(A) No individual shall engage in the
installation, testing, or repair of any "isolation backflow prevention
device," as defined in division (F) of section 3703.21 of the Revised
Code, unless he or she possesses a valid certification as a backflow technician
as follows:
(1) If the backflow
prevention device is, or will be, located within a lawn irrigation process
piping system, the individual must possess a valid "Class A" or
"Class B" backflow technician certification issued in accordance with
section 3703.21 of the Revised Code and rules promulgated
thereunder.
(2) If the backflow
prevention device is an isolation device that is owned by the public water
system, the individual must possess a valid "Class A" or "Class
C" backflow technician certification issued in accordance with section
3703.21 of the Revised Code and rules promulgated thereunder.
(3) For all other
isolation backflow prevention devices not subject to paragraph (A)(1) or (A)(2)
of this rule, the individual must possess a valid "Class A" backflow
technician certification issued in accordance with section 3703.21 of the
Revised Code and rules promulgated thereunder.
(B) This rule does not apply with respect
to the installation, testing, or repair of any "containment backflow
prevention device," as that term is defined in division (F) of section
3703.21 of the Revised Code.
(C) An initial applicant for
certification as a backflow technician shall submit a completed application to
the division on a form designated by the division. In order to qualify to sit
for the backflow technician examination, the applicant must successfully
demonstrate to the satisfaction of the superintendent or the
superintendent's designee all of the following:
(1) Significant workplace
experience relevant to backflow technician work, as follows:
(a) If the applicant is experienced in the plumbing
industry, the applicant must possess five years of experience with a plumbing
contractor, a hydronic contractor, or a fire protection company certified by
the Ohio state fire marshal; or, the applicant must hold a current plumbing
inspector certification from the division or bureau of building
standards.
(b) If the applicant is experienced in the water purveyor
or industry business, the applicant must possess five years of experience in
the water purveyor industry; or, the applicant must possess a minimum of an
Ohio environmental protection agency license class I distribution of an Ohio
environmental protection agency water treatment operator license.
(c) If the applicant does not have the experience set forth
in paragraph (B)(1)(a) or (B)(1)(b) of this rule, the board may consider other
acceptable experience related to the performance of backflow technician duties,
including consideration of such experience as it relates to the class of
backflow technician certification that is being applied for.
(2) Completion of a
twenty-four hour backflow course by an approved training agency that includes a
mandatory hands-on testing and repairing examination administered by an
approved training agency.
(3) Payment of an
application fee and examination fee set forth in rule 1301:3-7-04 of the
Administrative Code.
(D) If the applicant holds another
state's backflow technician certification, then the superintendent may
permit the applicant to complete an eight-hour Ohio recertification backflow
technician course by an approved training agency and then issue the
certification.
