BS 8552: 2012 Factsheet - ALS Environmental · BSRIA BG50 Water treatment of Closed Heating and...
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Right Solutions • Right Partner alsenvironmental.co.uk BS 8552: 2012 Factsheet BS 8552: 2012 Sampling and Monitoring of Water from Building Services Closed Systems – Code of Practice The British Standard BS8552:2012 gives guidance on the sampling and testing of closed circuit heating and chilled systems. A quarterly regime of testing is also advocated within the British Standard. The implementation of appropriate sampling and testing regimes will provide vital information as to the condition of the system. Traditionally, system testing may have been carried out on a less frequent basis, which could have resulted in the following potential problems: • High bacteria levels leading to biofilm formation; under deposit corrosion, and potential degradation of some inhibitors • Low inhibitor levels leading to corrosion • High pH leading to corrosion, where Aluminium is present in the system • Degradation of glycol by bacteria, which can reduce the level of freeze protection required in chiller systems • Build-up of scale within the system due to low inhibitor levels • Acceleration of galvanic corrosion due to low inhibitor levels • Inefficient heat transfer due to build-up of debris, corrosion deposits or scale within a closed circuit systems - this can also lead to higher energy bills All of the risks highlighted above can be minimised through adopting a regular quarterly regime of testing, followed by appropriate remedial actions, if required. It has long been the case that the water treatment of closed circuit systems within buildings has not been reviewed until one of the above problems arises. However, in contrast to this, preventative maintenance is the priority in most other areas of facilities management. The launch of BS 8552, earlier this year, will help to increase the awareness of the importance of preventative maintenance with regard to closed circuit systems. How to choose the best testing regime for you: The British Standard recommends that quarterly tests are carried out as per the requirements highlighted in the table on page 2. There are various factors which will, in reality, determine the testing regime which is best for a system, including: • the size of the system • the critical nature of the system • the metals of manufacture of the system • the analytical history of the system water Although the British standard testing for closed circuits is not mandatory it is likely that, as with other British Standards, it will be adopted over time as the standard for closed circuit testing. BSRIA BG50 Water treatment of Closed Heating and Cooling Systems will be issued later this year. This standard is a follow on from BG29/2012 pre-commission cleaning of pipework systems which covers the systems up to the point of handover of new systems. The new BG50 will cover all stages of the life span of a closed circuit, after hand over and will provide guidance and interpretation on results obtained from the sampling and testing of systems in accordance with BS 8552.
Transcript of BS 8552: 2012 Factsheet - ALS Environmental · BSRIA BG50 Water treatment of Closed Heating and...
Right Solutions • Right Partneralsenvironmental.co.uk
BS 8552: 2012 FactsheetBS 8552: 2012 Sampling and Monitoring of Water from Building Services Closed Systems – Code of Practice
The British Standard BS8552:2012 gives guidance on the sampling and testing of closed circuit heating and chilled systems. A quarterly regime of testing is also advocated within the British Standard. The implementation of appropriate sampling and testing regimes will provide vital information as to the condition of the system.
Traditionally, system testing may have been carried out on a less frequent basis, which could have resulted in the following potential problems:
• High bacteria levels leading to biofilm formation; under deposit corrosion, and potential degradation of some inhibitors
• Low inhibitor levels leading to corrosion
• High pH leading to corrosion, where Aluminium is present in the system
• Degradation of glycol by bacteria, which can reduce the level of freeze protection required in chiller systems
• Build-up of scale within the system due to low inhibitor levels
• Acceleration of galvanic corrosion due to low inhibitor levels
• Inefficient heat transfer due to build-up of debris, corrosion deposits or scale within a closed circuit systems - this can also lead to higher energy bills
All of the risks highlighted above can be minimised through adopting a regular quarterly regime of testing, followed by appropriate remedial actions, if required.
It has long been the case that the water treatment of closed circuit systems within buildings has not been reviewed until one of the above problems arises. However, in contrast to this, preventative maintenance is the priority in most other areas of facilities management. The launch of BS 8552, earlier this year, will help to increase the awareness of the importance of preventative maintenance with regard to closed circuit systems.
How to choose the best testing regime for you:The British Standard recommends that quarterly tests are carried out as per the requirements highlighted in the table on page 2.
There are various factors which will, in reality, determine the testing regime which is best for a system, including:
• the size of the system
• the critical nature of the system
• the metals of manufacture of the system
• the analytical history of the system water
Although the British standard testing for closed circuits is not mandatory it is likely that, as with other British Standards, it will be adopted over time as the standard for closed circuit testing.
BSRIABG50 Water treatment of Closed Heating and Cooling Systems will be issued later this year. This standard is a follow on from BG29/2012 pre-commission cleaning of pipework systems which covers the systems up to the point of handover of new systems. The new BG50 will cover all stages of the life span of a closed circuit, after hand over and will provide guidance and interpretation on results obtained from the sampling and testing of systems in accordance with BS 8552.
Right Solutions • Right Partneralsenvironmental.co.uk
BS8552 testing:The below table includes the full requirements as outlined in the BS 8552 and would be the testing regime recommended by most Water Treatment Companies to any customers that are not currently compliant with the British Standard.
Quaterly analysis of Closed System
Parameter Source Water System Water ALS LoR
Suspended solids One off Quarterly 1.0 mg/l
Conductivity One off Quarterly 30 uS/cm
pH One off Quarterly 1 pH units Dilution number
Visual appearance One off Quarterly
Odour One off Quarterly
Total Alkalinity One off Quarterly 2.8 mg/l
Total Hardness One off Quarterly 0.38 mg/l
Nitrite Quarterly 0.08 mg/l
Sulphate One off Quarterly 4.4 mg/l
Chloride One off Quarterly 3.7 mg/l
Total Iron Quarterly 230 ug/l
Dissolved Iron Quarterly 230 ug/l
Total Copper Quarterly 9 ug/l
Molybdate Quarterly 0.006 mg/l
Phosphate One off Quarterly 0.6 mg/l
Glycol Quarterly 2 mg/l
TVC 22-37° Quarterly 0 cfu/ml
Pseudomonas Quarterly 0 cfu/100ml
SRB Quarterly DET/ND
NRB Quarterly 0 cfu/ml
Some additional testing, specific to certain systems, may also be required depending on the system composition or the inhibitor formulation used. Full details of sampling requirement; recommended sampling points, accuracy of test methods used etc. can be obtained from the full text of the British Standard which can be purchased on line from http://shop.bsigroup.com/
The ALS Environmental laboratory in Coventry are able to offer UKAS ISO17025:2005 accredited analysis of the BSRIA parameters, as well as other chemical and microbiological analysis including Legionella and the ESKAPE pathogens.Should you require a more information or a quotation for the BSRIA suites of analysis, as outlined in the Table above, please contact our customer service team.
ALS Environmental Ltd., Torrington Avenue, Coventry, CV4 9GU, U.K. Tel: +44 (0)24 7642 1213 Fax: +44 (0)24 7685 6575 • Email: [email protected] www.alsenvironmental.co.uk
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BS 8552: 2012 Factsheet
