Introduction
The Bio Tech 4 Life Sciences Building at the University of Warwick, located in Coventry, is a specialist facility supporting advanced teaching, research and innovation within the life sciences sector. As part of one of the UK’s leading universities, the building plays a vital role in housing laboratories, research spaces and academic environments where high standards of safety, hygiene and operational reliability are essential. Designed to support a wide range of scientific activities, the building experiences high daily usage, with an estimated 400–600 staff, students and visitors accessing the site each day. This level of demand places significant importance on compliant, resilient and well-managed water systems to support both regulatory requirements and uninterrupted day-to-day operations.
The Challenge
During routine reviews and inspections, the facilities team identified that the existing Category 5 cold water storage tank serving the Bio Tech 4 Life Sciences Building was no longer fully aligned with current regulatory requirements. Following guidance and correction notices issued by the local water authority, and through insights gained during health and safety audits, the University took a proactive approach to address the issue.
Rather than allowing the system to become an ongoing concern, the facilities team recognised the importance of acting early to reduce operational risk, strengthen compliance, and move away from reactive maintenance. This forward-thinking mindset prompted the search for a robust, long-term solution that would improve system performance, simplify ongoing management, and support the building’s high daily usage.
The Solution
To address these challenges, Keraflo worked alongside the project team to deliver a compliant, reliable and future-proof solution through the replacement of the existing tank with a 5,000-litre sectional GRP cold water storage tank, incorporating advanced monitoring and control technology.
The solution included the installation of:
A key requirement was flexibility during periods of low usage. The Keraflo solution was selected specifically for its easy adjustability, allowing system performance to be optimised without disruption. The tank is also supplied with softened water, which was taken into account during installation and commissioning.
The Result
Following installation, the site has seen immediate operational improvements, including:
While long-term sustainability and efficiency data is still being collected, early indicators show a marked improvement in overall system control and compliance.
Client Testimonial
We asked Matt Gannon MWMSoc, Assistant Maintenance Engineering Surveyor (Water), from the University, how he would summarise the overall success of the project. This is what he had to say:
“We choose Keraflo because their products just do the job properly. They fit our requirements, they’re reliable, and they’re easy to work with on-site. Compared with other float valve options, Keraflo equipment avoids the usual problems like constant dribbling, noise and unreliable level control, which makes a real difference to how our systems perform day to day.”
“Off the back of a recent installation, we’re now also specifying Keraflo Tanktronic for level monitoring. The system has proven to be straightforward enough to install, simple to set up (when commissioned properly) and genuinely useful in operation, so it’s now part of our standard specification going forward.”
“Just as important as the kit itself, the Keraflo business development team and aftercare support are consistently professional and approachable. Keraflo are clear market leaders in this space and our preferred choice because their products are consistent, dependable and simply work.”
Conclusion
The project has successfully delivered a compliant, dependable and intelligently monitored water storage solution for a critical university facility. The installation has reduced operational risk, improved audit outcomes and enabled the facilities team to move away from reactive maintenance towards proactive system management. Keraflo is now a preferred and specified solution, with Tanktronic included as part of the standard specification for future installations.
If you’re looking to improve compliance, reduce maintenance issues and gain greater visibility of your water systems, speak to Keraflo today to see how our proven solutions can support your building or site. www.keraflo.co.uk
For product support or installation advice, contact our dedicated support staff today.
