Lesson 4 of 525 min read

Utilities & Building Services

Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC, Fire Protection, and Vertical Transportation

In This Lesson

1. Plumbing Systems 2. Electrical Systems 3. HVAC Systems 4. Fire Protection 5. Elevators & Escalators 6. Lighting Design 7. Acoustics 8. Sustainable Systems

1. Plumbing Systems

Water Supply System

Distribution Methods

Direct system: City pressure supplies fixtures directly
Indirect system: Storage tank with gravity distribution
Pumped system: Elevated tank with pump (common in PH)
Pressure tank: Hydropneumatic system maintaining pressure

Pipe Sizing

Main supply: 20mm - 25mm (3/4" - 1") for residential
Branch lines: 15mm - 20mm (1/2" - 3/4")
Fixture unit method: Calculate based on fixture units (FU)
Water pressure: Min 15 psi at fixtures, 35-80 psi typical

Drainage System

Components

Trap: Water seal preventing sewer gas entry
Vent: Air supply for proper drainage flow
Cleanout: Access for clearing blockages
Floor drain: Collects surface water

Pipe Slopes

• 50mm (2") pipe: 1:50 slope (2%)
• 75mm (3") pipe: 1:75 slope
• 100mm (4") pipe: 1:100 slope (1%)

Fixture Units

Fixture	FU	Trap Size
Water Closet	4-6	75-100mm
Lavatory	1-2	32-40mm
Bathtub	2-3	40-50mm
Shower	2	50mm
Kitchen Sink	2	40-50mm

2. Electrical Systems

Power Distribution

Service entrance: Connection from utility to building
Main panel: Main breaker, bus bars, circuit breakers
Sub-panels: Distribution panels for different areas
Branch circuits: Individual circuits to outlets/equipment

Philippine Standards (PEC)

• Residential: 230V single-phase, 60Hz
• Commercial: 230V/400V three-phase, 60Hz

Circuit Requirements

Lighting circuit: 15-20A, max 12 outlets
Convenience outlet: 15-20A, max 180VA per outlet
Kitchen/laundry: Dedicated 20A circuits
Air conditioning: Dedicated circuit per unit
Grounding: Required for all circuits and equipment

Emergency Power

Generator: Standby power for essential loads
UPS: Uninterruptible power supply for critical equipment
ATS: Automatic transfer switch between sources
Emergency circuits: Exit signs, emergency lighting, fire pumps

3. HVAC Systems

Air Conditioning Types

Unitary Systems

Window type: Self-contained single unit
Split type: Indoor + outdoor unit
Multi-split: Multiple indoors, one outdoor
PTAC: Packaged terminal AC

Central Systems

Chilled water: Chiller + AHU + piping
VRF/VRV: Variable refrigerant flow
Packaged rooftop: All-in-one rooftop unit

Ventilation Requirements

Fresh air: 15-20 CFM per person minimum
Air changes per hour (ACH): 6-12 for toilets, 10-15 for kitchens
Exhaust systems: Negative pressure for odor control
Make-up air: Replace exhausted air to maintain pressure

Cooling Load Factors

Heat gain sources: Solar, transmission, internal (people, lights, equipment)
Rule of thumb: 500-600 BTU/hr per sqm (tropical climate)
1 TR (ton): = 12,000 BTU/hr = 3.517 kW
Comfort conditions: 24-26°C, 50-60% RH

4. Fire Protection

Fire Detection & Alarm

Detectors

Smoke detector: Ionization or photoelectric
Heat detector: Fixed temp or rate-of-rise
Flame detector: UV/IR sensors
Manual pull station: Human-activated alarm

Notification

Audible: Horns, bells, speakers
Visual: Strobe lights
Voice evacuation: PA announcements

Fire Suppression Systems

Sprinkler system: Automatic water discharge (wet pipe, dry pipe, pre-action)
Standpipe: Vertical pipes with hose connections at each floor
Fire pump: Boosts water pressure for suppression
Fire extinguishers: Class A (ordinary), B (flammable liquids), C (electrical)

