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Installation & Maintenance Instructions - Freerain · installation overview ... 5. Freerain will...

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12-series Installation & Maintenance Instructions For domestic rainwater harvesting systems
Transcript

 

12-series

Installation & Maintenance Instructions For domestic rainwater harvesting systems

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introduction  

receipt of goods …  

1. Deliveries  to  site  will  be  organised  in  conjunction  with  Site  Agents  to  ensure  that arrangements have been made for their safe receipt; Site Agents are advised to ensure that  all  goods  are  thoroughly  checked  on  receipt  against  delivery  documentation  as items  later reported as missing or damaged cannot be replaced and will need to be re‐ordered. 

 2. It should particularly be noted that the condition of the tank becomes the responsibility 

of the Site Agent once unloading from the delivery vehicle commences.  

installation overview …  

3. If supervising the installation of a RWH system for the first time, it should be planned to undertake the work in the following stages: 

 

Review general operating principles          see page‐3  Review components of the system to be installed: 

Schematic layouts            see page‐5  Ancillary parts             see page‐6  Pump                see page‐6  Filter                see page‐7  Tanks                see page‐9  Drainage & service duct connections       see page‐11 

Installing the tank:  Preliminaries              see page‐12    Tank handling  (NB:  Read before unloading)     see page‐12  Installation overview            see page‐13  Precautions              see page‐14  Step‐by‐step installation guide        see page‐14 

Installing the other components:  Overview              see page‐19  Header‐tank systems            see page‐20  Direct pressure systems          see page‐22 

Commissioning              see page‐24  Using the system: 

Handing‐over              see page‐25  Safety & access            see page‐25  Fault‐finding              see page‐26  Water quality              see page‐27 

Freerain contact details & terms of business       see page‐28  health & safety …  4. All Health & Safety precautions applying to such works are to be implemented, with risk 

assessments and method statements being prepared.  5. Freerain  will  provide  on  request  example  generic  risk  assessments  and  method 

statements. 

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operating principles …  

system components …  

6. Understanding  the  operating  principles  of  RWH  systems  is  essential  to  ensure  their successful installation; the diagrams below shows the schematic layouts of the two types of system: 

 

Points to Note:  

1. The main  storage  tanks need  to be able  to overflow  to  soak‐away or  storm‐drain  which  must  be  adequate  to  cope  with  the  rate  of  flow  to  avoid contaminated water back‐flowing into the storage tank 

2. Mains water supply  to provide  top‐up, when needed, must be via a Class‐AA tun‐dish air‐gap  in a direct‐pressure system, or a Class‐AB air‐gap  in a header‐tank 

3. Supply to services must be via dedicated pipe‐work; which must not be cross‐connected to the mains pipe‐work 

 

working principles – direct pressure …  

7. Domestic systems must use only the property roof for collecting the rainwater which is then stored in an underground tank to provide non‐wholesome water for toilet flushing, clothes washing machines, and the outside tap. 

 

8. Collection from a conventional roof is recommended, avoiding “green” and sedum roofs. The  roof  water  is  channelled  through  the  normal  guttering  and  down‐pipe arrangements,  before  being  brought  into  a  single  drainage  pipe  underground which feeds into the storage tank. 

 

9. In accordance with  the  requirements of BS 8515,  the water  is  filtered before entering the storage tank to remove solid particles, usually using a stainless‐steel filter installed in the  neck  of  the  tank.    This  filter  requires  cleaning  every  3 months  to maintain  its efficiency.  Failure to do so will possibly lead to progressive clogging of the filter, causing incoming water to be lost direct to the overflow, rather than entering the tank. 

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10. Having passed through the filter, the water is introduced into the tank via a calmed inlet designed  to  smoothly  introduce  the  fresh  and  highly  oxygenated  rainwater  into  the bottom  of  the  tank.    This  helps  to  avoid  stagnation  at  the  lowest  level,  and  assists maintenance of the quality of the water stored in the tank. 

 

11. The  stored  water  is  then  supplied  to  the  non‐wholesome  services  on‐demand;  this demand  is  sensed,  by  either  a  Control  Unit  or  the  pump  itself, which  activates  the durable electric pump in the tank to meet the demand.  When the demand for the water supply  ends,  this  too  is  sensed  and  the  pump  stops.    Under  this  “direct  pressure” arrangement, the pump is effectively linked direct to the service concerned 

 

12. In periods of prolonged rain, the storage tank will become full and overflow through the connection provided to the surface water management arrangements for the project (ie soak‐away, storm drain or attenuation system) and be protected from back‐filling by a back‐flow  prevention  valve  if  connected  to  a  sewer.   As  the water  storage  tank may already be  full when a heavy downpour  is experienced,  the whole of  the  tank volume cannot be taken into account when making the attenuation calculations for the project. 

