The Access valve from Aquaflow is now available on the market. The valves are designed to control water distribution in buildings with recorded water savings, in many cases by as much as 25%.
The same size as a conventional service valve, Access includes a ball shut off, an water regulator and a side service port for access while the valve is in use.
Inside the eye of the ball valve the Aquaflow water regulator limits maximum flow at the outlet to a predetermined level, regardless of fluctuations in supply pressure between 1 bar and 10 bar. By providing each outlet with its correct water supply, the problems of maintaining services at the end of a long pipe run on higher floors may be solved, often without the added cost of break tanks of pumped circulation systems.
By controlling maximum flow rates, water savings of a quarter have been recorded, cutting fuel, water and waste charges
Water regulators from Aquaflow could keep water consumption under control, even if the pressure fluctuates wildly between one and ten bar.
The regulators limit each outlet to a chosen, preset maximum flow rate. These are produced in stepped flow rates from 4 litres per minute for washroom taps, to 18 litres per minute for a bath. Because the products control flow with a minimal pressure drop, the company claims that users will be unaware of any change in service.
In order to prevent water starvation problems with basins and showers that run to waste, Aquaflow Water Regulators fix the maximum flow rates to the correct level. The product can be fitted into the supply pipework, replacing a shut off valve, or fitted on the outlet side of shower valves, or tap tails. It can operate at one to 10 bar water pressure.
Designed to be a neat method of preventing showers using too much water, Aquaflow offers the DW retrofit shower regulator. For use with systems operating over one bar water pressure, the DW automatically adjusts to keep the maximum flow rate constant, regardless of pressure changes. The regulators come in a choice of flow rates from 6 to 12 l/min.