TPT July 2007

99 / 116

97 July/August 2007
The quality requirements for drinking
water are defined in various international
standards. It has become common practice
to disinfect potable water in order to
eliminate possible health risks. Disinfection
with chlorine has been proven as reliable
and cost-effective, and has therefore
become the most common treatment.
However, an important consideration is how
the chlorination might affect the service life
of pipe systems. A project has been initiated
to research the long-term effects of chlorine
on plastic pipe systems.
This project is being organised by two
professional institutions renowned
for testing methods for plastics: the
Süddeutsche Kunststoff-Zentrum (SKZ),
Germany, an independent testing and
research institute for plastics and plastics
products, and IPT Institut für Prüftechnik
Gerätebau GmbH & Co KG, a developer
and manufacturer of test equipment for the
plastic pipe industry.
IPT’s specialists are designing
and manufacturing suitable
state-of-the-art equipment to
provide the project with a test
unit that will produce reliable
results. Using this equipment,
a sustained pressure test
on pipe systems can be
performed over a range of
temperatures using chlorinated
medium.
During the entire test duration
the pH level and free-chlorine
concentration of the test fluid
is measured and regulated to
the predetermined parameters, while data
is continuously monitored, collected and
documented by means of a data logging
system.
SKZ is contributing its expertise in the area
of pipe systems for potable water supply
and house installations. The company
has many years’ experience in testing,
supervising and certifying products and
companies in the plastic industry. With
the newly developed IPT unit, important
knowledge will be gained regarding the
long-term behaviour of these systems
under the influence of complex chemical
and physical conditions.
The project will be supported directly by the
German Federal Ministry of Economics and
Technology (BMWi).
Süddeutsches Kunststoff-Zentrum
(SKZ) – Germany
Fax: +49 931 4104 277
Email:
Website:
IPT Institut für Prüftechnik Gerätebau
GmbH & Co KG – Germany
Fax: +49 8237 966 481
Email:
Website:
Increased safety for pipe systems for potable water
fi Chlorine has become a common treatment for disinfecting drinking
water