A magazine from Olpe Number 6 // 2019

Future trends and innovations

As the flagship trade fair for HVAC and water, ISH is always a place

where the big announcements are made. This is the venue where

innovative new products are presented that developers have spent

months working to turn their visions into reality. In a successful com-

pany, however, visions are not limited merely to products. It is impor-

tant to always stay one step ahead, so as to be sure not to miss relevant

trends in fast-paced times like the digital era. SCHELL’s new Directory

of Technology Andreas Ueberschär has set himself some ambitious

goals and has a very clear picture of his vision for the company. In this

issue, he talks to us about the role that advances in electronics will

play.

At our ISH fair stand, delegates can already let themselves be inspired

by SCHELL’s intelligent solutions. Read on to find out more about the

products to be premièred at ISH. The focus here in particular is on

digital developments that promote the “smart public” concept – i.e.

the use of networked building systems in public spaces – while also

safeguarding drinking water hygiene.

And the new draft of VDI/BTGA/ZVSHK 6023-1 is naturally also cen-

tred on the topic of hygiene in drinking water systems. SCHELL has

now put together a summary of the core statements and changes for

planners, operators and installers.

HAUTnah

Bold goals and heaps of enthusiasm: Andreas Ueberschär assumed his position as SCHELL’s new Managing Director Operations almost exactly a year ago. As the successor to Joachim Schell, who changed roles to become an active partner as of 1 April 2018, Berlin-born Ueberschär has already set himself some ambitious targets. In this interview, he talks to us about the plans he has for the company and how SCHELL is moving ahead with digitalisation.

An interview with Andreas Ueberschär, Managing Director Operations at SCHELL GmbH

AT SCHELL, INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS AND OUTSTANDING PRODUCT QUALITY ARE PART OF OUR DNA

More at www.schell.eu

Mr Ueberschär, what’s your initial impression after 12

months in Olpe?

It was a high-intensity, highly motivating first year. After a

very warm welcome, right from the outset, I was then given

plenty of freedom to plan my strategy while also being able

to count on the support I needed. SCHELL has an outstand-

ing grasp of the relevant technologies and an excellent

market position. This combination offers the perfect start-

ing-point for planning ambitious business developments.

What are your goals for SCHELL in this respect?

First and foremost, we want to further consolidate our posi-

tion as a full-range supplier of sanitary fittings. We are a

market leader here, especially in the electronic fittings seg-

ment. Just recently in fact, our competencies here were

recognised by the 2018 German Innovation Award And we

naturally want to build on this achievement – innovative

technology will continue to be the key to our company’s

success in the future. Electronic devices are the common

denominator in both our personal lives and in public spac-

es. As just one example, take the fitness trackers that many

people now wear. These trackers keep a record of how

much we move and offer insights into our physical health

by using sensors to monitor cardiac function, for example.

The electronics in our sanitary fittings do much the same

kind of thing. By continuously checking the water’s ‘pulse’

they ensure that it stays healthy – and not just figuratively:

while helping our customers save water (and therefore

money), it is also an inexpensive way to comply with strin-

gent hygiene standards. And all of this is also documented

neatly for the facility manager.

These kinds of developments are not just interesting for

the German market: what are you planning at an interna-

tional level?

The aim here is to align and offer complete, integrated

solutions for sanitary fittings that are tailored to the needs

of customers in the various markets. We have been work-

ing to strengthen our international activities over the last

few years – the various SCHELL subsidiaries are just one

example here. Our regional diversification activities now

require a more focused kind of product development that

analyses the specific requirements of the various national

markets and accommodates these needs to the full. While

our technologically sophisticated, premium solutions for

the German market are also popular abroad, we need to

further improve our understanding of customers needs at

a local level and develop solutions for them systematically

if we want to meet our growth targets in our focus markets.

What challenges do you expect to be confronting here?

Our products are “Made in Germany”, which is a factor for

success but also a standard to maintain. Being able to con-

centrate our development and production expertise in a place

like Olpe is also a stroke of good fortune we want to pre-

serve. The proximity of design engineers to developers at the

test bench and fitters in production are key criteria not only

for securing our agility and power to innovate but also to

ensure that we remain able to meet the high quality stand-

ards as expected by our customers. Customer focus, agile

processes and interdisciplinary teamwork are items that sit

right at the top of our product development agenda.

