New Regulations to Affect Commercial Gas Courses

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Changes to Part G of the Building Regulations for England and Wales will affect people taking commercial gas courses. The new regulations came into effect in April 2010 and the main areas of change focus on hot and cold water supply, water efficiency, sanitary conveniences, washing facilities, bathrooms, and kitchen and food preparation areas.

Engineers who have just completed commercial gas courses and plumbing courses need to be aware that there must be provision for water of a suitable quality for flushing.

Suitable installation for the provision of Commerical boilers water must be in any washbasin, bidet, bath and shower in a bathroom and in any sink in an area where food is prepared.

Furthermore, vented hot water systems should incorporate a vent pipe of an adequate size connecting the top of the vessel to a point open to the atmosphere above and over the level of the water in the cold water storage system.

In relation to hot water safety, temperature relief valves and combined temperature and pressure relief valves should not be used in systems where there is no provision to automatically replenish the stored water. The Water Regulations state that water should be stored at not less than 60 degrees Celsius and distributed at a temperature of not less than 55 degrees Celsius.

The hot water supply to any fixed bath must be designed and installed incorporating measures to ensure that the temperature of the water that can be delivered to that bath does not exceed 48 degrees Celsius.

Solar hot water revisions to Part G will also affect people who have finished green energy courses. Where solar heating systems are used, an additional heat source should be available to maintain the water temperature to restrict microbial growth, according to the revisions. Some solar hot water systems operate at elevated temperatures and pressures, so all components should be rated to the appropriate temperatures and pressures.