 

13. Conversely, in dry spells the tank contents may be in danger of becoming exhausted and need to be supplemented by mains water to ensure continuity of supply to the services.  This  too  is  sensed by  the Control Unit which  then activates a  solenoid  to allow mains water to enter the tank via a Class‐AA air‐gap; this prevents direct contact between the wholesome and non‐wholesome pipe‐work/water.   Only a  limited amount of water  is introduced in this way, so leaving the maximum possible capacity for the next rainfall. 

irrigation‐only systems …  

14. These operate on  the direct‐pressure principle noted above, but are not usually  fitted with a mains‐water backup as this would make them subject to hose‐pipe bans.  Further information is provided in the Technical Specification for the Freerain Rain King system. 

 

working principles – header‐tanks …  

15. Many  of  the  working  principles  of  direct pressure systems apply equally to header‐tank systems; the main differences being: 

 

The services are  fed  from the reservoir of water held in the header‐tank, rather than direct from a pump 

The  water  level  in  the  header  tank  is maintained  in  one  of  two  ways;  by  the activation  of  the  pump  in  the main  storage  cistern,  or  by  direct  top‐up  from  the mains water supply if the main storage cistern has run dry 

The gravity‐fed head of pressure from the tank, may be insufficient to operate some clothes washing machines 

 

16. The header‐tank works on the basis of two water‐levels  in the tank, both controlled by their own float‐valves.  The upper level is maintained by pumping water from the main storage cistern unless that source of water has been exhausted; when this occurs, the water  in the header‐tank then drops to the second  level at which stage mains water  is allowed to enter the tank direct.   Contact between the mains water and the harvested rainwater already in the tank is prevented by a Class‐AB air‐gap between the two. 

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system components  schematics layouts …  17. Schematic  diagrams  of  Freerain  “Header‐tank”  and  “Direct  Pressure”  systems  are 

shown below; these diagrams can also be used to double‐check the type of system you will be  installing  (ie with or without a header‐tank), and as a visual aid  for confirming delivery of goods ordered: 

 H     

Header‐tank Systems 

Direct Pressure Systems 

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ancillary items  …  18. Both systems are supplied 

with a pump and associated fittings (shown opposite); otherwise, the main distinguishing features between the two at the point of delivery are provision of: 

  Header‐tank & fused‐spur (HT‐version) 

A top‐up controls box (DP‐version) 

 the pump …  19. The standard pumps supplied with Freerain domestic systems are DAB Divertron 1000‐

M submersible pumps, the key features of which are:  

Built‐in integrated electronics designed to automatically start and stop the pump  Equipped with in‐built dry‐run protection  Built‐in non‐return valve  Pre‐fitted float valve: 

Activates mains top‐up on direct‐pressure systems when needed during long dry spells 

On header‐tank systems, provides additional pump protection by cutting‐off the power to the pump before its in‐built protection becomes necessary 

Power & Performance:  Required – 230V, 50‐Hz  Output – 0.55kW, 0.75‐HP 

Installation:  Chain‐suspended from the neck of the tank  Pre‐measured to provide 150‐mm clearance between pump and tank‐base 

Dimensions & data; as shown below:             

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filter options …                                                      

Compact Filter 

The Compact filter is one of the most popular in the Freerain range, being particularly useful when there is a requirement for minimum/zero invert level drop between the inlet and the outlet. 

The key technical characteristics of the filter are: 

Connection capacity  for roof areas up to 150 m² 

All connections DN 100 (110mm OD).  No height difference between inlet and outlet. 

Mesh size of filter cartridge 0.7 x 1.7 mm. 

PF Filter 

For flow‐rates associated with larger roofs, or where an invert drop across the filter is desirable, we specify use of the PF filter which works on similar principles to the Compact filter. 

The key technical characteristics of the PF filter are: 

Connection capacity after DIN 1986 for roof areas up to 200 m². 

All connections DN 100.  Small height difference of 66 mm between rainwater inlet and waste water outlet. 

Mesh size of filter cartridge 0.7 x 1.7 mm. 

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VF‐1 Filter 

Completing the range of filters most likely to be used on domestic‐scale projects, the VF‐1 filter would be most likely to be specified to complement the larger tanks in the Freerain range. 

The key technical characteristics of the VF1‐filter are: 

Suitable for connection to roof areas up to 500 m². 

Height difference between inlet and outlet 300 mm. 

