ASSE 5120 study guide
ASSE 5120 · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
ASSE 5120 is a personnel certification in the ASSE International family of professional credentials, aimed at the people who test backflow prevention assemblies in the field. ASSE International - a wholly owned subsidiary of IAPMO R&T, an ANSI-accredited standards developer and ANAB-accredited product certification body - describes its personnel certification programs as covering the specialized segments of backflow prevention, service plumbing, infection control, fire protection and related fields, and states that these certifications expand skill sets, give jurisdictions a nationally recognized benchmark, and raise the employability of professionals. The ASSE 5120 study guide has 6 sections and about 1,735 words.
01Backflow Fundamentals and Cross-Connection Concepts
Backflow is the unwanted reversal of flow in a piping system. It occurs in two forms: backsiphonage , driven by negative or sub-atmospheric pressure in the supply, and backpressure , where downstream pressure exceeds supply pressure.
326 words, about 2 min02Hydraulics and Pressure Principles
Field testing depends on pressure relationships. Understand absolute pressure versus gauge pressure , and that atmospheric pressure at sea level is about 14.7 psi.
325 words, about 2 min03Backflow Prevention Assemblies and Device Identification
Know the major devices and their applications. An air gap is the only non-mechanical protection and provides the highest protection when properly sized; it must be at least twice the effective opening of the supply pipe, with a minimum clearance.
285 words, about 1 min04Field Testing Procedures and Test Equipment
Testing requires calibrated gauges, proper test kits, and a defined sequence. Know the differential pressure test for check valves and the relief valve opening point for reduced-pressure principle assemblies.
290 words, about 1 min05Codes, Standards, and Regulatory Requirements
Know the roles of key standards: ASSE 1001 covers atmospheric vacuum breakers, ASSE 1013 covers reduced-pressure principle assemblies, ASSE 1015 covers double check assemblies, ASSE 1020 covers pressure vacuum breakers, and ASSE 1055 covers spill-resistant vacuum breakers. Installation and testing requirements are often governed by local plumbing codes and the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ).
270 words, about 1 min06Safety, Records, and Professional Practice
Field work involves hazards: pressurized lines, hot water, confined spaces, chemicals, and electrical equipment. Practice lockout/tagout, depressurize before disassembly, wear PPE, and follow confined-space entry procedures.
239 words, about 1 min