5/3/2019
Today’s outline:
SBEQ 1182 / SBEC 1152
Building Services I (PART 2)
Lecture 4: Domestic Water Supply & Plumbing Installation
8th March 2018
1 2
Cold water supply – Operational system
SBEQ 1182 / SBEC 1152
DOMESTIC WATER SUPPLY &
PLUMBING INSTALLATION IN
HIGH RISE BUILDING
3 4
The early days
• As far back as high-rise buildings
existed, ways to deliver water to every
floor was a necessity.
• The most common system used in the
late 1800’s and early 1900’s consisted
of a roof tank combined with constant
speed pumps that operated by a level
switch in the tank.
• When the level in the tank would
approach a predetermined height, the
pumps would either turn on to pump
more water to the tank or turn off
because the tank was full.
5 6
• Sources of water in building
• Uses of water supply
Operational systems
•
• Components and schematic details
• Others
The early days
• In the 1950’s, pneumatic pressure tank
systems replaced many roof tank systems.
• These systems put the pneumatic tank
inside the building, eliminating the pigeon
problem.
• The pumping equipment pumped water to
the pneumatic tank pressurized by an air
compressor that supplied water to the
floors.
• The systems, for the most part, worked
well if properly maintained, but required
large areas for equipment installation and
were expensive to install.
• In addition, these systems were big
consumers of energy given they ran at a
constant speed, despite low demand
periods where water is hardly used.
1

Present days: pressure booster system
• Booster consists of pump, a control panel,
series of pipes.
• Help to increase water pressure.
7 8
Present days: System configurations
• 2. Zone-divided system.
• The supply system is split into several zones
supplying a maximum of 12 floors each.
• This ensures adequate water pressure on all
floors without using pressure relief valves. The
minimum pressure on the upper floor in each
zone is kept at 1.5 - 2 bar. The maximum
pressure on the lowest floor in each zone does
not exceed 4 - 4.5 bar.
9 10
Present days: System configurations
• 4. Series-connected systems with
intermediate break tanks
• Draw on several other systems, utilising
centrally-placed break tanks to supply both the
taps in its own boosting zone and all the zones
above it.
• With this system, a building is divided into
smaller and more manageable pressure zones of
12 floors each. Every zone is then served by its
own booster set.
• No pressure reduction valves are required and in
case of electrical breakdown the tanks will be
able to supply pressure and water for up to 12
hours.
• However, the tanks take up valuable space
within the building, reducing the room available
for revenue generation.
11
5/3/2019
Present days: System configurations
• 1. Single booster system.
• A water tank is placed in front of the pump
system and filled with water from the mains. This
allows the capacity of the mains to be lower than
the building’s peak demand, ensuring constant
pressure even in peak flow situations.
• The break tank is filled with water during low
consumption periods and ensures a uniform
water supply to the booster pumps at all times.
Present days: System configurations
• 3. Roof tanks/overhead tanks with
terrace booster system
• Ensure both water pressure and water supply in
case of power failure. This solution requires
pressure reduction valves on each floor in order
to avoid undesired high static pressures at the
tap, which creates unacceptable noise while
tapping.
• In this model the upper six floors require a
separate booster system in order to create
sufficient pressure. The static pressure there is
too low due to the insufficient geometric height
to the roof tank.
Present days: System configurations
• 4. Series-connected systems with intermediate break tanks
12
2
 5/3/2019

Present days: System configurations Present days: System configurations

• 5. A series-connected system without • 5. A series-connected system without

intermediate break tanks intermediate break tanks

• Operates on the same principles as the previous

system, but without the intermediate break
tanks.
• This enables an effective usage of power
because the water is only pumped to the zone
where it is used and not past it.
• However, complete control is very important.
When a consumer draws water on the upper
floors, the booster systems must deliver the
water from the bottom of the building.

13 14

Valves

• The carrying of water to equipment and appliances has

to be capable of being shut off so that pipework and
appliances can be repaired and maintained.
• This is achieved by inserting valves or cocks at various
SBEQ 1182 / SBEC 1152
points in the pipework.
VALVES & FITTINGS
• Types (not limited to): Stop valve, gate/sluice valve,
scour valve, float/ ball valve.

15 16

Stop valve Gate valve

• To close the flow of • Used to control the flow • To close the flow of • Used to control the
water, the crutch head
of water at high
water, the wheel head flow of water on low
pressure. pressure installations.
handle is rotated slowly is rotated to control the
reducing the flow thus flow water.
preventing sudden • This valve offer far less
impact of vibration and resistance than stop
hammering. valve.

