WATER SYSTEM HYGIENE AND SAFETY


Due to the high water pressures often present in large buildings, the TMVs specified for use in hospitals and other heathcare facilities must be approved for use in healthcare environments.


fix, both of which can unnecessarily affect the environment. To prevent the negative effects of an unbalanced hot water system, a thermal balancing valve (TBV) should be specified in larger applications such as healthcare buildings, where a constant and stable hot water supply is essential. Valves such as the Reliance Valves Thermal Balancing Valve are installed all over the system, and ensure that the hot water is maintained at a constant temperature at all areas of the circuit, which can stave off those environmental inefficiencies. Equally, a TBV restricts flow rates as


the temperature approaches the set point of the secondary hot water return network, which is usually 60-65 °C. It is critical to consider ease of installation and maintenance when specifying a TBV, as this will not only cut down on installation time, but will also lower future service and maintenance costs. Additionally, any valves should be WRAS-approved, include an integral disinfection function, operate automatically, and offer adjustable temperature settings from 40-65 °C. All of these are key features of Reliance Valves’ own TBV.


Preventing backflow with RPZ valves Any building is at risk of experiencing backflow, wherein sudden drops in pressure can force water to move in the opposite direction than intended and contaminate the water supply. However, due to the higher fluid contamination risks within healthcare buildings, backflow can cause a much more severe threat to the occupants in these environments. In 1999, water regulations gave a


classification to the severity of potential backflow in different types of buildings, and therefore separated buildings into one of five fluid categories: with fluid category 1 posing the least risk, and category 5 the maximum. Each category requires different levels of preventative action. Buildings deemed fluid category 1 require no backflow protection, fluid category 2 requires a single check valve (categorised


Health and safety should be the first consideration when it comes to any aspect of a building in the health sector.


as a type-EB backflow prevention device), fluid category 3 requires a double check valve (categorised as a type-ED prevention device), and fluid category 4 requires an RPZ valve (categorised as a type-BA prevention device), which must be tested by an approved installer annually. Additionally, for applications given the highest risk application of fluid category 5, a type-AB air gap is required.


Retrofitting challenges Retrofitting a RPZ valve can be a challenge, especially on buildings built prior to 1999. Seeing as these buildings were constructed prior to RPZ valves becoming a requirement, some buildings do not possess the infrastructure to accommodate them. Reliance Valves specifically created the Compact RPZ Valve for these applications, which comes with 1


/2 in or 3 /4 in size pipe connections.


This means that depending on the specific needs of the building, the valve can be mounted vertically or horizontally within the available space.


With safety the number one priority when it comes to any aspect of a healthcare facility, any efforts we can take to make a plumbing system both safe and sustainable are efforts that we should act upon, and indeed the specification of the right valves is a major step in the right direction.


Scalding and Legionnaires’ disease


are serious concerns associated with hot water systems, yet by selecting the right valves for the job we can help protect end- users and offer a safe built environment. Similarly, with the NHS’s ambition to becoming a greener organisation overall, the specification of the right plumbing valves is a vital step to ensuring that no excess energy is used in the plumbing and heating systems. At RWC, our Specifications managers


and technical team are on hand to work alongside specifiers to guide them through the specification process and help them in selecting a solution that not only complies with regulations, but is easy to install and service further down the line.


Richard Bateman and RWC


Reliance Worldwide Corporation (RWC) is a ‘family of innovative brands that transform performance and efficiency for plumbing and heating, smart homes, and specialist industries around the globe’. From ‘world-leading’ push-fit systems to developing engineered solutions for industrial applications, RWC brands ‘help customers deliver, control, optimise, and solve in innovative, reliable, and simple ways every day’.


Headquartered in Atlanta in the US, RWC has a strong global foothold, with the business divided into three key regions: Americas, APAC, and EMEA. The RWC group is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: RWC), and employs more than 200 people in over 55 locations worldwide. Richard Bateman, Product Marketing manager for Plumbing and Heating, is a highly experienced professional, with over 15 years’ experience as a commercial and domestic plumber, and holds NVQ Level 3 qualifications from City and Guilds. He joined RWC in 2015 as a Technical engineer, ‘utilising his extensive knowledge to provide exceptional support.’ His current role as Product Marketing manager allows him to combine his technical background with a keen eye for market trends, ensuring that RWC’s products meet the sector’s evolving needs.


March 2024 Health Estate Journal 71


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