18 December 2017
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 District heating systems are growing in popularity | With more district heating systems being introduced in the UK, the BPF Pipes Group trade association has issued new guidance to promote best practice among design consultants, specifiers and installers. Despite its growing popularity, the district heating concept is a relatively new one in the UK, comprising one or more central heat sources instead of individual boilers. By pumping hot water or steam through a network of pre-insulated underground pipes it delivers heat from the point of energy generation to the end user. Generating heat in one central plant can be more economical than production in multiple smaller ones (such as individual households), which is one of the reasons why district heating is growing in popularity in the UK. |
As with all systems using pressurised pipes, good design and installation ensures safety and maximises the long-term performance of such systems. The BPF Pipes Group is therefore keen to encourage best practice through the use of correct procedures, and the guidance covers key aspects, such as design codes, distribution pipework, British and European Standards and designing, installing and commissioning district heating systems using polymer pipes.
Polymer pipes from BPF Pipes Group members are already well proven for this type of application, offering a number of advantages over traditional materials like steel, and combining simple, cost-effective and secure long-term installation with good performance. They are typically supplied in 300-metre+ coil lengths, which minimises the number of joints required and also enables specialist installation techniques such as ploughing in, pulling through and horizontal directional drilling. The flexibility of polymer pipes is also an advantage, as they can be routed around other services and obstacles without requiring additional joints and can accommodate ground movement in service.
Coiled polymer pipe systems are already familiar to installers in the UK, as the safety requirements and best practice techniques for transport, storage and site handling are similar to those for water pipe systems.
Franz Huelle is chair of the BPF Pipes Group’s drafting panel and is also technical manager–building technologies at Rehau. He said: “District heating systems can significantly reduce carbon emissions through using low carbon and renewable heat sources and this guidance on the use of polymer pipes is intended as a clear reference for designers and installers. Our members additionally provide technical information and support to encourage best practice across the industry.”
Part of the British Plastics Federation, the BPF Pipes Group is a trade association representing manufacturers and material suppliers of plastic piping systems across the UK.
The guidance is available here.
Polymer pipes from BPF Pipes Group members are already well proven for this type of application, offering a number of advantages over traditional materials like steel, and combining simple, cost-effective and secure long-term installation with good performance. They are typically supplied in 300-metre+ coil lengths, which minimises the number of joints required and also enables specialist installation techniques such as ploughing in, pulling through and horizontal directional drilling. The flexibility of polymer pipes is also an advantage, as they can be routed around other services and obstacles without requiring additional joints and can accommodate ground movement in service.
Coiled polymer pipe systems are already familiar to installers in the UK, as the safety requirements and best practice techniques for transport, storage and site handling are similar to those for water pipe systems.
Franz Huelle is chair of the BPF Pipes Group’s drafting panel and is also technical manager–building technologies at Rehau. He said: “District heating systems can significantly reduce carbon emissions through using low carbon and renewable heat sources and this guidance on the use of polymer pipes is intended as a clear reference for designers and installers. Our members additionally provide technical information and support to encourage best practice across the industry.”
Part of the British Plastics Federation, the BPF Pipes Group is a trade association representing manufacturers and material suppliers of plastic piping systems across the UK.
The guidance is available here.
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