Rheem 596160 Owner's Manual And Installation Instructions page 40

INSTALLATION – SOLAR COLLECTORS
Pressure Testing
The solar water heater is to be isolated during the testing and commissioning of the heated water reticulation
system in a building, in accordance with Clause 9.3 (a) of AS/NZS 3500.4:2018.
Collector Circuit – Closed Circuit System
It may be necessary to pressure test the collector circuit to comply with codes and regulatory authority
requirements or on other occasions where the solar collectors and solar hot and solar cold pipes are installed
prior to the solar storage tank, such as on a building site.
The collector circuit includes the solar hot and solar cold pipes and solar collectors. The collector circuit of a
closed circuit solar water heater system is separate from the pressurised stored water of the water heater and
the heated water reticulation system in a building.
The working pressure of the collector circuit as part of a drain back solar water heater does not exceed 200 kPa
during normal operation.
If the solar collectors, solar pipe work and solar storage tank are installed and commissioned together, then
the flooding of the collector circuit with the closed circuit fluid and checking the pipe work for leaks during the
commissioning procedure can be substituted for the pressure testing of the collector circuit.
If it is necessary to pressure test the collector circuit separately after the water heater is fully installed, then the
collector circuit is to be disconnected from the solar storage tank for the duration of the pressure test.
CSA2013, LCS, NPT200 Solar Collector Installations
Warning: The pressure applied to the collector circuit during a pressure test of a closed circuit system
MUST NOT exceed 1000 kPa where a CSA2013 or LCS or NPT200 solar collectors are installed, otherwise
damage may result to the solar collectors.
If the collector circuit is pressure tested prior to the installation of and connection to the solar storage tank,
drain the solar collectors and collector circuit completely after the pressure test. Use an air compressor to drive
all the water out and if necessary, cap the ends loosely to prevent vermin ingress and allow air pressure build
up to escape.
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