Suitable in‐tank installation as shown below 

Or can be provided with its own neck for installation pre storage tank 

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Freerain “G‐tank” sizes & specifications …                                                      

10

                                                      

 

NB:   Top sliding section can be trimmed on site to reduce overall height dimension when necessary 

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Freerain “G‐tanks” standard connection orientations …                                                

     

 

Buyer Notes:

1. Service-ducts need to be directly aligned with controls location 2. On direct-pressure systems, service-ducts must drain towards tank 3. Invert-drops across filters are CF-zero; PF-66mm; VF1-300mm

 

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Freerain “flat‐tank” options …  

1,500‐litre “flat‐tank”  dimensions & connections… 

 2,900‐litre “flat‐tank” dimensions & connections … 

 neck extension option … 

Buyer Notes:

4. Service-ducts need to be directly aligned with controls location 5. On direct-pressure systems, service-ducts must drain towards tank 6. Invert-drops across filters are CF-zero; PF-66mm  

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installing the tank  preliminaries …  20. Responsibility for ordering the right tank for the project, and with the right connections 

to suit the drainage and service‐duct connections to suit the underground works, lies with the Buyer. 

 21. The Site Agent is responsible for checking that the right tank has been delivered to site 

with all concerned knowing all the implications of its installation; these include factors such as: 

  Required capacity and any dimension constraints  Site access and routes to site  Filter and other fitments requirements  Orientation of connections, and any associated invert‐level changes  Ground conditions, re: soil type, water table, contamination etc  Depth of excavation, adjacent structures, their foundations and proximity to utilities  Traffic‐bearing characteristics  Topography (adjacent slopes and banks) and proximity to trees  Delivery timetables 

 22. Delivery:  Timing of the delivery of the system will always be pre‐agreed with the Site 

Agent and is usually timed to ensure that the tank can be down‐loaded, transferred to plot, installed and back‐filled with the minimum of delay. 

 23. Accountability:  Responsibility for the tank passes to the Site Agent once unloading 

commences; it is therefore important that the buyer accepts the condition of the tank on arrival before they attempt to move or attach lifting equipment. 

 tank handling …  24. Freerain tanks are designed to be lifted and manoeuvred only when empty; they are not 

therefore to be lifted when containing water under any circumstances as this will add considerable weight. 

 25. It is recommended that the tanks be unloaded from delivery lorries, moved around site, 

and lowered into their installed position by attaching lifting straps/chains and appropriately sized D‐shackles to the lifting points provided, or by use of lifting straps around the whole tank; points to note are: 

  The centre of gravity of the tank needs to be established by trial & error before fully raising the tank 

  Chain lengths need to be adjusted so that the tank lifts horizontally 

  To stabilise the load when moving around site, guide‐ropes should be attached to enable operatives to control load‐swing from a safe distance 

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installation overview …  26. Freerain systems include tanks, designated “G‐tanks” and “Flat‐tanks” per the 

specifications above,  that have been specifically designed to store harvested rainwater  27. The tanks are designed to be installed in specific accordance with the instructions that 

follow; the civils design of a structural engineer is to be followed if any of the following tank installation conditions are present: 

  Trafficking by vehicles other than ride‐on lawn‐mowers  Closer than 4‐metres to the foundations of another structure  Closer than 4‐metres to an adjacent significant change in ground‐level  Outside the depth parameters identified in the two installation diagrams below 

 28. Installation in heavy clay soil or in areas that will experience high water‐tables will also 

affect the installation as highlighted on the installation diagrams.  29. If site personnel are faced with any of the conditions noted above, they should seek 

supervisory advice before commencing tank installation.  30. The tanks are designed to take pedestrian and light mower loading only, with the range 

of excavation depths shown in the installation diagrams below;   31. The customer may, if wished, substitute their own brick‐construction manhole and cover 

provided these are so constructed that they do not transfer any weight onto the tank.  32. Pipe‐falls must be a minimum of 1:100 in the direction of water‐flow, ie rainwater 

delivery pipe and service duct towards the tank, and the overflow away from the tank  33. The installation of the rainwater storage tank, and its connection to the water‐supply, 

water‐overflow and service‐duct pipes should be undertaken at the same time as the overall underground works for the project. 

 34. The tank should be aligned to provide the straightest possible service duct run between 

the tank and the Control Unit as other pipe‐work and cabling etc need to be fed through this duct at a later stage; the figure below shows this ideal relationship (bearing mind the possible “G‐tank permutations thumb‐nailed opposite) 

 

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35. The tank must be handled and installed strictly in accordance with the instructions at paragraph‐26 above; once installed, the position of the tank is to be clearly marked and over‐driving by vehicles within 4‐metres of a tank edge is strictly forbidden. 

