BS 3198:1981

What is BS 3198 –Copper hot water storage combination units about?

Copper hot water storage with combination units is a hot water storage vessel which has provision for an immersion heater or which can be coupled by pipework to an external water heating appliance and to which cold water is fed from an attached feed cistern.

BS 3198 is a European Standard that discusses the specific requirements for standardized manufacture and functioning of copper hot water storage combination units. The main objective of BS 3198 is to provide best industry practices for manufacturing copper hot water storage combination units that are safe and reliable for use.

BS 3198 specifies requirements for direct, double feed indirect and single feed indirect types of combination hot water storage units having hot water storage capacities in a series of ranges between 65 litres and 210 litres, in which, when water is drawn off from the hot water storage vessel, there is automatically:

• Replacement of water withdrawn by that from a cold water feed cistern incorporated in the unit and adjacent to the hot water vessel; and

• Controlled replacement of the water in the cold water feed cistern from the water supply by means of a float operated valve.

Who is BS 3198 - Copper hot water storage combination units for? 

BS 3198 on specification for copper hot water storage combination units is relevant to: 

• Manufacturers of copper hot water storage units
• Designers of copper hot water storage units
• Quality control and testing personnel
• Mechanical engineers
• Chemical engineers
• Local authorities
• Regulatory bodies

Why should you use BS 3198 - Copper hot water storage combination units?

Copper hot water storage is helpful to keep water hot enough, regardless of the outer temperature. In order to attain the higher temperature inside the storage, it unknowingly damages the walls of the storage, leading to the sedimentation of copper in it. Copper sedimentation can lead to health issues, while sedimentation of copper from the hot water storage it can lead to improper supply of electric current through the in-built circuit.

The requirements specified in BS 3198 are those considered to be necessary to ensure good performance and reliability of the appliance whilst leaving the manufacturers free to develop actual design, and for this reason, careful consideration has been given to the inclusion of requirements for materials, construction and performance tests.

As a result, if you are a manufacturer of copper hot water storage combination units used for domestic purposes, adopting BS 3198 requirements and test methods can help demonstrate the quality, performance and reliability of your products to function as intended.