BUILDING SERVICE SYSTEMS • Harnessing Solar, Wind and Biomass energy

BUILDING - A structure that has a roof and walls and stands permanently in one • Facade Engineering
place. The primary function of buildings is to provide shelter to its occupants. IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING SERVICES
BUILDING SERVICE - High rise buildings rely on vertical transportation and highspeed pressure for
- Building should be designed in such a way to provide an environment where water supply.
people can feel comfortable, work, live and achieve. So, everything inside a - Although those services are indispensable for modern buildings, they also have
building which makes it safe and comfortable, comes under “Building Services”. an impact. In fact, the implementation of those services demands a
- Building services contribute largely to the sustainability and functioning of the considerable amount of floor and ceiling so proper planning is necessary for
building. their allocation.
- Building services systems are essential provisions for a building, accounting for OBJECTIVES OF BUILDING SERVICES ENGINEERING DESIGN
20% to 40% of the total construction cost. • Hygiene (prevent disease & ensure health)
- Building service is one of the important parts for a building because it will make • Safety (protect against risks)
a building to function well. Building service is responsible for the design, • Comfort (physio- & psycho- well-beings)
installation, and operation and monitoring of the mechanical, electrical and • Convenience (efficiency & productivity)
public health systems required for the safe, comfortable and environmentally WORK ACTIVITIES
friendly operation of modern buildings. - Building services engineers design building services systems. They also
Building services include: supervise their installation and operation. Certain types of buildings need
• HVAC complex building services.
• Water supply - Some building services engineers are mainly office-based as they specialize
• Drainage and Plumbing in design work. They work closely with the architect, the customer and other
• Lighting-Day and Artificial members of the design team to prepare a design for a building project. This
• Communications, Telephones and IT Networks includes all drawings and detailed specifications for use by the contractor. They
• Energy Supply- Gas, Electricity and renewable resources often use computer-aided design (CAD) packages for this work.
• Automation - Designs must meet environmental needs, use energy efficiently and meet the
• Kitchen budget set by the customer. Engineers need overall knowledge of the full range
• Acoustics of building services, although they usually specialize in either mechanical
• Fire Detection and Protection services or lighting/electrical services.
• Security and Alarm Systems - Building services engineers maintain close links with other professionals such
• Escalators and Lifts as the construction manager and the surveyor to decide how many staff are
• Ventilation and Refrigeration needed and to work out costs. They supervise the installation of the building
 services and inspect the quality of the work, dealing with any problems that CLASSIFICATION OF BUILDING SERVICES
arise. Building should be design with features to provide better lighting, comfortable
- BSE career opportunities also arise in the fields of Construction Project space, temperature and air quality, convenient power and communication
Management and Facilities Management particularly in the area of modern capability, high quality sanitation and reliable systems for the protection of life and
industrial facilities involving clean room manufacturing, such as in property. Building services are mainly divided into mechanical, electrical and
pharmaceutical and electronics production. building operation systems. They are all very important and should be put into
Typical works of building services consulting firms include: consideration during planning, designing and construction of a building.
• Feasibility, inspection, technical reports, estimating MECHANICAL SYSTEMS INCLUDE:
• Design, specification, drawings, tender procurement • HVAC Systems
• Contract management, site supervision, cost control • Site drainage
Activities vary according to the specialist area of work and employer. However, • Plumbing.
tasks typically involve: • Fire protection
• Negotiating and developing project contracts and agreeing these with • Gas supply
clients, if working in consultancy, and putting out tenders; ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS INCLUDE:
• Commissioning, organizing and assessing the work of contractors; • Electrical power
• Working with detailed diagrams, plans and drawings; • Lighting
• Using specialist computer-aided design (CAD) software and resources to • Auxiliary
design the systems required for the project; BUILDING OPERATION SYSTEMS INCLUDE
• Designing site-specific equipment as required; • Transportation
• Monitoring building systems and processes; • Processing
• Making decisions about expired systems equipment and the appropriate • Automation
location of new equipment; WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM
• Facilities management; The water distributed for fire protection, domestic, commercial, agricultural, and
• Attending a range of project group and technical meetings; industrial uses is treated. The general guidelines for treated water are: The water
• Ensuring that the design and maintenance of building systems meets must be clean, colorless, odorless, free from suspension and harmful bacteria.
• Legislative and health and safety requirements; Water supply system is set up in urban and suburban areas, as well as most of the
• Advising clients and architects on energy use and conservation in a range of rural areas. The purpose of distribution system is to deliver water to consumer with
buildings and sites, aiming to minimize the environmental impact and appropriate quality, quantity and pressure.
reduce the carbon footprint;
• Working on a variety of projects within a short period of time.
