State, City of Chicago are now inspecting dental offices for backflow preventer compliance

Dental offices in the Chicago area are being inspected for compliance with state and city requirements that dental offices have backflow preventers on their dental units and vacuum system. This requirement has been in effect since 1994. It requires all dental offices in the state to have a licensed plumber install a reduced pressure principle backflow preventer (RPZ) on each dental unit or group of dental units and on the dental vacuum system in order to protect the water system from potential health hazards of human waste discharged during dental procedures from flowing back into the water system.

A summary of the State’s code requirements can be found online at www.isds.org/LawsLegislation/RegulatoryIssues/RPZvalves.asp.

For more information, call the Illinois Department of Public Health, Office of Health Protection at 217.782.3984. General inquiries for the Illinois Department of Public Health can be directed to 217.782.4977.

The City of Chicago requires a backflow preventer on each dental unit. But other cities and counties may only require a backflow preventer that connects all units to the main water system. Dentists statewide need to be aware of their local requirements and enforcement codes, as well as the requirement to have an annual inspection of the backflow devices by a licensed plumber.

The City of Chicago’s Municipal Code regarding health care plumbing can be found at www.isds.org/lawsLegislation/regulatoryIssues/MunicipalCodeofChicago.pdf. Chicago’s office of Plumbing Inspections can be reached at 312.744.7017.