Heat Network Water Quality – New Guidance

New guidance on heat networks’ water quality has just come out which calls for more sensors, probes and closer monitoring. The new BG50/2021, published in November 2021, introduces a number of updates over its predecessor (BG50/2013) which are aimed at making Heat Networks (and closed loop systems in general, including cooling) more robust, efficient and with longer life spans.

Among the updates there is a stronger focus on dissolved oxygen as the primary source of corrosion. Statistics from the Heat Trust indicate that Pressurisation Unit (PU) faults are among the most common reasons for heat network outages. As the PU fails, the system pressure fluctuates which may lead to oxygen ingress.

For this reason, it is important to closely monitor the Operation & Maintenance (O&M) work to ensure this risk is minimised.