THERE ARE 3 TYPES OF WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM: Lighting - is the major user of electrical energy in most buildings. In commercial
• Gravity system buildings, motors are the second heaviest use of electrical energy, for heating,
• Direct pumped system ventilating, and air- conditioning (HVAC) systems, plumbing pumps, elevators and
• Gravity and pumped combination most industrial processes. As a designer, we have responsibility for seeing that
PIPING SIZING AND PLUMBING power is available where needed for our client’s equipment, and for making sure
The selection of pipes and sizing varies according to different function and that the lighting and appliances are appropriate and energy efficient.
purpose. Oversizing of pipes - will result in high cost and it may be unnecessary. It GENERAL DISTRIBUTION:
will also cause delay in receiving water at outlets. However, undersizing of pipes - 1. Electric Generating Station
may result in slow or even no water during peak demand period. It will also create • Captive Power Plants
noise as the water pressure is too high to flow through such a narrow pipe. • Utility Power Plants
• DG Sets
Type of Pipe Water System Usage Piping Description
2. Receiving Station
• Transformers
Copper Pipe Type L Distribution Pipe, Rising Rigid, Blue in Color, will not
Main, Service Pipe corrode and long lasting • MV/HV Circuit Breakers

Rigid, lightweight, lifespan of 30 3. Distribution System

PVC Overflow Pipe • SCADA System
years
Rigid, will corrode over time, 4. Residential Customer
Rising Main, Supply
Galvanized Steel long lasting due to galvanized • Electronic Energy Maters
Main
process • Remote Metering
PIPE USAGE DIAMETERS (INCHES) • Power Cables, FRLS Cables
Rising Main 6 EMERGENCY POWER SYSTEM
Overflow Pipe 5 - An emergency power system is an independent source of electrical power that
Distribution Pipe 4 supports important electrical systems on loss of normal power supply. A
Service Pipe 3 and below standby power system may include a standby generator, batteries and other
apparatus. Emergency power systems are installed to protect life and property
ELECTRICAL SUPPLY SYSTEM from the effect of loss of primary electric power supply.
Electricity - is the most dominant kind of energy in a modern building. Electricity
supplies electrical outlets and lighting fixtures. Ventilation, heating, and cooling Mains power can be lost due to downed lines, malfunctions at a sub- station,

equipment depend upon electrical energy. Electricity provides energy for elevators inclement condition, planned blackouts or in extreme cases a grid-wide failure. In

and materials transporters, and energy for signal and communication equipment. modern buildings, most emergency power systems have been and are still based
on generators. Normally, these generators are Diesel engine driven, although COMBINED SEWER - is designed to collect rainwater runoff, domestic sewage and
smaller buildings may use a gas engine driven generator and larger ones a gas industrial wastewater in the same pipe then transport to a sewage treatment plant
turbine. to be treated and discharged to a water body.
SEPARATED SEWER - is designed to collect storm water and wastewater with
SWITCH BOARD - There are multiple elements that make up a switchboard.
separate pipe. The system will be split into sanitary sewer system and storm
Included in the list of elements are a frame, buses, overcurrent protective devices,
sewer system and they will collect and direct waste water and storm water
service metering, and outer covers.
respectively. This provides more capacity and prevent flooding. Besides, it also
DISTRIBUTION BOARD – A control board or enclosure that houses the fuses, circuit allows stormwater to be used as water resources and prevent untreated amount
breakers, and ground leakage protection units used to distribute electrical power of overflow directly into our waterbody.
to numerous individual circuits or consumer points. The board typically has a single ROOF DRAIN - It is used to direct rainwater from the roof to the ground to prevent
incoming power source and includes a main circuit and a residual current or earth rainwater from pooling at the roof. This help to prevent extra water load adding to
leakage protection device. the building. Besides, roof drain allows drainage for rainwater without clogging.
SEWERAGE, SANITARY AND DRAINAGE MANHOLE - It provides access to a sewer for testing, visual inspection of sewers,
DRAINAGE SYSTEM - is a system of piping to run off excess water whereas sewage maintenance of flow or water quality-monitoring instruments and removing
system is to dispose the waste water and solids in a proper way. obstruction in the sewer line. Furthermore, it also allows joining of sewer or
WASTE WATER - also called sewage, it can be defined as any liquid waste that alignment of sewer or both and help in ventilation of sewage. It is provided when
contains animal, vegetable or chemical waste in solution. A fixture that connected there is change in grades or sizes of sewer. Normally, at the junction of two or more
to the sewer pipe is sanitary appliance which allows a person to put in sewage or sewer there will be manhole provided.
liquids into the sewerage system and the medium used to flush the sewage into MECHANICAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
the sewer pipe is water. - Allow people who were previously unable to climb stairs, for example the
SEWERAGE - is considered as the collection, treatment and disposal of liquid waste. disabled and the elderly to move throughout a building. It also enables
Physical structures required for that collection, treatment and disposal are all structures to be built higher as building materials can be transported easily to
included in sewerage work. upper floors when constructing the building.
