Space efficient plumbing strategy for 5 showers?

Space efficient plumbing strategy for 5 showers?

10:36 AM, 19th March 2018, About 7 years ago 17

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I’m in the process of converting a 2 bed terraced house into a 5 bed student, all with ensuite shower rooms.

I have kicked off an enquiry with Western Power to look at upgrading the electricity supply to a 3 phase supply which will give me enough capacity for 4 electric showers plus an additional shower fed from a combi boiler.

Space is at a premium so there’s not much room for a large water tank (like a Megaflo tank).

Has anyone got any space saving suggestions to help provide the flow that 5 showers will need please?

Many thanks

John


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Stephen Smith

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10:43 AM, 20th March 2018, About 7 years ago

Hi John,

On the matter of installing the tank in the loft, thinking more of the eaves areas since any loft conversion has void areas at the edges where roof height does not allow bedrooms.
An 8.5kw shower takes 37A, therefore running a number of showers simultaneously would be a strain on the electric supply.
An unvented cylinder should supply 40 litres a minute of hot water, blended 50% with cold makes a 80 litre supply available. Showers are about 9 litres a minute so it should be within capacity of the tank. Mains supply will however only supply about 30l per minute, therefore the suggestion of a pumped interim tank. Getting expensive this!
Don't forget the diversity issue, are all units going to be used together?
Alternative, uprate the main to 25mm.

John Parfett

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21:15 PM, 20th March 2018, About 7 years ago

Good point Stephen, I hadnt thought of the eves for the tank location. I got my budget estimate back for upgrading the power supply to 3 phase - they said they would need to upgrade the substation so they quoted £13,500 inc VAT!!! Looks like I will be staying with a single phase supply, gas hob & oven, one electric shower, a horizontal unvented tank & a combi set up in S Plan configuration.

M H

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10:37 AM, 24th March 2018, About 7 years ago

To me that sounds weird, to my limited knowledge each and every street has a 3 phase supply, Red, Yellow, Blue and Black as neutral. One property has red and black, next door has yellow and black, next house up has blue and black, and so it goes on up the street. All your asking is to have another two or so lives in your property.
Did you specifically ask for 3 phase? ie. an Industrial supply in domestic area... this will be expensive!
It may be worth asking for a quote for 3 or 5 independent domestic electrical supplies in to the one property, your converting into studios 😉
It would be interesting to know the difference, as the domestic supply is already present in the road, the industrial one is not....!
Same thing basically just different name...
Ok rather than having one 3 phase meter, you would have 3 or 5 domestic meters...
Interesting project!

M H

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10:42 AM, 24th March 2018, About 7 years ago

As I am sure you know, it is wise to get your mains water feed measured in litres/min, before you purchase anything. In London from my experience the flow seems to be around 16 l/m in to your average property. Other areas differ!

John walker

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13:21 PM, 24th March 2018, About 7 years ago

I would suggest installing a large well insulated hw. cylinder, unvented but capable of withstanding the max mains pressure ( your figure of 1 bar seems rather low) with 18mm dia. cold feed and hot outlet. Use electric off peak to heat the water. Probably better to have the cylinder upright if space allows. Take individual 12.5mm feeds off both 18mm h&c supplies to each shower. No need for a 3 phase supply. You will probably need to install fans to each shower for ventilation to prevent condensation problems.

John Parfett

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22:21 PM, 31st March 2018, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by M H at 24/03/2018 - 10:37
Hi MH, Western Power told me that the substation was at the limit of it's capacity for the area, and my request would force an upgrade which I would have to contribute to. Hence the expensive quote for £13.5K.

John Parfett

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10:12 AM, 5th October 2018, About 6 years ago

Quick update for those interested: The conversion is finished & 5 happy students have moved (I caught the 18/19 student year -phew!). I created a downstairs boiler room at the back of the house & went for a Baxi system boiler coupled to an unvented 300 litre tank plumbed in “S Plan” configuration. Plenty of water even for 5 “rain fall” shower heads. Got a 7 year warranty on the boiler too. I was quite shocked at the tank height (7ft tall!) & the plumbing required:
https://tinyurl.com/My-System-Boiler
Thank you for the help & advice

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