Certified iSafeSite Member

grand

 

 As Seen in Grand Designs

Indigo Showers - Where quality costs less
 

 

 

 

 
 

The pleasure of swirling flowing water is the essence of the modern bathroom.
Every time you step into the shower or turn on a tap, there should be a pulse of enjoyment.


Without adequate pressure and water flow this is impossible.

 

In continental Europe and America water supplies in the house are connected to the mains water supply (unvented systems) often giving a very high water pressure (in excess of 2 bar). Due to historical reasons, British water systems are generally connected to a water tank in the loft.

These are referred to as low pressure vented gravity systems relying on the height of the cold water storage tank in the loft to provide the pressure and water flow to the house. Given the restriction of the height of the tank, such houses suffer from low pressure (often less than half a bar.)

Britain is the only Western country that routinely uses gravity systems. Consequently all research and development by tap and shower manufacturers concentrates on high water pressure systems leaving the British consumer "high and dry".


Showers

This area outlines the generic product information for the three areas that make up the shower sector. This sector will give an overview of the differences between each product. To help either the consumer or the installer to gain a basic understanding what each product type needs for a successful installation and the differences between the three areas.

Mixer Showers

Our shower range includes both manual and thermostatic models. The models with thermostatic control maintain your selected temperature, even if a tap is turned on elsewhere in the house, and will shut off automatically in the event of either the hot or cold water supplies failing. Some models feature an adjustable maximum temperature stop which, set at the highest comfortable level, will prevent young hands accidentally turning the control up too high. Options are available for both traditional low pressure gravity fed systems (with stored hot and cold water) and high pressure systems (e.g. combination boilers)

 

Technical requirements for mixer showers

High Pressure Mixer Showers - site requirements

Minimum running water pressure: 1.6 bar
Maximum running water pressure: 5 bar
Maximum static water pressure: 10 bar



Whilst the mixer valve is operational (open outlet), inlet pressures must not be capable of exceeding 7 bar static pressure. For effective operation of internal seals the maximum static pressure must not be exceeded.

Pressure reducing valves suitable for individual site conditions should be fitted on installations which exceed the above specifications.
For optimum performance within the specified running pressure range, a minimum flow of 8 litres per minute should be available to both inlets. For correct operation of a thermostatic mixer valve shower both hot and cold water supplies to the unit must be at nominally equal pressures. The pipework should be installed such that the flow is not significantly affected by other taps and appliances being operated elsewhere on the premises.

Installation

Installation should be carried out by competent tradesmen in accordance with the detailed fitting instructions (supplied with every unit) and Water Regulations and Bye-Laws. A copy of the fitting instructions should be available on request from all of the relevant manufacturer's Customer Service Departments if it would help when planning your installation. The high pressure valve is suitable for fully modulating type combination boilers and multi-point hot water heaters. It is important to note that before installing with a gas instantaneous water heater, ensure the appliance is capable of hot water delivery at a minimum switch on flow rate per minute recommended by the manufacturers. Dependent on the technical details of the unit it may have requirements for a minimum temperature reach over a set flow rate. Water temperature at the inlet to the mixer must remain relatively constant when flow rate adjustments are made.

Technical requirements for a Shower cabin

Site Requirements - Electrical if a shower pump is fitted

The pump must be permanently connected to the electricity supply via a double pole isolating switch with a minimum contact gap of 3mm in both poles. The switch must be readily accessible but out of reach of a person using a fixed bath or shower, except for the cord of a pull cord operated switch. The wiring must be connected to the switch without the use of a plug or socket outlet. The supply cable selected for installation must conform to the relevant table in the I.E.E. regulations. To enhance electrical safety a 30mA RCD (Residual Current Device) should be installed in all UK electric and pumped shower circuits. This may be part of the consumer unit or a separate unit. (often supplied already fitted within the shower cabin, depending on model ordered.

Site Requirements - Electrical for a Steam shower cabin

The cabin must be permanently connected to the electricity supply via a double pole isolating switch with a minimum contact gap of 3mm in both poles. The switch must be readily accessible but out of reach of a person using a fixed bath or shower, except for the cord of a pull cord operated switch. The wiring must be connected to the switch without the use of a plug or socket outlet. The supply cable selected for installation must conform to the relevant table in the I.E.E. regulations. To enhance electrical safety a 30mA RCD (Residual Current Device) should be installed in all UK electric and pumped shower circuits. This may be part of the consumer unit or a separate unit. (often supplied already fitted within the shower cabin, depending on model ordered.