SEWAGE - is the liquid waste carried by a sewer and may include domestic and
Vertical transportation - consists of elevators and escalators while horizontal
industrial discharges as well as storm sewage, infiltration and inflow. Sewage which
transportation consists of travelators.
forms in the sanitary conveniences of dwellings, commercial or industrial facilities
and institutions is sanitary sewage.
STORM SEWAGE - is flow derived from rainfall events and carried into sewers
intended for its transporting.
 ELEVATORS ELEVATOR COMPONENTS
- Are the most commonly used mode of vertical transportation in modern Elevator has two main elements which is the elevator car and the elevator shaft.
buildings, namely commercial, office, and residential structures having more 1. ELEVATOR CAR
than three stories. The primary components of an elevator car are:
- Also used to move goods and in some cases motor vehicles. They provide ease 1. Car sling - A car sling is the framework which encloses the cab. The ropes,
of movement between floors as well as function as a transportation device for guides, and platform are attached to the sling. The width and height of the
various goods. sling depends on the platform width and cab height respectively.
TYPE OF ELEVATOR 2. The elevator cabin - The elevator cabinet is the interior of the car where
1. Traction Elevator passengers stand while being transported. The cabinets are completely
- Traction elevators are lifted by ropes, which pass over a wheel attached to an enclosed with openings being only the car door, an emergency trap door as
electric motor above the elevator shaft. They are used for mid and high-rise well as ventilation apertures. An elevator cabinet has many choices for the
applications and have much higher travel speeds than hydraulic elevators. A finished interior materials such as stainless steel, cold rolled steel, bronze
counter weight makes the elevators more efficient by offsetting the weight of and plastic laminate.
the car and occupants so that the motor doesn't have to move as much weight. 3. Car Operating - Car Operating Panel is a device mounted inside a car, on
- Passenger Elevator, Fireman’s Elevator, Freight Elevator which the items necessary for car operation such as Car Buttons, Door
- Traction elevator includes geared traction, gearless traction, and machine- Open/Close Buttons, Alarm Button, and Inter Communication System are
room less. located. Some panels are provided with switches and buttons that are used
2. Hydraulic Elevator by elevator operators and others, inside the Service Cabinet.
- Hydraulic elevators are supported by a piston at the bottom of the elevator that Controls that do not concern the normal passenger are grouped in a locked
pushes the elevator up as an electric motor forces oil or another hydraulic fluid compartment in the car panel. These include a hand operation switch; light,
into the piston. The elevator descends as a valve releases the fluid from the fan, and power switches; and any special control such as security and
piston. They are used for low-rise applications of 2-8 stories and travel at a emergency device.
maximum speed of 200 feet per minute. The machine room for hydraulic 4. Panel Car Door - All the passenger and fireman’s elevators use center
elevators is located at the lowest level adjacent to the elevator shaft. opening elevator car door. As for the freight elevator/ cargo lift, the door
- For hydraulic elevator, it includes conventional hydraulic elevator, holeless used is two vertical sliding doors. The two vertical sliding doors can either be
hydraulic elevator and roped hydraulic elevator. operated automatically or manually. Most elevators only have a front
opening door.
5. Car Operator - A door operator is a motor-driven device mounted on the
elevator car that opens and closes the car doors.
 6. Guide Shoes - Elevator car doors contain guide shoes which are devices by rods that run through the weights themselves. This design prevents the
used to guide both car and counterweight along the path of the guide rails. plates from becoming loose and falling out.
In addition, they also make sure that the lateral motion of the car and 3. Suspension Cables - Elevator cables are used to suspend and bear the
counterweight is kept at a bare minimum while it is travelling along the weight of the elevator car and counterweight. They are generally made from
guide rails. thick steel wire ropes. They are used on traction elevators, and are usually
Roller Guides - are guide shoes which use rollers that rotate on guide rails attached to the crosshead and extending up into the motor while looping
(A set of three wheels that roll against the guide rails) rather than sliding on over the sheave on the motor and then down to the counter weights.
the rails. 4. Landing doors - Landing door is installed to connect every floor of the
7. Entrance-protection system - All automatic elevators, regardless of building to the lift shaft. Landing door works dependently in conjunction with
whether or not equipped with detection beams, are required by ANSI to have the elevator car door. It is opened or closed by electric motors. During
safety edge device on the car doors that causes the car and hoist way doors, emergency, the landing door can be opened or closed manually like the
which operate in synchrony, to reopen when the safety edge meets any elevator car door. The difference between the car doors and the landing
obstruction. Car doors are arranged to ‘’nudge’ when almost closed or after doors is that the elevator car door travels through the hoist way with the car
a specific time period. but the landing doors are fixed doors in each landing floor.
