Industry :             Leisure – Swimming Pool

Client :                 College

Product :              RAM

Summary

RIFT was contacted in 2023 by an end customer with a number of RAM valve actuators in situation. They had suffered a flood event due to a pump failure in an underground pumping room in the swimming pool complex. The RAM valve actuators had been installed in 2018 and assisted in controlling the flow, balancing between the pumps and providing a backup failsafe in the event of various system failures.

Overview

RIFTS distributor contacted RIFT and asked for assistance in assessing the system and looking at potential upgrades. The flooding event had submerged the actuators under 1.5m of water for over a month.

Challenge

On attending the site, the underground pump room had only recently been drained of water and the faulty pumps replaced. It was identified that a pump shorting out had damaged a control unit which then failed to close the valve actuators. The valve actuators while fully submerged had lights flashing and on test were seeking to operate the valves. It was also identified that the valves had degraded since install and the torque profiles had changed. The control signal being stuck in the open positions and the power still being on, had prevented the actuators from failsafe closing. While not certified for permanent submersion it was reassuring on inspection to find the actuators free from water internally.

Solution

RIFTs engineers suggested some simple upgrades to the control panels to prevent future water events, and ensure in the event of a total system failure that the power would be cut to the valve  actuators causing a failsafe event to occur and saving the system from future flooding events. Working with the distributor and the end customer, a schedule of service visits (every two years) in order to check seals and replace batteries as needed was suggested. A great example of RIFT working with customers and distributors to find and implement solutions.