26 DESIGN : DEAR MR PLUMBER
Hot water design – a case study
By
Vollie Brink
Mr A was appointed to review a hot water design which was designed by Mr B of another company .
Vollie Brink is one of the industry ’ s longest-serving wet services engineers . He continues to serve on SABS committees and has been involved in the Green Building Council ’ s Green Star rating system . Brink continues to consult for various organisations while enjoying a wellearned retirement .
The hot water design was for a large multi-storey building and the developer wanted to make sure that the system would function correctly and asked for a review of the design and a second opinion .
( Please note : I was consulted by Mr A , not knowing the identity of Mr B , and without having seen the drawings .)
The problem was that the system was not ‘ balanced ’ and when this was pointed out to Mr B , he said that he would specify a pump on the return piping , which would “ run fast , and so balance the flow in the system ”.
If I were the developer , I would be very concerned at this response .
I feel it necessary to comment here on the design of hotwater systems in general :
The ethical code of engineering institutions does not allow its members to accept work for which they are not competent , but unfortunately , people who are not engineers and not registered engineers , present themselves to clients as ‘ engineers ’.
To design a hot and cold-water system requires competence and experience , but most of all the appropriate education and training in order to apply hydraulic principles and thermo dynamic theory and other technical skills such as electrical and mechanical engineering , as well as the applicable knowledge of pumps and equipment such as automatic balancing valves . And this together with knowledge of all health and safety act requirements , as well as statuary requirements .
The hot-water pipe configuration is extremely important , and the positioning of the plant and related equipment , and
www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline May 2021 Volume 27 I Number 3