Fernox Water Test Kit Mode D'emploi page 2

Fernox Water Test Kit – How to use
The Fernox Water Test Kit is designed to give rapid on-site analysis
of the major water parameters that can affect the life span of a
central heating system:
1. Iron
2. Protector
3. pH
4. Copper
5. Total Hardness
6. Chloride (flux)
Replacement reagents for this test kit are available from our
sales office.
General notes on testing
This test kit is supplied with all equipment and reagents required
to determine chloride, copper, iron, Fernox Protector, pH and total
hardness. In order to obtain accurate results, all equipment should
be thoroughly washed with tap water after use. Prior to testing, rinse
the sample tube with a portion of water to be tested, then fill to the
required volume as instructed. All tests are suitable for use with
water containing Fernox Protector F1/Alphi-11. REPLACE CAPS
ON THE CONTAINERS IMMEDIATELY. USE BY DATE STATED
ON THE CAPS.
Comparing Colour
• Colour charts are provided for the copper, iron, pH and total
hardness test strips on the strip cartons. When comparing
the colour produced on the test strip with the colour chart it is
important to be in good daylight or a well-illuminated area.
• To read the result, hold the strip approximately 2.5cm (1 inch)
away from the colour chart.
• Do not place the strip on the colour chart as this will distort the
strip colour and contaminate the chart.
Interpretation of water analysis
Test Results Interpretation
Copper/Chloride High chloride and/or copper Flux residues in system
Iron High iron in system water If untreated – system corroding
(possibly due to aeration fault)
If treated – may not be problem if
reading steady over several weeks
pH pH less than 6 Residues left in system from acid
cleanser
pH greater than 8.5 Residues of alkaline cleanser or use
of artificially softened water
Hardness Mains water much harder Scaling of the boiler has occurred
than system water
System water has hardness System filled with artificially softened
less than 2ppm water
Protector Inhibitor test less than Under-dosed with inhibitor or leak
minimum value has occurred
Inhibitor test higher than Over-dosed with inhibitor
minimum value
Dilution Instruction
If the colour produced in the test is stronger than the deepest colour
on the chart, the water sample should be diluted and re-tested.
Using the sample syringe, add 1 ml of fresh sample water to a clean
test tube.
Consumables List
• Iron Test Strips (x 25) 56826
• Copper Test Strips (x25) 56825
• Hardness Strips (x50) 56827
• pH Strips 1 – 14 (x100) 38860
• Chloride pack:
• Chloride Reagent 1 (30ml) 56828
• Chloride Reagent 2 (30ml) 56829
• Chloride Reagent 3 (30ml) 56830
• Protector Reagent (30ml) 56832
• Syringe (5ml)
All consumable items in the Fernox Water Test Kit may be
purchased separately as replacement items. To obtain any of these
items, please contact our sales office on +44 (0)870 601 5000.
Action
Flush out with Fernox Heavy Duty or
Cleaner F3
Repair any leaks, cleanse system and treat
with Fernox Protector F1
If necessary, cleanse system and retreat with
Fernox Protector F1
Reflush with water and treat with Fernox
Protector F1
If aluminium in system, drain and flush,
refill with main water and treat with Fernox
Protector F1
Boiler may need descaling with Fernox DS40
System Cleaner
If aluminium components present, check
pH and if greater than 8.5 drain system,
refill with mains water and treat with Fernox
Protector F1
Check for leaks and re-dose with Fernox
Protector F1
No action necessary, if other tests
satisfactory
1. IRON
Test Procedure
1. Immerse the test strip for 30 seconds in the sample to a
depth sufficient to cover the white and cream coloured
bands. Move gently in a constant back and forth motion.
2. Remove strip and shake off excess moisture.
3. After two minutes compare the colour through the window in
the strip with the colour chart provided on the test strip bottle
and estimate best match.
4. If the iron level is over 5 ppm, follow stages 5-6, below.
5. Take 1 ml of test sample and dilute to 20 ml with mains tap
water. Repeat stages 1-3.
