Insights

In our recent blog posts, we’ve looked at the various chemicals and standards related to closed circuit systems. In this blog post, we take a step back and consider one critical piece of information: how to calculate the correct dose of chemicals to be used in a closed system.

A biocide is a chemical treatment formulated to effectively control microbial growth. It is critical to ensure the correct biocidal treatment regime is implemented and regular checks carried out to eliminate the risks associated with microbial growth, such as health hazards, heat transfer losses and under deposit corrosion.

Effective pre-commission cleaning of pipework systems is absolutely critical. Unfortunately, the important nature of this operation is often overlooked or under-valued.

This is the sixth blog in our series on the BG29/2020 Pre-Commission Cleaning of Pipework Systems guidelines. Here we take an in-depth look at the closed-loop pre-treatment cleaning (CPC) procedures for closed circuit systems.

In last week’s blog post, we gave an overview of the potential problems caused by microbiological growth in closed circuit systems. In this week’s blog post, the fifth in the series relating to BSRIA BG29 2020, we examine the main differences in microbiological test methods and specifications in the new standard in relation to the previous 2012 edition.

Continuing our series of blog posts reviewing the new BSRIA BG29 2020 guidelines, over the next couple of weeks we want to focus on the changes that have been made in regards to the microbiological specifications on sampling. And specifically, the introduction of a five-day turnaround for sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) testing procedures.

The first blog in this series gave an overview of the main changes/additions in the new 2020 BG29 guide when compared with the 2012 edition. The second blog addressed some of the concerns regarding the use of thin walled carbon steel pipes and the additional sections in BSRIA BG29/2020 relevant to this.

In last week’s blog post, we gave an overview of the main changes and additions in the new BSRIA BG29 2020 guide compared with the 2012 edition.

In this blog post, we focus purely on one new topic in the guide, enabling us to investigate this area in more depth.

The BSRIA BG29 document was first launched as AG 8/91 Pre-commissioning Cleaning of Water Systems in 1991, almost 30 years ago. Many changes have happened in heating and cooling systems since then as we seek to achieve far greater energy efficiencies, resulting in significant differences in how these systems are now installed and operated. Other changes including an increased emphasis on microbiological control and innovations in cleaning techniques. The new sixth edition of BSRIA BG29 reflects these changes.

A biofilm will begin to form when free swimming micro-organisms attach to an appropriate surface and produce extracellular polysaccharides. The development of a biofilm can happen on a wide variety of surfaces including inner pipe surfaces, tooth enamel, or even internal medical devices.