2. ELEVATOR SHAFT - An elevator shaft is the space enclosed by fireproof walls 5. Buffers in the pit.
and elevator doors which houses the elevator as well as the pit. The shaft
ESCALATOR SYSTEM
terminates at the underside of the overhead machinery space floor or at the
An escalator is a moving staircase generated by an electric motor. Escalator is able
underside of the roof.
to carry people between floors of a building. The device consists of a motor-driven
The main components of an elevator shaft are:
chain of individual, linked steps that move up or down on tracks, allowing the step
1. Guide rails for both the car and counterweight - The guide rails of an
treads to remain horizontal.
elevator are made of steel with a ‘T’ shape. Guide rails are used to guide and
ARRANGEMENT OF ESCALATOR
direct the course of travel of an elevator car and elevator counterweights
Escalators are constructed in two ways which are parallel arrangement and
and is usually mounted on the sides of the shaft.
crisscross arrangement. The difference between the two arrangement is that in the
Traction elevators use two sets of guide rails. The rails to guide the elevator
crisscross arrangement, the upper and lower terminal entrances and the exits to
car are called main rails while the rails to guide the counterweight are called
the up and down escalators are separated by the horizontal length of an escalator,
counterweight rails.
whereas in either of the parallel arrangements the two escalators face in the same
2. Counterweight - The counterweights consist of individual flat plates of steel.
direction.
The number of plates in the stack depends on the amount of weight
required. The counterweights are secured within the counterweight frame
ESCALATOR COMPONENTS FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
• Handrail Drive Assembly Buildings commonly contain three basic sources of ignition: chemical, electrical,
• Handrail and mechanical. In chemical combustion, most commonly known as spontaneous
• Steps combustion, some chemicals reach ignition at ordinary temperatures within
• Electric Motor buildings. Electrical heat energy is most commonly supplied by resistance heating,
• Top Sprocket Assembly a familiar process in many appliances and in space-heating equipment.
• Rail Guide Mechanical heat energy is produced by friction, by overheating of machinery, and
• Step Rollers occasionally by the heat of compression.
• Step Chains ALARM INITIATION DEVICES
• Bottom Sprocket Assembly SMOKE DETECTOR - Two commonly used smoke detectors are optical smoke
Escalator Truss - An escalator truss is the structural frame of an escalator detector and ionization smoke detector. Smoke detectors can detect the presence
consisting of the lower section, incline section, and upper section. It is made of a of smoke in an area when it reached the ceiling where the detector is normally
hollow metal structure that bridges the lower and upper landings composed of two located. Smoke detector is an automatic actuating device which is a first device to
side sections joined together with cross braces across the bottom and just below detect fire and notify the occupants in the building. It normally connected to the
the top. alarm system and power by central alarm system or a fire suppression system.
Escalator Steps - Escalator steps are solid aluminum or steel linked by a Gas Detector - Gas detector measures and indicates the concentration of certain
continuous metal chain that forms a closed loop. The edge of each step is gases in an air via different technologies. Generally used to prevent toxic exposure
connected to two wheels attached to the tracks, to enable the control of the and fire, gas detectors are often battery-operated devices used for safety
orientation of the steps by the tracks. purposes. Gas detector is manufactured as portable or stationary unit and work by
AIR-CONDITIONING AND MECHANICAL VENTILATION signifying high levels of gases through a series of audible or visible indicators, such
Air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation systems executes cooling for as alarms, lights or a combination of signals.
commercial, residential or industry buildings. Air-conditioning systems are Break-glass - Break-glass is a manual actuating device to activate fire alarm.
responsible for providing fresh outdoor air to regulate the indoor contaminants. Electrically operated alarm may be operated from break glass call point and, once
Every air-conditioning system is designed to carry out either for comfort or operated; the alarm will continue to sound automatically. The usual maximum
industrial purposes. travel distance to operate the alarm is 30m and the call points should be fitted at
THERE ARE FOUR TYPES OF AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS: a height of about 1.4m above the floor, either on landings or corridors. The call point
1. The Window Air Conditioning System contains a depressed plunger pressing against a glass front.
2. Split Air Conditioning System
3. Centralized Air Conditioning System
4. Packaged Air Conditioning System
 NOTIFICATION APPLIANCES indicator lights. Once the fire detectors are activated, the fire indicator light will turn
Alarm Bell - Alarm bell may be used for fire alarm signals where their sound is RED from GREEN to indicate a fire or overheat condition. Fire indicator lights often
distinctive and will not confuse with similar audible signals used for other purpose. use for electrical room, gen-set room, AHU room and etc.
