Top 5 Commissioning Tips
If you’ve installed your rainwater harvesting system and
are now thinking about getting it commissioned, Gary Scullion, Technical Manager
at Stormsaver, provides his top tips of things to consider before booking a
visit:
Top Tip No.1 Follow the installation checklist
It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised at the number of
people who don’t follow the installation checklist. Covering items such as the storage
tank, filtration and including all the mechanical and electrical elements, this
checklist gives a thorough overview to getting your system ready for
commissioning. If you have any questions we are always at the end of the
telephone!
Top Tip No.2 Ensure the underground storage tank
is full of water
Make sure the storage tank is clean and free from silt,
rubble and debris, which may have collected during the installation process. The
tank needs to be fully connected to the sealed downpipes and plumbing and
should be allowed to completely fill up ahead of the commissioning visit. With
a full tank of rainwater, the engineer can run the system to ensure that it
performs effectively. If the water is dirty and full of
debris it will irreparably damage the pumps and filters so it is well worth
cleaning it prior to commissioning..
If you have a non-pressurised system, make sure the header
tank has drained thoroughly, so that the engineer can set float switches and
levels. The engineer can then run and
test the complete system.
Top Tip No.3 Ensure the installed system complies
with WRAS
As rainwater, like all other reused water, is considered a
fluid category 5 risk, it requires the highest level of backflow protection to
ensure that it cannot contaminate the mains water supply. This should be
provided by a suitable air gap, either Type AA or AB.
Ensure that all the pipework is clearly identified and correctly
labelled. WRAS approved tape is available from Stormsaver on request and should
be black or black and green. Blue MDPE is not acceptable for rainwater use!
Please refer to WRAS IGN 9-02-05 for further information.
Always install in
accordance with the manufacturer’s installation manual– systems should never be
adapted or altered without firstly consulting with the local water supplier.
Top Tip No.4 Have a representative available
Again this sounds silly, but so often we arrive on site at
a pre-arranged time for the rainwater harvesting system to be commissioned and
there is no one there!
Ensure that a representative is available with site
knowledge, so that the engineers can access the system quickly and easily, and
get it commissioned as quickly as possible.
It would also be beneficial to arrange for the facilities
manager to be available as they may not have had any dealings with selection or
specification of the rainwater system . Our Engineer can then give a brief
explanation of the operation and maintenance requirements
Top Tip no.5 If you aren’t sure….ask!
Our technical team are always on hand to guide you through
the installation on the telephone. We
are also happy to arrange a pre-commissioning visit mid installation, to give
some guidance on any potential problems. So many aborted commissioning are due
to contractors guessing or assuming how the equipment is installed, and making
avoidable mistakes. Ask us… that’s why
we are here! We are experts in rainwater harvesting and can help you every step
of the way.