Identification of Essential Services in a University Building Report

This report provides a detailed analysis of essential services within a selected university building. It identifies and examines critical systems such as fire services (including smoke detection, fire suppression, and emergency exits), plumbing (water supply and drainage), HVAC (heating, ventilation, ...Read More

A REPORT ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES OF A
UNIVERSITY BUILDING AS PER THE LOCAL BUILDING STANDARDS
Prepared By
Student XYZ
Lecturer/Facilitator/Supervisor
University Name:
Department:
Unit Name:
Submission Date

TABLE OF CONTENTS
List of Figures ……………………………………………………………………….. 3
Executive summary …………………………………………………………………. 4
Introduction …………………………………………………………………………. 5
Building services ……………………………………………………………………. 5
Fire services ……………………………………………………………………… 15
Plumbing water and drainage services ………………………………………….... 15
HVAC system …………………………………………………………………….. 21
Electrical Power and Lighting ……………………………………………………. 23
Vertical transport …………………………………………………………………. 25
IT data security ……………………………………………………………………..27
Building management system ………………………………………………………… 27
Assessment of building services ……………………………………………………... 28
Recommendation ……………………………………………………………………… 28
Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………...28
Reference……………………………………………………………………………….. 29

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Lighting and Smoke sensor
Figure 2: Fire hose reel
Figure 3: Emergency door switches
Figure 4: Fire alarm indicators
Figure 5: Fire alarm component
Figure 6: Fire indicator panel
Figure 7: Fire fighting components
Figure 8: Emergency fire exits
Figure 9: Evacuation diagram
Figure 10: Fire hose reel
Figure 11: Water supply
Figure 12: Heating hot water
Figure 13: Heating hot water system
Figure 14: Rain water drainage
Figure 15: Water drainage component
Figure 16: Waste water drainage
Figure 17: Forced air furnace
Figure 18: HVAC system components
Figure 19: Part of lighting system
Figure 20: The lighting system
Figure 21: Vertical lift
Figure 22: Exit route indication

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The report hereinafter dwells on the identification of the essential services in the selected
University building. It provides the situational conditions of these services along with their
functionalities. Notably, the essential services such as fire service, water supply and drainage,
HVAC system, electrical power and lighting, vertical transport, IT data security and building
management system all have been identified in this report. Later, a brief assessment is done to
ascertain their construction worthiness by applying the local building construction codes and
standards. Admittedly, therefore, concrete action plans to improve condition of the building are
also recommended. Actually, this report aims at uncovering the condition of the essential
services in the selected building.

1. INTRODUCTION
In the building and construction industry, design engineers often take time to come up with
designs that meet user and occupant requirements. Essentially, the building services must be
integrated in the design in order to facilitate the occupants’ wellbeing and comfort without
sacrificing the overall objective and purpose of the building. In this regard, services that are
normally considered would include: Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning (HVAC); Fire
services; Electrical Power and Lighting; Vertical transport system; plumbing water drainage
services; IT data security; and Building Management system (BMS). Notably, however, there are
building regulations and standards to regulate the design and construction of these services vis-à-
vis the overall building design. In this report, therefore, focus shall be on contextualizing these
essential services within the selected university building. Besides, a site investigation was carried
out and the results are also presented and analyzed within the framework of the various
Australian Building Construction standards and codes. Lastly, we seek to identify the gaps in the
design of these essential services and thereafter recommend better alternatives for
implementation through renovations and upgrade.
2. BUILDING SERVICES
This section provides a comprehensive look at the various essential services that are integrated in
the said university building. The type, functionality and how they work are clearly determined
from the site investigation that was done in and around the building.
2.1 Fire Services
Fire prevention and fighting systems are essential in any building (KEMI, 2006). In this case, a
number of components were identified within the building and they include:
(i) Smoke sensor
Typically, this device is strategically located in all areas of the building such that it
can detect any trace of smoke that is likely to come off. It instantly sends signals to
the alarm system should smoke be detected and the siren goes on to alert the
occupants of the impending danger so that escape and evacuation procedures can be
triggered off.

Figure 1: Lighting and Smoke sensor
(ii) Hose reel
This is meant to allow passage of water for putting out fires of class A. The reel is pulled off
and directed at the base of the fire during emergency situation. There is need to ensure all
round supply of water. This can be facilitated by recycling the waste water in the building.

Figure 2: Fire hose reel
(iii) The door switches
The push-buttons as shown in figure 3 are designed to allow a near instant response to the
emergency doors such that they open almost instantly and allow escape within seconds. The
BMS controls the switching of the doors.

Figure 3: Emergency door switches
(iv) The fire alarm indicators
These are meant to visually alert the occupants once the siren goes on. Sometimes due to
noise from other quarters, the alarm sound may not be audible hence the twinkling red light
provides a complementary option for fire outbreak awareness.

Figure 4: Fire alarm indicators

Figure 5: Fire alarm component
(v) Fire indicator panel
This is meant to control the fire prevention units that are constitutive of the fire services
system.