 36. All pipe‐work associated with a rainwater harvesting system must be kept totally clear of 

site debris, to which end they must have sealed ends when being pulled through.  37. To prevent roof‐water entering the tank prior to the system entering service, the in‐tank 

filter is to be covered with polythene until the property is ready for occupancy; this cover is to be removed as a part of the commissioning process. 

 precautions …  38. To ensure the integrity of the tank is not prejudiced during installation, and satisfactory 

subsequent operation of the complete system, the following precautions are to be strictly observed: 

  Allow the tank to settle onto the pea‐gravel base under its own weight initially, and the weight of the water introduced into it 

Care  is to be taken to ensure that site debris/dust  is not allowed to enter the tank during or after its installation 

Under no circumstances:  Tamp‐down the infill with machinery  Tamp‐down finished ground level with machinery  Drive vehicles over tanks installed as above 

 step‐by‐step guide …  39. The following is a step‐by‐step guide to the installation of the tank when none of the 

abnormal conditions noted at paragraphs 27 & 28 above are present:  

Arrangements should be made for the tank to be delivered, coincident with the day it is due to be installed; with this in mind, when delivery is expected ensure: 

Suitable access and parking arrangements have been made  for  the delivery vehicle 

Plant is available to unload the tank  A  clear  route  has  been  designated  between  the  delivery  vehicle  and  the installation site 

The installation site is level and clear of obstacles and site debris and, ideally:  The water ingress pipe‐work is complete and ready for connection  The water overflow pipe‐work is complete, ready for connection, and is  itself  connected  to  the  surface water management  system  (soak‐away, storm‐drain or attenuation as appropriate) 

The service duct is ready for connection, complete with:   internal  draw‐cord  provided;  this  should  be  left  in‐place  on completion 

32‐mm  High  Performance  Polyethylene  (HPP)  delivery  pipe, fed through, section by section, as the service duct is installed 

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Before  starting  the  installation,  confirm  no  added  precautions  (see  paragraph‐48 above) apply; ie, the instructions of a structural engineer must be followed, if any of the following apply: 

Vehicular over‐trafficking required  Closer than 4‐metres to adjacent foundations, earth bank (above or below) or raised patio 

Depth of installation, or constraints arising from clay soil or high water‐table not in accordance with installation diagrams below 

Complete and sign‐off risk assessment  Complete and sign‐off the method statement  Calculate depth of dig with reference to the diagrams below, confirming minimum & maximum  tank  cover  depth will  not  be  exceeded;  NB:  all measurements  to  be taken from the bottom edge of the rainwater inlet invert level 

 “G‐tank” Dig‐depth Diagram 

     

   

NB:   Before commencing the dig, ensure invert‐level + 300mm is not less than 500mm or more than 1300mm if the tank is to be unprotected. 

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“Flat‐tank” Dig‐depth Diagram  

Line‐mark dig area, allowing for:  Alignment  of  tank water  entry  and  exit  connections,  and  the  service‐duct connection  (NB:    The  service duct most  slope  towards  the  tank on direct pressure systems to gravity‐feed the mains‐water top‐up) 

(Tank  plan‐view  dimensions)  +  (300‐mm  for  tank  manoeuvre/access)  + (suitable allowance for battering depending on ground conditions) 

            

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Dig the excavation, anticipating that ground water ingress may be experienced in the process; if necessary, keep water interference to a minimum by use of a pump; if the ground needs  to be  stabilised  to provide  a  firm base  for  the  tank,  the excavation depth should be increased by 250‐mm and replace with a mixture of hard‐core and sand 

Bed  the bottom of  the excavation with 50‐mm of 10‐mm washed pea‐gravel  (150‐mm for the “Flat‐tank”) 

Position  tank on  the pea‐gravel base, and check vertical and horizontal alignments between tank connectors and the drainage runs/service duct, allowing for 10‐mm of tank settlement at the next step 

Fill 1/3rd  full of water  to  settle  tank  into  the pea‐gravel, and bring connectors and pipe‐work into final alignment 

Connect all pipe‐work (ie rainwater‐in, overflow‐out, and service duct)  Install  neck  and  seal  the  joints with  a  good  bead  of  silicon  sealant  to  avoid  later ingress of ground‐water; then fit lid to ensure that no backfill material can enter the tank 

Backfill around and under the tank body and sides of the excavation with more 10‐mm washed pea‐gravel up to the level of the water inside the tank 

Continue backfilling around and under  the  tank with pea gravel until  the crown of the tank is covered with 50‐mm of pea gravel (150‐mm for the “Flat‐tank”) 

Continue filling the tank water, keeping pace with the backfill level up to the level of its inlet/outlet connections 

Complete backfill to finished ground level with free‐flowing material  Once the installation is complete and the tank connected: 

Install filter (if not already installed)  Seal  filter with  strong  polythene  (to  prevent  roof water  entering  the  tank until the whole system is ready to be handed‐over to the end‐user) 

Secure the tank lid  Mark  out  an  exclusion  zone  4‐metres  outside  the  original  excavation footprint to prevent site vehicles accidentally driving over the tank during construction work 

   

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installing the other components  overview …  40. The services to be supplied by the rainwater harvesting system (usually the toilets, the 

clothes washing machine and the outside tap) are to be fed by pipe‐work that is independent of the mains water system, with no interconnections between the two except via the air‐gaps provided for top‐up purposes.  Also, “Fluidmaster” valves are to be fitted to all cisterns. 