So the product quality for which SCHELL is famous will

continue to play a central role here?

At SCHELL, outstanding product quality is part of our DNA.

The company stands for first-class technology and extreme

reliability – and our customers know this. Making good on

our promises here, day in and day out, is the most important

task performed by our employees both in production and

in the company as a whole. Not least because customers

expect our products to keep working perfectly even after

decades and decades of use. Particularly high standards for

quality and reliability are required for products used in pub-

lic sanitary facilities, since these experience very high levels

of use. Here’s a simple example to illustrate the point. A

tap in the bathroom of a family of four will be used about

30,000 times every year. But a tap at Düsseldorf Airport

will be used 300,000 times on average. In this one year,

our products have to keep working despite a level of use

that a household tap only sees during an entire decade.

This is possible only if all of our employees remain totally

focused on producing superior quality.

Digitalisation is the most important factor for change in

the market right now – how should companies respond to

this trend?

Digitalisation accelerates the lifecycles of products and

trends, which means trends in particular need to be spotted

as quickly as possible – ideally before they take hold. This is

now a fundamental part of being a modern business. At

SCHELL, we have a clear focus for the future. We are pio-

neers in the field of intelligent fittings technology, since our

fittings already have the relevant kinds of internal electronics.

Using additional components – such as the SSC Bluetooth®

module – can then significantly expand this functionality by

offering smartphone-based setting of fitting parameters.

Networking our products with our SCHELL Water

Management System SWS forms an integral part of efforts

aimed at achieving ‘smart building’ facility management.

With the ‘smart public/smart building’ topic – using net-

worked building systems in public facilities – SCHELL has

truly opened up a new market for the future. How are you

planning to take this forwards?

Primarily by expanding and improving our SWS intelligent

water management system in multiple dimensions. Today,

for example, we already offer a comprehensive set of fea-

tures covering water hygiene and consumption, which sig-

nificantly lower running costs for facility managers. And we

also offer operators peace of mind because our systems

meet the tough legal requirements for drinking water

hygiene (to avoid contamination with Legionella, for exam-

ple) and provide full records of compliance. Ultimately, this

also means that those responsible for public facilities reduce

their personal liability risks. We are now expanding our

portfolio in the direction of leak protection and are now in

a position to avoid the occurrence of water damage. The

new SCHELL leak protection valve is controlled easily with

our SWS and enables the water supply to be shut off at

specified points in time. (Find out more about this new

product on page 7.) This is a key competitive differentiator

for us: at SCHELL, the future of water management means

gathering and analysing the data from our electronic fit-

tings, and using this to offer facility managers ways to opti-

mise their costs and profitability. There is still a huge amount

of potential to be exploited in this area.

Returning from the future to the present-day, can you tell

us what it is like to be based near to Cologne after so many

years of living in the countryside?

Moving to the outskirts of Cologne was a conscious deci-

sion for me and my family: we like the metropolitan flair

offered by a big city.After spending a few years in Hungary,

we then made our home in Frankenberg/Eder in northern

Hesse to be nearer to work. So we now benefit from the

many opportunities offered by the big city and I don’t have

to face a long commute every day. And if I do encounter a

spot of traffic en route, I can spend the time thinking up

new ideas for SCHELL.

Digital, intelligent and efficient

THE IDEAL SOLUTION FOR ANY CHALLENGE:

THE SCHELL WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SWS

Whether you’re faced with outsized pipework or need to meet demanding requirements for drinking water quality,

SCHELL SWS is the key to ensuring the safe, hygienic and economical use of any drinking water system. Our selected case studies speak for themselves.

Charité, Benjamin Franklin Campus, Berlin

The challenge: Renovation of the operating theatres on the Benjamin Franklin Cam-pus with stringent requirements for drinking water quality and its documentation

The result with SWS: Contact-free electronic fittings, networked temperature sensors and centrally controlled hygiene flushes now ensure the reliable maintenance of drink-ing water quality at the hospital. Despite considerable variation in water requirements, water stagnation is reliably prevented, with stagnation flushes being performed both at scheduled times and when critical temperatures are reached across all of the points of use. Water usage, stagnation flushes and water temperatures are recorded continuously, and can be analysed easily to ensure seamless documentation of operation in compli-ance with relevant legislation.Straightforward control, maintenance and diagnostics for all networked fittings ensures cost-effective facility management.

