Trade Associations

Own Brand Water Treatment Products

Members of DWTA

Members of HHIC

BSi committee CII/62 - Andy Drummond is CPHE representative - this committee is responsible for BS7593

Through the above associations, which have direct input to the Building Regulations, Andy plays an active role in shaping the future of domestic water treatment in the UK.

Additionally we hold many WRAS approvals and BuildCert approvals - we can quickly set up 'piggyback' approvals with complete anonymity.

We were the first water treatment company to qualify for Benchmark having been third party accredited on behalf of HHIC.

Our formulations qualify for Energy Savings Trust Recommended - a new initiative that will commence in parallel with Q1 2012 launch.

BuildCert

To ensure that chemical inhibitors meet a satisfactory performance requirement the manufacturers, BuildCert and laboratories developed the CIAS Industry Specification for the performance of Chemical Inhibitors for Use in Domestic Hot Water Central Heating Systems (February 2006).

The Specification was published in February 2006 and is now being used as a benchmark for chemical inhibitor manufacturers as a basis for developing chemical inhibitors and by BuildCert to offer third party Certification.

Equipment manufacturers, installers and end users can now be sure that BuildCert approved chemical inhibitors will provide an effective resistance to corrosion within a heating system when correctly used.

Chemical inhibitors are tested in BuildCert approved laboratories who test the inhibitor against the exacting requirements of the BuildCert Domestic Water Treatment Approval Scheme (CIAS) Specification for the performance of Chemical Inhibitors for Use in Domestic Hot Water Central Heating Systems. To ensure that BuildCert Certified products are suitable for use, manufacturers are audited to verify that the contents of every bottle of product supplied are identical to the samples tested.

Metal coupons tested in untreated water

Metal coupons tested with a Buildcert Inhibitor added


Inhibitor Quality Standards

The BuildCert Chemical Inhibitor Approval Scheme (CIAS)
The DWTA has developed a product performance standard to test whether chemical manufacturers' inhibitors deliver tangible system benefits. Developed through industry consultation, the standard ensures that all approved products meet the required level of efficacy. Independently certified by BuildCert, products are assessed against the DWTA standard and checked for consistent quality. BuildCert is a United Kingdom Accreditation service (UKAS) accredited product certification body (number 110) specialising in the certification of water related products.

Chemical Inhibitor Approval Scheme (CIAS)

The longevity and efficiency of water heating primary circuits and boilers, including central heating systems, can be greatly improved by the use of chemical water treatment. The purpose of these treatment fluids in central heating systems is to:

• inhibit corrosion of vital metallic parts such as pipes and radiators,

• prevent scaling up of the system, and in particular the boiler.

In addition the fluid should not cause damage to plastic and rubber components of the system and should have a low environmental impact.

All chemical water treatment fluids certified by BuildCert are tested against standards drawn up by industry experts to ensure that they perform to the criteria above. BuildCert's quality assurance requirements check that every bottle of water treatment fluid sold with the BuildCert CIAS log on it performs as well as the last. BuildCert CIAS Approval allows boiler manufacturers, installers and consumers to have peace of mind that their hot water system is protected.

Benchmark

Benchmark scheme is a nationally recognised scheme that places the responsibilities on both manufacturers and installers to ensure best practice in installation, commissioning and servicing of domestic heating and hotwater products in line with Building Regulations. It is managed and promoted by the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC). Benchmark requires that installers complete a Benchmark checklist, when commissioning a new heating appliance installation. This includes the use of chemical water treatment

DWTA

The Domestic Water Treatment Association (DWTA) is an industry backed organisation, dedicated to promoting product and installation quality standards for the chemical water treatment sector. The DWTA works with the heating industry, Government and consumer groups to ensure chemical water treatment contributes to improving the overall performance of heating systems.

The aim of the DWTA is to establish chemical water treatment as best practice for heating systems. Domestic Water Treatment plays a crucial role in maintaining the efficiency and efficacy of central heating systems to benefit the consumer.

What is chemical water treatment?