The electrical requirements for the 2068 / 2056 / 7690 and 7692 cabins are : 240Vac 13a mains, to run the 3Kv Steam generator

The requirements for the 301/ 302 / 803/ 811/ 815/ 701 / 702 and 703 cabins are : 240Vac 16a mains, to run the 3.6Kv Steam generator

There are no electrical requirements for the shower panels

** These electrical appliances must be earthed **

Site Requirements - Water - if a shower pump is to be fitted

To ensure correct operation the cabin must be connected to a cistern fed supply of hot and cold water at nominally equal pressures. The cold water cistern must always be above the pump (if fitted) to ensure priming of the unit. The hot water storage cylinder and cold water cistern should each have a minimum storage capacity of 114 litres in order to ensure adequate infill rate. If supplying a number of outlets, it is recommended that the cold water cistern should have a minimum capacity of 230 litres in order to ensure adequate infill rate. Both hot and cold water supplies to the pump must be dedicated and separate from any other outlets or connections.


Site Requirements - Electrical

The shower must be permanently connected to the electricity supply via a double pole isolating switch with a minimum contact gap of 3mm in both poles. The switch must be readily accessible but out of reach of a person using a fixed bath or shower, except for the cord of a pull cord operated switch. The wiring must be connected to the switch without the use of a plug or socket outlet. The supply cable selected for installation must conform to the relevant table in the current I.E.E. regulations. The size of cable required is determined by the kW rating of the shower, the distance between the shower and the consumer unit and the way the cable is to be fitted. The minimum size will be 6mm2 but in some cases 10mm2 or larger will be required. For showers rated above 8kW a minimum cable size of 10mm2 is strongly recommended. To enhance electrical safety a 30mA RCD (Residual Current Device) should be installed in all UK electric and pumped shower circuits. This may be part of the consumer unit or a separate unit. IMPORTANT! If upgrading to a higher Kilowatt shower it is essential to ensure the electrical supply and shower cable is adequate for the increased load.

Site Requirements - Water

An isolation valve must be fitted in a convenient position in the supply pipe to allow the shower to be serviced. Where installation could result in the sprayhead falling below the top of the bath or shower tray, it will be necessary to fit a Double Check Valve to the inlet to prevent back flow, in accordance with water regulations and By-Laws.

Water Inlet Connection 15mm diameter

Water Outlet Connection Threaded 1/2" BSP

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

To reduce the effects of condensation
rooms containing a shower should be adequately ventilated.

----------------------

The steam generated during a steam session, is normally washed away during the subsequent shower down, combined with the fact that steam cabins do not leak large amounts of steam out into the room.
Therefore they do not specifically need any ducting out of the building, unless installed somewhere where water vapour emissions are particularly harmful, such as when fitted within a static caravan or an unvented room.


Planning a shower

Shower doctor

Pipework for a shower mixer

Shower mixers

shower doctor

Boosting water pressure with a dual pump

Raising the cistern

Booster pumps

These incorporate an electric motor and must be wired into the power supply. There are two main types. A single pump is fitted between the shower mixer control and the spray and boosts the mixed supply to the spray. A dual pump is fitted to the supply pipes and boosts the hot and cold supplies separately before they reach the mixer. Depending on the model, a booster pump will provide sufficient pressure with as little as 150mm height difference between the water level in the cistern and the spray head. Most dual pumps need to be at least 300mm below the cold tank, but some will provide sufficient pressure to a shower head sited higher than the cold water storage cistern, which allows a shower to be installed in an attic.

Pipework for an instantaneous shower


shower doctor

 


Bath and shower enclosure installation
By Jon Hunan.



 

 

Bringing the Health Spa Home:
Hydrotherapy and Hydromassage

Hydrotherapy

Using water in the right way can cleanse the skin, stimulate blood flow and assist the body in the process of detoxifying itself. Hydrotherapy techniques have been utilized in health spas since Greek and Roman times where ice-cold plunge pools where chosen over warm baths in order to stimulate and tone the body. Hydrotherapy can also improve blood circulation, reduce muscle strain and aches, and bring relief from soreness in your shoulders, back, feet, and neck.

One method simply involves the change of water temperature within your standard home shower. Individuals with the advantage of a power shower or shower enclosure can utilise this method more effectively.

  1. Start by getting into the shower and lathering the skin with an exfoiliating scrub accompanied with warm water.
  2. Afterwards, change the temperature to a much cooler setting and allow the water to run over the entire body.
  3. Concentrate on the torso, stomach, back and legs. (If one is using a shower enclosure or cubicle that benefits from body jets then use these on the aforemented areas).
  4. Once the entire body has been exposed to the cooler water, return to warmer water to finish.
  5. Towel yourself dry. Instantly you should feel refreshed, awake and invigorated.

Hydromassage


 

 

 






A Consumers Guide To Bathroom Taps

 

Low Pressure Taps v High Pressure Taps

First the good news, if you have a combi-boiler or un-vented hot water system then you don't need to worry about pressure, both high pressure and low pressure taps will work well with your system.

