Modern Building Services

INSTALLER VIEW FEATURE INSTALLERS VIEW 22 MODERN BUILDING SERVICES MARCH 2022 W ater flow, control and monitoring is a key priority for water system design in multiple occupancy dwellings from design through to maintenance. Due to this often being highly complicated, designers, contractors and installers have much to consider when making recommendations and selecting components for them. Issues that can occur with current water system designs Water systems in multiple occupancy buildings present a unique set of challenges for a designer, with issues to consider such as design compliance, water hammer, potential leaks, pipe freezing, access to servicing points, pipe configuration, and the complexity of the install itself. Due to this, designers must seek out components which reduce the impact of these issues, make compliance to regulations easier, and optimise the water supply for each self-contained apartment. With regard to compliance, theWater Supply (Water Fitting) Regulations 1999, require that each self-contained apartment in a multi- occupancy building be supplied with a stop valve and suitable backflow prevention device, such as a single or double check valve, or other no less effective back flow prevention device, according to the level of risk as judged by the water undertaker. In addition to this, under theWater Industry Act 1991, for every self-contained apartment or flat in a multi-occupancy build, there must be an individual water meter fitted to the supply pipe, regardless of whether it is a new build or a retrofit. Even when water system design compliance is met, there can still be various issues with the system, with one of the most common problems with water systems being leaks from poorly installed components. This could be as a result of time pressure at install, or simply the excess number of connections required for individual componentry. The quality of the workmanship, and the time and care needed to ensure this is overcome, is a consideration that must be had when a designer specifies the componentry in the water system, as surplus time is often not available. Another common problem is the freezing of pipes. Often, a designer will need to consider the location and the temperatures that the pipes will likely to be subjected to when installed. Lack of insulation around the pipes and fittings can lead to the loss of water supply due to freezing and splitting of components. For the insulation to be effective, the workmanship at installation must be of a high standard to prevent any opportunity for the cold to penetrate the system. A further issue faced by designers, and eventually installers, is access to the components for maintenance. To ensure that the water system maintains the designed quality and efficiency, a system should be designed in a way which ensures easy access for maintenance. This can be difficult where designers wishing to optimise space for the apartments themselves can then only provide minimal space for the system install. Gary Perry , Managing Director at Altecnic, explores how beneficial component flexibility, through the design, installation, and maintenance processes, can be for multi occupancy dwellings. With this, Gary discusses how a water meter valve assembly is often the most ideal component for any water system serving multiple dwellings. The importance of flexible system design for the future of multi occupancy dwellings