Does Your Manufacturer Use ASSE 1060 Class 1 Approved Heaters?

In 2006, the American Society of Sanitary Engineering updated their 1060 standard to state that Class-1 enclosures "Shall be heated to maintain an interior temperature of 40° with an outside temperature as low as -30°. Heater source shall be listed by an independent product safety listing organization as "suitable for wet and damp environments." You may be surprised to find that the majority of manufacturers that advertise ASSE 1060 compliance do not provide a heat source, especially one that works with installations  that satisfies that requirement. 

How do we know?asse-1060-class-1-freeze-protection.jpg

Now, a decade later, only three enclosure heaters are on the market that meet the requirements of this standard. The state of North Carolina recently needed to retrofit 55 double check assemblies that were in underground vaults to aboveground RPZ backflow preventers in enclosures. They knew they needed freeze protection and so put together a research team to do an in-depth review of all the available enclosure manufacturers with a heater that might satisfy the Class-1 requirements. North Carolina state eventually chose Safe-T-Cover's slab-mounted heater for their project. They informed us of their findings when they put in their order.


Climate control isn't just about freeze protection, in fact it's one of the 5 enclosure design guidelines in our free ebook.


The optionsbackflow_enclosure_with_floor_heater.png

First up is WaterSafe®. They refer to their heater unit as a radiant heat solution, but there is not readily available in depth information about the design and its capabilities. The next option is cable-wrap or tape. However, it only provides heat generation of only 5 watts per foot, so it has limited value for pipe sizes larger than 2 inches. It remains a popular method for smaller solutions, and we do sell a Chromalox heater cable. Finally, there is the Safe-T-Cover® patented sealed floor heater. This solution provides heat to both the internal equipment as well as the riser pipes beneath the slab. This unduplicated, rugged sealed_slab_mounted_heater_for_pump_enclosure.pngdesign has proven reliable for backflow preventer protection in severe environments for years. In fact, side-by-side tests conducted by John Chai for the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Tennessee Technological University in 1997, the floor heater allows for as much as 32% fewer thermostat on-off cycles on cold-weather days.

What's Not Approved?

The majority of fiberglass enclosure and aluminum shelter manufacturers use the wall heater method. Because there must be room for a door, wall heaters must be mounted to one side. They must also be mounted a minimum of 12" off the slab because they are not backflow_cover_with_wall_heater.pngsealed and therefore unsuitable for wet and damp conditions. Since heated air rises, these heaters' warmth channels straight out of the top of the enclosure long before uniform warmth is achieved. In addition to being noncompliant with the ASSE standard, they are also simply unable to deliver the freeze protection provided by a slab mounted heater. 

Use an Approved Solution

If your town ever gets frost or snow, you want to make certain your backflow enclosure is ASSE 1060 Class 1 approved and contains a heater that satisfies both requirements. Anywhere that gets below 32°, should be protected in this fashion so the water supply is never interrupted. Now you can make an informed decision about your heater just like the state of North Carolina did.

aluminum enclosure

Related Posts

3 Reasons Why a Backflow Cover Must Have Heat

Water 2050: Preserving the Future of Water

From the Field: Tips for Safe-T-Cover Enclosures and Protective PVC Coating

Why RPZ Valves Are Required and How to Install One

How To Design A Pump Enclosure

From the Field – National Backflow Prevention Day

Forward thinking in Arlington, Texas: Leading the way with public health and backflow preventers

Enclosure Checklist: Summertime is the right time to think about winter

Enclosures for Control Valves

From the Field: June 2022

Introducing the MUNI-LOK from Safe-T-Cover

Customizing your aluminum enclosure for pipe penetration

Keep Pump Equipment Cool During Summer Heat

Aluminum Enclosure Spring Maintenance Checklist

Thermal Enclosures and the Big Freeze

2021 Golden Enclosure Award Winners

The Importance of a Backflow Enclosure Heating Element

3 Reasons to Use Above-Ground Backflow Enclosures and Meters — from Water Contamination to Injury

Heated Backflow Enclosure — Comparing Names, Products & Vendors

Installing Fire Dept Connection & Backflow Prevention Valve for Safety

What is a Backflow Enclosure?

How Do You Protect the Backflow From Freezing?

Should I Cover My Well Pump? (Well Pump Cover Info)

New Safe-T-Cover LES Models

Backflow Covers: Smaller Footprint Saves Space

The Right Way to Improve Backflow Cover Aesthetics — Use Landscaping

What is the Most Critical Part of an Insulated Backflow Enclosure?

How to Quickly and Safely Remove a Safe-T-Cover Roof

3 Tips for Securing Equipment and Accessories to Interior Enclosure Walls

Top 6 Questions About Covering a Pressure Reducing Valve Station

Virtual Trade Shows Aren't Perfect, But They are Effective

5 Ways Panel Design Equipment Covers Offer Superior Flexibility

The Best Way to Landscape Around a Backflow Enclosure

CASE STUDY - TRIPLEX WATER BOOSTER PUMP COVER

Quintessential List of Backflow Preventer Enclosure FAILS

Case Study - Water Corrosion Control System Enclosure

Project Engineer vs. Maintenance - A Valve & Pump Covers Tug-of-War

How are Backflow Covers Made?

Three Reasons Why You Should Choose an N-Type Device

Comparing The Costs Of Backflow Enclosures and Buildings

The Right Backflow Insulation Cover & Heater For You | Backflow Cover

A Backflow Cage May Not Be Enough To Protect Your Backflow Preventer

Find The Right Backflow Cover For You

What Does It Mean To Think Outside The Vault?

How We Construct Our Backflow Enclosures and Pump Covers

This Is How Vinyl Wraps Disguise Backflow Enclosures

How Do You Hide A Backflow Enclosure?

What Features Should Every Pump Cover Have?

How To Ensure Your Insulated Backflow Enclosure Stays Warm

Keep Your Backflow Enclosure Away From The Street

How to design & Buy a Pump Enclosure

Get the free, editable checklist.

download-cta
DOWNLOAD NOW

CONTACT US

Have a question about a backflow preventer enclosure?
Click the contact us button below and one of our experts will be able to help with your specific enclosure needs.