What is  Air Admittance Valve Testing?

Ventilation of indoor soil lines is normally provided by a vent going through the roof of the building. This allows air to flow into the system preventing a temporary vacuum from pulling the water out of the traps, permitting sewer gas from later entering the building. Where it is not possible to provide a through-the-roof vent, it is becoming more common to use an Air Admittance Valve, which allows air to flow into the soil lines, protecting the trap seals by breaking the vacuum. When the pressure in the lines increases, the valve immediately shuts, preventing the gas from entering the inside of the building.

The product specifications required by the ASSE and IAPMO for AAVÌs (Air Admittance Valves) are quite strict, and are stated in ASSE 1049, 1050, and 1051. These include numerous tests that rate both the performance of the valve under simulated conditions of use, and objective tests of the performance under laboratory conditions.