Response 306107628 to WMTS:528 - Plate heat exchangers - Australian Building Codes Board

Response 306107628

Personal Information

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Alan Law

What is your organisation?

Rheem Australia Pty Limited

Comment 01

Please provide your recommended change below.

Section / Subsection

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Title

Preface

Table of contents

Introduction

Clause

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Index

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Paragraph / Table / Figure / Comment / Note

Paragraph 2

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Editorial

General

Technical

Comment (Required)

The use of the word “can” makes this paragraph informative only, and has no relevance to the Scope of the document.

Proposed change

If the intention is that this text be informative then express this paragraph as a Note.
It the intention is that this text be a normative part of the Scope, then delete the paragraph and replace with:
“This WaterMark Technical Specification applies to the following basic types:
(a) Brazed plate heat exchangers.
(b) Fused plate heat exchangers.
(c) Gasketed plate heat exchangers.”

Comment 02

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Section / Subsection

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Table of contents

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Editorial

General

Technical

Comment (Required)

AS 3498 is not referenced in the document.

Proposed change

Delete AS 3498 from the clause.

Comment 03

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Editorial

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Technical

Comment (Required)

AS/NZS 2845.1 is not referenced in the document.

Proposed change

Delete AS/NZS 2845.1 from the clause.

Comment 04

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Editorial

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Technical

Comment (Required)

AS 3688 is referenced in Clause 8.1.

Proposed change

Add AS 3688 to this clause.

Comment 05

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Editorial

General

Technical

Comment (Required)

Presumably the definition in Cl. 4.1 is intended to apply.

Proposed change

Delete the text of Cl. 4 and replace with:
“For the purpose of this WaterMark Technical Specification, the definitions given in the WaterMark Scheme Rules, Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA), AS/NZS 3500.0 and the following apply:”

Comment 06

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Section / Subsection

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4.1

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Editorial

General

Technical

Comment (Required)

The term “heat exchanger” is defined in AS/NZS 3500.0 and has a meaning that is not consistent with the usage in this Clause. The definition of this term also does not mention the important physical characteristics of the plate heat exchanger.

Proposed change

Delete the existing text and replace with:
“An assembly consisting of a series of plates joined together to form two separate fluid circuits, so that heat may transfer between the two fluids.”

Comment 07

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Section / Subsection

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Title

Preface

Table of contents

Introduction

Clause

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Appendix

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Index

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5.1

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Comment type

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Editorial

General

Technical

Comment (Required)

The current text adds nothing to the content of the document.

Proposed change

Delete the existing text and replace with:
“Materials used in the construction of plate heat exchangers shall be suitable for the conditions of use (e.g., temperature, pressure, and compatibility with any adjacent component).
Where construction or attachment involves brazing, the materials shall be suitable for
brazing.”

Comment 08

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Section / Subsection

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5.2

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Comment type

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Editorial

General

Technical

Comment (Required)

The concept of PREN (Pitting resistance equivalent number) is applicable only to Stainless Steels. Nowhere in the document does it say that the plates must be made from Stainless Steel.
The need for corrosion resistance does not apply only to the parts in contact with drinking water, since other fluids may be equally corrosive.

Proposed change

Either:
Amend the Scope so that the WMTS applies only to PHEs constructed with stainless steel plates. Delete the word “drinking” from this clause.
Or:
Delete the existing text of the clause and replace with:
“The parts of plate heat exchangers in contact with water shall be made from corrosion-resistant materials as specified in AS 3688.
Stainless steel materials in contact with water shall have a PREN of 22 or greater.”

Comment 09

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Section / Subsection

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5.3

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Comment type

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Editorial

General

Technical

Comment (Required)

This is a general requirement, and should be stated under “General”.

Proposed change

Delete this clause and replace the text of Clause 5.1 with the following:
“Materials used in the construction of plate heat exchangers shall be suitable for the conditions of use (e.g., temperature, pressure, and compatibility with any adjacent component).
Where construction or attachment involves brazing, the materials shall be suitable for
brazing.”

Comment 10

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Section / Subsection

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Title

Preface

Table of contents

Introduction

Clause

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Index

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8.1

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Comment type

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Editorial

General

Technical

Comment (Required)

AS 3688 specifies requirements for fittings and end connections, not for water supply pipe work, as implied by the text of this clause.
The words “Double wall plate heat exchangers” are clearly intended to be the heading for a separate Clause 8.2 and are not part of Clause 8.1.

Proposed change

Delete the text of the first paragraph, and replace with:
“End connections for connection to the water supply system pipe work shall comply with AS 3688.”

Comment 11

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Section / Subsection

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Title

Preface

Table of contents

Introduction

Clause

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Appendix

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8.1

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Comment type

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Editorial

General

Technical

Comment (Required)

The second paragraph refers to the undefined term “double wall” and hence its meaning is unclear. If it is intended to apply to a “double wall heat exchanger” (as defined in AS/NZS 3500.0) then the requirement is unreasonable. In order to achieve their function, DWHEs are constructed so that most of the surface of most of the plates is not visible and hence any failure of the wall cannot be visibly evident under normal conditions.

Proposed change

Delete the words:
“Double wall Plate Heat Exchangers
For plate heat exchangers that include a double wall the failure of one wall shall be visibly evident.”

Comment 12

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Section / Subsection

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9.1

Paragraph / Table / Figure / Comment / Note

Note

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Editorial

General

Technical

Comment (Required)

This note is written as normative (i.e. it includes the word “shall”) and adds nothing to the text of the clause.

Proposed change

Delete the Note.

Comment 13

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Section / Subsection

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9.2

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Comment type

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Editorial

General

Technical

Comment (Required)

This clause refers to “manufacturers recommended Maximum Operating Pressure” but the only parameter that is required by Clause 11.1 is the “Maximum allowable operating pressure”.

Proposed change

If these quantities are the same, use consistent nomenclature.

Comment 14

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Table A.1

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Comment type

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Editorial

General

Technical

Comment (Required)

The correct test method for Clause 8.1 is AS 3688.

Proposed change

Delete the text “AS/NZS 3500.1” and replace with “AS 3688”.

Comment 15

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Title

Preface

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Clause B.4

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Comment type

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Editorial

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Technical

Comment (Required)

Item a) appears twice.

Proposed change

Renumber items from “a)” to “h)”

Comment 16

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Clause B.5

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Comment type

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Editorial

General

Technical

Comment (Required)

Items are numbered from “h)”.
The test pressure is recorded but not reported.

Proposed change

Delete the text of the clause and replace with:
“The following shall be reported:
a) Manufacturer, model and description of plate heat exchanger.
b) Test pressure for primary circuit.
c) Test pressure for secondary circuit.
d) Any leakage or structural damage.
e) Reference to this test method, i.e., WMTS 5xx, Appendix B”