Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating PDF

Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating PowerPoint presentation Unit 311: Domestic fuel systems Fuel selection and information © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 1 of 39  Level 3 Dipl...

Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating PowerPoint presentation Unit 311: Domestic fuel systems Fuel selection and information © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 1 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Objectives By the end of the session, learners will be able to: 1.1 identify the types of fuels used in appliances 1.2 describe the factors which affect the selection of fuels 1.3 state sources of information for fuel supply installation 1.4 define the regulatory type bodies which govern the installation of various fuel types 1.5 specify the storage requirements for fuels 1.6 compare factors which could affect storage requirements for fuels. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 2 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Factors affecting fuel selection The appliances that are installed in domestic properties are fuelled by a variety of energy sources. Some are old technology, while others are modern technology. There are five categories of fuel: natural gas liquid petroleum gas (LPG) oil solid fuel sustainable, low carbon fuels. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 3 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Natural gas This is probably the most widely used fuel, which is a combustible mix of hydrocarbon gases. It is colourless and odourless in its purest form. The odour is added prior to distribution so that leaks can be detected. When burnt, it releases a high amount of energy. It is naturally occurring and often found when extracting oil from deep below the Earth’s surface. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 4 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating The composition of natural gas It is lighter than air, having a specific gravity of 0.6–0.8. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 5 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Natural gas Natural gas is widely available across the country and is distributed via the National Grid (underground pipework system). Only a few isolated areas are not connected to the Grid. The calorific value (the amount of energy stored) of natural gas is around 37.8–43 MJ/m3 (mega joules per metre cube). © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 6 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Liquid petroleum gas (LPG) LPG is also a fossil hydrocarbon fuel that is linked to oil. There are different LPG gases available, but two are commonly used: propane and butane. Propane: C3H8 Butane: C4H10 Both LPG gases are heavier than air in their gas form. Propane has a specific gravity of 1.5 and butane has a specific gravity of 2.0. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 7 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating The composition of liquid petroleum gases © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 8 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Liquid petroleum gas (LPG) When LPG is subject to high pressure, it turns into a liquid and takes up less space, eg 1 litre of liquid creates 274 litres of gas. Propane is identified by a red bottle and can be used for boilers, cookers, fires, water heaters and soldering. It boils at -420C. Butane is identified by a blue bottle and can be used for camping equipment and barbecues. The flame temperature is too hot for soldering. It boils at -40C. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 9 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Fuel oil: kerosene Kerosene is a by-product of crude oil. The vast majority of oil boilers in the UK burn kerosene, which is also known as C2 grade 28 second viscosity oil. It is the preferred grade, due its clean combustion. Modern oil boilers require an annual service to check the atomizing pressure jet burner. The nozzle size and pump pressure are stated by the manufacturer. Kerosene is good in cold weather and remains fluid in temperatures down to -400C. It is a high carbon fuel which is very pale yellow in colour. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 10 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Solid fuels There are three main types of solid fuels used in the UK: coal coke peat. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 11 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Coal This is a fossil fuel and gives off the energy the plants absorbed millions of years ago. It is classified in to four types, depending on the amount of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen present. The higher the carbon, the more energy it contains. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 12 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Coke Coke is produced by heating coal in a coke oven to around 1,0000C. The coal gives off methane gas and coal tar, both of which are reused. Coke burns clearly and without a flame, resulting in a lot of heat being given off. However, it cannot burn by itself. Coke is a smokeless fuel that has a high calorific value and is used in the steelmaking industry, chemical processes and also domestic boilers. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 13 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Peat This is an organic material that was formed from decaying plants thousands of years ago. As the material decays, it does not decompose; instead, it forms peat, due to the lack of oxygen in the bog. Peat has a high carbon content but much less than coal. When burnt, it produces large amounts of ash. It can be used in domestic fires, room heaters and peat burning stoves © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 14 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Sustainable low-carbon fuels Low carbon fuels are gained from renewable sources: solar thermal biomass heat pumps combined heat and power. These are covered in Unit 310 under environmental technologies. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 15 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Factors affecting fuel selection Availability This plays a big part when choosing the fuel for installation. Most properties are connected to the uninterrupted supply from the national grid of gas, but some rural areas may rely on deliveries of LPG or solid fuels. This may not cause a problem for most of the year, but when the weather is poor, deliveries may be interrupted or cancelled. Appliance type The type of fuel and the type of appliance are linked. Some appliances may be dual fuel, but some are specific. Always remember that gas appliances are specific to a type of gas – natural or LPG. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 16 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Factors affecting fuel selection (continued) Fuel storage Natural gas does not require any storage, but all other fuels will require storage space within the boundary of the property. Some fuels, like biomass and solid fuel, will require a lot of space. These fuels will also need to be kept dry. Oil and LPG can be stored in specialised tanks away from the property, as dictated by legislation or manufacturers. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 17 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Factors affecting fuel selection (continued) Environmental considerations Most fuels used domestically will produce waste products of some form that are harmful to the atmosphere. They could be direct pollution like soot and sulphur, which come from coal and oil. Most fuels give off carbon dioxide (CO2), which is linked to global warming. Some fuels emit nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which is extremely toxic in large quantities. Disposal of ash, soot and clinker will need careful consideration; advice should be sought from the fuel supplier and local authority. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 18 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Factors affecting fuel selection (continued) Smoke control legislation Under the Clean Air Act of 1993, local authorities can declare an area to be a smoke control area, which would make it an offence to emit smoke from a chimney. This covers solid fuel, oil and biomass burners. In some cases, smokeless fuels are exempt but advice would need to be gained. Cost This is a major factor when choosing a fuel. Prices can fluctuate, depending on the price of crude oil. LPG price is generally high, but the cheapest fossil fuel is generally natural gas. