So who complies with BS 7593:2019?

[Ltnman]

So I have an Ideal Vogue boiler installed in 2022 by an Ideal accredited installer giving the boiler a 12 year warranty if serviced yearly by an accredited installer.

I have noticed on the first 2 services that as part of BS 7593:2019, an annual on-site water test is required to check inhibitor levels and system cleanliness. Well it hasn’t happened so using a Sentinel X100 test kit I have tested the water both last year and this year just after the annual service. This resulted in under strength X100 being detected both times so I am having to yearly top up the system with an additional litre on a sealed system. Including the original 2 bottles my system has now had 4 bottles of X100 on a 2 year old system that has 13 rads including 2 towel rails in a small 4 bedroom detached 1990 built house. My conclusion is that X100 doesn’t last.

Also I have noticed that the Ideal magnetic filter is not being flushed out. Apart from that the boiler itself appears to be serviced properly.

So the questions are is it normal practice that heating engineers don’t do services to manufactures specifications by not flushing out magnetic filters and don’t bother complying with BS 7593:2019 to save time?

 

[Madrab]

This resulted in under strength X100 being detected both times

Are you having to top up your system regularly? There shouldn't be a need to top up the system with inhibitor every year unless it is being diluted by being filled all the time (leaky system) or if the system is becoming overly corroded using up the active ingredients. BS 7593:2019 looks for the system to be tested every year with tops ups (if req) every 5yrs or a lab test to confirm system levels.

Do you know what inhibitor was added originally, not all inhibitors use exactly the same chemical components, therefore it may not show up on a Sentinel test kit. if it was Sentinel that was originally used then that's different.

As far as servicing is concerned then the mag filter is part of the system, not the boiler, so strictly speaking the boiler could be serviced correctly without the filter actually being cleaned out. Though of course the system checks, condensate traps mag filters etc, should be part of that but does everyone, doubt it? Some service record requirements do ask whether the system inhibitor has been tested to BS standards but that brings me back to the 2nd point - i.e. what inhibitor was used and how to test for every type etc

The only real way that inhibitor can actually be tested correctly is using a lab based test kit to check the system water and detail exactly what's in it and to what levels. Not a cheap process, usually around ~£60 which would obviously be added to the clients service costs, would the client be happy about that?
In reality as far as checks are concerned then it's usually down to experience, is the system water clean and is there excessive catchment in the filter etc.

 

[Ltnman]

The system was originally dosed with two bottles of X100, which is why I use it. The system hasn’t been topped up with any water in the last 12 months as the pressure has been maintained. All very strange why I have had to add another two bottles after testing against the colour chart on the X100 test kit that shows it is under strength. After adding a bottle I don’t retest it until the following year.

 

[Agile]

Interesting question for RGIs.

Do Ideal really insist that annual services MUST be done by their accredited installers?

As for cleaning a mag filter, then if fitted I would say that it is essential they are cleaned annually.

 

[Madrab]

Do Ideal really insist that annual services MUST be done by their accredited installers?

haven't heard them insist on that one TBH, not sure how they can? That being said though, in their benchmark section it does state - To maintain the boiler guarantee it is essential that the boiler is serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer who has been trained on the boiler installed. The service details should be recorded on the Benchmark Service Interval Record and left with the householder.

Does that mean if an engineer has been on their training course that qualifies, rather than actually be accredited which requires a min of Ideal boiler installs?