What is an Air Gap
Definition: What Does the Air Gap Mean?
This is a common term used to identify a technique for preventing backflow through a pipe. The actual application is simply an air gap between the end of one pipe, and the start of another. The use of an air gap negates any concern of siphoning, due to the space created by the air gap. This technique is common in mechanical spaces and is normally located over a floor drain which is positioned by the mechanical engineer to accept any water that may leak from the system. Air gaps are a very simple method of ensuring that no return flow can possibly occur to contaminate the original systems. If the system needs to be an enclosed system and the air gap technique is not possible, then the use of a backflow preventer is designed into the system. Both techniques eliminate any cross contamination of a fluid system, caused by the introduction of another liquid due to siphoning.