CIPHE Viewpoint

How to overcome water pressure challenges

The challenges posed by low or high water pressure include impacts on system performance and longevity. Jerry Whiteley from the CIPHE discusses some of the potential issues and outlines what installers can do to overcome them.

Water pressure is required to be between a minimum of to a maximum of bar according to the service standard set out by the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat). Therefore, low-pressure is characterised as a water system which falls below bar, while anything above this is considered high-pressure. There are a number of reasons avoiding extremes in either too high or too low water pressure should be the goal.

High or low?

The cause of low water pressure in some cases can be due to area supply issues, such as a burst pipe or emergency repairs. If a property previously had no issues with water pressure and suddenly has a drop in pressure, then it is worth checking with

On the other hand, issues of low pressure may be a longerterm problem. If so, it may be that poor system design, incorrect diameter of the pipes, or even factors that are geographical or down to the water pressure. Older properties had a cistern-fed cold-water system, normally feeding the bathrooms, and these have

Jerry Whiteley

Technical manager at the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering

It is important to be aware that changing to higher pressure might identify weak joints and cause water damage... and it is the installer’s responsibility should a leak occur

larger diameter pipes for low Poor system design

Multiple storey properties in extreme cases can have systems that are unable to cope with the height of the building, if there pressure. In these scenarios, the have low pressure or sometimes do not have a water supply at all. In regions with hilly terrain or areas that are more built-up, devices may need to be used to help improve the pressure.

It isn’t just low pressure that can be an issue however; high pressure can be equally as problematic. An indicator that water pressure is too high is noise within the pipework, which is caused by the water moving too quickly through the pipes. Not only is the noise undesirable, but high water pressure can increase wear and tear within the pipework. This can erode components, shortening the and increasing the likelihood of costly leaks and pipe bursts.

Finding a solution

Resolving water pressure issues, whether too high or too low, is ensure the water pressure is measured to obtain an accurate reading of the supply to the home. Before attempting to resolve pressure concerns and before any installation, the local water supply must also be checked.

The installation of a booster pump is often a straightforward solution for low pressure scenarios, as it increases water pressure by forcing the water faster rate. It is worth keeping in mind that water authorities limit this to litres per minute, anything more and you must notify them beforehand.

Alternatively, an accumulator tank which stores cold water can be installed. An accumulator gathers water during low demand periods, for example overnight, and holds the volume of water under boosted pressure until it is required.

Generally, high-pressure properties are easier to solve when compared with the low-pressure counterpart. A pressure reducing valve installed on the main water supply pipe, for example, can help to regulate the water pressure as desired.

Don’t get caught out

In some instances, it may be necessary to convert a system from low pressure to high pressure. A common misjudgement that installers make is forgetting that the pipework is designed for low pressure, larger diameters and Connecting to an existing low pressure system is likely to result in poor water supply and poor quality, leading to a system design rethink. It is important to be aware that changing to higher pressure might identify weak joints and cause water damage. As such, systems must be tested in line with Water Regulations as it is the installer’s responsibility should a leak occur.

Technical support

With installers often being the homeowners experience water pressure issues, it is critical that plumbing and heating engineers able to resolve any problems and assistance across an array of plumbing and heating topics to support installers with queries surrounding technical issues, including water pressure.

For more information about the CIPHE, or to become a member, please contact the team via email: membership@ciphe.org.uk or call 01708 472791

Training is the key to sustainability success

Sustainability is top of the agenda for the entire heating industry and with outlines the latest aspects heating engineers need to know when it comes to technologies and their role in the future heating mix.

Since , when the UK government set a legally binding target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions from across the UK economy by , decarbonisation strategies and renewed sustainability targets continue to be made. Now, at the time of writing this article, the industry eagerly awaits the BEIS Heat in Buildings Strategy. This will add detail on how the committed emissions reductions will be delivered in respect to heat. For instance, how to meet to reduce emissions by % by . The overall goal will be to outline the key steps required to make these key decisions on heat decarbonisation in the s.

For heating engineers working in the domestic heating market, what we know so far is that solutions to help transition the existing housing stock from natural gas to low carbon alternatives. This includes heat pumps and hydrogen-ready appliances like boilers.