However, if you have a traditional gravity fed system, with a cold water storage tank in the loft, and a hot water cylinder then you will need to be more careful.

Firstly you need to work out how much water pressure you have:

Measure the distance, in metres, from the base of the cold water storage tank, to the outlet of the tap and multiply by 0.1 to give you the pressure in bar:

e.g. 1.1 Meters x 0.1 = 0.11 bar
  2.5 Metres x 0.1 = 0.25 bar

If you want a bath/shower mixer with a showering handset, then you must measure the distance from the base of the cold water storage tank to the height at which the handset will be used, not the height of the tap, or the handset when it rests in the cradle.

You also need to be aware that elongated pipe work runs quickly use up any pressure within a system, so if your taps are a long way from the cold storage tank then you will need to reduce the calculated pressure to take account of this.

Once you have a good idea of your water pressure then you need to check that whatever taps you are looking to buy will work at that pressure.

As a rule of thumb many "designer" taps come from Europe where the water systems have higher pressure than in the UK and these taps won't work if you have very low pressure.

Designer taps made specifically to work on low pressure systems are generally more expensive and the retailer will highlight the fact that the taps are suitable for low pressure systems. If it doesn't say specifically that the taps will work with low pressure then assume the worst and don't buy without asking the retailer to confirm the pressure requirements.

 

Ceramic Disc Taps v Spindle Taps

Ceramic disc and spindle refer to the way the internal mechanism of the tap operates:

Ceramic disc technology is commonly used on more expensive taps, as they perform better and last longer. When the handle is turned, two ceramic discs are parted opening the valve and allowing the water to flow.

The traditional spindle design is commonly used on lower quality, cheaper tap designs. The tap has a spindle through the centre, with the valve seat connected via a screw thread. A standard tap washer (either ½" or ¾") is fixed to the end of the valve seat. As the handle is turned the spindle rotates and the screw thread moves the valve seat up and down to regulate the flow of water

  Ceramic Disc Taps Showers
Ceramic Disc Technology
  Benefits
  Drip free - never change another tap washer again !
  Long Life - should never need to be replaced under normal use
  Easy to Operate - only a quarter turn is needed to go from full on to off
  Range of styles - works with modern lever designs and round handles
   
  Draw Backs
  Lower flow rates - Unsuitable for very low pressure systems
   
  Spindle Taps Showers
Traditional Washer Mechanism
  Benefits
  Higher flow rates - suitable for most systems, high or low pressure
   
  Draw Backs
  Difficult to operate - handle has to be turned many times from off to full on
  Higher maintenance - washers will require replacing regularly
  Less choice of style - cannot be used with modern lever designs

There are two key things to remember.

  1. Unless you have a very low pressure system or are looking for the lowest possible cost then it is best to go for ceramic disc taps.
  2. When comparing tap prices always ensure that both taps use the same mechanism. They may look the same, but if one is ceramic disc and one uses a spindle then the cheapest tap may actually be the worst value
 

Standards and Byelaws for Taps

British Standards

The first thing that confuses many people is that British Standards for taps are not quality guarantees. They simply specify certain things that a tap meeting with the standard should do. There is also no requirement that any product is tested by a third party to confirm it actually meets the standard, so a claim that a product meets BS5412 is only as reliable as the company making the claim !

The British Standards represent the minimum that a tap should meet to perform a specific application.

The main British Standards applied to taps are:

  BS5412
  The specification for low-resistance single taps and combination tap assemblies.
   
  BS1010
  The Specification for draw-off taps and stop-valves for water services

There is no British Standard at all for Ceramic Disc taps. So the very fact that someone quotes that the tap complies with BS5412 or BS1010 let's you know that it is an inferior design spindle tap!

Water Byelaws

All products connected to the UK potable (drinking) water supply must be compliant to the UK Water Byelaws. There are independent testing and certification schemes in place to prove conformity, however these are not mandatory in the UK.

The cost of external certification is high and many reputable tap manufacturers choose not to pay for certification. Any taps that have KIWA or WRAS approval have been tested for compliance and should be of a good quality, all taps installed in the UK, must by law comply with the Water Byelaws.

 

Flexible Connectors v Rigid Connectors (Tails)

Mono Basin & Bidet mixers are connected to the water supply by connectors, sometimes referred to tap tails. These come in two types, flexible and rigid and the customer generally doesn't get a choice within a range of taps. Both types connect directly to standard 15mm copper pipe work.

The tap manufacturer generally decides what sort of connectors each range of tap he makes will have.

Which type is most suitable for you depends on where the taps are being installed and who is doing the installation.

