Backflow device for bidet.

Hi guys,

Im new to this site, and rather new to Canada. I was a plumber in England and moved to Canada last year. I have since passed my CofQ and have my Canadian Plumbing license, but there are still a lot of things I have to learn. I am only 22 aswell. I have a job I intend to complete next week. One of my customers had their home inspected, and the inspector noticed that there was no backflow device on the bidet faucet. I know newer faucets come with a vacuum breaker installed within the faucet (usually in the diverter).

This is the vacuum breaker I intend to use. One on both hot and cold supply lines to the bidet. Could someone with a little more experience than myself advise me on the suitability of this vacuum breaker. I know it is suitable to protect against back siphonage, but I was under the impression from college that this vacuum breaker is intended to be installed at least 300mm above the flood level rim of the fixture it serves?

Thanks

Sean

I've seen two typs of faucets for the stand alone bidets. Does this one outlet below the rim then?
The second style has a faucet that is on the top, much like a lav faucet, which would be considered as air-gapped.

I've often wondered about the bidet faucet that was located in the lower portion, below the flood level.

http://www.kohler.ca/onlinecatalog/...-4&section=2&category=8&resultPage=0-28056520

This is a similar faucet to the one installed on the bidet i'm dealing with. It has 2 handles to control the hot and cold water, and a transfer valve (which would usually contain the vacuum breaker in newer faucets) which diverts the water from the vertical spray at the front of the bidet to the filler which is located directly underneath the overflow.

I advised my customer that it would be best to install a brand new faucet which would obviously contain a vacuum breaker within the transfer valve, but I quoted her over $1000 because bidet faucets are very expensive and i'd also have the lift the bidet from the floor to install it. The lady was unimpressed with the price, so I suggested a cheaper option would be to install the dual check valves on the hot and cold supply to the bidet. I was intending on installing them directly after the water shut off valves for the bidet.

vacuum breaker

The key phrase is that it is for "non health hazard installations", but by definition, a bidet could be one. Removing a bidet to install a new valve is a simple task. But how about a picture of the existing valve so we know what you are working with?

That Kohler faucet has a vacuum breaker on it.




2




http://www.kohler.ca/onlinecatalog/pdf/1157488_2.pdf

So it looks like the Kohler faucet with vacuum breaker would make the inspector happy.
A bidet normally sets to the floor with two bolts, hooks up to a 1-1/4" p-trap (may be wall or fllor), and has a hot and cold lav supplies from the wall or floor.

vb

ANY bidet faucet with a VB would make the inspector happy, the poster just doesn't want to pay for one, plus the installation. A photo of what he has would tell us whether he does indeed have a vacuum breaker already, or if he even needs one. It is possible that the "inspector" is not competent to make the decision.

I understand that a new faucet with a built in vacuum breaker would be sufficient. My point is that the homeowner doesn't want to pay the price for the new faucet and for the installation.

The current faucet has no vacuum breaker installed within the faucet. Im not able to show an image, sorry.

I just wanted to know if it would be acceptable to install 2 vacuum breakers (these - http://www.wattscanada.ca/pages/_products_details.asp?pid=888) on the hot and cold supplies which come up through the floor behind the bidet.

I intend to go:

copper pipe through the floor - shut off valve - chrome 3/8 tubing - 3/8 compression x 3/8 male adaptor - 3/8 female vacuum breaker (http://www.wattscanada.ca/pages/_products_details.asp?pid=888) - 3/8 male x 3/8 compression adaptor - 3/8 x 1/2 supply hose to faucet.

It would be up to the AHJ but I would say no as a bidet would be a health hazard.

Thanks. Do you know of anywhere that classifies what is considered to be a health hazard, and what is not considered to be a health hazard?

Sean Beck said:

Thanks. Do you know of anywhere that classifies what is considered to be a health hazard, and what is not considered to be a health hazard?

Click to expand...

Sewer cross connections are absolutely a health hazard.

cross connection

A connection between a well water system and a city water system would be a possible "non health" cross connection. Add in the usual requirement that the BFP be ABOVE the rim of the fixture, (often 6" above), and the ones proposed become a "clunky" installation.