 41. The pipe‐work conveying rainwater inside a building should ideally be plastic and be 

installed and tested for air‐tightness at the 1st‐fix plumbing stage.  Outside the building, black High Performance Polyethylene (HPP) pipe‐work marked with a green stripes along its length must be used in accordance with Annex‐C to BS‐8515. 

 42. The system includes a signage and pipe‐marking pack which must be used appropriately 

throughout the system, per the examples below:                      43. Other 1st fix tasks include making a 10‐amp fused spur electrical and mains water 

supplies available for connection when the remainder of the components are installed.  44. The 2nd fix work brings the system to a position where it is fully operational, and 

commissioned, ready to be handed‐over.  45. The integrity of the services supply‐side pipe‐work is to be air‐pressure tested, and all 

associated fixtures and fittings properly installed, before power is applied to the system.  

 

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 header‐tank systems …  46. The arrangement/relationship of components in header‐tank systems is shown diagrammatically 

below:   

   

                                         

Storage tank with pre-

fitted filter & calmed inlet

Pump & dry-run

float-switch

Isolation cock, pressure-gauge &

in-line strainer assembly

Power supply 

RWH supply Power

supply to

pump

Both via

service-duct

Header-tank Mains

top-up supply

Supply to header-

tank Supply to services

LED lit when

rainwater being used

NB:  1.   Insulation jacket must not obstruct air‐gaps 2.   Both warning overflows must be connected to outside waste using 32‐mm push‐fit waste pipe ( ie, not the solvent‐weld variety)  

NB:  

“Dead‐leg”  on mains top‐up supply to be avoided by use of a check‐valve 

 

21

  47. A typical installation sequence for header‐tank systems will include:  

Preparatory:  

Positioning the header‐tank in the loft‐space  Positioning  stop‐cock,  pressure  gauge &  in‐line  strainer  cluster  in  required position (usually adjacent to the power‐supply position) 

Providing a 13‐amp power supply connection  

Plumbing:  

Around the header‐tank:  Installing supply pipe‐work to services  Providing mains top‐up supply  Connect rainwater supply pipe‐work  Connect over‐flow warning pipe‐work 

Around the stop‐cock cluster:  Connect 32‐mm MDPE rainwater supply‐pipe from main storage tank  Connect 15mm internal delivery pipe to supply the header‐tank 

Around the main underground rainwater storage tank:  Connect pump outlet  to 32‐mm MDPE  rainwater  supply‐pipe  in  the service duct using flexible hose and fittings provided 

Suspend the pump in tank using pre‐set chain provided  Pull pump power cable through the service duct (leaving cord in place for later use whenever needed) 

  Electrics:      Connect  the  13‐amp supply and pump power cable as shown opposite      

  Plumbing:      Switch‐on power, and check:   

  All joints & pipe‐work sound 

Pressure gauge reading 3‐4 bars, and steady 

Water provided automatically to services when operated  Pump is not running when there is no demand  Pump  dry‐run  float‐switch  operates  (tested  by  slowly  raising  pump  in  the tank with outside tap running) 

Mains  top‐up  into header‐tank operates  (tested by closing supply cock‐stop and operating services until top‐up activates) 

  

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   direct pressure systems …  48. The arrangement/relationship of components in direct pressure systems is shown 

diagrammatically below:                                  49. A typical installation sequence for the direct pressure systems will include:  

Preparatory:  

Positioning the top‐up control box in a suitable location  Positioning  stop‐cock,  pressure  gauge &  in‐line  strainer  cluster  in  required position (usually adjacent to the top‐up control box position) 

Providing a 13‐amp power supply connection to the control box  Providing a mains‐water supply connection to the control box 

  

Storage tank with pre-

fitted filter & calmed inlet

Pump & top-up

float-switch

Isolation cock, pressure gauge & in-line strainer assembly + expansion vessel

Supply to services

 Controls 

Controls, incorporating connection to power supply &

mains top-up supply

RWH supply

Mains top-up supply

Power supply

to pump

Power supply &

top-up cable

All via service-duct

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  Plumbing: 

  Around top‐up controls box (see diagram opposite): 

