CVS 467 Building physics and services

WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

Introduction
An adequate supply of water is a basic requirement for most buildings for reasons of personal hygiene
(sanitary), cooking, watering, cleaning and manufacturing for industrial processes.

Storage and Distribution of Water

 Gravitational Distribution
• Water from upland gathering grounds is impounded in a reservoir.
• From this point, the water is filtered and chlorinated before serving an inhabited area at lower level.
• There are no pumping costs.
 Pumped Distribution
• The water from the river is pumped into a settlement tank.
• From this point, the water is filtered and chlorinated.
•It is more expensive than gravitational distribution due to pumping.
 Ring Main Distribution
• The water mains supplying the town or village may be in the form of a grid.
• This grid provides a ring circuit and each section can be isolated.

Important related definitions

 Service pipe: this pipe connects the water to the water tank and piping to the kitchen
 Communication pipe: this pipe connects the main pipe with the water meter
 Distribution pipe: this pipe supplies water from the water tank to the piping equipments in the
house like sinks, wash basins and showers
 Scour pipe: this pipe is installed at the base of the water tank. Its function is to let water flow
out of the water tank during cleaning or maintenance works
 Overflow pipe: this pipe is fixed slightly above the full water mark of the water tank.
Its diameter size is bigger than that of the service pipe. Its function is to let overflow when the
ball valve is malfunctioned or damaged.

Types of pipes
CVS 467 Building physics and services

TYPE OF WATER SUPPLY

1. Cold-water supply system
2. Hot-water supply system

Cold-water supply system

• For domestic dwelling, water supplied to kitchen sink that is used for cooking shall be direct supply
from mains to ensure cleanliness and high level of freshness. For high-rise buildings or building
constructed on high ground where the pressure is low, it is usually necessary to provide pumping
equipment with extra water cistern. There are two distinct systems for cold-water supply:-
 Direct system
 Indirect system

Direct system
• In it all sanitary fittings are supplied with cold water direct from the main, and a cold-water feed
cistern is required to ‘feed’ the hot water storage cylinder.
• The capacity in liters of the feed cistern is required to be at least equal to the capacity in liters of the
hot-water cylinder.
• Good pressure on the water main is required
• Pipe work is reduced to a minimum
• Drinking water is available at every draw-off point

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

1. Clean water for drink 1. Pressurized water

2. Minimum pipe work 2. stop of water supply due to
3. Low maintenance maintenance work.
CVS 467 Building physics and services

Indirect system
 In this system all the sanitary fittings, except drinking water draw-offs at sinks and fountains, are
supplied indirectly from a cold-water storage cistern.
 Since the cistern supplies cold water to baths, showers, etc and also feeds the hot-water
cylinder, its capacity in liters will be approximately double that required for the direct system.
 Requires more pipe work than the direct system
 More expensive to install
 Provides a large reserve of water
CVS 467 Building physics and services

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

1. No risk of stop supply of water 1. Only water supply from sink can be
(storage) - reserve used for drinking-direct
2. More pipe work
3. More expensive to install

Hot-water supply system

Usually supply through copper or stainless conduct due to higher temperature. Central boiler is used
when large quantity of hot water or area of heating is needed for longer period. Boiler can be of gas or
CVS 467 Building physics and services

coal fired to supply heated water to hot water cylinder and heating ventilation. These are two distinct
systems for hot-water supply:-
• Direct system
• Indirect system

Direct system
 If central heating is not to be combined with the hot-water supply, or if the water is soft, the direct
system may be used providing the boiler is rustproof.
 The system is cheaper to install than the indirect system and the water in the cylinder will be heated
quicker, due to direct circulation between the boiler and cylinder.
 The hot water from the boiler mixes directly with the water in the cylinder
 If used in a soft water area, the boiler must be rust proofed
 Not suited to hard waters, typical of those extracted from boreholes into chalk or limestone strata.
When heated the calcium precipitates to line the boiler and primary pipe work, eventually ‘furring up’
the system to render it ineffective and dangerous.
 The storage cylinder and associated pipe work should be well insulated to reduce energy losses.

