Water management and treatment is a vital element of the servicing programme for commercial heating systems. Regular checks are essential to prevent the build-up of debris, bacteria and scale – all of which can lead to breakdowns and higher energy bills.
So it may come as a surprise that many building managers, and even servicing engineers themselves, are not fully aware of their obligations or the potential risks.
The Industrial and Commercial Energy Association (ICOM) has, however, raised concerns about water treatment in commercial heating systems, suggesting it is far below the standard of the domestic market. While the latter has long benefited from well-defined and well understood principles and practice, commercial installers and engineers are much less likely to prioritise water treatment.
Raising the Profile
In response, boiler manufacturers and water treatment companies have, under the ICOM banner, created a guide covering everything from design considerations to analysing water and steps to address problems.
While there is no substitute for proper training and experience, the guide aims to raise the profile and understanding of water treatment as an essential aspect of mechanical services.
A launch event was held in London, where the challenges of modern systems, with their wider range of materials, lower flow rates and greater pressure drops, was highlighted. Speaking at the launch, Pete Mills of manufacturer Bosch described the guide as an “important milestone”, as it will help improve the reliability and efficiency of commercial heating systems.
Costly Consequences
ICOM Director Ross Anderson warned of the “costly consequences” of failure to properly manage water in a heating system, warning that the wrong treatment can be as damaging as having none at all.
“Water treatment isn’t just a matter of adding a few chemicals every so often,” he said. “If it is to be effective, the water treatment regime needs to take account of oxygen content, total hardness, conductivity, suspended solids, total metals, chlorides, settled sludge, sulphate, microbiological activity and pH.”
Mr Anderson highlighted some of the key steps in this regime, as specified by the guide, which include:
- Manufacture: Boiler manufacturers, who are often “blamed” for problems despite having no control over the treatment, provide advice that is incorporated into written specifications;
- Design: Water treatment must be considered in the earliest stages of a project, with the design intent made clear to the installer;
- Commissioning: The knowledge must be passed on once the heating system is commissioned, so the maintenance team is fully aware of the design intent;
ICOM is hopeful its ‘Water Treatment and Conditioning of Commercial Heating Systems Guide’ will become an important industry standard even for those without specialist knowledge, addressing a need for best practice guidelines that has long been overlooked. If you’re concerned about your own water treatment regime, or want to learn more about the risks and your obligations, click below to contact the 361 Servicing team.