6. Calculate iron concentration. Iron concentration in ppm = 20
x test strip reading (ppm)
2. PROTECTOR
This test is used to check that the correct concentration of
Fernox Protector has been added in a system. This is done by
measuring the difference in alkalinity between mains water and
treated system water.
The optimum figure quoted is when the system is dosed at the
recommended strength. Higher values are not detrimental and
are preferable to under-dosing.
Shake Reagent bottle before use.
1. Fill the 30ml graduated test vessel to the 10ml mark with
mains water.
2. Holding the Protector Reagent bottle exactly vertically upside
down, add one drop.
The solution should turn blue.
3. Continue to add Reagent drop by drop, mixing between each
addition. Count the number of drops required to turn the
solution yellow/orange.
If solution does not turn blue but remains clear or turns
yellow immediately, No. of drops = 0.
4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 above with a sample of system water.
5. Deduct the number of drops of mains water from the number
of drops of system water to give the difference.
6. If the difference is less than the optimum given below, add
additional Protector.
Recommended No. of drops
dose/100L difference*
MB1 (UK) 4 litres 9 optimum
CH-3 (UK) 1 litre 9 optimum
HVAC Protector F1 500ml 9 optimum
(EU)
ALPHI 11 25 litres (-11ºC) 10 minimum
30 litres (-15ºC) 12 minimum
35 litres (-18ºC) 14 minimum
40 litres (-22ºC) 16 maximum
Protector F1 500ml 9 optimum
290ml cartridge 9 optimum
*Difference between system water and mains water. (Number
drops system water sample – number drops mains water sample)
3. pH
Test Procedure
1. Fill the 30 ml tube to the 10 ml mark with sample water.
2. Immerse a test strip for 5-10 seconds in the sample to a
depth sufficient to cover all the colour bands.
3. Compare the strip colour with the colour on the pH paper
packaging.
4. Report the pH as the figure giving the nearest match to the
combination of colours observed.
4. COPPER
Test Procedure
1. Immerse the test strip for 30 seconds in the sample to a
depth sufficient to cover the cream and orange bands. Move
gently in a constant back and forth motion.
2. Remove strip and shake off excess moisture.
3. After two minutes compare the colour through the window in
the strip with the colour chart provided on the test strip bottle
and estimate best match.
5. TOTAL HARDNESS
Test Procedure
1. Immerse the test strip for 1 second in the sample to a depth
sufficient to cover the yellow band.
2. Remove and shake off excess moisture.
3. Immediately compare the colour of the strip with the colour
chart provided on the test strip bottle and estimate best match.
6. CHLORIDE (FLUX)
Untreated System or Mains Water
1. Using the 10ml syringe, transfer 5ml of sample to the
graduated tube.
2. Add 2 drops of Chloride Reagent 1 and swirl to mix.
3. Add drops of Chloride Reagent 2, one at a time with mixing,
until the colour of the sample changes to a permanent yellow
or orange.
4. Now add drops of Chloride Reagent 3, one at a time with
mixing until the colour of the sample changes from yellow/
orange to deep purple. Count the number of drops used.
5. Each drop of Chloride Reagent 3 added is equivalent to
8ppm Chloride. Therefore multiply the number of drops of
Chloride Reagent 3 added by 8 to give the chloride level in
ppm.
Treated Water System
1. Repeat the chloride test detailed above on a sample of
treated water to give the chloride level in ppm.
Fernox, Cookson Electronics, Forsyth Road, Sheerwater,
Woking, Surrey, UK, GU21 5RZ
Tel: +44 (0) 1483 793200
Technical Helpline: +44 (0) 870 870 0362
Fax: +44 (0) 1483 793201
Email: sales@fernox.com
Fernox, Cookson Electronics, Unit 52, Airways Industrial
Estate, Dublin 17, Ireland
Tel: + 353 (0) 1 842 1172
Fax: + 353 (0) 1 842 1361
Email: fernox_ireland@cooksonelectronics.com