The revised British Standard BS 7593:2019 has been introduced for the preparation, commissioning and maintenance of domestic heating and cooling water systems, superseding BS 7593:2006 which was immediately withdrawn.

The standard now includes the following key changes for those specifying, installing and maintaining domestic heating and cooling systems:

For the first time, the fitting of a permanent in-line filter is required in addition to a chemical clean and fresh water flush before inhibitor is added
An in-line filter should be fitted to ALL systems
All recommended cleaning methodologies can be improved with external magnetite capture equipment and mechanical vibration of radiators
A water test is required to test the level of inhibitor and cleanliness of the system every year
Inhibitor should be re-dosed every five years or a full system water test undertaken
BS 7593:2019 is now applicable to both closed loop heating and cooling circuits
Biocide is required in cooling and low temperature heating systems, and should be considered for higher temperature systems for added protection during downtime

The changes aim to drive greater consideration for correct water treatment chemistry and filtration including prevention, maintenance and monitoring to properly protect a system for the long term.

Dr Neil Watson, ADEY’s Chief Technical Officer, explains: “We welcome the publication of the fully revised BS 7593:2019. The changes made acknowledge that chemical water treatment isn’t a fit and forget solution, and magnetic filters shouldn’t just be considered a ‘nice to have’. Including these solutions in British Standard’s BS 7593 recognises a critical shift in moving the industry towards a holistic approach to system maintenance.

“A high proportion of boilers that fail in the first year do so because of poor water quality, so by introducing regular testing and redosing, proper system cleaning and the mandatory installation of an in-line filter to the industry’s code of practice, we can significantly improve the efficiency and life expectancy of every household system. This represents massive potential to contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions.”

What Embassy Gas are doing to help compliance of BS 7593:2019:

We will be introducing on-site system Inhibitor level tests as part of any Annual Service or Gas Safety Check, at no extra cost.
Over the next 14 days, we’ll be updating the booking system to make it easy and convenient for our customers to opt to have their systems cleaned and/or re-dosed with central heating inhibitor during an Annual Service or Gas Safety Check if they know their systems have not been cleaned or re-dosed with inhibitor within the last 5 years.
We will use automation to send customers a free non-obligatory quotation to install a magnetic system filter to central heating systems that we work on that do not currently have one fitted.
For hard water areas above 200ppm, we will use automation to send customers a free non-obligatory quotation to install a scale reducer to systems that we work on that do not currently have one fitted.
We will continue to ensure central heating systems are cleaned, flushed and inhibited when we install a new boiler.