BUILDING SERVICES

SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION

IN COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
• HOW ARE MAIN SERVICES CONNECTED TO A BUILDING
HOW ARE SERVICES ACCOMMODATED IN A BUILDING

• THE STRUCTURE AND INTEGRATION OF SERVICES

THE SERVICES DESIGN FOR PRIMARY ROUTES

• SPECIALIST CONSIDERATIONS/FIRE/MAINTENANCE
 BUILDING SERVICES SUPPLIES

PRIMARY SERVICE SUPPLIES –

GAS
WATER
ELECTRICITY
TYPICAL INCOMING MAINS COLD WATER ENTRY

What is the need

for this valve point
here

What else is
missing from this
entry valve set

Consider the 150mm

entry duct shown -
what is the maximum
diameter you could
get through here
 Lets review this installation of a combined water and fire hydrant – what
are the considerations for distribution

What would go into this

space?

Water meter
What type of
valve is this and Chlorination points
why is it needed
Preparation of the ‘bed’
Non return valve With a minimum depth of 750mm

To prevent back
contamination to
the main system

Connection left for

the supply authority
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A STOP AND GATE VALVE

Which is more reliable for tight shut off?


Other Primary service supplies
Fire Hydrant
INFORMATION ON HYDRANT
CHAMBERS ARE ADVISED BY THE
SUPPLY AUTHORITY AND MUST
BE ADHERED TO FOR FIRE
SERVICE USE
 MATERIAL TYPES FOR EXTERNAL SERVICES

POTABLE WATER
MDPE –
Medium density polyethylene, is a tough and flexible thermoplastic used in the
installation of water pipe, due to its high chemical resistance, and high prevention of
algae, bacteria and fungi build-up
Protecta-Line
combines all of the advantages of conventional high quality MDPE pipe with an
aluminium barrier layer to prevent permeation of ground contaminants and an
additional PE outer protection layer

MDPE plastic pipe is designed for below ground use.

However, it may be used above ground in situations where
it is not exposed to light and is protected against:
Undue Warming, Freezing, Potential contamination from
the environment
HEATING
STEEL TUBE – pre insulated for district heating or
LTHW between building over a site such as Durotan

PLASTIC TUBE - pre insulated for district heating or

LTHW between building over a site such as Rehau or
Upinor
What are the advantages
for each method? ELECTRICAL
INCOMING SERVICE

Service ducts

Fixed into concrete trench

Lay in prepared ground trench

 MAIN INCOMING
ELECTRICAL SERVICE

11 kV cables have a red

PVC over-sheath

415 V cables have a

black PVC over-sheath.

What do these represent

GAS SERVICE
ENTRY Emergency Stop valve

Sleeved entry ventilated

to atmosphere
This is a typical
natural gas entry
detail GRP Sheathed metal main

The arrows 400mm Minimum

represent important cover adjacent
parameters for building
installation

Can you identify

them and why they
are important
 The picture can't be display ed.

INCOMING GAS
 OTHER BUILDING
SERVICES SUPPLIES

What is the black

pipe?

District Heating F&R

mains
 Service Ducts Installed Prior To Concrete Pour For An External Plantroom

Electrical cable and

communications ducts

District heating
main has a long
radius bend and
trench depths need
to accommodate this
 OTHER EXTERNAL SERVICES

Ground source heating mains

District
heating mains
 OTHER EXTERNAL SERVICES

Rainwater harvesting
Attenuation is the process
of water retention on site
and slowly releasing it in a
controlled discharge to a
surface water or combined
drain or watercourse.

What is this called?

OTHER EXTERNAL SERVICES

Fuels – LPG and Oil

There are specialist

considerations for service entry
points into the main building
DRAINAGE – FOUL AND RAINWATER
DUCTING USED FOR SERVICES
Green
Ducting – Purple Ducting – Orange Ducting –
for CCTV, for motorway for street lighting
cable TV and communications and traffic signals
fibre optics

Black Ducting –
Blue Ducting - Yellow
for low-voltage
for water pipes Perforated
electric cable
Ducting –
for gas pipe
Typical External Service Trench arrangement provided by Consultant or Contractor
NOTE THE DEPTHS SHOWN ARE MINIMUM COVER OVER THE TOP
OF THE PIPE
SOME CONSULTANTS USE 900MM COVER
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN SELECTING A ROUTE:
ADVERSE GROUND CONDITIONS E.G. ROCK, GROUNDWATER
CONTAMINATION
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON THE WORKS
PROXIMITY OF OTHER UTILITIES
EASE OF ACCESS FOR SAFE CONSTRUCTION AND FUTURE
OPERATION/MAINTENANCE OF THE ASSET BEING SUPPLIED
EXISTING AND FUTURE LAND USE
LAND OWNERSHIP
REQUIREMENT FOR AIR VALVES, SLUICE/ISOLATION VALVES ETC
• THE PREFERRED ROUTE FOR ALL EXTERNAL MAINS AND SERVICES IS A:
• VERGE
• FOOTWAY
• FOOTPATH
• HIGHWAY
• CYCLEWAY
 OTHER
EXTERNAL
SERVICES

FLUE
LIGHTNING PROTECTION
Ground termination is with a series of
earth rods driven to depths of up to 5
m

an inspection pit is built over the rod

location

This requires coordination with

adjacent services such as ground
water drains pathways etc
END EXTERNAL SERVICES