When a new high-rise hospital and medical research laboratory facility was being built, design engineers sought a piping system that would maintain and deliver high-purity water. To accomplish this they needed constant water movement to eliminate any areas where still water could stagnate. Stagnant water is one cause of bacterial and other organic growth.

Design engineers chose to install the AquaTap™ recirculating faucets manufactured by GF

Piping Systems along with the company’s in-line flow diverters to deliver high-purity water to multiple points. The recirculating faucets keep the water in constant motion, preventing stagnation.  The faucets also eliminate the need for extensive water purging by providing continuous flow through the faucet head and preventing the formation of harmful bacteria.  In-line Flow Diverters (IFD), which are part of the faucet package, are designed to deliver just the right amount of water to each faucet with minimal pressure drop across the main UPW loop.  In this facility, over 30 faucets were installed that recirculate an average of 70 GPM of DI water daily.

“Other faucet systems on the market have sections of pipe, such as underneath a sink, where waterbecomes stagnant, resulting in reducedwater quality,”  points out Terence Zhao, Product Manager of Engineered Piping Systems for GF Piping Systems.  “This was a key point in their decision on the Aquatap.”

Another part of the AquaTap installation was the SYGEF® PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) high purity piping system, also from GF Piping Systems.  SYGEF® PVDF features low extractable characteristics, outstanding surface finish, and is manufactured to conform to strict purity standards as specified for pure water applications by the FDA.

“The AquaTap Faucet with IFD combination is designed to provide an unprecedented flow rate of up to 5 (GPM) through the faucet, with no more than 1.5 (PSI) pressure drop across the UPW main,”  adds Zhao.  “When installed in their system, hospitals and researchers can be confident that the AquaTap is consistently delivering clean water that meets or exceeds their needs.”

In addition to their concern about water purity issues, the facility also required a piping system that could handle typical lab waste streams such as solvents, acids and caustics and a waste system that met UL 723 standards.  UL723 is recognized as the industry standard for evaluating surface burning characteristics of building materials.

To meet these requirements, the Fuseal 25/50™ corrosive waste piping systems, also manufactured by GF Piping Systems, was installed. The Fuseal waste system can safely handle a variety of corrosive chemicals that are common in hospitals and laboratories and is UL 723 plenum fire rated.

Downloads:

• GF AquaTap Brochure (PDF)

For help with selecting GF products for you specific application please call our knowledgeable RHFS customer service staff at 800-848-1141.