Plumbing Africa October 2020 | Page 42

40 TECHNICAL Q: If I have an isolating valve at the geyser, what else should I keep in mind? By Patrick Gordon, General Manager of Calafrica (Pty) Ltd Plumbing Africa will extract from various WhatApp groups the niggling questions that come up again and again. In this issue is the question of isolating valves. A: There is a basic rule that must be kept in mind with all geyser installations. You are not allowed to have an isolating valve between the geyser and the Pressure Relief Valve. In most installations that have been correctly plumbed for balanced pressure, the Pressure Reducing Valve and the Pressure Relief valve is situated outside the building to facilitate ease of installation. If an isolating valve is now placed near the geyser, this would cut off the path of relief for the geyser. This installation would not comply to SANS 10254. How could I keep the installation as is but make it compliant? This is easier that what you would think. All you must do is to fit a Pressure Relief Valve between the geyser and the isolating valve. Just remember that this valve must be fitted over the geyser tray and must be piped out according to the rules set out in SANS 10254. P Gordon Typical isolating valve. www.plumbingafrica.co.za @plumbingonline @plumbingonline @PlumbingAfricaOnline October 2020 Volume 26 I Number 08