✓ TradeExamPro

TradeExamPro › Plumbing & Gas

Backflow Prevention Tester Practice Test

Backflow and backsiphonage, assemblies and devices, hazard assessment, field test procedures and troubleshooting for backflow tester certification.

166 questions · 7 topics · free, no sign-up

Mixed practice test

10 questions, graded as you go, with the reason for every answer. No sign-up.

Timed mock exam

50 questions in 60 minutes, drawn from every topic. No answers shown until the end, then a score, your weakest topics and a review of what you missed.

Practise by topic

Sample questions

What is the general minimum size of an air gap, measured vertically above the flood level rim?

  1. Equal to the diameter of the supply outlet's effective opening, and never less than 1 inch
  2. Twice the diameter of the drain outlet of the receptor, and never less than 2 inches
  3. Twice the diameter of the supply outlet's effective opening, and never less than 1 inch
  4. Three times the diameter of the supply pipe upstream, and never less than 6 inches
Show the answer

C. Twice the diameter of the supply outlet's effective opening, and never less than 1 inch

The basic rule is two times the effective opening of the supply outlet with a 1 inch minimum. A gap equal to one diameter is too small to stop water from bridging during a vacuum.

Reference: ASME A112.1.2 air gap principles; EPA Cross-Connection Control Manual (EPA 816-R-03-002), ch. 4

Installing a backflow prevention assembly on the water service at the meter, to protect the public system from everything on the premises, is called:

  1. isolation
  2. containment
  3. segregation
  4. abatement
Show the answer

B. containment

Containment (service protection) puts the protection at the service connection so the public main is protected from the whole premises. Isolation protects at individual points of use inside the premises.

Reference: AWWA Manual M14, Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control, service protection

One psi of pressure will support a column of water about how high?

  1. 0.433 ft
  2. 14.7 ft
  3. 33.9 ft
  4. 2.31 ft
Show the answer

D. 2.31 ft

One psi equals about 2.31 feet of water (1 divided by 0.433). The value 0.433 is psi per foot, the conversion going the other way.

Reference: Hydraulics constants: 2.31 ft of head per psi

How high must an atmospheric vacuum breaker be installed?

  1. At least 6 inches below the lowest downstream piping or outlet it serves
  2. At least 12 inches above the finished grade or floor level
  3. At least 6 inches above the highest downstream piping or outlet
  4. At the same level as the highest downstream outlet it serves
Show the answer

C. At least 6 inches above the highest downstream piping or outlet

The AVB must sit at least 6 inches above all downstream piping and the flood rim of what it serves, so no water stands above it to cause backpressure. Height above the floor is not the controlling measurement.

Reference: ASSE 1001; EPA Cross-Connection Control Manual (EPA 816-R-03-002), ch. 4

What are the three control (needle) valves on a common three-valve test kit?

  1. Inlet, outlet and relief
  2. High, low and bypass (vent)
  3. Supply, zone and drain
  4. Hot, cold and mixed
Show the answer

B. High, low and bypass (vent)

A three-valve kit has a high-side valve, a low-side valve and a bypass or vent valve, matched to the high, low and bypass hoses. The other names describe parts of an assembly, not of the test kit.

Reference: ASSE Series 5000 field test procedures; USC FCCCHR Manual of Cross-Connection Control, 10th ed., field test procedures

Exams this helps with

ExamWho runs itWhere
Backflow prevention assembly tester readyASSE 5110, ABPA, AWWA sectionsUnited States
Cross-connection control specialist readyASSE, ABPAUnited States

Tell us what to improve · More plumbing & gas practice