What is BSRIA BG 29/2020 Pre-Commission Cleaning?

28th January 2020

What is BG29 and is it a legal requirement for pre-commissioning cleaning?

BG 29/2020 ‘Pre-Commission Cleaning of Pipework Systems’ is the 6th edition of the BSRIA guidance relating to pre-commissioning cleaning in closed circuit water systems, replacing BG 29/2012.

It contains best practice guidance on pre-commissioning cleaning, from system design to practical completion and handover, and clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the various parties.

Notably, BG 29/2020 includes specific information on corrosion monitoring, a solution which we have been championing for sometime. Using Hevasure’s monitoring technology, for example, we can successfully detect for Dissolved Oxygen (DO), plus other parameters which signifiy condition, including pressure, temperature and pH.

Who is BG29 for?

BG29 is an essential reference for anyone involved in either pre-commissioning cleaning or overseeing the process. This could include:

  • Mechanical & Electrical (M&E) contractors
  • Building services installers
  • Specifiers
  • Building and facilities managers
  • Water Treatment providers

Why is pre-commissioning cleaning important?

Pre-commissioning cleaning is an essential part of ensuring closed circuit water systems start life in the best possible way.

It is designed to ensure a clean bill of health for the water system, ticking the boxes required for commissioning and ongoing maintenance of water quality.

BG29 contains the latest thinking on pre-commissioning cleaning and the guidelines aim to reduce the risk of operational issues caused by:

  • Corrosion
  • Scale
  • Bacteria and waterborne pathogens, such as Pseudomonas
  • Microbiological contamination
  • Biofilm
  • Fouling

In addition to providing peace of mind for incoming facilities managers, the pre-commissioning cleaning process can help to reduce costs, save energy, enhance operational efficiency and reliability and extend the lifespan of valuable assets.

Is BG 29/2020 a legal requirement?

BG29 contains best practice guidance and is not a legal requirement.

There is no ‘one size fits all’ method for pre-commissioning cleaning.  Every water system, the environment in which it operates, and its subsequent usage is different and should therefore be treated as such.

Anything other than a bespoke approach may lead to over-flushing its associated problems – water wastage, chemical overload and pipe degradation.

Going beyond the BG29 guidelines

We see common issues time and time again that could have been avoided in the first instance, and further down the line, if pre-commissioning cleaning had been completed with more forethought.

We provide pre-commissioning cleaning using a range of innovative industry leading techniques, including:

  • Hydrosphere: Significantly reduces the need to flush and drain the system, cutting cleaning times and water wastage, thus improving sustainability.
  • Hevasure: An exclusive partner of Guardian’s, Hevasure delivers real-time corrosion monitoring, taking readings 24/7 during the pre-commissioning process and throughout a water systems life.

For more information on our pre-commissioning cleaning services, click here.

To purchase BG 29/2020, click here.