Make good connection to the mains supply  Make  good  the  mains  top‐up  connection between  tun‐dish and  the  service‐duct, using 32‐mm grey waste pipe  terminating 100‐mm inside the  duct (NB:   Do not establish a pipe‐work  connection  running  all  the  way  from the tun‐dish back to the tank, as this will not work) 

Around stop‐cock cluster:  Connect 32‐mm MDPE  rainwater  supply‐pipe from main storage tank 

Connect  15mm  delivery  pipe  to  supply  the services 

Around  the  main  underground  rainwater  storage tank: 

Connect  pump  outlet  to  32‐mm  MDPE rainwater  supply‐pipe  in  the  service  duct  using  flexible  hose  and fittings provided 

Suspend pump in tank using pre‐set chain provided  Pull top‐up cable through the service duct  Pull pump power cable through the service duct (leaving cord in place for later use whenever needed) 

  Electrics:   Connect  the  13‐amp  supply,  pump  power  cable  and  top‐up  cable  as shown opposite: 

Plumbing:   Switch‐on power, and check:   

  All  joints  &  pipe‐work sound 

Pressure  gauge  reading  3‐4 bars, and steady 

Water  provided automatically  to  services when operated 

Pump  is not running when there is no demand 

Pump  dry‐run  operates (tested  by  slowly  raising pump in the tank with outside tap running) 

Mains  top‐up operates  (tested by  slowly  raising  the dry‐run  float‐switch  in the main storage tank until top‐up activates) 

 

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commissioning  50. Commissioning is the final stage before the system is handed‐over to the end‐user and is 

shown to be functioning correctly; commissioning is intended to ensure:  

The installation is complete and “Fluidmaster” valves fitted to cisterns  All connections to the mains water top‐up unit are correct  The pump and associated fittings and cables are correctly positioned in the tank  Pump dry‐run protection working (checked as explained above)  The filter is correctly housed  The mains back‐up is functioning (checked as explained above)  The system is holding pressure  There are no leaks or weeps  The installation and user manuals are present for the end‐user  On  completion  of  the  commissioning  checks,  the  in‐tank  filter  is  to  be  lined with polythene  to prevent  rainwater entering  the  tank before  the property  is  sold  and occupied 

 51. Bearing in mind that by this stage much of the installation work may no longer be visible, 

there is the potential for tradesmen to satisfactorily test the system at the completion of their work, but for it to subsequently malfunction due to hidden defects arising during installation.   

 52. Typical examples of poor workmanship that are likely to cause subsequent operational 

problems, include:  

Failure to fit leaf‐guards to down‐pipes, leading to a blockage of the pre‐tank filter  Underground pipes being poorly joined, leading to the ingress of ground‐water  Tank  neck  &  lid  assemblies  being  poorly  sealed,  again  leading  to  the  ingress  of ground‐water 

Site dust/soil and debris being allowed  to enter  into  the  storage  tank or drainage runs leading to poor water quality and premature pump failures 

Failure  to  keep  delivery  pipes  sealed  during  pull‐through,  leading  to  site  debris gaining entry to the pipe 

Surface water being allowed to enter the tank for a prolonged period (ie in excess of 20‐days) and stagnating before the system enters regular service 

 53. This places a premium on good workmanship and supervision during the installation 

process to ensure:  

No debris is allowed to enter the tank or any of the pipe‐work  The tank and pipe‐work are undamaged, and all connections are water‐tight  Invert  levels  are  correct,  and backflow prevention  valves  are  fitted  in high water‐table installations, or if the overflow is connected to a storm‐drain 

A filter cover is fitted until immediately before the system is handed‐over to the end‐user 

 

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using the system  handing‐over …  54. The system is now ready to be signed‐off by the commissioning tradesman, and handed‐

over to the client, covering all relevant points such as:  

Demonstrating use of the equipment, and its controls  Explaining any system limitations/constraints  Identifying the major components, their inter‐relationship and normal function  Explaining maintenance requirements  Running through the fault‐finding guide  Providing system support contact information  The need to remove the filter seal when the property is about to be occupied  Providing the Safety File copies of the O&M Manual (commercial systems) or Installation & User Manuals (domestic systems) 

 Arrangements also need to be in place to ensure that the end‐user receives an equally 

comprehensive hand‐over.   … safety & access …  55. Proper risk assessments are to be made whenever maintenance work is undertaken on 

the system.  56. For most of the checks to be made during routine maintenance and repair activities, 

electrical power will need to be “on”, and all system stop‐cocks “open”; however, care must be taken to: 

  Isolate electrical power when appropriate to the work being undertaken 

  Close stop‐cock and isolate the pump when plumbing connections need to be broken (during removal and cleaning of in‐line strainer, for example); re‐made connections are to be properly re‐taped with PTFE, where appropriate 