Heat pumps

One option for decarbonising heating systems in homes across the UK are heat pumps. While heat pumps are clearly set to play a key role in new build homes thanks to the Future Homes Standard, proposed to come into potential for homeowners to

Jeff House

Head of external affairs at Baxi

solution, especially for homes not connected to the gas grid.

Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) electricity instead of natural gas. However, a lack of heat concern for the industry, which could halt progress to reach targets. With this in mind, we’re committed at Baxi to ramping up renewables training for installers over the coming years, with ASHPs a key focus.

Another potential challenge facing the domestic market is the added work involved in the includes the work involved to bolster insulation, which could be too disruptive for some households. A hot water cylinder would also be a requirement. Hybrid solution

One solution to these initial challenges is the concept of hybrid heat pump and gas boilers. Much like a hybrid car, the electric heat pump is supported by a natural gas boiler when required. A hybrid ASHP and boiler system provides increased emissions, with less disruption than an ASHP alone.

As a result, these hybrid systems could be a bridging solution to help reduce emissions in homes across the UK, while other technologies are being researched and perfected. In fact, the Climate Change Committee systems as a key measure to achieving reduced emissions and have been pushing for their immediate implementation.

Hydrogen heat

For the decarbonisation of the existing gas grid, hydrogen is currently being investigated as a low carbon alternative to natural gas. Currently this technology is still in the demonstration phase, and so is not currently available as an option for homeowners. However, companies like Baxi are at the forefront of the research and development to make hydrogen a reality.

One of the more recent examples of this is a project that we have been working on with Northern Gas Networks (NGN), demonstration, which will be open to the public. Through these kinds of projects, the government, distribution network companies, and manufacturers are hoping to make hydrogen a reality as a low carbon option alongside heat pumps.

For homes across the UK, this could mean, with just a few component changes and minimal disruption, boilers that are ‘hydrogen ready’ could run with this low carbon fuel. Hydrogen boilers would be much like their traditional natural gas counterparts in appearance and installation. This means that homeowners would have a familiar heating setup to meet their requirements. Because of this, Gas Safe registered heating engineers across the UK should only require a small amount of additional training and hydrogen boilers. Multi-strand approach

It is clear from the array of options available that there will be multiple ways of decarbonising the nation’s buildings. At Baxi our sustainability pledge outlines how the business is committed to not only develop the low carbon product solutions needed, but that we will also support professionals on this journey.

For the domestic sector, the opportunity for those who upskill in low carbon technologies is considerable, and the support of manufacturers will be important to help professionals with product training. As part of this, more renewables training from Baxi is in development, which is designed to support professionals on the road to net zero. phamnews.co.uk

Solar thermal can play a part

When deployed as part of a hybrid system, solar thermal can help to meet the needs of hot water demand in commercial buildings. Bill Sinclair from Adveco highlights some of the recent advances in this sustainable technology.

Faced with an increasing expectation to become more actively sustainable, as well as the need to mitigate rising energy costs, now is a good time for commercial organisations to reconsider the integration of a solar thermal system as part of their premises. Not only is solar thermal a proven and extremely reliable technology, for the past 15 years it has off ered a clear path to reducing CO2 emissions.

Ten years ago, it might have been very di cult to argue in favour of solar thermal because the numbers really did not stack up against the price of gas. The capital costs of installation and maintenance versus the operational savings meant many early projects failed to recoup their investment, even with the support of the RHI, despite a typically cited ten-year payback.

Fast forward to today, and we are in very diff erent situation. Commercial organisations in response to the need to reduce CO2 are moving water heating away from gas to direct electric, which is perceived to be cleaner. But what they are fi nding is that such a shift comes with a new fi nancial burden, as electricity at 11p/kWh is substantially more expensive than gas. But

Bill Sinclair

Adveco technical director

Solar thermal systems are ideal for organisations that rely on large amounts of hot water, but it is important to understand that they will not fully replace an existing water heating system

 Adveco solar thermal panels can be installed in a variety of ways, including on a frame construction to achieve

if you can off set that cost, then the numbers really start to look favourable for adopting solar thermal. A ten-year return on investment becomes very achievable, and, with the undisputed carbon and cost savings, we are seeing a defi nite upswing in demand for new systems.

