Hot and Cold

Water Supply
Second Edition
 Hot and Cold
Water Supply
Second Edition

Prepared by
R.H. Garrett, EngTech, MIP RP
Past President of the National Association of
Plumbing Teachers
Plumber of the Year 1988
for
British Standards Institution
# British Standards Institution 2000

Blackwell Science Ltd, a Blackwell Publishing company

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Act 1988, without the prior permission of the publisher.

First published 2000

Reprinted 2001, 2003 (twice), 2004, 2006

ISBN-10: 0-632-04985-5
ISBN-13: 978-0-632-04985-1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Garrett, R.H. (Robert H.)
Hot and cold water supply/prepared by R.H. Garrett.
2nd ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-632-04985-5 (pb)
1. Plumbing. 2. Water-supply engineering. I. Title.
TH6521 .G37 2000
696'.1dc21

A catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library

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responsibility for any errors, loss or damage arising from use of information in this book.
Contents

Acknowledgements ix
Introduction xi
1 General considerations 1
1.1 Legislation 1
1.2 Guidance and approval of water fittings 4
1.3 Scope of the standard 5
1.4 Definitions 5
1.5 Materials 13
1.6 Initial procedures 17
2 Cold water supply 21
2.1 Drinking water 21
2.2 Cold water systems 22
2.3 Storage cisterns 28
2.4 Valves and controls 43
2.5 Water revenue meters 51
2.6 Boosted systems 57
2.7 Water treatment 67
3 Hot water supply 71
3.1 System choice 71
3.2 Instantaneous water heaters 73
3.3 Water-jacketed tube heaters 77
3.4 Storage type water heaters and boiler heated systems 80
3.5 Primary circuits 95
3.6 Secondary hot water distributing systems 106
3.7 Components for hot water systems 110
3.8 Energy supply installations 125
4 Prevention of bursting 127
4.1 Energy control 127
4.2 Pressure and expansion control 136
4.3 Control of water level 141
5 Pipe sizing 143
5.1 Sizing procedure for supply pipes 144
5.2 Tabular method of pipe sizing 154
5.3 Sizing cold water storage 158
5.4 Sizing hot water storage 159
5.5 Legionella implications in sizing storage 163
6 Preservation of water quality 165
6.1 Materials in contact with water 166
vi Contents

6.2 Stagnation of water and Legionella 168

6.3 Prevention of contamination by cross connection 170
6.4 Backflow protection 173
6.5 Backflow prevention devices 176
6.6 Wholesite and zone backflow protection 193
6.7 Application of backflow prevention devices 195
7 Frost precautions and maintenance of water temperature 208
7.1 Protection from frost 208
7.2 Protection of pipes and fittings 209
7.3 Draining facilities 216
7.4 Insulation 219
8 Water economy and energy conservation 223
8.1 Water economy 223
8.2 Energy conservation 234
9 Noise and vibration 236
9.1 Flow noises 236
9.2 Water hammer noise 239
9.3 Other noises 241
9.4 Noise transmission and reduction 242
10 Accessibility of pipes and water fittings 244
10.1 Pipes passing through walls, floors and ceilings 244
10.2 Stopvalves 248
10.3 Water storage cisterns 250
11 Installation of pipework 251
11.1 Steel pipes 251
11.2 Copper pipes 255
11.3 Stainless steel pipes 267
11.4 Plastics pipes 269
11.5 Iron pipes 284
11.6 Asbestos cement pipes 290
11.7 Lead pipes 291
11.8 Connections between pipes of different materials 291
11.9 Connections to cisterns and tanks 292
11.10 Branch connections for buildings 296
11.11 Contamination of mains 299
11.12 Laying underground pipes 299
11.13 Pipework in buildings 306
11.14 Electrical earthing and bonding 310
11.15 Jointing of pipework for potable water 310
11.16 Testing 313
11.17 Identification of valves and pipes 313
12 Commissioning and maintenance of pipelines, services
and installations 316
12.1 Inspections 316
12.2 Testing for soundness 317
12.3 Testing methods 318
12.4 Flushing and disinfection 321
 Contents vii

12.5 Maintenance 325

12.6 Locating leaks 328
12.7 Occupier information 331
British Standards relevant to this book 332
References 335
Index 337
Acknowledgements

BSI wishes to thank Frank Young for his assistance and the following
companies/organizations for their kind permission to use material.

Braithwaite Engineers Ltd

British Coal Corporation
British Gas Plc
Caradon Mira Ltd
Cistermiser Ltd
Conex-Sanbra Ltd
Construction Industry Training Board
Copper Development Association
Corgi
Danfoss Ltd
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Ecowater Systems Ltd
F W Talbot & Co Ltd
George Fischer Sales Ltd
Gledhill Water Storage Ltd
Glow-worm Ltd
Grundfoss Pumps
Honeywell Control System Ltd
H Warner & Son Ltd
IMI Range Ltd
IMI Santon Ltd
IMI Yorkshire Copper Tube Ltd
IMI Yorkshire Fittings Ltd
Lancashire Fittings
Meter Options Ltd
North West Water Ltd
Polystel Ltd
Polytank Ltd
Reliance Water Controls
The Architectural Press Ltd
The Institute of Plumbing
Water Research Centre
Water Training International
Worcester Heat Systems Ltd
Introduction

The development, construction, installation and maintenance of hot and

cold water supply systems are vital areas of concern for public health.
Water quality is by turns a political, environmental and technical issue. It is
governed by legislation, water regulations, building regulations and tech-
nical standards intended to safeguard quality.
This book is a thorough introduction and guide to hot and cold water
supply. It is based on a British Standard, BS 6700, which is a specification
for design, installation, testing and maintenance of water supply services
for domestic buildings. It also includes information on the law and on the
water regulations. It is an invaluable work of reference for designers,
installers and contractors who work on domestic water supply. It is
essential reading for students of plumbing especially those who are
working towards S/NVQ or BTech qualifications. It is also an important aid
to technical staff of water undertakers, structural surveyors, architects,
building contractors and property services managers.
At present it is not a legal requirement that anyone installing or repairing
domestic water services should be properly qualified. However, the
installer or repairer can be prosecuted for offences under the water regu-
lations or could be prosecuted under civil law by a householder. With
increasing pressure to maintain the highest standards of health and safety
and to prevent waste, misuse or contamination of water it is important that
technical knowledge is up-to-date.
There is also a strong movement to make water supply practice con-
sistent throughout Europe. In continental Europe hot water systems are
supplied from mains pressure rather than from storage. This book helps
practitioners to come to terms with these changes.
Hot and Cold Water Supply was written for the British Standards
Institution by Bob Garrett, and has benefited from the assistance and
comments of other plumbers, designers and teachers. A principle of Hot
and Cold Water Supply is to support technical information with illustra-
tions and examples. This is especially useful for students and for those who
are engaged in training. It is an immensely practical book which makes
easy the job of turning theory into action.
This book has been updated to take account of Building Regulations,
revisions to the relevant British Standards and the Water Supply (Water
Fittings) Regulations 1999.

xi