Triton unichrome THAMES User manual

INSTALLERS PLEASE NOTE THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE TO BE LEFT WITH THE USER
2180452B October 2005
Installation
and
Operating
Instructions
THAMES
Thermostatic bar
mixer shower with
diverter

Bar mixer shower
ii
CONTENTS Page
Introduction 1
Safety warnings 1
Main components 2
Site requirements 3
Typical suitable installations 4 − 5
Instantaneous water heater appliance capabilities 5
Preparing the mixer valve 6
Siting of the shower 6
Installation 7 − 8
Fitting the riser/fixed head rail 8 − 9
Leak testing 10
Commissioning 10
Operating the bar diverter 11
Cleaning 11
Spare parts 12 − 13
Fault finding 14 − 15
Guarantee, service policy, etc. rear cover
To check the product suitability for commercial and multiple installations, please contact
Triton’s specification advisory service before installation.
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
E mail: [email protected]

Bar mixer shower
1
INTRODUCTION
This book contains all the necessary fitting
and operating instructions for your Unichrome
Thames Bar Diverter thermostatic mixer shower.
Please read these instructions carefully.
Read through the whole of this book before
beginning your installation.
The shower installation MUST be carried out by
a suitably competent person and in sequence of
this instruction book.
Care taken during the installation will provide a
long and trouble free life from your shower.
For the best performance within the specified
running pressure range a minimum flow of eight
litres per minute should be available to both
inlets.
This mixer is designed to operate on higher
pressure systems found in the UK up to a
maximum of 5 bar running pressure. The valve
MUST NOT be subjected to water temperatures
above 80°C.
This mixer is suitable for fully modulating type
combination boilers and multi-point hot water
heaters. It is also suitable for thermal storage,
unvented systems and pumped gravity systems.
IMPORTANT: Before installing with a gas
instantaneous water heater, make sure it is
capable of delivering hot water at a minimum
switch-on flow rate of 3 litres per minute. At
flow rates between 3 and 8 litres per minute,
the appliance must be capable of raising the
water temperature to a minimum of 52°C.
The water temperature at the inlet to the
mixer must remain relatively constant when
flow rate adjustments are made (refer to
the water heater operating manual to confirm
compatibility with this mixer shower).
Inlet connections are to 15mm compression or
½” BSP female fittings (not supplied).
SAFETY WARNINGS
a Layout and sizing of pipework must be such
that when other services are used, pressures
at the shower control inlets do not fall
below the recommended minimum.
b DO NOT choose a position where the
shower could become frozen.
c DO NOT connect this mixer shower
to any form of tap or fitting not
recommended by the manufacturer.
d The showerhead must be regularly cleaned
to remove scale and debris.
e Conveniently situated service valves in
each inlet supply must be fitted as an
independent method of isolating the
shower should maintenance or servicing be
necessary.
f If it is intended to operate the shower
in areas of hard water (above 200 ppm
temporary hardness), a scale inhibitor may
have to be fitted. For advice on the Triton
scale inhibitor, please contact Customer
Service.
g DO NOT operate the shower outside
the guidelines as laid out in ‘site
requirements’.
Replacement parts can be ordered from Triton
Customer Service. See ‘spare parts’ for details and part
numbers.
Due to continuous improvement and updating,
specification may be altered without prior notice.

KEY TO MAIN COMPONENTS (fig.1)
7
1
2
3
4
6
8
5
Bar mixer shower
2
1 Thames thermostatic mixer valve
2 Combined riser/fixed head rail
3 Rail bracket
4 Fixed spray arm
5 Fixed head
6 Handset holder
7 Handset
8 Handset hose
9 Straight connector − 2 off (fig.2)
Fig.1
Fig.2
9

Bar mixer shower
3
Water temperature requirements
Maximum hot water temperature = 80°C
Recommended maximum = 65°C
Minimum hot water temperature = 52°C
Maximum cold water temperature = 20°C
BS 6700 recommends that the temperature of
stored water should never exceed 65°C.
A stored water temperature of 60°C is
considered high enough to meet all normal
requirements and will minimise the effects of
scale in hard water areas.
Temperature adjustment range
The mixed water temperature can be adjusted
from cold through to a top limit which can be
preset during installation with full anti-scald
protection throughout the range (35°C to
40°C), providing the hot water temperature
at the inlet remains 10°C above the outlet
temperature.
Should there be a loss of flow to either incoming
supply then water from the shower will stop or
be reduced to a trickle until both supplies are
restored.
SITE REQUIREMENTS
The installation must be in accordance with
Water Regulations and Byelaws.
Minimum running water pressure: 0.5 bar.
Maximum running water pressure: 5 bar.
Maximum static water pressure: 10 bar.
For the best performance within the specified
running pressure range a minimum flow of eight
litres per minute should be available to both
inlets.
While the mixer shower is operational (open
outlet), inlet pressures must not be capable of
exceeding 7 bar. For effective operation of the
internal seals, the maximum static pressure must
not be exceeded.
Note: On sites where the running pressure is
above 5 bar, the use of a suitably sized pressure
reducing valve fitted in the cold mains supply
pipework can provide nominally equal pressures
at the mixer shower.
For best performance both the hot and cold
water supplies to the mixer should be fed at
nominally equal pressures.
The pipework should be installed such that the
flow is not significantly affected by other taps
and appliances being operated elsewhere on the
premises.
Where thermal store systems and instantaneous
gas water heaters are used, if excessive draw
offs take place the boiler may not be able to
maintain an adequate output temperature.
This could result in the shower temperature
becoming noticeably cooler.