Hot water demand

Solar thermal systems are ideal for organisations that use and rely on large amounts of domestic hot water (DHW), but it is important to understand that a solar thermal system will not fully replace an existing water heating system and will not provide space heating. The actual percentage of water heating demand covered by solar thermal will depend on the site and energy consumption habits – around 30% is typical for commercial applications. As with any technology, issues can arise if a commercial system is poorly designed and/or badly maintained.

A correctly designed and sized system will consider the likely daily usage and peak demands. Its aim is to serve all peaks from storage, with the size of the peak determining the size of pre-heat. The recovery time for peaks is what ultimately determines the number of solar collectors a building requires.

The design process should also address the issue of available space. A south-facing and unobstructed roof with an inclination of 30° from the horizontal is optimal, though by no means essential as modern solar collectors can be installed in a variety of permutations. Unsurprisingly, solar thermal collectors do suff er if the building is signifi cantly shaded, in which case a commercial air source heat pump (ASHP) may be a preferred option to produce low carbon heat. Length of pipe run is also important – if collectors are located a considerable distance from plant then a system’s thermal losses can be detrimental to e cient operation.

Solar thermal collector options for commercial buildings Overheat protection

Perhaps the largest negative for early adoption of solar thermal was the possibility of overheating causing pressure blow-off , or worse, the stagnation of solar fl uid. Without overheat protection, a poorly maintained system could see fl uid cooking to the consistency of molasses. This could happen within weeks of installation, blocking collectors and pipework and causing permanent damage.

This problem can be avoided by deploying systems that off er drain back, which, as the name implies, drains the solar fl uid from the collector to a reservoir when not in use. Flat plate collectors with an integrated drain back module are more cost-eff ective (as there is no requirement for large solar storage) and more e cient (as there is no call to dump unused heat). The technology has proven itself in the fi eld, with some sites requiring fl uid changes after eight or nine years rather than the expected three. Some sites have required no fl uid change at all in the past decade.

Output v demand

Quality design work enables calculation of the solar fraction – the total annual heat demand for hot water compared to total available from solar inputs. Obviously, solar thermal systems are most productive during the summer months, but during winter a back-up heat system is also required. Designers have two options – gas fi red with solar preheat, or electric with heat pump and solar – to balance cost and environmental impact.

Solar has always been used as a preheat with the coldest water possible to maximise the e ciency and output, thereby delivering the maximum amount of free heat with no carbon emissions. But there is a good case now for using solar thermal with heat pumps and electric energy if set up as a mid-heating system which can lower both carbon and cost.

Proven solution

No single technology currently provides the magic bullet of sustainability for commercialscale projects. Delivered in conjunction with other technologies – high e ciency gas or electric boilers and ASHP – solar thermal, when correctly sized, commissioned and protected from overheat, is a proven and practical technology. It can help future-proof a hot water system whilst making substantial savings in operational costs while dramatically reducing emissions all year round. phamnews.co.uk/721/21

Hot water storage key to

The rise of the combi boiler has seen the exile Egginton from Advance Appliances explains, hot water storage and renewable energy is a necessary

With plans in the works to ban the use of natural gas in new houses from , and the development of hydrogen boilers to replace fossil fuel appliances, the hot water cylinder is becoming more relevant in how we provide heat in the home.

In the news, we recently saw a householder proudly telling a reporter that he has a “tank”, with an immersion heater connected to his electric solar panel (solar PV) on the roof. “Look - free hot water, no gas burnt, no CO2 – a win-win situation,” he said.

And it’s true. Early solar PV installations came with a subsidy to the householder for every unit of power produced, if the householder has a tank (i.e. cylinder), they would use that free power to generate hot water in addition to getting a payment. Another win-win.

It all becomes so obvious really when you look at it like that – except that millions of houses have had their hot water requirement to place these units on the market with a band ‘C’ or better heat loss rating, and they all carry a label indicating their energy rating.

In addition to solar, there are other options to be considered as a green source of heat. The electricity grid is being greened at a fast rate, and there are many days now in the UK where all of our electricity is generated by renewable energy such as water, sun and wind. It doesn’t have to be high summer for solar options to do this on a macro scale; solar farms are productive from spring through to autumn. Likewise, it doesn’t have to blow a gale for wind generation to work well, and more large scale wind farms are more wind and the turbines are less intrusive. Hydro is a long standing, all-year option.

