The specification process is an essential part of the life cycle of any plumbing system. Therefore, it is important that specifiers are knowledgeable on not only what valves are required, but their key benefits and reasons for installation. The key plumbing valves – the TMV, PRV and Tenant Valve each have their own crucial role to play, and so Richard Bateman Product Marketing Manager at RWC is on hand to help guide specifiers through this critical process by relaying the relevant and required knowledge for each valve.
Depending on the application, there are many complexities and factors to take into account when specifying the valves for a plumbing system in both domestic and commercial new builds. Specifiers must consider the unique demands of each building, which will vary widely depending on type of building, in addition to regulatory requirements that vary by product and application, as well as end user needs and maintenance.
And that is not all. In times of skyrocketing energy prices and cost of living expenses, not to mention the ambitious net zero targets from the Government for the building industry, everything that goes into the fabric of our buildings counts to ensure our buildings are as energy efficient and economical in the long-term as possible. From the smallest fitting to every pipe and the most essential valve, what goes on behind the walls is just as important as the brickwork our future is built on. That is why, in this feature, we discuss the benefits and common uses of the most important valves, making it as straight-forward as possible for specifiers to identify what variation of each valve to use, where and when.
Thermostatic Mixing Valve
Whether a homeowner or landlord or a local council, building owners have a duty of care for those living, working, or using their facilities, which is why thermostatic mixing valves (TMV) play a crucial role in all plumbing systems. It is imperative that some form of TMV be specified for every hot water system. The main benefit of a TMV is keeping water at a safe temperature, which therefore prevents scalding and helps stop the build-up of harmful Legionella bacteria. This is achieved by mixing hot and cold-water streams together to ensure a safe temperature at the outlet.
The type of TMV required for an individual application will vary greatly on what kind of building the specification is taking place in, as domestic and commercial buildings have a different requirement to buildings in the healthcare sector.
It’s recommended that in domestic and commercial environments, a TMV2 approved valve is specified, and therefore safely installed, tested, and maintained to current standards. These valves are designed to reduce the risk of scalding at outlets, while minimising the potential build-up of Legionella bacteria in the pipework that is fed from the outlet side of the valve to the tap. Therefore, they are typically found under sinks and basins, and never more than 2m away from the outlet they are serving. TMV2 valves need to be tested upon installation and should be regularly checked in intervals of no more than 12 months to ensure the valve functions correctly.
For buildings occupied by the healthcare sector, such as hospitals, a TMV3 needs to be specified, which functions the same way as a TMV2, but undergoes more rigorous testing, both at the point of installation, as well as every six months after initial sign-off. This is to ensure the safety of the end users, who are likely to be more vulnerable to both scalding and the potential harmful infection from Legionella bacteria.
Apart from the difference in required test frequencies when installed, the main difference between the two valves is that a TMV3 undergoes higher stress testing to their TMV2 counterpart, this is due to the extra level of protection you would desire of a system used in applications such as healthcare. Where a TMV2 can typically only work with water pressures of 5 bar or below, a TMV3 is safe to work with 10 bars of water pressure. If you are ever unsure as to which TMV to specify it is best to specify a hybrid TMV such as the Easifit TMV2/3, which is approved for both domestic and commercial, as well as healthcare use.
Pressure Reducing Valve
A pressure reducing valve (PRV) functions, as the name suggests, by reducing a high inlet pressure at the inlet to a safer, lower water pressure at the outlet. The benefits of PRVs are multiple, as lower water pressures can decrease the amount of damage to heating systems, appliances, and buildings. Considering water pressure in the UK can vary from 1 bar to 20 bar, it is important that any risk to plumbing and heating systems is minimised to keep buildings and people safe.
As there are no regulations on water pressure in the UK there are no regulations for specifying PRVs, however, to reduce risk of unsafe water pressure it is highly recommended to specify them not only for domestic buildings, but especially for commercial buildings, where it is not uncommon to have sudden jumps in water pressure. Nevertheless, in both cases, you need to ensure that water pressure at the outlet is actually safe to use.
Furthermore, PRVs ensure that the flow rate of water is not only correct for its intended purpose but that there is a safe water pressure that will allow other valves, such as thermostatic mixing valves, to function correctly as well.
The individual valve that should be specified will depend heavily on the type of building, the water flow rate, and whether or not it is being used on a hot or cold-water supply. Certain valves such as the 315i Commercial Pressure Reducing Valve from Reliance Valves can be used on both hot and cold water supplies.
It is important to correctly size a PRV to suit the flow rate of the water passing through it. You should not necessarily match the PRV to the inlet pipe size, as this can often lead to over-sizing, which has adverse effects on the system such as causing undesired noise and also damaging the PRV seal. Instead, the pressure reducing valve should be sized based on the demand required, at the agreed set system pressure. This ensures reliable pressure control and that the valve is working within its optimum parameters.
Tenant Valve
The most innovative valve in recent years is the Tenant Valve Plus from Reliance Valves, a specialist combination valve that is designed for use in large multiple-occupancy buildings, such as apartment complexes and high-rises. The Tenant Valve Plus combines an approved stop cock, a pressure reducing valve, inline strainer, water meter carrier and backflow prevention device into a single and compact unit for large domestic buildings, where having a central, adjustable plumbing hub is much more desirable.
Additionally, this allows for each residence to have individual control depending on their requirements, whilst mitigating the need for installing inlet valve chains. Inlet valve chains often take up a lot of room in riser cupboards or service hatches, which also makes them difficult to adjust or maintain. Having a long chain of valves also means many more leak points than the Tenant Valve’s single piece design.
All components are accessible from one side of the Tenant Valve, which is supplied with a moulded insulating cover. For use up to 16 bar and 85°C and adjustable between 1.5 – 6.0 bar, the Tenant Valve is suitable for almost all UK multi-occupancy buildings.
The valve also incorporates a double reading pressure gauge, enabling full visibility of both upstream and downstream pressures at the valve. It also has an integrated port for a water meter to monitor system consumption. Alternatively, an adaptor makes fitting a Class ‘D’ water meter an option too. The valve is fully serviceable from the front and features a one-piece cartridge for both the PRV and the check valve, making maintenance a much simpler task compared to assemblies that feature individual components.
All valves in one place
Valves are some of the most important components in a plumbing and heating system, and specifying the right valve for the right application and usage, can have a huge and lasting impact on the life cycle of each system and the building it is in. When specifying valves for a plumbing and heating system you want to be sure that the valve is perfect for the intended purpose. All of the above-mentioned valves are manufactured by and available through RWC, and our experts are available to answer all product or technical questions.
To learn more about Reliance Valves, please visit reliancevalves.com
