PHAM NEWS | JUNE 2024 Water& System Treatment 39 F


ollowing the widespread adoption of wet central heating systems in the 1950s, it was German


engineer Peter Muetzel who fi rst discovered that a largely- metal heating system with water circulating at high temperatures is vulnerable to corrosion and damage, if the water isn’t properly treated. He went on to establish Fernox in 1964, promoting his concept that with chemical water treatment central heating systems will work more effi ciently and for longer. As the understanding of


what is required to keep a central heating system working at optimal effi ciency grew, manufacturers began to develop their portfolios and introduce products to help address some of the common issues with heating systems. Within the sphere of chemical


water treatment, the recognition of the benefi ts of both cleaning and inhibiting a system led to the fi rst cleaners being introduced in the early 1970s. There have since been a number of developments in this category that have provided installers with greater choice to meet the diff ering needs of each project including leak sealers, limescale removers and anti-freeze inhibitors.


Changing technology As boiler technology changed, so did the formulations, such as the introduction of nitrate-free inhibitor for copper-tube boilers in the 1980s, which then evolved to citrate based, pH neutral formulas, as boilers began to incorporate more aluminium. The design trend towards the miniaturisation of condensing boilers for space saving has meant the narrow channels within boiler components, such as the pump and heat exchanger, have become more vulnerable to the damaging eff ects of circulating debris.


60 years of product evolution


It is now 60 years since Fernox fi rst demonstrated how chemical water treatment can help to prevent corrosion in central heating systems. Richard Crisp, the company’s head of chemistry, looks at how the water treatment industry has evolved since that time and the wide range of solutions available today.


early 2000s, 500ml solutions capable of treating larger system volumes were introduced, as well as pressurised can versions launched to the market which used Barrier Pressure Pack technology and compressed air propellent to expel the product via a radiator or fi lling loop, dosing the system in just 30 seconds.


Richard Crisp Head of chemistry at Fernox


Take the heat exchanger as


an example, which used to have water channels of approximately 10mm wide, whereas today these channels can be as narrow as just 1mm or even less. The dosing process has


also been supported with the development of concentrated chemical water treatment products over the years. In the


Rules and regulations Legislation has of course had a signifi cant impact on the industry. In the 2006 revisions to Part L of the Building Regulations and referenced documents such as the Domestic Heating Compliance Guide, chemical water treatment fi nally received recognition as it was made compulsory for traditional central heating systems to be pre-commissioned with a cleaner and inhibitor. Another landmark moment


came in 2010, when the same regulations stated the mandatory requirement for chemical water treatments to protect renewable heating systems. The most recent amendment to Part L, which came into eff ect in 2022, reinforced the need for improving the effi ciency of all types of heating systems, with a legal requirement that heating systems are fully cleaned, dosed with a high-quality inhibitor to prevent the formation of sludge and limescale, and fi tted with a system fi lter.


 Test kits, such as the Fernox Express Inhibitor test, enable installers to quickly see results on site


Renewable solutions In response to a drive towards renewable energy, leading manufacturers have introduced a whole new generation of chemical water treatments specifi cally designed and engineered for renewable heating systems. Products were developed to protect the hardware of solar thermal and heat pump systems, by off ering full protection against corrosion, limescale and micro bacterial contamination as well as off ering enhanced heat transfer properties. Alongside chemical water


treatment, specialist equipment and physical devices have


 Pressurised cans can dose a complete system in just 30 seconds


Another key area most recently


recognised by BS7593 is water testing, with the 2019 update introducing the requirement to test system waters. Both on site annual testing and full system laboratory testing every fi ve years is now required, to ensure a best practice approach is being taken. It was 1984 when Fernox’s


 One 500ml bottle of Protector F1 can treat up to 16 radiators


also played a crucial role in optimising operational effi ciency – and there have been major developments in this area too. For example, in 1987, Fernox


launched the fi rst fl ushing machine for domestic heating, the ‘Squid’, and in 2002 came the MK1 Powerfl ow Pump, a cleverly designed fl ushing machine which used a targeted, powerful freshwater fl ow to remove sludge, scale and debris more effi ciently. This was a product that we would improve upon just four years later with the Powerfl ow Pump MKII. The latest evolution is the MKIII, of which several hundred machines are manufactured and sold each year.


Magnetic fi lters Filters are now recognised by both Part L of the Building Regulations and BS7593 as an essential component of system protection. It was back in the noughties that the fi rst magnetic fi lter was launched – many installers will no doubt recall Fernox’s launch of its fi rst magnetic fi lter – the Boiler Buddy, which used hydrocyclonic action and specifi cally engineered magnet assemblies to collect and retain both magnetic and non-magnetic debris within the fi lter, before safe removal. Today, installers can choose


from a comprehensive range of fi lters that refl ect the diff erent challenges faced on site. For example, the Fernox TF1 Sigma HP Filter was introduced in 2022, to eff ectively remove debris from heat pump systems and their distinct characteristics, as well as the more recent TF1 Sigma Mini Filter for small systems and restricted spaces.


own water testing services were formalised and the company introduced its postal water testing service using a 50ml plastic bottle in 2000. This product range has been refi ned over the years with diff erent test kits available today that enable fast on-site testing, which are easy to use and off er valuable result information. The world we live in has also evolved digitally, and with this, manufacturers have developed and introduced app-based solutions that can streamline laboratory postal sampling services for installers.


 The TF1 Sigma Filter is ideal for use in restricted spaces


Climate change As we have learnt more about the damaging eff ects of climate change and the diff erence that optimising the effi ciency of heating systems can make, the benefi ts of correctly commissioning. Treating and maintaining a central heating system using chemical water treatments and fi lters has become widely recognised and regulated for. And as a sector with a proven ability to evolve, it will no doubt continue to innovate and respond to industry demands. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/624/33


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