Indirect system
 An indirect cylinder is used which has an inner heat exchanger.
 The water from the boiler circulates through this heat exchanger and boiler is not drawn off through
the hot-water taps, lime is precipitated only after the initial heating of the water, and afterwards (unless
the system is drained) there is no further occurrence and therefore no scaling.
 This same water also circulates through the steel or cast iron radiators, and after heating the water is
freed from carbon dioxide which then reduces corrosion of the radiators.
 Cost more, less maintenance
 Boiling temperature may be up to 70°C
CVS 467 Building physics and services

SANITARY SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION
• Wide range of sanitary system is being in use to get an immaculate and precision surrounding in
bathrooms.
• They range from disposal systems, waste & drainage systems, waste water treatment systems, central
sewage systems, and incineration systems etc.
• Plumbing and drainage are the systems of getting water into the building, then removing it and other
fluid wastes after it has been used.
• Plumbing incorporates services such as sanitary plumbing, cold and hot water services, flusherette
systems, gas supplies, fire prevention services, roof work, down pipes and the installation of sanitary
fixtures, taps and outlets.
• A sanitary plumbing system refers to the pipes, fittings, and appliances used to collect and convey
sewerage to a sanitary drainage system, the indoor water and fluid removal services.
• Sanitary drainage systems such as pipe and fitting and appliance collect and convey sewerage from the
sanitary plumbing systems directly connected through the drain to the sewer. They usually fitted below
ground level.

SANITARY APLLIANCES
• Sanitary appliances are required in building to fulfill variety of specialized functions.
• Supplied with water either directly from the main or from hot or cold storage vessels.
• Taps are designed to prevent the risk of back siphonage of the foul water into the supply pipe.
• Designed with minimum fouling area.
• Durable, easily cleaned and non-absorbent surfaces.
CVS 467 Building physics and services

Basin
 There are many designs, ranging from surgeon’s basin to small hand
rinse basins
 Can be obtained to fit into a corner of the room and supported on
brackets, a pedestal or by a ‘built in’ corbel.
 Standard basin for domestic consists of a bowl, soap, trap weir
overflow and holes for tap and outlet.
 Made from color ceramic ware or glazed fireclay
CVS 467 Building physics and services

• Sink
 Designed for culinary and other domestic uses
 A sink is a bowl-shaped fixture that is used for washing hands or small
objects.
 Many modern sinks are made of stainless steel
 Sinks generally have faucets (taps) that supply hot and cold water
and may include a spray feature to be used for faster rinsing.
 Sinks generally include a drain to remove used water; this drain may
itself include a strainer and/or shut-off device and an overflow-prevention
device.
 Sinks may also have an integrated soap dispenser

FIRE PROTECTION AND SYSTEMS

Fire protection system

Definition - Fire protection system is a system that includes devices, wiring, piping,
equipment and controls to detect a fire or smoke, to actuate a signal, and to suppress the
fire or smoke.
Main objectives of fire protection system
• To save lives
• To protect property
• To minimize interruptions of services due to the outbreak of fire
Factors which influence the cost of fire protection system
• The fire resistivity of the building
• The type of occupancy
• The number of floors below the ground level
• The height of the building
• Adequacy of escape routes or way outs
• The degree of protection desired

Classes of fire
Class A - fires of ordinary combustible materials, such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber
and many plastics
Method of extinguishing - water, water based chemicals, dry chemicals, carbon dioxide
Class B - fires due to inflammable liquids, oils, greases, tars, oil-base paints, lacquers,
and flammable gases
Method of extinguishing - form, dry chemicals
CVS 467 Building physics and services

Class C - fires that involve energized electrical equipments

Method of extinguishing - using electrically non-conductive chemicals, multipurpose
chemical compounds, carbon dioxide agents
Class D - fires due to combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium,
sodium, lithium, and potassium
Method of extinguishing - using heat-absorbing extinguishing medium: purple k,
monnex, super k

Passive fire-fighting system

It means the design of the building, its structure, fabric, components and their installations in
order to resist fire.
 These materials are used within the construction of the building in the aim to :

 Contain the growth and spread of fire within the building with use of fire rated walls and
doors
 Reduce the amount of damages of the building inflicted by the fire
 Delaying the collapse of the building structure
 Reduce the possible life and health risks of the building occupants and the fire fighters.
 Therefore it provides the building the strength to withstand fire for a certain period of
time, ensuring the safe evacuation of its occupants and the safety of the building
surrounding it.

1. Structural fire protection

Structural fire protection guards essential structural components (such as structural steel and
joint systems) from the effects of fire. This is accomplished with a fireproofing material (spray-
on thin-film intumescents, endothermic materials like gypsum-based plasters and cementitious
products, mineral wool wraps and insulation, and fireproofing cladding) or building the
structure out of concrete products.