Using electricity for domestic hot water is an excellent option,

Geoff Egginton

Director at Advance Appliances

It is perfectly feasible to keep the combi and add a cylinder using the combi, but with solar input to heat up the water when the sun shines

Advance Appliances offers cylinders specially made to work with heat pumps

cylinders removed and replaced with gas combi boilers – from one appliance.

Combi with a cylinder?

Even though a cylinder isn’t required for these homes, the gas combi can be kept and used for heating if there is one present. As hot water production often accounts for over half of the gas guzzled in the home, this is an easy houses looking for savings and greener lifestyles. It is perfectly feasible to keep the combi and add a cylinder using the combi, but with a solar input to heat up the water when the sun shines. The hot water cylinder doesn’t even have to be in the house. It can be located in the garage, an outbuilding, or the loft space.

Modern mains pressure hot water cylinders are usually cased with foam insulation injected, making them smart although it will require storage if your hot water demand is any higher than a shower. With current demand-led energy storage can be created or boosted at appropriate times. Furthermore ‘smart’ electric controls can help optimise usage, which they learn by habit. Smart controls will usually enhance energy ratings because they make the power work for you, topping up heat when it is needed.

Heat pumps need storage

For new build or new systems, the best way to utilise electricity is through heat pump technology. Heat pumps actually multiply the power outputs greater than inputs. Although the installation can be disruptive and is easier to employ on major refurbs and new build, heat pumps work extremely well with highly insulated properties. behind heat pump technology, and it requires storage. Heat pumps harvest energy from the ground, water or air. They are not gas boiler replacements and have much less power. They are very suitable for connection to cylinders designed for that purpose. Don’t use standard cylinders – they just don’t work.

Heat pump cylinders will be labelled and promoted as such, mechanisms able to convert heat pump outputs to useful stored hot water. Getting this long life heating systems that will satisfy the needs of the consumer and tick all the environmental boxes, too. phamnews.co.uk

Heat pumps can deliver even

The government’s long-term commitment to heat both for homes and commercial applications. Lochinvar’s Liam Elmore looks at how this

The UK heat pump market is booming, and while much of this growth is in the residential market, this should pave the way for more growth in the commercial building market and the deployment of heat pumps as part of district heating networks.

The government has challenged the industry to be installing units a year by – a colossal step up from current levels – and not growth in both the residential and commercial marketplaces. The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) had already set a target of one million a year by the ’s, towards an eventual total of million.

Liam Elmore

Sales director at Lochinvar

Bridging the gap

The industry is willing to get behind this strategy, but there is a considerable skills gap that will need to be closed to ensure there are enough trained people to carry out the work to the required standard so that this technology can achieve its carbon lowering potential. Industry estimates suggest more than new heat pump installers will be needed over the next decade if the government’s targets are to be met.

CUT TO THE CHASE

Heat pumps in a commercial setting will have to cope with high peak demand periods

Hybrid solutions offer an excellent way to meet targets at a lower capital cost

District networks using heat pumps can easily recover the renewable heat from thermal energy sources like rivers

Heat pumps can achieve CoP’s depending on the application and climatic conditions, but only if they are properly designed, installed, commissioned and maintained. There are also particular technical challenges around designing heating systems that operate at the low temperatures produced by heat pumps, and this is not widely understood – even by many already in the industry.

While the current focus is on improving the energy performance of homes, there are to be had from an increasing emphasis on commercial buildings and heat networks.

Integrated approach

The technical challenge in commercial buildings is often are potentially even greater. Many commercial buildings experience short peak demand periods when high volumes of hot water are required – leisure centres and hotels being particular examples. This makes them ideal for a heat pump.

We here at Lochinvar are seeing increased demand for ‘hybrid’ systems where heat pumps are combined with technologies like gas boilers and water heaters to improve performance where a fully renewable system was not an technical reasons. An integrated avoid the potentially disruptive and costly process of replacing other system components.

