PlumbRevise
Scientific PrinciplesLesson

Head, pressure and thermal expansion

The head/pressure rule of thumb and why heated water needs expansion provision.

A useful plumbing rule of thumb: roughly 1 bar of pressure for every 10 metres of vertical head of water. More head above an outlet means more static pressure at it.

Water expands when heated, so closed hot-water systems need expansion provision (an expansion vessel or equivalent) to absorb the increase safely.

*Original revision guidance; the head/pressure value is an approximation for revision — confirm exact figures.*

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