Bar mixer shower
4
Service
valves
Balanced cold mains supply
Cold mains supply
Mixe
r
Expansion
vessel
Pressure
reducing valves
Stop tap
Unvented
hot water
storage unit
Safety devices
not shown
Fig.4 (diagrammatic view – not to scale)
CH flow
Cold
mains
supply
Hot water
CH return
Service
valves
Mixer
Stop
tap
Expansion
vessel
Pressure
reducing valve
Combination
boiler
Fig.3
(diagrammatic view – not to scale)
TYPICAL SUITABLE INSTALLATIONS
a) Instantaneous gas-heated systems,
e.g. combination boilers (fig.3)
The shower control MUST be installed with a
multipoint gas water heater or combination
boiler of a fully modulating design (i.e.
to maintain relatively stable hot water
temperatures).
A drop tight pressure reducing valve MUST
be fitted if the supply pressures exceed 5 bar
running.
An expansion vessel (shown in fig.3) MUST be
fitted, and regularly maintained, to make sure
the shower mixer is not damaged by excess
pressures. This may already be installed within
the boiler (check with manufacturer) and is in
addition to the normally larger central heating
expansion vessel.
The layout and sizing of pipework MUST be
such that nominally equal inlet supply pressures
are achieved and the effects of other draw-offs
are minimised. The hot supply temperature
MUST remain a minimum of 10°C hotter than
the required blend temperature for optimum
performance.
b) Unvented mains pressure systems
(fig.4)
The shower control can be installed with an
unvented, stored hot water cylinder.
For systems with no cold water take off after the
appliance reducing valve, it will be necessary to
fit an additional drop tight pressure reducing
valve when the mains pressure is over 5 bar.
The drop tight pressure reducing valve must be
set at the same value as the unvented package
pressure reducing valve.
Note: An additional expansion vessel (fig.4)
may be required if a second pressure reducing
valve is installed. This does not apply to
packages with a cold take off after the pressure
reducing valve to the cylinder.
The layout and sizing of pipework MUST be
such that nominally equal inlet supply pressures
are achieved and the effects of other draw-offs
are minimised.

Bar mixer shower
5
Flow
Return
Boiler
Blender
valve
Cold mains supply
Hot
water
Stop tap
Expansion
vessel
Pressure
reducing valve
Service
valves
Mixer
Fig.5
(diagrammatic view – not to scale)
Isolating switch
or pull cord
switch (both
fused at 3A)
Hot water
cylinder
Mixer
unit
Service
valve
Cold supply
Hot supply
Alternative
supply
Cold
water
mains
supply
Ring main
Drain
valve
Gate
valve
Service
valve
Other
draw-offs
Stop valve
Cold
water
cistern
Pump
150mm minimum
Fig.6 (diagrammatic view – not to scale)
c) Mains pressurised thermal store
systems (fig.5)
Packages of this type, fitted with a tempering
valve (blender valve) can be used. A drop tight
pressure reducing valve MUST be fitted if the
supply pressures exceed 5 bar running.
An expansion vessel (shown in fig.5) MUST be
fitted, and regularly maintained, to make sure
the unit is not damaged by excess pressures.
This may already be installed externally or
internally within the thermal store (check with
thermal store manufacturer).
d) Pump assisted gravity fed systems
(fig.6)
The pump must be fed from a cold water cistern
and hot water cylinder providing nominally
equal water pressures. The pump must be
capable of maintaining running pressures of
1 bar (fig.6).
INSTANTANEOUS WATER HEATERS
APPLIANCE CAPABILITIES
For the best performance from the shower
when connected to an instantaneous water
heater, the appliance must be capable of raising
the temperature of the incoming water to a
minimum of 52°C (125°F) and delivering a flow
rate of not less than eight litres per minute.
Triton recommends the fitting of the straight
connectors to allow flow limiters to be inserted
into both valve inlets.