Multi-valent systems

Heat pumps can also be installed as part of multi-valent systems, where energy is gathered from several separate sources which can include other renewable technologies, such as solar thermal. In such a system, the use of a properly sized thermal store becomes the critical element and allows the design engineer to provide an extremely -output solution. The thermal store acts as a large, low resistance header that can accept heat from multiple sources. This smooths out the system capacity to

Integrating technologies in this way requires good control strategies and a thorough commissioning process to ensure the various parts of the system work in correct sequence. The system should be set up to ensure the renewable/low to respond to any call for heating and hot water, with boilers only there to provide back-up.

Integrated/hybrid solutions are an excellent way to meet performance targets at a lower capital cost than going for a totally renewable option. They deliver a faster return on investment for commercial building owners, which means they are more likely to be taken up on a greater scale and, therefore, will deliver more energy and carbon reductions in the longterm.

Hybrids also reduce running costs and extend the operating life of the equipment by only using the gas- back-up mode. This is another key to reducing carbon. If you have to replace products on a regular basis, you will increase your overall carbon footprint.

Heat pumps could also play an even bigger part in reducing carbon emissions through their use in distributed heat networks for homes, public sports facilities, hospitals, and universities – so also delivering

There are around , such networks in the UK, providing heating, hot water and/or cooling to almost half a million consumers. Since they aggregate heating and cooling supplies across a neighbourhood or entire district, these networks can unlock otherwise inaccessible large-scale renewable and recovered heat sources, such as waste heat and thermal energy from rivers.

Thanks to the availability approaches, there are now more commercial buildings where heating and hot water services are provided by heat pumps, many of which have been installed at reasonable capital cost for clients. The potential for rapid expansion of this market once we move back into more normal economic conditions is extremely exciting. phamnews.co.uk/

Where to start on the road to low carbon?

With the government’s commitment to achieving a 8% reduction in carbon emissions by 2035, together with plans to ban boilers in new builds by 2025, now is the time for installers to prepare for the changes ahead. Vaillant highlights two installers who made the most of learning during the lockdown to become renewable installers ready to take on the challenges of a new era.

Heat pump technology is set to play a central role in decarbonising the heat in our homes, and with a government target to install 600,000 heat pumps every year by 2028, demand for this technology is set to rise signifi cantly, providing installers with a great opportunity to diversify their business and increase revenue opportunities at the same time.

Starting point

But while the opportunities are clear, knowing where to start on your low carbon journey can be daunting. At Vaillant we have a long-standing commitment to investing in highly e cient low carbon technologies, which includes supporting installers looking to make the transition, with expert training and product insight. Two such installers who recently upskilled and invested in low carbon technologies are Michael Dawes and Jay Abley. We spoke to them both recently to fi nd out more about their low carbon journey and how they have made the transition to low carbon heating a reality.

Meet the installers

As well-established installers, both Jay and Michael each have their own business: Jay runs JDA Solutions in County Durham, while Northumberland-based Michael trades as Your Plumbing. Both Jay and Michael are currently on the road to becoming certifi ed renewable installers under the icrogeneration Certifi cation Scheme (MCS).

“I started working towards my MCS accreditation over lockdown,” says Jay. “I was able to build on what I’d already learned and get on-hand support from Vaillant for any questions I had when it came to the system itself. Without that support, and being able to speak to actual people within thanks to an introduction from their Vaillant regional business manager, the pair worked together to undertake their fi rst major low carbon installation of an aroTHERM plus air source heat pump.

“The owner is a landlord,” explains Michael. “The property is a holiday let, which means it’s unattended a lot of the time. It’s also remote, so not connected to the mains gas.

“Previously the house ran on LPG, but that was too highmaintenance for the owner. He wanted to know what alternatives were available to him, and that’s where the Vaillant aroTHERM plus became the ideal solution, which could meet the bespoke needs of the property, while also helping to lower its carbon emissions.

“The installation, was straightforward, and Vaillant’s technical team were on hand throughout to answer any questions myself or Jay had, which was really valuable.”

Michael Dawes Your Plumbing the training team, I don’t think I’d have been ready to start installing low carbon technologies so soon.

“When Vaillant noticed my enthusiasm for learning, they off ered to put me on their courses,” continues Jay. “Before I knew it, I’d done all the boiler commissioning courses, all the controls courses and then went on to cover the modules on low carbon technologies, such as heat pumps. They’ve all been extremely useful and now I’m really excited about the future of my business.”