Fire Code Requirements

Fire-rated construction: 1-hour, 2-hour, 3-hour ratings
Fire exit: Min 2 exits, max travel distance 45m (unsprinklered)
Exit width: 1.12m per 200 occupants
Exit signs: Illuminated, visible from all directions
Fire lanes: Minimum 6m wide, unobstructed access

5. Elevators & Escalators

Elevator Types

Traction Elevators

• Steel ropes and counterweight
• For mid-rise to high-rise
• Geared or gearless machine
• Machine room on top or MRL

Hydraulic Elevators

• Piston and cylinder system
• For low-rise (2-6 floors)
• Machine room at bottom
• Slower speed, lower cost

Elevator Sizing

Capacity: 8-21 passengers (630-1600 kg typical)
Cab size: 1.4m x 1.6m typical for passenger elevator
Door width: 0.80m - 1.10m (900mm for accessibility)
Speed: 1-2 m/s (low-rise), 3-6 m/s (high-rise)
Shaft size: Cab + clearances + counterweight space

Escalators

Width: 600mm (single), 800mm, 1000mm (double)
Angle: 30° typical (35° max)
Speed: 0.5 m/s typical
Rise: Maximum 6m between landings
Capacity: 4,500-9,000 persons per hour

6. Lighting Design

Illumination Levels

Space	Lux (lx)
Corridor/Stairway	100-150
Living Room	150-300
Kitchen	300-500
Office (general)	300-500
Classroom	300-500
Drafting/Fine work	500-1000

Light Sources

LED: Most efficient (80-150 lm/W), long life, low heat
Fluorescent: 60-100 lm/W, T5/T8 common for offices
Compact fluorescent (CFL): 50-70 lm/W, residential
Halogen: 15-20 lm/W, accent lighting
Metal halide: High-bay, sports facilities

Color Temperature

Warm white: 2700-3000K (residential, hospitality)
Neutral white: 3500-4000K (office, retail)
Cool white: 5000-6500K (industrial, task areas)

7. Acoustics

Sound Basics

Decibel (dB): Unit of sound intensity
Frequency (Hz): Pitch of sound (20 Hz - 20,000 Hz human range)
Background noise: 30-40 dB (quiet), 50-60 dB (moderate)
NC (Noise Criteria): NC-25 (recording studio) to NC-50 (workshop)

Acoustic Control Methods

Sound Absorption

• Soft, porous materials
• Acoustic panels, ceiling tiles
• Carpet, curtains, fabric
• Reduces reverberation

Sound Isolation

• Mass (heavy materials)
• Air gaps (double walls)
• Resilient connections
• Blocks sound transmission

STC Ratings

Sound Transmission Class - higher is better:

STC 25: Normal speech easily heard
STC 35: Loud speech audible, normal speech unintelligible
STC 45: Loud speech barely audible
STC 50+: Excellent privacy (recommended for offices)

8. Sustainable Systems

Water Conservation

Low-flow fixtures: Faucets, showerheads, toilets (6L/flush)
Rainwater harvesting: Collection for non-potable use
Greywater recycling: Reuse of sink/shower water
Drip irrigation: Efficient landscape watering

Energy Efficiency

Solar PV: Photovoltaic panels for electricity generation
Solar water heating: Collectors for hot water
LED lighting: 80% more efficient than incandescent
Efficient HVAC: High EER/COP equipment, VRF systems
Building envelope: Insulation, low-E glass, cool roofs

Green Building Ratings

LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (US)
BERDE: Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (PH)
EDGE: Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (IFC)
Green Mark: Singapore green building standard

Key Takeaways

✓Drainage slope: 50mm pipe = 1:50, 100mm pipe = 1:100
✓Philippine electrical: 230V single-phase, 230V/400V three-phase, 60Hz
✓1 ton refrigeration = 12,000 BTU/hr = 3.517 kW
✓Fire exit travel distance: max 45m (unsprinklered), 60m (sprinklered)
✓Office illumination: 300-500 lux, LED most efficient (80-150 lm/W)

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