HHIC updates condensate pipe guidance
The Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) has updated its ‘Guide to Condensate Discharge Pipe Installation’ after a Met Office warning suggests an enhanced risk of snow and widespread frost across the UK.
The HHIC guidance provides a summary of generally agreed industry best practice to minimise the risk of condensate pipes freezing in cold weather.
HHIC has also reissued its customer information booklet, which heating engineers can give to their customers to explain the risks and any remedial action that may be required for those installations deemed to be at risk of freezing.
Stewart Clements, director of HHIC, says: “We are acutely aware that there are a significant proportion of installations that are not installed to current standards and manufacturers’ instructions. For example, where they are not connected to internal drain points such as a soil stack or sink waste. Condensate discharge pipes should be connected to an internal gravity discharge point’, [but] where this is not possible, the HHIC guide details what action should be taken, such as external pipe insulation.
“In addition to this guidance, all other technical requirements for condensate discharge installation should still be followed.”
HHIC is urging engineers to familiarise themselves with the contents of both guides, as well as to ensure that all new boiler installations conform to the appliance manufacturer’s installation instructions, and British Standard BS 6798 where appropriate. HHIC says manufacturers’ instructions should take precedence over a standard and should be followed to ensure correct appliance operation, and continued validity of any warranty.
It also says engineers should ensure any remedial or servicing work includes a condensate discharge pipe check, with any remedial action required explained to homeowners.
The Engineer’s Guide is free to download at https://www.hhic.org.uk/uploads/5FF598A848C3F.pdf
The Consumer Guide is at https://www.hhic.org.uk/uploads/5BD9966B0AB09.pdf
