MAKERERE UNIVERSITY

BUILDING SERVICES
Nicholas Abala
nicholas.abala@mak.ac.ug
Course Rationale
• Capital and Installation Costs of building services are
costly.
- Modern buildings --- 50%
- Highly Serviced buildings ---75%
• The building’s volume is 15% building services
• Functions of Building Services (movement,
communications, comfort, etc.)
• The services should be provide comfort, efficiency,
safety, functionality

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Course Aims
• Provide Knowledge on Building Services
• Define and identify the building services
• Understand the role of engineering services
• Understand their installation and functionality
• Understand the Correlation and integration among the
building services
• Understand the Correlation and integration between
them and the architectural and constructional
structural systems.
• Spaces needed by these systems which should be
identified within (and as a part of) the building and it's
architectural and structural constitution

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Learning Outcomes

• Define and identify engineering services systems in

buildings.
• Understand the importance of engineering services
systems in buildings.
• Understand the most suitable and efficient types of
building services systems according to building types,
functions, level of complication, height, size, …etc.
• Understand the installation and functionality of
engineering services systems in buildings.

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Course Content
This course is primarily aimed at provision of building services knowledge on
• cold and hot water supplies,
• heating,
• ventilation,
• air conditioning,
• drainage,
• sanitation, refuse and sewage disposal,
• gas,
• electricity,
• oil installation,
• fire services,
• transportation,
• accommodation for services,
• energy recovery and alternative energy.

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Assessments
• The examination shall take up 60% of the total
score. The assessment shall cover a general
understanding of the concepts as well as the
application of the concepts among others.

• Assignments and Tests shall take up 40% of the

total score. Questions will be drawn up from
appropriate topics covered. General understanding,
interpretation ability, and application of Advanced
Environmental Management and Control in
Construction Project Management shall carry more
weight as opposed to memorizing/cramwork.

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Indicative resources
a) Books
1. Hall F., and Greeno R., (2017). Building Services Handbook,
Incorporation current building and Construction Regulations, 9th ed.,
Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, London, UK.
2. Portman J., (2016). Building Services Engineering: After Design, During
Construction, 1st ed., John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Oxford, UK.
3. Chadderton, V. D., (2016). Building Services Engineering: After Design,
During Construction, 4th ed., Spon Press, New York, USA.
4. Hall F., and Greeno R., (2009). Building Services Handbook,
Incorporation current building and Construction Regulations, 5th ed.,
Elsevier limited, Oxford, UK.
5. Quatman II W., Dhar R.., (2003). The Architect's Guide to Design-Build
Services, ed., John Wiley and Sons, New Jersey, USA.
6. Bownass, D., (2002). Build Service Design Methodology: A Practical
guide, Spon Press, New York, USA

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 Introduction to
Building Services

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The Industry
• What industry? The Building services industry is based on engineering
principles that are applied to the construction of buildings and the built
environment.
• It deals with building services which are responsible for the artificial
environment in which we live and work, and associated with that the
environmental condition of our planet.
• The industry also evolves. It has its origins as a science and technology
well document e.g. use of Archimedes `spiral for movement of water‘
and the concept of under floor heating in Roman palaces
• The industry is responsive. Now the industry has to respond to demands
of population growth and the expectation of comfortable shelter,
convenience and a healthy home and workplace environment. We need
sustainable building designs.
• It is also affected by Legislations, Regulations, Standards and Codes.
Formulated from consultation with industry professionals/organizations.
• The industry is generally divided between design and installation.
Design is undertaken by specialist consultancies and installation
undertaken by specialist contractors.
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 Building Services in the Construction Process
• As an industry it is vast in
terms of the diversity of
professions and trades that
it encompasses.

Source:
• Hall F., and Greeno R.,
(2009). Building Services
Handbook, Incorporation
current building and
Construction Regulations, 5th
ed., Elsevier limited, Oxford,
UK. (page 3)

• Building Services Handbook -

Fred Hall, Roger Greeno -
Google Books (page 3)
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Legislative and support documents
• In the context of UK, a number of laws, regulations, standards, codes,
and practice guidance documents exist to influence the building services
industry. For instance
Laws and Regulations
• The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act.
• The Building Act. Practice Guidance Documents
• British Standards (BS).
• The Water Industry Act. • European Standards (BS EN).
• The Consumer Protection Act. • International Standards (BS EN ISO).
• Building Research Establishment: Digests, Good
• The Housing Act.
Building Guides, Good Repair Guides, and
• The Clean Air Act. Information Papers.
• Loss Prevention Certification Board (Loss
• The Environment Act.
Prevention Standards).
• CIBSE Guides.
• British Board of Agreement - Certificates.
• The Institution of Electrical Engineer's
Regulations (BS 7671).
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We look at
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act
• In the UK, it is fundamental in application to all persons
engaged in the workplace and to any others that could be
affected by the work activity.

Ibid. page 5
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The Building Act
• The Act enables regulations for the design and
construction of buildings to be made. This includes
the provision of building services facilities and
equipment. E.g. Building Regulations to include
approval of building inspectors and inspection fees.
• The main aspect of the Building Regulations is
establishment of minimum performance standards
applicable to the construction and environmental
performance of buildings.
• These standards are supported by practical
guidance Approved Documents that are regarded
as an acceptable means for compliance.

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 Examples of
the Approved
documents

Ibid. page 10
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IN UGANDAN CONTEXTS
• What are some of our laws, regulations, standards, policy
documents, etc. that influence the building services industry
in Uganda. [very Important!] These days buildings are
collapsing, and have no sustainable designs in them.
1. Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2006
2. Public Health Act Cap 281 - The Public Health (Building) Rules.
3. National Physical Planning Standards and Guidelines
4. factories act Chapter_220
5. The_Workers_Compensation_Act_(Commencement)_Instrume
nt,_2002_SI_72
6. Town and County Planning Act Chapter 246
7. Physical Planning Act 2010
Etc…

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Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2006
• An Act to consolidate, harmonize and update the law
relating to occupational safety and health; to repeal the
Factories Act, Cap 220 and to provide for connected matters.
Some Examples of sections
• Sec23. Employers’ duty to persons other than employees
• Sec26. Duty to provide safe premises
• Sec45. Buildings at workplace to be of sound construction,
etc
• Sec48. Workplaces to have suitable lighting
• Sec49. Provision of adequate sanitary conveniences
• Sec51. Provision of adequate washing facilities
• Sec98. Duty of suppliers, manufacturers, etc
• Etc.
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THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACT.
The Public Health (Building) Rules
• These Rules may be cited as the Public
Health (Building) Rules.

Some Examples of Sections.

• 174. Handrails to stairs and balustrades.
• 175. Provision of windows.
• 179. Ventilation of rooms, etc.
• 180. Ventilation of public buildings
• 244. Provision of fire escapes, and fire extinguishers
• 248. Fire hydrants and sprinklers.
• Etc.
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National Physical Planning Standards
and Guidelines
• To achieve orderly, coordinated, efficient and
environmentally sound social and economic development,
and to secure the proper use of land.
Example of Standards.
Chapter 7 : Standards For Social Services, Utilities And
Government Facilities
7.1.7 Utilities
• Water
• Surface Water Drainage
• Sanitation
• Waste Disposal
• Power Supply
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Home Work
Research on the subject of OHS or
OSH:
• Its description/meaning; history.
• The different types of hazards.
• Risk assessment
• Control measures
• Issues around OHS.
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Some issues on
OSH

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