Bar mixer shower
Height of
showerhead
and shower
to suit user’s
requirement.
Handset can
be positioned
either side
of the rail.
PREPARING THE MIXER VALVE
Check the contents to make sure all parts are
present.
Before installing, make sure all the openings
on the valve are carefully covered to stop the
ingress of any debris, etc. while routing the
supply pipework.
The shower valve is suitable for installation on a
solid wall, a stud partition wall, dry lined wall or
fixing to a laminate cubicle or panel.
The hot and cold water pipes should be securely
attached within the wall or panel to support the
valve and prevent movement after installation.
The hot water inlet has a red symbol next to the
inlet and must be on the left-hand side.
SITING OF THE SHOWER
Refer to (fig.7) for correct siting of the shower.
Position the shower and showerhead so that all
controls can be comfortably reached while using
the shower. The showerhead can be positioned
either side of the rail.
The unit must be positioned horizontally with
the shower hose outlet port at the bottom.
Note: Water Regulations requires the
showerhead be ‘constrained by a fixed or sliding
attachment so that it can only discharge water
at a point not less than 25mm above the spill-
over level of the relevant bath, shower tray or
other fixed appliance’. A double check valve, or
similar, MUST be fitted in the supply pipework
to prevent back-flow.
Fig.7 (diagrammatic view – not to scale)
6
WARNING!
The shower must not be positioned
where it will be subject to freezing
conditions.
Fig.8

INSTALLATION
Note: DO NOT connect the outlet of
the shower to anything other than the
fittings supplied.
DO NOT use jointing compounds on any
pipe fittings for the installation.
DO NOT solder fittings near the mixer
unit as heat can transfer along the
pipework and damage seals and
thermostatic components.
Note: Suitable service valves (complying with
Water Regulations and Byelaws) MUST be
fitted on the hot and cold water supplies to the
shower as an independent means of isolating
the water supplies should maintenance or
servicing be necessary.
When connecting the pipework, avoid using
tight 90° elbows. Swept or formed bends will
give the best performance.
The supply pipes can be routed either from
the side, rising, rear or falling and must finish
in suitable fittings (fig.8) to accept the long
thread connectors.
The straight connectors can be used to connect
to ½” BSP female elbow fittings in solid wall
installations. The inlet centres on the mixer
valve must be aligned horizontally (fig.9) and
centred to 150mm.
If installing into a stud partition or other hollow
wall structures the installer will need to consider
building rear supports or other options. Such
options are beyond the scope of this guide.
The hot and cold supply pipes must be
anchored rigidly in order to support the valve
and prevent movement AFTER installation.
If installing in hollow walls or laminate cubicles,
fittings are supplied to compress onto the wall
to support the mixer valve (fig.10).
The maximum thickness of wall is about 20mm.
Leave enough room on the connector to fit the
compression nut and olive. At the front end, an
allowance must be made to accept the shower
union and collar.
Connect the 15mm pipework using standard
compression nut and olives (fig.11).
Bar mixer shower
7
150mm
1040mm approx
Datum
Hot
inlet
Cold
inlet
Bracket
mounting point
Fig.9
Connector
Collar
Locking nuts
Seals
Flanges
20mm. max. thickness
Fig.10
Fig.11

Diverter
collar
Riser rail
Sealing washer
Bar mixer shower
8
Flush out the pipework in accordance
with Water Regulations and Byelaws.
Screw the supplied collars onto the fittings until
tight to the wall. The collars will give a limited
degree of tolerance and the amount of exposed
thread will depend on the accuracy of the
elbows set in the wall.
Offer the shower valve to the fittings and,
making sure the sealing washers are in place,
screw the unions onto the fittings.
FITTING THE RISER/FIXED HEAD
RAIL
Mark the centre hole for the fixed head
mounting bracket at a height of about 1040mm
from the inlet datum (fig.9).
Note: The elongated hole in the mounting
bracket allows for a small amount of adjustment.
Drill and plug the wall (the wallplugs are
suitable for most brick walls − use an appropriate
masonry drill, but if the wall is plasterboard or a
soft building block, use suitable wallplugs and a
suitable drill bit).
Secure the bracket mounting plate (fig.12) to
the wall.
While depressing the button on the handset
holder (fig.13), slide the holder onto the rail
below the bracket.
Screw the fixed showerhead arm to the top of
the riser rail.
Slide the base of the riser rail assembly into the
opening in the diverter (fig.14), making sure
the sealing washer and locking collar are in
place. Fit the riser rail collar over the mounting
bracket (fig.15).
Adjust the riser rail position to suit.
Once correctly positioned, lock the diverter
collar − fingertight should be sufficient.
Note: There is a small amount of depth
adjustment within the collar. Adjust the depth
of the bracket before securing in place to the
mounting plate.
Using a suitable Allen key, secure the collar in
place by tightening the locking screw in the top
of the riser rail collar.
Slider/holder
assembly
Press and hold
button to unlock
mechanism
Riser rail
Fig.13
Fig.14
Fig.12