  Flexible Connectors
 

Best for DIY Installers: You don't need any plumbing skills, the flexible hose will easily bend into whatever shape is required and the connection is made simply by tightening the compression nut with a wrench.

Best for small spaces with difficult access. The flexible hose allows connections in spaces that would be almost impossible to get into with rigid pipe work.

   
  Rigid Connectors
 

Best for professional installers: The rigid connectors become part of the solid copper pipe run that connects the supply to the tap. The connections are made with capillary fittings, lead free solder and a blow torch. The end result looks neater, lasts longer and is much less prone to leaks.

Best for more open spaces with easy access. Even the most professional installer will need a large enough space to bend and fit the copper pipe run from the supply. If the space is too tight then flexible connectors may be the only possible choice.

 

What's the tap made of ?

Taps can be made from a variety of materials of varying quality and cost.

A general rule of thumb is that the heavier the tap the better the quality of materials used !

Plastic
Plastic taps are very cheap and very low quality. They are very light and are available in a range of colours.

Standard Brass ABS/Mazac
Standard brass is commonly used to manufacture the bodies of mid-priced, medium quality taps.

Many tap components (such as handles) can be made from ABS (plastic) or an alternative material often referred to as Mazac (Pot Metal). These are cheaper than using brass, and whilst the quality is often very good, brass offers a better finish and longevity.

DZR Brass
Standard brass has gained universal acceptance in many facets of the water distribution industry. However, in certain circumstances when exposed to particular combinations of pH and concentrations of chlorides, they can experience a severe form of corrosion known as dezincification.

The solution to this problem is a dezincification resistant alloy, commonly referred to as DZR brass.

This is the Rolls Royce material for taps and the highest quality product will be made from DZR brass without any ABS or Mazac components

 

Different Types of Basin Tap

Showers
Basin Pillar Taps
Basin pillar taps are single tap bodies, with a ½" BSP connection, for use with any two tap hole basin. (i.e. a separate tap for hot and cold, the traditional British arrangement). The hot tap is always installed on the left hand side
   
Showers
Mono Basin Mixers
There are two types of mono basin mixers, single & dual flow. The single flow mixers mix both supplies at the base of the spout and discharge a mixed flow. With dual flow mixers, the hot & cold flow is kept separate until the point of discharge.

Mono basin mixers can either use a lever arrangement with a ceramic disc cartridge, or use twin valves (either standard or ceramic disc) and separate handles to operate the hot & cold independently.

Mono basin mixers are normally supplied with a pop-up-waste assembly.

   
Showers
Tall Mono Basin Mixers
The same as Mono basin mixers, only supplied with an elongated body. These taps are normally installed in conjunction with countertop wash hand basins. Most of the Tall Mono Basin Mixers are of the lever type, utilising ceramic disc cartridges.

Tall mono basin mixers are not normally supplied with a pop-up waste assembly.

   
Showers
Three Hole Basin Mixers
3TH basin mixers consist of three parts, connected via either rigid or flexible pipe work. The spout is positioned centrally, with the hot & cold controls on either side. 3TH basin mixers utilise either standard or ceramic disc valves
 

Different Types of Bath Tap

Showers

Deck Bath Fillers
Deck bath fillers work in a similar way to mono basin mixers, taking the hot and cold supplies and discharging through a central spout. The word 'Deck' refers to the fact that the base of the tap is flush with the surface of the bath.

As with Mono basin mixers, there are two main types, single & dual flow. The single flow mixers mix both supplies at the base of the spout and discharge a mixed flow. With dual flow mixers, the hot & cold flow is kept separate until the point of discharge.

Deck bath fillers offer a stylish alternative to single bath pillar taps, and are suitable for low pressure installations.

   
Showers
Pillar Bath Fillers
As with deck bath fillers, only that the body of the tap is held above the bath surface, connected via a pillar elbow.
   
Showers

Deck Bath/Shower Mixers
As with deck bath mixers, deck bath/showers mixers offer the additional feature of incorporating a diverter valve, to which a hose and handset is normally connected. It is important to realise that in most cases this is not thermostatic, and generally offers a lower shower performance than using an actual shower mixer.

The diverter is almost always integrated into the spout, which reduces the flow rate, making these products unsuitable for very low pressure systems

   
Showers
Pillar Bath/Shower Mixers
As with deck bath/shower mixers, only that the body of the tap is held above the bath surface, connected via a pillar elbow.
   
Showers
Bath Filler Waste & Controls
Bath waste fillers offer an ingenious way to fill a bath without having standard taps cluttering the bath rim. They can be used in conjunction with either separate hot & cold controls, which can be sited almost anywhere around the bath rim or within an adjacent wall, or with a thermostatic mixer shower which either has a built-in diverter mechanism, or using a separate diverter to control the outlet of any standard built-in thermostatic control.