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 19 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Factors affecting fuel selection (continued) Client preference Natural gas is often the preferred choice because it is readily available, but in rural areas, oil or LPG may be used. Many new builds are incorporating renewable energy sources, as the carbon footprint of properties is being reduced and clients’ ‘green’ credentials are being improved. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 20 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Sources of information There are certain regulations that fuel supply systems must comply with to maintain the safety of the property, the appliance and the occupants. Solid fuels, biomass and oil are easier to understand, as the fuel is readily visible, but regulations for gas and electricity tend to be more stringent, as the fuel is under pressure and cannot be seen. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 21 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Sources of information (continued) Regulations The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 Approved Document J of the Building Regulations – Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems The 18th Edition of the IET Regulations © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 22 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Sources of information (continued) British Standards There are many British and European Standards that give guidance on installing fuel systems. There is a full list in Approved Document J (download a copy): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/ uploads/attachment_data/file/468872/ADJ_LOCKED.pdf Download a copy of BS6891 2019: www.techstreet.com/standards/bs-6891-2015-a1-2019? product_id=2077609 © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 23 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Sources of information (continued) Manufacturer’s instructions These will give advice about installing the fuel systems for an appliance. These may sometimes conflict with the regulations and British Standards; if this is the case, manufacturer’s instructions must always be followed. Guidance notes These are produced by the regulatory bodies and professional associations to assist with the compliance of the regulations. Many are produced by the Health and Safety Executive and should be read alongside the regulations and manufacturer’s instructions. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 24 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Regulatory bodies These are organisations set up by the government to monitor, control and guide various sectors of industry. They aim to protect customers and guide installers. In some cases, the regulatory body may need to prosecute in the interest of public safety, when installers refuse to comply with regulations. In the plumbing industry it is compulsory to belong to a regulatory body if you install gas, oil or solid-fuel supply systems. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 25 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Regulatory bodies (continued) Gas Safe This is the regulatory body for the installation, maintenance and repair of gas installations and appliances. By law, all operatives undertaking domestic natural gas and LPG installations must be registered. Gas safe register: www.gassaferegister.co.uk/ © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 26 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Regulatory bodies (continued) OFTEC This is the registration body for the installation and maintenance of oil- fired heating and fuel systems. Registration is voluntary, but being a member is considered good practice. Registration means that installers are able to self-certify installation without the need for a local authority inspection. OFTEC website: www.oftec.org.uk/ © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 27 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Regulatory bodies (continued) HETAS This is the regulatory body for solid fuel and biomass heating systems, biomass fuels and biomass appliances. HETAS website: www.hetas.co.uk/ © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 28 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Storage requirements Coal The Solid Fuel Association recommend that coal is stored in a purpose- built bunker, outside the property, to protect the fuel. Covered to prevent contaminants affecting the fuel Hard smooth floor to allow shovelling Base should be sloped to prevent water collecting Bunker should be well lit Bunker should be well ventilated to prevent moisture building up © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 29 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Storage requirements (continued) Oil Domestic tanks are generally made from plastic or steel. Sizing will depend on the following requirements: plastic tanks need to conform with OFS T100 steel tanks need to conform with OFS T200. An annual inspection of the tank needs to take place as part of the service. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 30 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Storage requirements (continued) Environmental protection Some installations require a secondary containment system, known as a bund, to counteract the risk of pollution if oil is split: secondary bunded tank oil impermeable wall. These may be used when the tank is located near to a river or watercourse. The bund must be capable of holding 110% of the tanks capacity. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 31 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Storage requirements (continued) Location of fuel oil tanks The siting must comply with fire separation distances to protect the oil from a fire: 1.8m from non-fire related eaves, building or shed 1.8m from openings like a door or window 1.8m away from the oil fire terminal 760mm from non-fire rated boundary (wooden fence) 600mm from any trellis or foliage. If any of the above cannot be met, a 30-minute fire protection barrier must be provided. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 32 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Storage requirements (continued) Location for liquid petroleum gas Remember that LPG is heavier than air, so it will always find the lowest point. The tank can either be above or below ground level, subject to the water table. The HSE state minimum separation distances for LPG storage tanks and that there should be no drains or gullies nearby, unless they are protected by a water trap. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 33 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Storage requirements (continued) Consideration also needs to be taken to allow the LPG tank plenty of ventilation and protection from impact. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 34 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Storage requirements (continued) Biomass The client needs to consider site access, space requirements and even the aesthetics of the container. All storage needs to be watertight: hook bin covered shed hopper silos bunker. Early consideration for the type of storage will need to be made, as this may affect the design of the system. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 35 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Storage requirements (continued) Space for fuel storage Space is a major factor, as most fuels require a specific distance from the appliances. Delivery requirements Vehicle access for tankers and HGVs is essential, whether the fuel is hosed, tipped or bagged. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 36 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Storage requirements (continued) Safety Confined spaces Fire risk Explosion Carbon monoxide build-up Slips, trips and falls Deliveries Personal hygiene © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 37 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Storage requirements (continued) Weather Bad weather conditions such as wind, rain, hail and snow can be the cause of late or cancelled deliveries, particularly in rural areas. Large vehicles will find it difficult to negotiate narrow roads, especially in bad weather. Good planning can reduce the impact. Bad weather can also render fuels for biomass systems unusable. If woodchip biomass starts to decompose because of the damp, this can cause it to heat up and spontaneously combust. Coal and coke can also be affected. © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 38 of 39  Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Any questions? © 2019 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. 39 of 39