Vacuumschmelze, Hanau

The challenge: Achieving an optimum balance between the facts of saving water and energy, user comfort and drinking water hygiene while converting sanitary facilities.

The result with SWS: Instead of the legacy fittings, new electronic self-closing fittings ensure the user-friendly operation of showers, washbasins and urinals. Regular stagnation flushes ensure drinking water quality is maintained –especially during annual holidays. Since usage, flushes and thermal disinfections are logged continuously, these can be analysed and adjusted to achieve significant savings in consumption and operating costs.

3-Feld Sports Centre, Berlin (Neukölln)

The challenge: outsized pipework cross-sections and a lack of concurrency in usage present risks to drinking water hygiene

The result with SWS: Battery-operated electronic fittings have been installed in sec-tions, which operate wirelessly. Stagnation flushes have been programmed as groups of fittings to ensure that the water in the system is replaced regularly in full, as is required. This ensures continuous protection of drinking water quality without requiring a cost-intensive pipework renovation project that would also mean a prolonged inter-ruption to the Centre’s sport and league activities.

VERDICT Both for renovations and for new building work, SCHELL’s Water Management System SWS is more than a match for any challenge, offer-ing a smart, cost-effective solution to safeguard long-term drinking water hygiene and document legally compliant operation. Interested in becom-ing a water management expert? Why not attend one of our many train-ing courses? In 2018 alone, we held over 72 workshops on the topic of SWS at SCHELL’s premises in Olpe.

VITUS VW-E-T washbasin tap with contact-free IR operation

XERIS ET washbasin tap with integrated thermostat

VITUS VD-C-T shower fitting with integrated thermostat

SCHELL at the ISH

TRADE FAIR LAUNCHES IN 2019At ISH 2019, SCHELL will be presenting impressive solutions for public sanitary facilities. The intel-ligent electronics integrated into these products not only offer optimum support for maintaining water quality but also accommodate the special requirements and needs of our customers in inter-national markets.

SCHELL EXPOSED WASHBASIN TAP WALIS EThe ideal solution for cold and mixed water extraction situations, and as a compact and inexpensive flushing point for sinks.

ADVANTAGES• Contact-free actuation for greater comfort and hygiene• Three outlet lengths ensure an optimum solution for the usage situation• Can be used as a flushing point with identical or better flushing performance• Can be integrated into the SCHELL Water Management System SWS• Features can be expanded by using the optional SCHELL SSC Bluetooth® module• Simplified programming with SCHELL SSC • Unlike flushing points, no additional drinking water and wastewater lines are required• Battery-operated – deployable without complex electrical work

For more information about WALIS E, see www.schell.eu

SCHELL at the ISH

TRADE FAIR LAUNCHES IN 2019

SCHELL SWS LEAK PROTECTION VALVEThis valve not only protects against leaks but simultaneously maintains water quality in buildings with scheduled usage and/or holiday periods such as council and office buildings, schools, etc.

ADVANTAGES• No water damage or unnecessary water consumption

outside a building’s hours of use• SWS leak protection valve opens for stagnation flushes• Can be deployed centrally or in only parts of the installation• User-friendly programming of usage and shut-off times according

to calendar days and times of day with the SCHELL Water Management System SWS

For more information about the SWS leakage valve, see www.schell.eu

SCHELL SSC BLUETOOTH® MODULEThe fitter’s new ‘pipe wrench’ and fine-tuning for your taps. Enables the wireless transfer of data between smartphone/tablet and fitting.

ADVANTAGES• Easy configuration of electronic tap settings: simple app-based

programming of flow times, stagnation flushes, etc.• Additional features if left installed on fitting, such as stagnation

flushes at scheduled times plus full documentation• Access to the fitting secured with a code

For more information about the SSC Bluetooth® module, see www.schell.eu

NEW!The Bluetooth® module is now also available for VITUS. The upgrade kit for all VITUS taps now even offers thermal disinfection as an optional extra, which can be triggered from a safe distance on a tablet or smartphone.

SCHELL BIBCOCK DRAW-OFF TAP Two draw-off options with separate controls combined into one space-saving fitting for maximum convenience.