Bells may be provided with 4-inch through 12-inch gongs (in 2-inch increments). FIRE CONTROL/ EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS
The 6- and 10-inch sizes are the most commonly used. Usually, bells with 4- inch Fire Hydrant System - The fire hydrant system is the backbone of the firefighting
gongs are reserved for use as trouble signals. Generally, the larger the diameter of systems in a building or premises. The system is a water distribution system
the gongs, the lower the frequency and the louder the audible signal. consisting of water tank, suction piping, fire pumps and a distributed piping system.
The distributed piping system establishes connectivity throughout the building
Speaker - Speakers are frequently used as fire alarm signaling appliances. Since
through fire hydrants, hoses and nozzles. The purpose of the fire hydrant system is
they reproduce electronic signals, they can be made to sound like any mechanical
to provide a readily available source of water to any point throughout the building.
signaling device and have the capability of reproducing unique sounds that are
This helps in controlling fire during an emergency.
not practical on mechanical appliances. In addition, they may be used to give live
Sprinkler System - Typically, a Fire Sprinkler Systems are made up from a series of
or recorded voice instructions.
components including stop valve, alarm valve, fire sprinkler, alarm test valve and
Siren - Sirens usually are limited to outdoor applications but are sometimes used
motorized alarm bell. In addition to this there are additional components that
in extremely noisy indoor areas. Sirens are motor-driven or electronic appliances
support this arrangement including a valve monitor, pressure switch and flow
and may be either alternating or direct current operated. They are not very
switch.
practical for use as coded audible signals.
Hose Reel System - Hose reel system is intended for the occupant to use during
LIGHTING AND SIGNAGE
the early stages of fire and comprises hose reel pumps, fire water tank, hose reels,
Emergency Exit Sign - Emergency exit sign is part of a complete life safety and fire
pipe work and valves. The hose reel system generally serves as an initial firefighting
protection system and is required in all public buildings. Exit signs are positioned at
aid. The system is manually operated and activated by opening a valve enabling
doorways and stairwells and are always illuminated. Emergency lights are usually
the water to flow into the hose that is typically 30 meters away.
installed inside, however, exterior pathways, parades and some public venues also
Wet Riser System - The wet riser system is a typical installation in a high-rise
have emergency lighting. The right light depends on a variety of factors.
building. It is used to supply water from the wet riser water tank, through wet riser
Emergency Exit Light - Emergency lighting is lighting for an emergency situation
pipes, distributed to each floor, and ending at the canvas hoses and hose reels.
when the main power supply is cut and any normal illumination fails. The loss of
Carbon Dioxide Fire Suppression System - Carbon Dioxide (CO²) is a clean and
mains electricity could be the result of a fire or a power cut and the normal lighting
efficient fire extinguisher agent. It is colorless, non-conductive and non- corrosive
supplies fail. This may lead to sudden darkness and a possible danger to the
inert gas which evaporates without leaving any residue after discharge. CO² works
occupants, either through physical danger or panic.
by smothering the flames and reducing the flames and reducing the oxygen
Fire Indicator Light - Fire detectors like smoke or gas detector are used to trigger
content in the vapor phase of fuel or both in the air to the point where the
the fire alarm. They are connected in parallel with each other but in series with the
combustion stops.
Fire Extinguisher - Fire extinguishers are extremely valuable for extinguishing fires
at the early stages, but they cannot be used successfully to deal with large fires.
Portable fire extinguishers are the first-aid firefighting appliances which can be
carried by hand and from which the extinguishing agent can be expelled, usually
under pressure.
Fireman Switch -The fireman switch is a switch-disconnect or isolator special for
applications. These switches are on the outside wall of commercial buildings. They
are designed to by easy to spot and are used by firemen to turn off neon-lighting
or other hazardous electrical equipment in case of fire.
Fire Staircase - A fire escape is an emergency exit, usually installed at the outside
of a building or sometimes inside but separate from the main areas of the building.
It provides a method of escape in the event of a fire or other emergency that makes
the stairwells inside a building inaccessible.