News from EWE

Fire departments responding to a fire or carrying out exercises may contaminate drinking water. Such contamination can be caused by incorrect operation or a drop in power in the supply grid. Mixing foaming agents and highly dynamic pressure differences can result in unique hazards.

The Drinking Water Ordinance outlines penalties for negligence in handling water supply systems. When fire departments respond to fires, they must take technical precautions to avoid impacting the drinking water supply grid.

Fire department and extinguishing water regulations have been adapted to these requirements, meaning better solutions are required to separate extinguishing water and drinking water supply lines.

DIN 14346 Fire Department – Mobile System Separator B-FW

The Fire Department System Separator fulfils

DVGW worksheet W 405-B1 »Provision of extinguishing water through the public drinking water supply – Supplement 1: Avoiding impacts to drinking water and the pipe network when removing extinguishing water« (June 2016) and

DVGW worksheet W 400-3/W 408: »… devices and equipment downstream of the standpipe must be designed such that incorrect operation will not cause extinguishing water to be sucked back, pressed back, or to flow back into the drinking water grid.«

Accordingly, at least a BA system separator in accordance with DIN 14346 must be used on the standpipe or overground hydrants.

The B-FW type EWE fire department system separator to separate supply and extinguishing lines secures the standpipe or surface hydrant to prevent extinguishing water from being pressed, sucked, or flowing back into the drinking water grid in accordance with DVGW W 408 and W 405-B1.

• Protect the drinking water grid against contamination
• Lower pressure drop, higher flow rate
• Avoid damage to the pipeline network caused by major dynamic pressure changes
• Function is easy to check
• Lightweight fitting (3 kg)
• Simple maintenance

Only for gas installation!

• Combination NBR gaskets for gas and water can no longer be certified for use with drinking water based on the current version of the elastomer guidelines from the Federal Environmental Office.
• Because of this, NBR gaskets will now only be used in our gas fittings.
• Chrome-plated fittings will be discontinued.
• Please note the new item numbers for gas fittings.
• All gaskets used in our drinking water fittings are made of EPDM; these may be used exclusively for drinking water installation, since they are not gas resistant.
• Fittings, components, and exterior packaging are labelled accordingly.

Only for drinking water installation!

• All gaskets used in our drinking water fittings are made of EPDM; these may be used exclusively for drinking water installation, since they are not gas resistant.
• Combination NBR gaskets for gas and water can no longer be certified for use with drinking water based on the current version of the elastomer guidelines from the Federal Environmental Office. Because of this, NBR gaskets will now only be used in our gas fittings.
• Fittings, components, and exterior packaging are labelled accordingly.