ADVANTAGES• Outlet with flow regulator for drawing off water with COMFORT handle

and grease chamber head part for continuously smooth action• Additional 1/2" draw-off outlet for connecting a bidet spray head,

with separate shut-off and operation via ceramic discs

For more information about BIBCOCK, see www.schell.eu/

SCHELL PETIT TREND SC SELF-CLOSING WASHBASIN TAPRobust, economical and vandal-resistant: a standard tap that is perfect for use in service stations, stadiums, schools, etc.

ADVANTAGES• Available as a pillar tap and wall-mounted tap• Low water consumption with a flow rate of 3 l/min at 3 bar

flow pressure (can be converted to 5 l/min at 3 bar flow pressure) • Hygienic, since the tap does not need to be handled

further after washing hands • Elegant, modern design

For more information about PETIT Trend SC, see www.schell.eu

SCHELL EXPOSED SHOWER PANEL LINUS TRENDA durable and elegant high-quality design for shower units – ideal for sports centres and leisure facilities

ADVANTAGES• Stainless steel offers protection from vandalism and corrosion • Water-saving self-closing system• Low installed height, ideal for shower trays• Can be combined with LINUS Trend soap tray• Available in models with and without hand shower

For more information about LINUS Trend, see www.schell.eu

DRAFT VERSION OF VDI/BTGA/ZVSHK 6023 PART 1

CHANGES FOCUS ON MAINTAINING BUILDING WATER QUALITY

The latest version of VDI/BTGA/ZVSHK 6023-1, ‘Hygiene in drinking wa-ter systems’, will soon be published. While the final version of the text is not yet available, SCHELL has already summarised some key statements from the draft guideline for planners, facility managers and plumbers related to legally compliant operation and special hygiene requirements. Alongside the definition of essential processes, the draft also contains a number of regulations for components, lines without continuous flow and requirements for automated draw-off. These latter requirements can be met in full with the SCHELL Water Management System SWS. With SCHELL SWS, maintaining drinking water hygiene according to guide-lines is both simple and straightforward.

AND DON’T FORGET THE SINKS!

All points of use must be considered to ensure operation in accordance with

regulations. However, sinks in public buildings are all too often forgotten about

in this context. An intelligent alternative to expensive dismantling or manual

flushing work is the SCHELL exposed WALIS washbasin tap with pre-selectable

‘bucket fill function’. This offers a quick, simple remedy thanks to its automated

stagnation flush, and can also be controlled easily by a central SCHELL SWS. It

also offers an ideal alternative to flushing points, since it offers the same litre-

wise performance as popular models but is almost always less expensive to

install. Read more about the exposed WALIS washbasin tap on page 6.

VERDICT

While it is true that the draft of VDI 6023 Part 1 includes a number of new

challenges, SCHELL products and solutions offer planners, facility managers

and investors the best way to prepare for them.

PLANNING

The demanding requirements for drinking water systems must be considered even at the

planning stage. It is important to develop a model that accommodates building use and

the maintenance of drinking water hygiene right from the start. This is why the draft

guideline gives the following piece of advice: “Planning work must include suitable meas-

ures to account for interruptions in use typical for the building, such as vacancy, season-

al operation or school holidays.” Planners should therefore not assume the system is always

operating at peak load. If planners also consider potential alternative uses for the building,

this can avoid potentially time-consuming conversion work at a later date.

PRODUCT SELECTION

Care must also be taken when selecting products to ensure that drinking water hygiene

is maintained at all times. The draft states that the surfaces of components in drinking

water systems that have contact with water must be microbiologically harmless. If man-

ufacturers factory-test their components with water that is not of an acceptable quality,

however, this could trigger harmful bacterial contamination throughout the entire system.

To ensure that hygienic safety can be assured from the outset, the safest approach is

therefore to use products that have been inspected at the factory only by using ‘dry

methods’ – i.e. with test gases. SCHELL is a pioneer in this respect within the sanitary

fittings sector.

LEGALLY COMPLIANT OPERATION

Right from the very first fill of the drinking water system, key requirements about water

replacement must be observed – first by plumbers and then by facility management after

handover. According to the draft guideline, legally compliant operation is fulfilled only if

operation of the drinking water system involves all points of use. These should not only

be regularly inspected to confirm that they are in proper working order but servicing work

to maintain the safe state of the system must also be performed as required.

