Hot water pipework biofouling at the Palace of Parliament
Hot water pipework biofouling had built up across both new and decades-old sections of the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest, a building of nine levels above ground, nine below and more than 1,000 rooms. Thick deposits were altering water quality, rust layers and flakes were accumulating, and scale was present in the supply pipes. One HydroFLOW® i120 was fitted to the 120 mm pump-free hot-water supply line. Over six months a newer galvanised section was assessed against adjacent steel pipe in service for more than 30 years. Visual inspection estimated about 50% less biofouling across both sections, and deposits inside the old pipe visibly reduced.
The Challenge
- Hot water pipework biofouling had built up across both new and decades-old sections
- Thick biofouling deposits were altering water quality
- Rust layers and flakes accumulated inside the pipework
- Scale was also present inside the water-supply pipes
- The building runs nine levels above ground, nine below and more than 1,000 rooms
The Solution
- Unit installed: one HydroFLOW® i120
- Installation point: pump-free hot-water supply line
- Pipe size: 120 mm
- Monitoring period: six months, by visual inspection
Hot water pipework biofouling was assessed on new and old pipe side by side, with a newer galvanised section visually compared against adjacent steel pipework in service for more than 30 years. The inspections looked for further biofouling and calcium or magnesium salt deposition on the newer pipe, and for change in the deposits already inside the old pipe.
