Gulf Construction Online - Hattersley valves get the right balance

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Hattersley ... automatic balancing valves simplify design procedures.

Hattersley valves get the right balance

01 MAY 2001

Leading UK-based valve manufacturer Hattersley says that new developments in water distribution system products will dramatically alter the way buildings are balanced and commissioned, especially for those using the energy savings of variable volume systems.

Hattersley is represented in the Gulf by distributors Mohammed Fakhroo and Bros in Bahrain, Galfar in Oman and Fawaz in Kuwait.

The company is currently promoting products which aid innovative design solutions, reduce time on site and provide flexibility. Among them are automatic balancing valves.

Highlighting some of the problems encountered during the commissioning stage of the M&E services, Kevin Boulter, the company's regional sales manager says: "Water balancing is a time-consuming process, which takes place at the most critical part of the project - just before hand over. At this point all design, installation and flushing problems that have been ignored or forgotten appear, and have to be overcome in some way.

"Problems of poorly flushed systems that leave dirt to appear at the balancing stage and the entrained air that affects readings throughout the commissioning process are still as prevalent today as when commissioning first start many years ago.

"The development of the dirt separator allows dirt particles to be removed during the flush and there after help the system to remain clear after flushing."

"Degassing equipment has proved itself at the commissioning stage by reducing the entrained air within the system and then continuing to provide a gas free environment throughout the systems life. "I believe that this equipment is essential in systems and acts like our liver in removing dirt and our lungs in removing unwanted gases."

A great deal of work has been carried out by BSRIA (Building Services Research and Information Association) in an attempt to ease the design, installation and commissioning of a water distribution system, he said

"Automatic balancing valves can be shown to simplify the design procedure while allowing flexibility - the client being able to change design duty right up to the final commissioning," he says.

Hattersley offers Autoflow automatic balancing valves which are claimed to provide a radical cost-effective method of maintaining flow at the specified rate regardless of fluctuations of pressure.

"At the heart of Autoflow is the flow regulator cartridge which has a unique and patented piston arrangement. The variable side porting and single orifice end hole provide the absolute maximum orifice size and minimum flow restriction at a given pressure differential," he points out.

Hattersley last year conducted a series of seminars and training sessions the region for its distributors.

The seminars included training sessions on the correct way to achieve proportional valve balance in a building.

Hattersley - which has its Middle East office in Abu Dhabi - has more than 100 years of experience quality valve production.