AVOIDING IMPAIRMENTS TO HYGIENE

Microbiological contamination can result when users cannot ensure regular replacement

of the water at all points of use – during the holiday season, for example. However, con-

centrations of bacteria in drinking water can only be reduced by the regular replacement

of the entire volume of water contained in the supply line section. Lines and equipment

must not be used if their water has remained unused for longer than three days. The draft

also recommends special precautions for extraction points that are rarely used. As points

of contact with the environment, they present a significant risk: in some circumstances,

microorganisms could enter the installation opposite to the direction of flow. (This con-

tamination process is also called retrograde contamination.) Accordingly, these extraction

points must either be operated regularly by means of stagnation flushes, for example, or

removed entirely, along with their supply lines.

INTELLIGENT WATER MANAGEMENT

Ensuring that all extraction points are operated regularly by hand during periods of non-

use is an extremely time-consuming and cost-intensive procedure. The solution is an

intelligent water management system such as SCHELL SWS. This system networks all of

the points of use so that they can be easily operated electronically. This not only means

the system pays for itself in a short space of time but also improves safety, since manual

flushes are especially prone to error due to time pressures.

ACHIEVING CONCURRENCY

From the point of view of hygiene, automated extraction is equivalent to manual extrac-

tion. The draft also highlights the following point: “If required, stagnation flushes should

be performed to ensure the same basic level of concurrent use is achieved as was envisaged

by planners when planning the drinking water installation. This can be achieved by trig-

gering the simultaneous, automated flushing of multiple extraction points.” Instead of

having to open taps by hand in dozens of rooms, ensure that they all run at the same time

and then shut them all off again, the equivalent level of concurrent use can simply be

programmed into the SCHELL SWS system. Fittings can be conveniently grouped for

stagnation flushes to ensure that they are all triggered electronically at the same time to

achieve the envisaged peak volume flow rate.

FLUSHING POINTS ARE NO LONGER NEEDED

Expensive flushing points are surplus to requirements, thanks to SCHELL SWS. In litres,

the performance of typical flushing stations is around 5 to 10/l a minute. Since values

above 10/l min are rarely achieved, this means that flushing points are equivalent to one

or two sanitary fittings capable of offering 5 l/min. Accordingly, they do not markedly

improve volume flow rate and their use in achieving high-quality water replacement is

equally problematic. Particularly since SCHELL fittings are also capable of achieving vol-

umes of 10 l/min by simply swapping out the flow regulator. A much simpler approach is

therefore to use SCHELL SWS to configure SCHELL fittings into stagnation flush groups

to achieve the levels of concurrent use required.

MONITORING RUNTIME PARAMETERS

If electronic components are used for stagnation flushes, their functional capabilities

must be monitored electronically or inspected manually at regular intervals. The draft

guideline also recommends integrating parameter monitoring into the building automa-

tion system, and to use tamper-proof systems for documentation and analysis. All of this

is also easily possible with SCHELL SWS and the right accessories – such as the SWS

temperature sensors. SCHELL SWS also offers compliance with monitoring and docu-

mentation out of the box, since the hygiene measures implemented are documented in

great detail. For easier reporting, this data can then be exported for further processing

in standard office applications. This offers legal security for operators while enabling

them to track and optimise water consumption. This keeps hygiene and operating costs

in constant equilibrium.

Ensuring optimum hygiene

FIRST-CLASS SUPPORT FOR SAFE DRINKING WATER HANDLINGIn terms of drinking water hygiene, hospitals have the most stringent requirements of any building. This is why Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin is now using con-tact-free SCHELL fittings combined with SCHELL temperature sensors and the intelligent SCHELL SWS Water Management System for its renovated operating theatres on its Benjamin Franklin Campus. Not least because this centralised sys-tem offers optimum support for maintaining water quality.

More information at www.schell.eu

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PUBLICATION DETAILS

Publisher SCHELL GmbH & Co. KG Armaturentechnologie | Raiffeisenstraße 31 | 57462 Olpe, Germany Tel. +49 2761 892-0 | Fax +49 2761 892-199 | info@schell.eu | www.schell.eu

Photo creditsiStock (front cover, p. 3, ); SCHELL (p. 4; 6 - 11); Anke Müllerklein (p. 4); fotolia (back cover)

Responsibility for health.