2. Compartmentation
Fire barriers, firewalls, fire partitions, and smoke barriers are all included in compartmentation.

Fire barriers include fire-rated walls, floors, and ceilings (often made of concrete, combination
wood, gypsum, or masonry). These barriers are used to limit the spread of fire in a building and
CVS 467 Building physics and services

allow safe egress. Walls extend from a fire-rated floor to the fire-rated ceiling above, and
continue into concealed spaces for full protection.

3. Opening protection
Fire doors and windows are installed in an opening of a fire barrier to maintain its fire
resistance. McHugh explains, “Doors, builders’ hardware, and frames work together to form an
effective smoke and fire barrier.”

Fire-rated glazing/glass and framing are tested as a complete assembly that maintains the
protection of the fire barrier. Additionally, fire and smoke dampers (often used in duct systems)
are considered “opening protection” and complete the fire barrier where air ducts penetrate
fire-rated and/or smoke-resistant assemblies.

4. Firestopping materials
These materials are used to limit fire spread through penetrations in a fire barrier

 Other areas of PFP that warrant mentioning are cable coating (the application of fire
retardants to wire and cable), joint systems (which include changes in direction between
fire-separating elements and the spaces surrounded by those elements), and perimeter
fire barriers (which deal with the perimeter of the floor and the exterior curtainwall

Active fire-fighting system

This refers to fixed or portable equipment installed or incorporated into the building for the
purpose of resisting fire during the out break of fire. So the installation of Active fire-fighting
equipment in the building has two main functions:-
• detection of fire
• suppression of fire
CVS 467 Building physics and services

Fire detectors

Basic principles of fire detectors

• Reaction to heat
• Radiation to flames
• Products of combustion

Main function of fire detectors

• To give warning that a fire has taken place in unattended places
• To activate automatic fire-fighting equipments

In general we say common fire detectors are:

• Heat detectors
• Smoke detectors

Fire suppression

Extinguishment Mechanisms
 Cooling: Heat Reduction. Flaming combustion requires a high temperature in order for the
chemical reactions to proceed. By reducing the amount of heat in the combustion zone, a fire
can be controlled or extinguished.
 Smothering: Oxygen Deprivation. The fire can be extinguished by reducing the amount of
oxygen that is available to the fire.
 Fuel Removal. Removing the fuel available can also extinguish a fire. This can be accomplished,
for example, by diluting a flammable pool of liquid to the point where it is no longer flammable.

Fire Suppression Agents

 Aqueous Agents
Aqueous agents include water and water-based agents that include additives to enhance the
effectiveness of water.
 Water
 Fire fighting foam

 Nonaqueous Agents.
Nonaqueous agents are agents in which water is not a component. These are useful in situations where
water would not be appropriate or effective, such as when water would react with the item being
extinguished (e.g. metal shavings) or would damage items being protected (e.g. electrical systems).

Sprinkler system
Water sprinklers provide an automatic spray dedicated to the area of fire outbreak. Sprinkler
heads have temperature sensitive elements that respond immediately to heat, discharging the
contents of the water main to which they are attached. In addition to a rapid response which
CVS 467 Building physics and services

reduces and isolates fire damage, sprinklers use less water to control a fire than the firefighting
service, therefore preventing further damage from excess water.
Based on the buildings functions and occupancy, there exist various types of
sprinkler systems.
• Wet sprinkler
• Dry sprinkler
• Alternate wet and dry sprinkler
• Tail-end sprinkler
• Pre-action sprinkler
• Recycling sprinkler

Usage
• Sprinklers required in all new high rise and under ground buildings generally 75 feet
(23 m) above or below fire department access
• Sprinklers may also be required in hazardous storage spaces by building codes or may be
required by insurance companies where liability due to potential property losses or business
interruptions can be reduced by adequate automatic fire protection.
• Building codes for places of assembly, generally over 100 persons and places with overnight
sleeping accommodations such as hotels, nursing homes, dormitories, and hospitals usually
require sprinklers to fight, and subsequently suppress high challenge type fires

Sprinkler head can be attached to rising main supply

• Types of sprinkler head

Fusible link sprinkler head
Glass bulb sprinkler head
Chemical sprinkler head
Open sprinkler head

Glass bulb sprinkler head

• Valve firmly seated by a sealed glass tube containing colored volatile fluid that expands with
heat to burst tube and release water from pipe work.
• Fluid operating temperature based on color codes

Fusible link sprinkler head

• The lever is retained in position by solder that melts with heat change
• Once the solder melts the lever will spring apart to release water