Backflow Protection

Domestic sanitary appliances † all potable (drinkable) water supplies

must be protected against pollution by backflow or back siphonage
from water that could be contaminated. Protection is effected by
leaving sufficient space or air gap between the lowest point of the
control device or tap discharge and the appliance spill over level.

British Standard determination of air gap to domestic sanitary appliances:

. Single feed pipe, i.e. one tap, air gap 520 mm or 2  internal
diameter of tap orifice (take greater value).
. Multiple feed pipe, i.e. hot and cold taps, air gap 520 mm or
2  sum of orifice diameters (take greater value).

For example, a bath with two taps of 20 mm internal diameter inlet orifice:

20 mm or 2  (20 + 20 mm) = 80 mm. Air gap = 80 mm minimum.

Water cisterns or storage vessels † pipework supplying potable

water must discharge into an unobstructed air gap between the
regulating device water inlet to the vessel and the overflow or
warning pipe.

In this situation the air gap should be 520 mm or 2  internal

diameter of the regulating valve inlet orifice (take greater value).

For example, a 20 mm internal diameter orifice:

20 mm or 2  20 mm = 40 mm. Air gap = 40 mm minimum.

Refs: Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations.

BS EN 1717: Protection against pollution of potable water in water

installations and general requirements of devices to prevent pollution
by backflow.

19