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6.1 General Requirements
When in condensing mode the Grant
VORTEx Pro boilers produce condensate
from the water vapour in the flue gases.
This condensate is slightly acidic with a
ph value of around 3 (similar to vinegar).
Provision must be made for the safe and
effective disposal of this condensate.
Condensate can be disposed of using one
of the following methods of connection:
Internal connection (preferred option):
•
into an internal domestic waste
system (from kitchen sink, washing
machine, etc.)
•
directly into the soil stack
External connection:
•
into an external soil stack
•
into an external drain or gulley
•
into a rainwater hopper (that is part
of a combined system where sewer
carries both rainwater and foul water)
•
purpose made soakaway
All condensate disposal pipes
must
be fitted with a trap - whether they are
connected internally or externally to a
domestic waste system/soil stack or run
externally to a gully, hopper or soakaway.
6.2 Connections
Connections into a rainwater hopper, external
drain or gulley should be terminated inside the
hopper/drain/gulley below the grid level but
above the water level.
Condensate disposal pipes should not
be connected directly into rainwater
downpipes or to waste/soil systems
connected to septic tanks.
Condensate should not be discharged
into 'grey water' systems that re-use
water used in the home (not including
water from toilets).
It should be noted that connection of a
condensate pipe to the drain may be subject
to local Building Control requirements.
6.3 Pipework
Condensate disposal pipework must be
plastic (plastic waste or overflow pipe is
suitable).
IMPORTANT:
Copper or steel pipe is
NOT
suitable and
MUST
NOT
be used.
Condensate disposal pipes should
have a minimum 'nominal' diameter
of 22 mm (¾") - e.g. use 21.5 mm OD
polypropylene overflow pipe.
Condensate disposal pipes must be
fitted with a fall (away from the boiler) of
at least 2.5° (~45 mm fall per metre run).
Where it is not possible for the pipe to
fall towards the point of discharge -
either internally into a waste system or
externally to a gulley (e.g. for boilers
installed in a basement), it will be
necessary to use a condensate pump.
Condensate disposal pipes should
be kept as short as possible and the
number of bends kept to a minimum.
Pipes should be adequately fixed to
prevent sagging, i.e. at no more than 0.5
metre intervals.
6.4 External Pipework
Ideally, external pipework, or pipework
in unheated areas, should be avoided. If
unavoidable, external pipework should
be kept as short as possible (less than 3
metres) and 32 mm waste pipe used to
minimise the risk of ice blocking the pipe
in freezing conditions.
The number of bends, fittings and joints
on external pipes should be kept to a
minimum to reduce the risk of trapping
condensate.
For boiler installed in an unheated
area such as an outhouse or garage,
all condensate pipework should be
considered as an ‘external’.
6.5 Condensate Soakaway
To keep external pipework to a
minimum, locate the soakaway as close
as possible to the boiler but ensure
it is at least 500 mm from building
foundations and away from other
services, e.g. gas, electricity, etc.
The condensate pipe may be run above
or below ground level and can enter
either the top or side of the soakaway
tube. Refer to Figure 6-1.
Ensure that the drainage holes in the
soakaway tube face away from the building.
Backfill both the soakaway tube, and the
hole around it, with 10 mm limestone
chippings.
Only use a soakaway where the soil is
porous and drains easily. Do not use in clay
soils or where the soil is poorly drained.
Any damage due to condensate
backing up into the boiler due to a
high water table, in the case of a
soakaway, or flooded drains when the
condensate disposal is via a gulley or
soil stack, is not covered by the Grant
product warranty.
Condensate
d
isposal
6
Condensate Disposal
NOTE
!
NOTE
!
CAUTION
!
NOTE
!
Figure 6-1:
Purpose made condensate soakaway
Ground level
32 mm waste pipe external to the building
Minimum 2.5 fall
O
25 mm
300 mm
400 mm
min.
Two rows of 3 x 12 mm
holes at 25 mm centres
and 50 mm from the bottom
of the tube. Holes facing
away from the property.
Cement seal
100 mm plastic tube
Sealed end
Backfill with 10 mm
limestone chippings
