Dental offices (general dentistry, oral surgery, orthodontics, endodontics, perio, pediatric dentistry, and dental suites within medical buildings) are commonly treated as moderate-to-high hazard commercial occupancies because they involve:
- biological contaminants (saliva, blood, oral fluids)
- equipment connected to potable water with potential aspiration/backpressure pathways
- chemical disinfectants/sterilants and instrument reprocessing
- frequent hose use at utility sinks / janitorial closets
- specialized equipment (dental chairs, vacuum/suction systems, sterilizers)
Most California water purveyors at a minimum require dental offices to have either premises containment at the meter, or robust internal point-of-use protection—and in some jurisdictions, both.
As a bonded and insured licensed contractors and certified backflow testing professionals specializing in the installation, testing and repair of commercial backflow prevention assemblies, Backflow Test Pros guarantees top-tier workmanship at the most competitive rates, provides backflow repair coverage and includes 2-year installation warranty to help you meet and exceed your dental clinic backflow installation, testing, repair compliance requirements.
Call for Your Free Dental Office Compliance Review to Qualify for
Installation Warranty, Best Value Testing, Repair Coverage & Multi-Device Discounts
Installing, testing and repair of backflow preventer devices in dental clinics is a critical component of California’s commitment to water quality protection from commercial properties connected to a public potable water system. Dental clinic cross connection and backflow prevention responsibilities are governed by and subject to CCR Title 17 cross-connection control expectations (as administered by water purveyors), The State Water Board’s Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook (CCCPH) (statewide minimum program expectations), the local water purveyor cross-connection programs (hazard classification, device selection, enforcement), and California state plumbing code and equipment manufacturer requirements (air gaps/indirect waste, device-specific protections).
Dental clinic owners and lessees are responsible for installation, testing, repair, and ongoing compliance.
Hiring Southern California's preferred certified backflow installation, testing and repair specialist to perform your dental clinic healthcare facility backflow prevention installation, testing and repair is key to ensuring compliance with state and municipal water department regulations.
Backflow Test Pros is 100% dedicated to ensuring your dental office meets local water authority dental clinic backflow installation, testing and repair requirements so you can avoid civil penalties and ensure your water is not turned off for noncompliance.
Ensure you're fully compliant with specific city, county and water districts backflow prevention requirements
Ensure your backflow assembly installation clears local permitting requirements and plans approvals
Ensure your installed backflow device is USC FCCCHR approved and meets hazard level requirements
Free initial backflow certification testing, same-day report submittal and backflow repair coverage
We provide the best value in Dental Clinic backflow prevention installations, testing and repair services by combining competitive pricing with premium service, warranty coverage and unmatched expertise.
Backflow Test Pros is an AWWA Certified Backflow Tester and Certified Backflow Tester with County Health Departments across Southern California. As a CA State licensed contractor and AWWA Certified backflow specialists, our team of experienced backflow experts work with County Health Boards and Municipal Water Departments throughout Southern California to protect our water and prevent backflow contamination.
In California, dental office backflow preventer device installation, testing and repair is governed by a combination of state regulations and local ordinances, aiming to protect the public water supply from contamination.
The installation, inspection and testing of dental clinic backflow preventer devices are essential for ensuring the safety of drinking water from contamination by high hazard equipment and features at dental offices.
Understanding the types of dental office facility backflow installation, testing, and maintenance requirements helps you avoid civil liabilities and ensures water safety compliance.
Dental offices include several conditions that are high-risk from a cross-connection perspective:
Generally, Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Prevention Assembly at the domestic service connection serving the dental tenant space (or at the building service if managed centrally) is the minimum requirement. This type of backflow prevention device provides protection against both backsiphonage and backpressure and is required for health hazards or where internal cross-connections cannot be reliably controlled/inspected.
Dental offices are often treated as a health-hazard occupancy due to biological risk and chemical disinfection processes. Even where premises containment is present, dental offices typically must maintain strong internal protection because most risk arises at equipment and hose connections.
In multi-tenant buildings, the water purveyor may require containment at the building service and/or require the property manager to ensure internal tenant protections.
Dental clinics frequently require additional internal dental-specific Point-of-Use backflow prevention protection:
- Dental chairs and cuspidors: potential backpressure/aspiration conditions, especially with integrated handpieces and waterline devices
- Central vacuum / suction systems: potential for backflow if incorrectly connected or if water is used in vacuum systems
- Instrument reprocessing: sterilizers/autoclaves, instrument washers, ultrasonic cleaners, chemical disinfectants
- Utility sinks and chemical mixing: disinfectants, cleaners; hoses sometimes submerged
- Compressed air and booster devices: can create backpressure under certain plumbing configurations
These conditions create backsiphonage and backpressure risk and raise the consequence severity (pathogens/chemicals). Because these hazards are often distributed throughout the suite—and because tenant improvements can change them—many purveyors treat dental offices conservatively.
Enforcement & Penalties
Dental offices are often treated as a health-hazard occupancy due to biological risk and chemical disinfection processes. Local water purveyors typically:
- issue notices and compliance deadlines
- assess administrative penalties
- require cross-connection surveys/inspections
- terminate water service for failure to install/test/maintain required assemblies or for unresolved cross-connections
Additional Civil Liabilities
Property owners and dental clinic owner operators are exposed to additional civil liabilities resulting from contamination in the event of failure to prevent backflow into the potable water resources used by other parties.
Because dental clinics typically have many High-Risk backflow containment conditions it is important that you perform an extensive cross connection and backflow prevention compliance review to avoid penalties, water disruptions and civil liabilities.
Common Dental Office Deficiencies That Trigger Backflow Containment Violations
- unprotected hose connections at utility sinks / janitorial closets
- submerged hoses used for bucket filling or equipment rinsing
- questionable connections to dental chairs without clear backflow protection strategy
- chemical mix stations without appropriate protection
- untested or overdue containment devices (RP at suite/building)
- TI projects that add sterilizers, washers, or new plumbing without purveyor review
Call Us for Your Free Dental Office Backflow Compliance Review to Ensure
You are Not in Violation State or Local Backflow Prevention Requirements
1. Confirm hazard classification and whether containment RP is required for the suite/building.
2. Inventory equipment: dental chairs, suction/vacuum, sterilizers, washers, chemical mix stations.
3. Verify all hose bibbs have vacuum breakers/anti-siphon protection.
4. Ensure instrument reprocessing drains are properly air-gapped/indirect where required.
5. Test containment assemblies annually and after any install/repair/relocation.
6. Submit reports on time and maintain compliance records.
7. Repair failures promptly and retest.
8. Re-evaluate after tenant improvements or new equipment installations.
