. Introduction
This is a report describing and giving comments on the Plumbing, Drainage and Fire Services Systems inside my domestic building.
.1 Plumbing System
B
ecause of the water supply pressure is impossible to allow direct delivery to the upper floors of the high-rise [38-story] domestic building I am living, indirect water supply system is required. And, the using water plumbing system consist of two sub-system : Fresh water system and Flushing water system.
.2 Drainage System
D
rainage system can be classified to two main areas - drainage above- and below-ground. And, the above-ground system which connected to the bellow-ground drainage system will be focused on this report. By careful designing the drainage system installed in buildings, we can considerably minimize the possibility of occurring undesirable conditions such as leakage of unhealthy gases.
.3 Fire Services System
T
here are many types of fire protection system, including passive and active systems, common in domestic building. By incorporating both passive and active elements into the building design, we can minimize the losses of life, money, and destruction of property which caused by fire. Therefore, having a comprehensive deign and equip of fire services systems into a building is no doubt important.
2. Plumbing System
2.1 System installed in my home/ domestic building
2.1.1 Cold Water Supply System
Indirect water supply system is the type of water distribution system using in my domestic building. The roof water tank is installed to provide an adequate storage in the event of failure of government main. The indirect water supply system requires more pipework than the direct water supply system and therefore more expensive to install. The water supply pressure, however, is uniform and distribute to all floors.
Actually, there are three types of indirect water supply system :
* Sump and Pump System
* Pneumatic System
* Variable Speed Pumping System
And, Sump and pump System is installed in my domestic building. Generally, the major components of this system include roof tank, sump tank, pipework and a set of water pumps, gate valves and water meters.
The system store sufficient water contain for one hour usage, the sump tank stores a third content and the roof tank stores two-thirds content.
2.1.2 Hot Water Supply System
Local system is ...
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Actually, there are three types of indirect water supply system :
* Sump and Pump System
* Pneumatic System
* Variable Speed Pumping System
And, Sump and pump System is installed in my domestic building. Generally, the major components of this system include roof tank, sump tank, pipework and a set of water pumps, gate valves and water meters.
The system store sufficient water contain for one hour usage, the sump tank stores a third content and the roof tank stores two-thirds content.
2.1.2 Hot Water Supply System
Local system is the type of hot water supply system in my home and free outlet type hot water heater is used. The hot water heater is located over baths, sinks and basins, and taped on cold-water inlet side. The temperature controller is used to control the switching on or off of the heating element and flame.
2.2 Comments for improvements
As we can see, the pipework connecting to the water meter has been corroded and it is because there is a leakage problem occurred. Clearly, it not only wastes the treasure fresh water supplied but also pollutes the quality of the drinking water. In fact, regularly plumbing system checking is required to ensure well performance pipework system is always working. No matter the existing problem is the lack of regularly system checking or the pipework suddenly crack, the required solution to tackle this problem is that repairing the plumbing system immediately!
3. Drainage System
3.1 System installed in my home/ domestic building
3.1.1 Soil and Waste System
After a comprehensive inspection, Modified 1-Pipe System is the type of soil and waste drainage system used in my building. All sanitary fixtures (soil and waste pipes) are combined into one common stack, one vent pipe runs through the full height of the building and only connect to one water closet are the features of the modified 1-pipe system. Traps and Vents are the major components of the soil and waste system.
The above two figures show a part of the drainage pipework system outside the building. The Red lines indicate the stack connecting to the soil water from water closet and waste water from shower and water outlet of bathroom. Green lines indicate the vent pipe connecting to the water closet and the Blue line indicates the pipework of flushing water supply.
3.1.2 Storm Water Drainage System
The storm water drainage systems are not mixed with the soil and waste drainage system. Separate public sewer and drainage systems are provided by public works department in Hong Kong. It is because the storm water is relatively cleaner than soil and waste water and therefore storm water does not required sewage treatment. If the storm water is mixed with soil and waste water, the capacity of public sewage treatment plant will overload. Accordingly, separate systems are required.
3.2 Comments for improvements
Obviously, the drainage system must be required a regularly checking to make certain the whole system is under a satisfactory condition, otherwise an unimaginable disaster will follow. Luckily, under the checking by a professional team, a quality drainage system is obtained. And therefore, it is hard to find any potential area needed to improve.
4. Fire Services System
4.1 Systems installed in my home/ domestic building
The followings are the fire service systems installed in my domestic building at different locations :
* Fire Hydrant / Hose Reel System
* Fire Alarm System
* Exit Signs
* Firemen's Lifts
4.1.1 Fire Hydrant / Hose Reel System
It is a system includes hydrant, hose reel, water supply tank, fire pump, rising main and fire service inlet.
Hose reels are firefighting equipment for use by building occupants. They are located at a conspicuous location in each floor, main corridors. It is designed for occupants use to secure a safe path of escape and it will be dangerous for them to attack an electrical fire.
Hydrants of about 75mm diameter require skillful and physical strength to operate and are intended for firemen use. It should be located in a relatively safe and close to the fire exits on each floor. Moreover, hydrants are also be required at ground floor outside the building to provide a remote source of water, safe from fire danger.
4.1.2 Fire Alarm System
The Fire Alarm System is designed for giving out warning to the occupants in case of fire. It basically consist of signal initiation, signal processing and alarm indications.
A break glass unit is for manual operation of fire alarm bell by breaking the glass cover. It is installed with alarm bell and hose reel at the same location which require by Fire Services Department.
4.1.3 Exit Signs
Exit Signs are designed to minimize the risk of injury to occupants during an emergency because of an inability to find an exit caused by situating in a very dim environment due to the interruption of normal electrical supply. It must be visible at all times and are located adjacent to the route of escape.
4.1.4 Firemen's Lifts
Firemen's Lifts enable firemen quickly reach, with their equipments, and fight with fires and provides other emergencies for the upper occupants.
4.2 Comments for improvements
Fire services system, in fact, should be the most important system which have to be ensured the operation must be working all the time because it directly regards to human life. However, I discover one exit sign has been not to work properly. It is very dangerous when occupants escaping in a totally dark environment and looking for the emergency exits. Obviously, frequent checking are required to make sure all of the fire service systems are working well and immediately reports and repairs are need when systems are out of order.
5. References
* R P Parlour, Building Services Engineering for Architects, Integral Publishing 1994
* Fred Hall & Roger Greeno, Building Services Handbook, 3rd edi., Elsevier 2005
* Christopher A. Howard, An introduction to building Services, Macmillan Education LTD 1988
* http://en.wikipedia.org/
