Out door tap

Associate
Joined
10 May 2007
Posts
308
Hi all,

Has anyone any experiance with out door taps.

Looking at getting it done for my dad as he currently has to use the tap sink which is a pain.

Couple of questions, are they connected to a pipe running to the house or run from inside the kitchen pipes?

Also, how do pressure washers work. Currently if we have our tap on.. the waters on, its flowing you cant stop it. Yet pressure washers have the ability to stop/start. How does that work? Do you require a higher installation for this rather than a simple on/off valve?

Thanks all
 
Soldato
Joined
12 Feb 2007
Posts
14,118
Location
South Shields
Pressure washers have electrically operated valves in them.

An outdoor tap is easily fitted with one of the kits. It breaks into your supply with a self cutting valve. Poke it out a hole in the wall and attach to wall.
 
Associate
Joined
2 Jul 2004
Posts
1,535
Location
Stevenage
For a new installation the water regulations require that you fit a category III, back flow preventer on the internal pipework. A Double Check Valve should be fitted between the isolation valve and the tap.
 
Associate
Joined
17 Oct 2002
Posts
2,165
Location
London
For a new installation the water regulations require that you fit a category III, back flow preventer on the internal pipework. A Double Check Valve should be fitted between the isolation valve and the tap.
Are you saying the double check valve satisfies "category III, back flow preventer" requirements or are we talking a separate fitting?
 
Man of Honour
Joined
9 Jan 2007
Posts
164,576
Location
Metropolis
We’ve got an outdoor tap running from the kitchen (mains) with a non return valve and an isolator tap on the inside fitted to it. The watering system, hose and anything else you want to connect runs off it. It was a DIY job.
 
Associate
Joined
2 Jul 2004
Posts
1,535
Location
Stevenage
The Double Check Valve is a cat III back flow preventer.

Single Check Valve = Cat II
Double Check Valve = Cat III
Type BA device (RPZ Valve) = Cat IV
Type AUK1 device (Toilet & Cistern) = Cat V
Break Tank (with cat V air gap) = Cat V
 
Associate
OP
Joined
10 May 2007
Posts
308
Thanks for everyones comments. I'll do some calling around today. I now have some *technical* sayings and at least look like I know what I'm talking about now.

Thanks
 
Associate
Joined
2 Jul 2004
Posts
1,535
Location
Stevenage
Just as a guide and as you can see the domestic garden hose which is the most common use for an outside tap falls into Cat III. If however you happen to be a serial killer and plan to use the hose to wash down after cutting up human remains, then you would be advised to install Cat V protection so as to be compliant with the regulations. ;)

Fluid Categories

Guidance

Determination of fluid category 1

Wholesome water supplied by a water undertaker and complying with the requirements of regulations made under water section 67 of the Water Industry Act 1991.

Example:

Water supplied directly from a water undertaker’s main.

Determination of fluid category 2

Water in fluid category 1 whose aesthetic quality is impaired owing to:

a change in its temperature; or
the presence of substances or organisms causing a change in its taste, odour or appearance, including water in a hot water distribution system.
Examples:

Mixing of hot and cold water supplies
Domestic softening plant (common salt regeneration).
Drink vending machines in which no ingredients or carbon dioxide are injected into the
supply or distributing inlet pipe.
Fire sprinkler systems (without anti-freeze).
Ice making machines.
Water cooled air conditioning units (without additives).

Determination of fluid category 3

Fluid which represents a slight health hazard because of the concentration of substances of low toxicity, including any fluid which contains:

ethylene glycol, copper sulphate solution, or similar chemical additives; or
sodium hypochlorite (chloros and common disinfectants).
Examples:

Water in primary circuits and heating systems (with or without additives) in a house.
Domestic washbasins, baths and showers.
Domestic clothes and dishwashing machines.
Home dialysing machines.
Drink vending machines in which ingredients or carbon dioxide are injected.
Commercial softening plant (common salt regeneration only).
Domestic hand held hoses with flow controlled spray or shut-off control.
Hand held fertiliser sprays for use in domestic gardens.
Domestic or commercial irrigation systems, without insecticide or fertiliser additives and with fixed sprinkler heads not less than 150mm above ground level.

Determination of fluid category 4

Fluid which represents a significant health hazard due to the concentration of toxic substances, including any fluid which contains:

chemical, carcinogenic substances or pesticides (including insecticides and herbicides); or
environmental organisms of potential health significance.
Examples:

General
Primary circuits and central heating systems in other than a house.
Fire sprinkler systems using anti-freeze solutions.
House gardens
Mini-irrigation systems without fertiliser or insecticide application; such as pop-up
sprinklers or permeable hoses.
Food processing
Food preparation.
Dairies.
Bottle washing apparatus.
Catering
Commercial dishwashing machines.
Bottle washing apparatus.
Refrigerating equipment.
Industrial and commercial installations
Dyeing equipment.
Industrial disinfection equipment.
Printing and photographic equipment.
Car washing and degreasing plants.
Commercial clothes washing plants.
Brewery and distillation plant.
Water treatment plant or softeners using other than salt.
Pressurised fire fighting systems.

Determination of fluid category 5

Fluid representing a serious health hazard because of the concentration of pathogenic
organisms, radioactive or very toxic substances, including any fluid which contains:

faecal material or other human waste; or
butchery or other animal waste; or
pathogens from any other source.
Examples:

General
Industrial cisterns.
Non-domestic hose union taps.
Sinks, urinals, WC pans and bidets.
Permeable pipes in other than domestic gardens, laid below or at ground level, with or
without chemical additives.
Grey water recycling systems.
Medical
Any medical or dental equipment with submerged inlets.
Laboratories.
Bedpan washers.
Mortuary and embalming equipment.
Hospital dialysing machines.
Commercial clothes washing plant in health care premises.
Non-domestic sinks, baths, washbasins and other appliances.
Food processing
Butchery and meat trades.
Slaughterhouse equipment.
Vegetable washing.
Catering
Dishwashing machines in health care premises.
Vegetable washing.
Industrial and commercial installations
Industrial and chemical plant etc.
Mobile plant, tankers and gully emptiers.
Laboratories.
Sewage treatment and sewer cleansing.
Drain cleaning plant.
Water storage for agricultural purposes.
Water storage for firefighting purposes.
Commercial agricultural
Commercial irrigation outlets below or at ground level and/or permeable pipes, with or
without chemical additives.
Insecticide or fertiliser applications.
Commercial hydroponic systems.
Note: The list of examples of applications shown above for each fluid category is not exhaustive.
 
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