 … routine maintenance …  57. The routine maintenance requirements of the system is limited to a quarterly check of:  

Whether the user has experienced any problems or unusual symptoms  

The correct operation of services, including dry‐run protection & mains top‐up  

No signs of leaks or weeps  

No sign of wiring deterioration 

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  Correct operating pressure 

  Gutters clean, leaf filters in place, and pre‐tank and in‐line filters removed/cleaned 

  Good water quality in the main storage tank, and to services 

  No “tide‐mark” in the neck of the tank to indicate over‐filling (ie overflow failure) 

  Tank contents matches contents gauge (if present) and the weather/usage pattern 

 … fault finding …  58. If problems are being experienced, Freerain provide a help‐line service during business 

hours on 0845‐127‐0001.  59. Generic reasons why systems may malfunction include:  

No power supply to the system; check fuses etc  

No water in the tank; check pre‐tank filter is clean and operation of the back‐up  

Pump inoperative; may need replacing or re‐setting (power “off”/”on”)  

Incorrect top‐up operation; check float‐valve/sensor suspension and operate manually 

  Component failures 

  Pump “hunting” (when services not being used); weep or leak on the delivery side of the system (will shorten pump life and may cause it to fault‐out) 

  Continuous pumping (but no pressure to services); delivery pipe split or disconnected from the pump (system needs to be switched‐of as soon as detected to protect the pump and avoid energy waste) 

 60. NB: It should be noted on header‐tank systems that a system failure may not be 

immediately apparent to the end‐user, as water will still continue to be available to services via the mains top‐up feature.  This is easily detected by: 

  Noting when the LED on the fused power switch is “off”; this indicates that the header‐tank is using mains‐top‐up water 

  Confirming that this occurs only when to be expected with the prevailing weather conditions (ie lack of recent rainfall) 

   

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    … water quality …  61. The water appearing in toilet bowls should look clean/clear; as noted above, checking 

the quality of the water in the main storage tank is one of the requirements of periodic maintenance because:  

Poor quality water in the tank will provide poor quality water to the services which is unacceptable 

  It may be an indicator of pre‐tank filtration issues, which may additionally affect its efficiency at harvesting water 

  Poor quality water may damage the pump, or reduce pump life 

 62. In the event of water‐quality issues arising, potential causes include:  

System continuing to harvest rainwater which remains unused during the period between installation and occupancy (avoided by sealing the filter until the system is ready for use) 

  Foreign matter being allowed to enter the tank during the construction process (which must be avoided) 

  Ground‐water ingress (avoided by sealing properly the neck shaft and all underground connections during installation) 

  Back‐flow from under‐performing soak‐aways (avoided by installation of one‐way valves on the over‐flow) 

    

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FREERAIN LTD TERMS & CONDITIONS  OF BUSINESS (These do not affect the customer’s statutory rights)

Please note that all goods are provided on a supplied-only basis, to be installed as a working system by the customer or their

agents; any faults arising from mis-installation or mis-handling are the responsibility of the installer. Our supplies are not

subject to the CIS rules and no CIS deductions are therefore to be made to invoices

General Terms NB: Breach of these conditions will invalidate the Warranty

The following applies only to the supply of goods (namely full or part rainwater harvesting systems); where a separate contract for the supply of services is required, such as for installation support and site visits etc, separate terms, conditions and charges will apply to that contract.

All goods provided under these terms & conditions are to be used in accordance with the associated Installation Manual, Users Manual, or other written instructions provided by the Company.

As an un-contracted service, the Company provides installers and users of the goods it supplies with a free telephone advice line; all telephone advice is provided in good faith but, if different/additional to written information contained in the Installation and Users Manuals, is only to be acted directly upon when followed-up by a written confirmation.

Quotations & Prices

Only our written quotations are to be used as a basis for ordering. The prices contained in our quotations are fixed for a period of 3-months from the date of issue, unless stated otherwise.

All quoted prices are exclusive of VAT, unless stated otherwise.

Orders

Orders are only accepted once we have issued confirmation of acceptance, and on the basis that all terms and conditions here set-out have been understood and accepted by the buyer.

Ordering

Written confirmations (letters, fax or e-mail) are required for all orders.

Technical Specification Changes

All specification changes are to be agreed in writing by both parties ahead of shipping.

Amendments

Any amendments to original quotation/order details are to be confirmed in writing by both parties.

Delivery Times & Arrangements

The delivery times relevant to your order will be as set out in our written quotation; we will use our best endeavours to meet precise delivery arrangements within the constraints of the stated delivery time, provided at least 5-working days notice is given.

Should, for reasons beyond Freerain Ltd control, delivery of goods does not take place as mutually arranged, Freerain Ltd will not be liable for any additional costs incurred by the client.

