Plumbing Connection 2-2015

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PLUMBING CONNECTION WINTE
efficiency of insulation is inadvertently warming the water in
the cold water system to a dangerous level.
“In parts of the UK, especially Ireland, they’re fighting with
the increasing insulation on modern buildings, especially
when the cold water is getting sufficiently warm to be a
legionella risk,” Peter says. “I visited a couple of sites, one in
Northern Ireland, where they were installing chillers on the
cold water system to keep the water cold.”
Chilling cold water – particularly in a cooler country like
Ireland – is counterproductive to the cost-saving intentions
of insulation, so building designers and hydraulic engineers
are now looking to relocate the cold water supply.
“In some of these newer designs, they’ve relocated the
pipework away from the central shaft into a separate area,
where it is not heated,” Peter states.
KEEP IT MOVING
Stagnant water gives bacteria a chance to settle and
create biofilm. Ensuring there are no dead or slow spots
in the system or fittings reduces the ability of bacteria to
colonise.
Rada have kept this in mind when designing their new
range of taps, which will be launched in Australia next year.
As Kevin explains, the new designs are “Keeping the internal
geometry of the product very, very simple, so you don’t
have any areas where water is trapped, where it never really
flushes out properly.”
They’ve also reduced the volume and increased the flow
to keep the water moving by shrinking the size of the tap
internally and externally.
While part of the equation is the physiognomy of the taps,
there’s a new element in hydraulic design: automation.
The Rada product series has built-in motors that can
automatically flush either the tap or shower that hasn’t been
used recently. Controlled by an app on a tablet, the taps can
be set for a duty flush at a regular time – down to once an
hour – and to skip this flush if they have been used recently.
In addition to helping keep the water moving, the duty
flush can assist with maintaining the temperature of the
water – either hot or cold – in the lines.
As well as flushing, water can be reticulated within the
system.
“Reticulation is another main component,” Antonio says.
“It is required here in NSW by NSW health that dead legs
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