Accommodation for

Building Services
This topic covers the ways and methods
of how building/engineering services
are accommodated within the building.
 Ducts for engineering services
• Before installing ducts for the entry of services into a
building, it is essential to ascertain the location of pipes
and cables provided by the public utilities companies.
• Thereafter, the shortest, most practicable and most
economic route can be planned.
• For flexible pipes and cables, a purpose-made plastic pipe
duct and bend may be used.
• Pipe ducts must be sealed at the ends with a plastic filling
and mastic sealant, otherwise subsoil and other materials
will encroach into the duct.
• To accommodate horizontal services, a skirting or floor
duct may be used.
Ducts for Engineering Services
 Floor and Skirting Ducts
• A grid distribution of floor ducting is appropriate in open plan
offices and shops where there is an absence of internal walls
for power and telecommunications sockets.
It is also useful in offices designed with demountable
partitioning where room layout is subject to changes.
Sockets are surface mounted in the floor with a hinged
cover plate to protect them when not in use.
The disruption to the structure is minimal as the ducts can
be set in the screed, eliminating the need for long lengths
of trailing cables to remote workstations
• For partitioned rooms, a branching duct layout may be
preferred. The branches can terminate at sockets near to the
wall or extend into wall sockets.
Floor and Skirting Ducts
 Medium and Large Vertical Ducts
• The purpose of a service duct is to conceal the
services without restricting access for
inspection, repair and alterations.
• A duct also helps to reduce noise and protect
the services from damage.
• When designing a service duct, the
transmission of noise, possible build-up of heat
in the enclosure and accessibility to the
services must be considered.
Medium and Large Vertical Ducts
 Medium and Large Horizontal Ducts
• Floor trenches are usually fitted with continuous covers.
• Continuous trench covers may be of timber, stone, reinforced
concrete, metal or a metal tray filled to match the floor finish.
 Subways or Walkways
• Access to a subway will normally be from a plant room, control
room or a basement.
• Additional access from the surface should also be provided at
convenient junctions and direction changes.
 Penetration of Fire Structure by Pipes
The effect of fire spreading through the voids
associated with internal pipework penetrating
fire resistant walls and floors can be considered
in four areas:
1. Addition of fuel to the total fire load.
2. Production of toxic gases and smoke.
3.Risk of fire spread along the pipework.
4.Reduction in fire resistance of the
building elements penetrated.
Penetration of Fire Structure by Pipes
 Raised Access Floors
• Raised flooring provides discrete housing for
the huge volumes of data and
telecommunications cabling, electrical power
cables, pipes, ventilation ducts and other
services associated with modern buildings.
• The void between structural floor and raised
panels will require fire stopping at specific
intervals to retain the integrity of
compartmentation
Raised Access Floors
 Suspended and False Ceilings

• A suspended ceiling contributes to the fire

resistance of a structural floor. An additional
purpose for a suspended ceiling is to
accommodate and conceal building services,
which is primarily the function of a false
ceiling.
• False ceiling systems may be constructed in situ
from timber or metal framing. A grid or lattice
support system is produced to accommodate
loose fit ceiling tiles of plasterboard, particle
board or composites.
Suspended and False Ceilings
 QUESTIONS

• What is accommodation for building services?

• What are the importance for service ducts?

• Discuss the raised access floor ducts and the

suspended and false ceiling ducts?