Cancellation of Orders

Orders may not be cancelled once it has been delivered fully or in part

In the event that an order (in full or in part) is cancelled after it has been placed but pre-delivery, the following cancellation charges will apply:

7.5% of the value of the order once it has been accepted by Freerain and confirmation sent to the buyer

15% of the value of the order where working drawings & installation manuals have been produced and sent

30% of the value of the order where signed drawings have been returned by the customer, and production has commenced

60% of the value of the order where the goods have been manufactured and are in-stock awaiting delivery instructions

Undeliverable goods

In the event goods are not able to be off loaded when delivered in accordance with the agreed arrangements, due to the client not being in a position to receive them, the client will be responsible for any storage, additional shipping/re-shipping costs, which arise.

Damages in Transit

All goods are to be unpacked on receipt and checked for damage in transit; any claims for replacement items are to be made within 48-hours of delivery. The customer copy of the Packing List needs to be signed and returned at this stage to validate the Warranty.

Responsibility for off-loading goods lies with the client and must be undertaken in accordance with the instructions provided; any damage arising during or subsequent to off-loading shall be the client’s responsibility.

Returned goods

Shipping costs associated with the returning of goods is the responsibility of the customer, unless agreed otherwise. Should any parts become lost or damaged, it is the responsibility of the customer to use the appropriate service with insurance/protection.

Payment Terms

For orders less than £5,000 nett, pre-payment is required, unless agreed otherwise in writing beforehand and all invoices are to be settled in full ahead of shipping.

For orders greater than £5,000 nett or otherwise agreed credit account facilities are available, subject to prior checking by the credit control department.

Warranty

The warranty period starts on the date the goods are delivered to site. The Warranty is validated by completion and return of the second copy of the Packing List enclosed with the system or component(s) on delivery. The terms of the Warranty are:

i) All components are covered by a parts only guarantee from the time of delivery.

ii) Replacement parts will be provided in the event of failures in service, for the period as outlined below after the date of delivery. Replacement parts shall only be issued on return of the defective parts, unless agreed in writing.

Full domestic systems – 24 months (see note v) External only (Gardening) systems – 12 months Commercial systems – 12 months All other system and parts - 12 months, unless stated at the time.

iii) Failures resulting from improper installation, misuse and/or with signs of physical mistreatment are not covered by the Warranty.

iv) Domestic systems are optimised to provide harvested rainwater to supply WC’s throughout the house, outside tap functions and a washing machine situated on the ground floor. Other configurations/usages should perform equally well, but are not guaranteed.

v) Tanks made from polyethylene carry a 15-year warranty against failure caused by a manufacturing defect. To validate this warranty, the tanks must be used and installed fully in accordance with Freerain instructions which includes taking advice from a professional appointed structural engineer under the circumstances identified in the instructions. Claims made against this warranty are to be accompanied by a report supplied by a mutually agreed independent expert, whose fees will be paid by Freerain in the event that a manufacturing defect is shown to be the cause of any failure.

vi) Drinking water systems are subject to the separate mutually agreed “risk assessment” that form the contract under which these are supplied.

System Breakdowns

System breakdowns that cannot be rectified by the end-user with reference to the user guide and with telephone technical support from Freerain, will need to be attended to by the customer’s agent (usually the original installer or appointed plumber). Freerain will assist the agent/plumber (via the telephone) to rectify the problem. Any defective parts will then be issued with reference to the terms of the warranty.

Commissioning

A commissioning request form must be completed and signed prior to any visit. System commissioning does not include labour or installation work. Prior to our representative(s) arriving on site the system must be fully installed as per the written instructions provided. Should the system not be in a state of readiness for commissioning and/or where remedial works be required as a result of the initial report, additional charges may apply. Specific terms relating to a commissioning visit can be found on the commissioning request form and the commissioning report form.

Title

All goods shall remain the property of Freerain Ltd so long as any money is outstanding in relation to these or any other goods previously supplied.

Freerain Ltd reserve the right to recover any goods that have not been paid for in accordance with the account facilities provided, and the purchaser agrees to make such goods available for this purpose, and provide any access needed to effect recovery.

In the event a purchaser’s standard documentation includes wording that may, or appear to, invalidate the above retention of title conditions, such contra-terms are rejected unless specifically agreed in writing.

Freerain Limited, Sylvan Way, Off Great North Road, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG24 3UT Sales: 0845 1250 000 Tech: 0845 1270 001 Fax: 01636 894909 email: [email protected] web: www.freerain.co.uk

registered no. 3521704 VAT no. 706 4275 43 Registered Office: Millennium Green Business Centre, Rio Drive, Collingham, Newark, Notts NG23 7NB


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