17 18

3
 5/3/2019

Float/ ball valve & Scour valve Fittings

• Float valve - automatic flow control devices • A fitting is used in pipe systems to connect
fitted to cisterns to maintain an appropriate straight pipe or tubing sections, adapt to different
volume of water. sizes or shapes and for other purposes, such as
• Scour valve – a washout regulating (or measuring) fluid flow.
valve located at the • Fittings (especially uncommon types) require
lowest point of the money, time, materials and tools to install, and are
cistern. Used to emptied an important part of piping and plumbing systems.
the cisterns for
• Valves are technically fittings, but are usually
maintenance & cleaning.
discussed separately.

19 20

Common piping and plumbing fittings

Common piping and plumbing fittings

Elbow:
Coupling:
• An elbow is installed between two
lengths of pipe (or tubing) to allow a • A coupling connects two
change of direction, usually a 90° or
pipes.
45° angle; 22.5° elbows are also
available. • If their sizes differ, the
• The ends may be machined for butt
fitting is known as a
welding, threaded (usually female) or
socketed. When the ends differ in size, it reducing coupling,
is known as a reducing (or reducer)
reducer or an adapter.
elbow.

21 22

Common piping and plumbing fittings Common piping and plumbing fittings

Union: Reducer:
• A union, similar to a coupling, allows
• A reducer allows for a change
the convenient disconnection of
in pipe size to
pipes for maintenance or fixture
meet hydraulic flow
replacement.
requirements of the system or
• It consists of three parts: a nut, a
adapt to existing piping of a
female end and a male end. When
different size.
the female and male ends are joined,
the nut seals the joint.

23 24

4
 5/3/2019

Common piping and plumbing fittings Common piping and plumbing fittings

Tee: Pillar tap:

• A tee, the most common pipe fitting, • Used to supply water to basins, bath, bidets and sinks
is used to combine (or divide) fluid
flow.

• Tees can connect pipes of different

diameters or change the direction of
a pipe run.

• Tees may be equal or unequal in size,

with equal tees the most common.

25 26

Common piping and plumbing fittings

Bib tap:

• Used for wall fixing, normally about 150mm above a sanitary

appliance.

SBEQ 1182 / SBEC 1152

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

27 28

Design principles Design principles (cont’d)

I. Cold water system ▪ Swimming-pool

filtration Major tasks of water systems design:
A: Potable water Irrigation(e.g. for
• Drinking purpose.
▪
• Assessment & estimation of demands
landscape)
• Cooking purpose.
▪ Fountain circulation • Supply scheme & schematic
▪ Air-conditioning
B: Non-potable water water, etc. • Water storage requirements
▪ Flushing

water(fresh or salt II. Hot water system • Piping layout

water) (e.g. in hotels &
▪ Cleansing water
• Pipe sizing
hospitals
▪ Fire service
• Pump system design

29 30

5
 5/3/2019

Water demand Water demand (cont’d)

Simultaneous demand
Water demand depends on:
❑ Type of building & its function ❑ Most fittings are used only at irregular intervals
❑ Number of occupants, permanent or transitional ❑ It is unlikely that all the appliances will be used
❑ Requirement for fire protection systems simultaneously . Therefore there is no need to size pipe
❑ Landscape & water features work on continuous maximum

Key factors to consider:

Typical appliances using the cold water
❑ WC cistern, wash basin, bath, shower, sink
❑ Washing machine, dishwasher
❑ Urinal flushing cistern
❑ Capacity of appliance (L)
❑ Draw-off flow rate (L/s)
❑ Draw-off period, or time taken to fill appliance (sec)
❑ Frequency of use, time between each use (sec)

31 32

Schematic layout: cold

Schematic drawing water supply system

❑ A schematic drawing is a representation of the

elements of a system using abstract, graphic *pipe size
*fittings

symbols rather than realistic pictures (or schemes as

designer usually does).
❑ A schematic usually omits all details that are not
relevant to the information the schematic intended
to convey and may add unrealistic elements that aid
comprehension.

33 34

Quantities take-off:

• Quantities measured from schematic drawings are

subjected to re-measurement (ALL PROVISIONAL).
• Do not scaled a schematic drawing – dimensions need to
be taken from a combination of other scaled drawings
(elevations, plans, sections).
• Method of fixing (of pipes) – use logic.
• Location of fittings & valves.

35 36

6
 5/3/2019

37