Domestic water treatment is the generic term for products and processes preventing the corrosion and scaling of ancillary pipe-work and equipment within a heating system. Chemical inhibitors maintain or improve its long-term energy efficiency by protecting against the damaging effects of corrosion and lime scale.

With Government focus on energy efficiency objectives, it is now a mandatory requirement to clean and inhibit a heating system properly. By following the correct procedures, water treatment ensures that the boiler and other central heating components operate to their maximum potential through protection from the effects of contaminants and harmful particles produced when water combines with metal. The inclusion of water treatment in the 2006 Building Regulations demonstrates the invaluable contribution domestic water treatment companies make in the field of energy efficiency.

Inhibitor Quality Standards - The BuildCert Chemical Inhibitor Approval Scheme (CIAS)

The DWTA has developed a product performance standard to test whether chemical manufacturers' inhibitors deliver tangible system benefits. Developed through industry consultation, the standard ensures that all approved products meet the required level of efficacy. Independently certified by BuildCert, products are assessed against the DWTA standard and checked for consistent quality. BuildCert is a United Kingdom Accreditation service (UKAS) accredited product certification body (number 110) specialising in the certification of water related products.

Inhibitor Quality Standards

The BuildCert Chemical Inhibitor Approval Scheme (CIAS)
The DWTA has developed a product performance standard to test whether chemical manufacturers' inhibitors deliver tangible system benefits. Developed through industry consultation, the standard ensures that all approved products meet the required level of efficacy. Independently certified by BuildCert, products are assessed against the DWTA standard and checked for consistent quality. BuildCert is a United Kingdom Accreditation service (UKAS) accredited product certification body (number 110) specialising in the certification of water related products.

Building Regulations

In April 2006 the revised Building Regulations including 'Approved Document L: Conservation of Fuel and Power' (England and Wales) was published. In addition the ODPM published 'Domestic Heating Compliance Guide' to help users interpret the Approved Document.

The Domestic Heating Compliance Guide specifically requires the use of chemical inhibitors both for new build heating systems and when a new heat source (boiler) is fitted to an existing heating system. The Guide also refers to BS 7593:2006 'Code of Practice for Treatment of Water in Domestic Hot Water Central Heating Systems'.

The Guide states: 'Central heating systems should be thoroughly cleaned and flushed out before installing a new boiler. During final filling of a system, a chemical treatment formulation should be added to the primary circuit to control corrosion and the formation of scale and sludge. Reasonable provision would be to follow the guidance on how to prepare and commission systems given in BS 7593.'

Page from the Domestic Heating Guide - Building Regulations

		Gas-fired wet heating		New systems		Replacement system		Supplementary information
		4.0 System preparation and water treatment		a. Central heating systems should be thoroughly cleaned and flushed out before installing a new boiler. b. During final filling of the system, a chemical water treatment inhibitor meeting the manufacturer's specification or other appropriate standard should be added to the primary circuit to control corrosion and the formation of scale and sludge. c. Installers should also refer to the boiler manufacturer's installation instructions for appropriate treatment products and special requirements for individual boiler models. d. Where the main total water hardness exceeds 200 parts per million, provision should be made to treat the feed water to water heaters and the hot water circuit of combination boilers to reduce the rate of accumulation of limescale. e. For solar thermal systems, see Section 11.		a. As for new systems		Inhibitors should be BuildCert approved or equivalent. Limescale can be controlled by the use of chemical limescale inhibitors, combined corrosion and limescale inhibitors, polyphosphate dosing, electrolytic scale reducers or water softeners. The relevant standard for water treatment is BS 7593:20069 'Code of practice for treatment of water in domestic hot water central heating systems'. BS 7593 notes that 'naturally soft waters of low alkalinity or those supplied via a base-exchange resin softener have an increased potential for corrosion and, if they are used in any central heating system, a corrosion inhibitor specifically formulated for the purpose should be added and properly maintained.' Manufacturers should be consulted for advice, paying particular attention to dosage levels. In order to avoid loss and consequent replacement of circulating fluid and water treatment when removing radiators for service or maintenance, it is advisable to install radiator valves that can isolate not only the heating circuit but also seal off the radiators.