester certification have used this book to help newly trained backflow testers understand why there are so many different types of backflow preventers and how to know which to use under the varied circumstances. This guide will soon be provided to the students in an electronic format. Now, the information can be safely stored in their phone or tablet for when they need it. As we continue our efforts to convert more of our reference materials to digital format, we want you to be aware that they will still be available in paper format as well. Some of us still prefer a book to a tablet.
The revision of the Guide to Cross-Connection Protection Devices and Assemblies has just been completed. ASSE 1055, Performance Requirements for Chemical Dispensing Systems, and ASSE 1081, Performance Requirements for Backflow Preventers with Integral Pressure Reducing Boiler Feed Valve and Intermediate Atmospheric Vent Style for Domestic and Light Commercial Water Distribution Systems, were added to the guide in this revision and definitions were updated.
Some of the definitions in the guide come from the ASSE International Plumbing Dictionary. Were you aware that ASSE has a dictionary? Did you know that it is available for free on our website? To download, go to www.bit.ly/asse-dictionary. ASSE is working to provide you with useful tools for making your job easier and making you more knowledgeable. Have you heard of the ASSE International Plumbing Term of the Day? Keep up with our plumbing terms of the day by visiting www.plumbingtermoftheday.wordpress.com, or following ASSE International on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Many ASSE members are talking about this fun way of testing your knowledge and learning something new.
One of our next major endeavors is to develop an ASSE Test Procedures app for smartphones. To certify or re-certify as an ASSE backflow prevention tester, ASSE requires that everyone taking the practical exam perform the test procedures from memory. However, we strongly encourage every tester to have a copy of the test procedures with them in the field as they perform backflow prevention tests. Having the test procedures, flow charts, and troubleshooting guide available on their phone will ensure that they are prepared for any situation.
With this column, we’ll keep you informed of new developments in our professional certification programs. We’ll also let you know about new white papers, standards, and reference materials that are developed. These are all tools that you can use to keep yourselves informed in your chosen fields.
