Industry Standard Update 099: BS 8446: 2020 Installation and maintenance of open-flued, non-domestic gas-fired laundry appliances – Specification
Date issued: 8 December 2020
This article appears in full in the January 2021 edition of Registered Gas Engineer.
This Industry Standard Update provides an overview of the recently published revised Industry Standard BS 8446: 2020 Installation and maintenance of open-flued, non-domestic gas-fired laundry appliances – Specification, and highlights areas of significant change that the amendments have introduced.
Introduction
During November 2020, British Standards Institution (BSI) published BS 8446: 2020 Installation and maintenance of open-flued, non-domestic gas-fired laundry appliances – Specification(1). This superseded BS 8446: 2005 Specification for the installation and maintenance of open-flued, non-domestic gas-fired laundry appliances(2), which is withdrawn.
The revision to this standard came into effect on 30 November 2020. To allow registered businesses time to carry out internal update training to reflect the technical requirements of the amended standard, Gas Safe Register will inspect to the new requirements of this standard from 1 April 2021. However, this should not restrict businesses from applying the specification sooner.
The following is an overview of the significant amendments made to BS 8446: 2020.
General
This British Standard specifies the installation and maintenance of open-flued, non-domestic gas-fired laundry appliances. It is applicable to both fixed and tilting tumble dryers. References to legislation and current standards have been updated throughout, where required.
Section 7: Location of laundry appliance
Clause 7.1.3 provides guidance that where a laundry appliance is to be installed in the same location as a dry cleaner, it shall be separated by a minimum distance of 5m or installed in a separate room. Make-up air shall not come from the area of the dry cleaner. Make-up air shall be provided separately for both the dry cleaner and laundry appliance.
The separation of make-up air is intended to prevent the production of toxic gas from the interaction of the dry-cleaning chemicals with the burner flame in the laundry appliance. The flame picture should be confirmed as intended with the dry cleaner operating.
Section 8: Gas connections
8.1.2 provides guidance that pipework shall be clearly identified as carrying a fuel gas by painting the pipework yellow ochre (to BS 4800:2011, 08 C 35) or primrose yellow (to BS 4800:2011, 10 E 53), or by applying a “Gas” marker tape at suitable intervals along the pipework.
A suitable test and purge point(s) shall be provided to allow testing and purging to be carried out.
A manual isolation valve shall be installed on the installation pipework to each laundry area to enable the gas installation to be isolated in the event of an emergency. The manual valve shall be sited as near as practicable to the exit in a readily accessible location. The isolation valve is fitted to provide isolation for routine maintenance/alterations, testing and purging of the downstream installation.
Clause 8.2.2 states that a pressure test point shall be installed as near as practicable to the exit downstream of the manual isolation valve to facilitate tightness testing.
Clause 8.3 provides guidance on automatic isolation valves (AIV). Where an automatic isolation valve conforming to BS EN 161 is fitted to the installation pipework serving a laundry area, the automatic isolation valve shall be installed as near as practicable to the point of entry to the laundry area, downstream of a manual isolation valve and upstream of the gas appliances. An AIV shall be used to shut off/isolate the gas supply to laundry appliance(s) as part of any interlock requirements.
In the event of an emergency, the AIV installed as near as practicable to the point of entry to the laundry area shall be operated by a safety control or emergency stop button(s) located near to the exit(s) of the laundry area.
To avoid inadvertent operation of an emergency stop button, it shall be shrouded or located in a position where shrouding is not required.
Clause 8.4.1 provides guidance that, where either a manual gas isolation valve is fitted or where an AIV system can be reset, a suitably worded warning notice shall be affixed.
Clause 8.4.2 also states that a suitably worded warning notice shall be located near to the emergency stop button(s). Both clauses provide examples of suitably worded warning notices.
Section 10: Make-up air
The make-up air inlet vent shall be at least 2,000mm away from any exhaust termination to prevent damp, warm air being re-introduced into the system.
Section 12: Flexible exhaust connections for tumble dryers
The flexible exhaust connection shall be as specified by the tumble dryer manufacturer. It shall not exceed 500mm in length and shall be capable of withstanding the maximum known output temperature.
Section 14: Termination
Terminations shall be at least 2,000mm from any opening or fresh air inlet into the building.
Section 17: Information to be given to the user
The commentary to this section provides guidance on CO alarm systems and, where fitted, they should conform to BS EN 45544-3. CO detection should not be regarded as a means to negate the obligation of establishments to maintain appliances and equipment so as to ensure an acceptable level of performance and safety.
Laundry establishments are regarded as a workplace. Not all domestic-type detectors and alarms conforming to BS EN 50291-1 are suitable for these applications unless the manufacturer specifically warrants this and confirms that it sounds at the workplace occupational exposure limits.
Summary
As previously stated, this Industry Standard Update is only a brief overview of the information contained in the amended standard. Registered businesses should be aware that they have a responsibility to ensure that they are fully apprised of all of the requirements of the whole published standard and its practical application.
Bibliography
(1) BS 8446: 2020 Installation and maintenance of open-flued, non-domestic gas-fired laundry appliances – Specification
(2) BS 8446: 2005 Specification for the installation and maintenance of open-flued, non-domestic gas-fired laundry appliances
