Fire sprinkler systems
Fire-line backflow testing, coordinated start to finish
Annual testing, repair and replacement of double check and reduced-pressure detector assemblies, coordinated with your fire-sprinkler contractor and monitoring company so protection is offline for as little time as possible.
Why fire lines need backflow protection
Water in sprinkler piping can sit untouched for years. It picks up rust, sediment and bacteria, and some systems add antifreeze or other chemicals. If that water flowed back into the public main, it would contaminate everyone’s drinking water, so purveyors require a backflow assembly on the fire service and an annual test from a certified tester.
The assemblies we test
Double check detector assembly
The most common fire-line assembly, used on standard wet systems. A bypass meter records low flows to reveal leaks or unauthorized use.
Reduced pressure detector assembly
Required when the system is a high hazard, such as antifreeze loops or chemical additives.
Double check valve assembly
Found on smaller or older fire services without a detector bypass.
Reduced pressure assembly
Used on some high-hazard fire services and combined domestic/fire connections.
Coordination, handled
Testing a fire-line assembly briefly takes part of the fire protection system out of service. Depending on your jurisdiction and your monitoring setup, the fire department and your alarm company may need notice beforehand. We schedule with your sprinkler contractor and building staff so the system is offline for as little time as possible and restored correctly afterward.
- Scheduling with your sprinkler contractor and building engineer
- Alarm-company notification coordinated before we start
- Detector bypass meter and check valves tested
- System restored and verified before we leave
- Test report filed with your purveyor; copy for your fire-inspection records
Backflow test vs. fire inspection: your purveyor’s annual backflow test is separate from fire-code inspections of the sprinkler system itself. Those are handled by your fire-sprinkler contractor, and we’re happy to line up schedules so both happen smoothly.
Fire-line backflow FAQs
What’s the difference between a DCDA and an RPDA?
Both are fire-line assemblies with a detector bypass meter. A DCDA uses two check valves and protects against low hazards. An RPDA adds a relief valve between the checks and is required when the sprinkler water is a high hazard, such as systems with antifreeze or chemical additives.
Who’s responsible for the fire-line backflow test, us or the sprinkler company?
The property owner is responsible for getting the test done and reported. It must be performed by a certified Backflow Assembly Tester. That can be us, and we’ll coordinate with your sprinkler company so everything is covered.
Will the building be unprotected during the test?
Only briefly, and only after the right people have been notified. Most fire-line tests take under an hour, and we restore and verify the system before we leave.
Our detector meter shows usage. Is that a problem?
Water shouldn’t normally flow through a fire line. Registered usage can point to a leak, a failed check valve or unauthorized use. We’ll test the assembly and help you track down the cause.
More services
Everything backflow, under one roof
Testing, repairs, installs and emergencies, all handled by the same local crew, with the paperwork taken care of.
Testing & Certification
Annual tests by state-certified testers, filed with your purveyor.
Backflow Repair
Failed test? We rebuild or replace, retest and file the pass.
Installation
New, replacement and relocated assemblies, permitted and certified.
Maintenance Plans
Every due date tracked for homes, HOAs and portfolios.
24/7 Emergency
Burst assemblies, freeze damage and shut-off deadlines.
Service Area
39 cities from Mount Vernon to Tacoma.
Serving these cities
- Arlington
- Auburn
- Bellevue
- Bothell
- Brier
- Burien
- Burlington
- Camano Island
- Des Moines
- Edmonds
- Everett
- Federal Way
- Fife
- Granite Falls
- Issaquah
- Kenmore
- Kent
- Kirkland
- Lake Forest Park
- Lake Stevens
- Lynnwood
- Marysville
- Mercer Island
- Mill Creek
- Monroe
- Mount Vernon
- Mountlake Terrace
- Mukilteo
- Redmond
- Renton
- Sammamish
- SeaTac
- Seattle
- Shoreline
- Snohomish
- Stanwood
- Tacoma
- Tukwila
- Woodinville