Post by Chuck Weddle on Sept 13, 2023 10:05:11 GMT
A friend of mine asked me yesterday if a softener was required to be inter-locked with the RO. I told him that RD52 & RD62 as well as 23500 all require it. At the time I didn't bother looking it up in 23500 but when I did, I was surprised to find that it is NOT required!
23500 states.....
F.5.2 Softener
A water softener might be needed to prevent calcium and magnesium from forming scale on the membranes of a
reverse osmosis system. For water with a high level of hardness, removal of calcium and magnesium with a softener
can be necessary if the reverse osmosis system is to produce dialysis water that meets the requirements of 4.2.2 for
calcium and magnesium. A softener typically is not needed to support a deionization system.
Softeners should be regenerated or exchanged on a regular basis. Only sodium chloride should be used to
regenerate a softener. Potassium chloride should not be used for softener regeneration. Also, salt designated as rock
salt should not be used for regeneration since it is not refined and typically contains sediments and other impurities
that might damage O-rings and pistons and clog orifices in the softener control head. Single tank softeners can be set
to regenerate automatically on set days or after they have processed a designated amount of water; alternatively,
regeneration can be initiated manually. Softeners used for haemodialysis applications that regenerate automatically
are fitted with a mechanism to prevent water from entering the product line during regeneration. Typically, the timer
on the softener is not interlocked to stop the reverse osmosis system when regeneration occurs. If the dialysis
machine is producing dialysis fluid at that time, a low water pressure alarm will occur. For that reason, attention
should be paid to setting the time for softener regeneration, particularly when daily nocturnal haemodialysis is being
performed.
23500 states.....
F.5.2 Softener
A water softener might be needed to prevent calcium and magnesium from forming scale on the membranes of a
reverse osmosis system. For water with a high level of hardness, removal of calcium and magnesium with a softener
can be necessary if the reverse osmosis system is to produce dialysis water that meets the requirements of 4.2.2 for
calcium and magnesium. A softener typically is not needed to support a deionization system.
Softeners should be regenerated or exchanged on a regular basis. Only sodium chloride should be used to
regenerate a softener. Potassium chloride should not be used for softener regeneration. Also, salt designated as rock
salt should not be used for regeneration since it is not refined and typically contains sediments and other impurities
that might damage O-rings and pistons and clog orifices in the softener control head. Single tank softeners can be set
to regenerate automatically on set days or after they have processed a designated amount of water; alternatively,
regeneration can be initiated manually. Softeners used for haemodialysis applications that regenerate automatically
are fitted with a mechanism to prevent water from entering the product line during regeneration. Typically, the timer
on the softener is not interlocked to stop the reverse osmosis system when regeneration occurs. If the dialysis
machine is producing dialysis fluid at that time, a low water pressure alarm will occur. For that reason, attention
should be paid to setting the time for softener regeneration, particularly when daily nocturnal haemodialysis is being
performed.