While low carbon environmental business opportunities, knowing where to start may seem a

Green growth

Keen to expand the services their businesses off ered with sustainable options, both Jay and Michael took the opportunity to attend some of Vaillant’s training courses dedicated to low carbon technologies. “The training courses are out there, and installers need to take advantage of them,” says Michael. “You don’t have to make the jump to low carbon technologies immediately – but if you want to future-proof your business, and the installs you’re doing today, now is the time to start learning, and the support available from manufacturers, such as Vaillant, is a great place to start.”

Teaming up

It wasn’t long until both Jay and Michael were able to put their training to the test. With the installers joining forces, Lateral thinking

Michael has now been able to put his low carbon learning into practice on a number of projects.

“Since completing the Vaillant renewables course, I’ve even been designing my gas installs to be future-proofed by using larger diameter pipework and radiators sized for lower fl ow temperatures. So, if one of my customers wants to switch to a heat pump in a few years, they can do it without the extra expense.

“The tolerances of a heat pump system are diff erent to those of a gas heating system,” he explains. “If you use the same pipe diameters and the same radiators as you would with a gas system, a renewables system may not run at its best.”

Getting support

While low carbon solutions off er clear environmental benefi ts and business opportunities, knowing where to start may seem a little daunting.

As a manufacturer committed to supporting installers, aillant off ers a range of free low carbon training courses. These cover the drivers behind decarbonising the heat in our homes and why low carbon technology is a good investment for installers and homeowners alike. The range of courses is not only designed to off er installers help with understanding low carbon technologies, but also all the requirements needed for an eff ective installation and how to correctly confi gure the heat pump to get the best setup for the user, ensuring that their installs deliver the highest e ciencies and performance for their customers. phamnews.co.uk/721/2

Meeting the needs of the customer

With renewable technology and tailored solutions increasingly important requirements for customers looking to upgrade their heating systems, Firebird – a manufacturer of heating solutions for the commercial and domestic market – is happy to work closely with customers to develop bespoke heating packages to meet their needs.

According to national sales manager Gary Davies, the needs of customers and the expectations of installers have a key driver, not only in terms of the environment but also in terms of service and installation time.

“Without a doubt, there is an increasing demand for green energy heating systems and customers’ requirements environmental responsibility and performance,” he explains. “For Firebird installers, the focus is on quality, service and ease of installation.”

One such example is a private housing estate in East Anglia in which Firebird developed and delivered individually tailored, environmentally friendly heating packages for the properties. drawings, the Firebird in-house design team of engineers worked with the installer to create a complete and bespoke package to meet the required applications,” says Gary.

“One of the key requirements was for a non-fossil fuel burning product and as renewable energy is our expertise, we delivered the perfect zero-emissions package.”

This included Firebird’s Enviroair air source heat pump as the Firebird Quick Plumb Cylinder unit, with built-in zone valves and a mirror box for ease of installation.

Installer Paul Barford, of Barford Heating Ltd in Great Yarmouth, worked with Firebird on the project and explains how build project to have the entire heating solutions designed by the company.

“For new build projects such as the private housing development, a renewable and tailored package was a must,” he says. “For me it was really important in terms of time and service to have a one-stop-shop with Firebird providers. I was looking for of service and labour.

“I’ve worked with Firebird for many years, so they were a natural choice to partner on this project. I knew that, given their expertise, they would handle the design, sourcing of material and support – I’d have good back up and I knew they would be there to put me right throughout the project, which is an added-value that I like most.” phamnews.co.uk/

Using less refrigerant

Commercial hot water and heating specialist Adveco has launched the FPi range of air to water heat pumps designed for use with domestic hot water applications. The three models, available in , and kW variants provide a low carbon source of hot water in a more and easier-to-install unit. - refrigerant, the FPi requires almost a kilo less refrigerant to operate compared to the has just % of the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of its predecessor.

Compatible with existing DHW distribution systems with higher thermal requirements, the FPi range is said to be ideal for integration into a hybrid hot water system, providing °C hot water throughout the year, even when ambient air temperatures drop as low as -

Featuring a monobloc design, each unit is equipped as standard with frost protection. phamnews.co.uk/