What is an Air Gap and where is it used?
Air Gap is the physical separation of the potable and non potable system by an air space. The vertical distance between the supply pipe and the flood level rim should be two times the diameter of the supply pipe, but never less than 1″. The air gap can be used on a direct or inlet connection and for all toxic substances. Because todays complex plumbing systems normally require continuous pressure, air gap applications are actually in the minority. It should be remembered, however, that whenever a piping terminates a suitable distance above a contaminant, this itself is actually an air gap. Air Gaps are frequently used on industrial processing applications, but care should be taken that subsequent alterations are not made to the piping, which would result in a direct connection.