Figure 6: Fire Indicator Panel
(vi) Fire extinguishers and other components
There are a number of fire extinguishers available in the market today. The ones illustrated in
figure 7 are mainly CO2 and water type, although other types can also come in handy. The
CO2 type is mostly preferred to others due to its versatility in fire fighting and the fact that it
poses minimal health risks to the occupants and users. The CO2 fire extinguishers are
normally used to put out fires of class B unlike the water extinguishers which are used in
class A fires. In class C fires where electrical equipment are involved, a special powdered
chemical is used. Lastly, in the case of class D fires where chemical explosions are involved,
a foam substance is used for that purpose. The latter class of fire is the most expensive to
contain and would most likely occur in chemical laboratory environments.

Figure 7: Fire fighting components

Figure 8: Emergency fire exit

Figure 9: Evacuation diagram

Figure 10: Fire hose reel
2.2 Plumbing Water and Drainage Services
In this case, the focus was on how rain water, local council water, storm and waste water
are managed in the building. As for rainwater, luckily, the channels are well constructed
so that the water is directed to a central place where it is treated and used for domestic
purpose. However, what is baffling is that there is no clear system in place to manage the
storm and waste water. It is imperative, as a way to ensure building is water sufficient, to
recycle the storm and waste waters. This can be done by redoing the entire building
design to include these essential treatment plants. Otherwise the following were identified
as the major components of the water and drainage system in and around the building:

Figure 11: Water point use

Figure 12: Heating hot water
The heating hot water can be prepared in a gas-powered boiler within the building in most cases.
However, due to increased concerns on the rapidly changing global climatic conditions, there are
legal requirements for all building types to adopt a more sustainable approach in their energy
use. Nowadays, the amount and quality of energy being produced is a matter of great concern as
pacified by the Paris climate pact which stipulates a substantive reduction in carbon footprints.
Luckily, home owners are now shifting to alternative renewable sources such as solar and wind
to power their buildings.

Figure 13: Heating water system

Figure 14: Rainwater drainage

Figure 15: Water drainage component

Figure 16: Part of the waste water drainage system
2.3 HVAC system
The indoor air conditioning and freshening is normally done using the HVAC system which
comprises a complete set of components to clean, remove dust particles, heat or cool before
distribution to various places within the house. In the given building and referring to figure, it
can be seen that the system type is forced-air as a series of ducts can clearly be seen running
throughout the building in a bid to distribute the conditioned air (which is normally either
heated or cooled). In forced-air system, heating or cooling is centralized such that gas is
burnt in a furnace connected to the heat exchanger. The products of combustion (including
heat) flow over the heat exchanger to warm it up while the exhaust gases of combustion are
allowed to vent out. Now, the air inside the heat exchanger bundles receives the heat and
warms itself. Afterwards, distribution of warm air is done via a fanning mechanism to push
the air to various units within the room. However, the same system can be converted into a
cooling unit by isolating the furnace and allowing refrigerating conditions to be part of the
system. The latter case is normally done during summer season.

Figure 17 : The Forced-air Furnace (Image courtesy of Feiza (No year)

Figure 18: HVAC system components
2.4 Electrical Power and Lighting
This is the most essential service in the building from which virtually all the services use.
Therefore, the electrical power is used in lighting, driving the lifts, among other uses.
Notably, safeguards in matters safety must be included in the design, installation and
operation of the electrical power and lighting equipments. Campbell (2016) asserts that
over 50% of home fires are caused by electrical faults. This is a worrying cause that can
be minimized by instituting daily routine checks to all electric components and
equipments to ascertain their conditional status. For instance, sparks from lose wires can
lead to catastrophic losses hence every tiny bit must be checked and corrected
beforehand. Besides, the cables must be placed in proper condition at all times;
encouragingly in this building, as shown in figure 19, cable trays are put into proper use.

Figure 19: Part of the lighting system

Figure 20: The lighting system
2.5 Vertical transport
The vertical transport comprising of lifts is often used to aid in vertical maneuvers of the
occupants. The lifts are actuated by electrical power via a set of drive motors and allow users
to move to other upper floors without struggling with the stairs. Normally, it is required that
in every floor room, there must be at least two means of exit. In this case, since the lifts can
access all the floors, it makes it easier for quicker evacuation in the case of emergency.
However, the lifts must be in good operating condition at all times hence daily and weekly
checking routines need to be adopted. The local regulations in installation, operation and
maintenance of lifts need to form part of the daily and weekly standard operating procedures
that must be crafted and implemented by a thoroughly experienced and certified technician.

Figure 21: The vertical lift

Figure 22: Exit route indication
2.6 IT Data Security
This is stored in a centralized point within the room called the server room. The data security
room is supposed to be burglar-proof to prevent manipulation from unauthorized parties.
Access to the room must be restrained. Typically, the kind of data to be stored in the database
would include: 3-D animated view of the entire building, CCTV informational clips, copy of
system configuration, parts and equipments, codes to manually regulate the operation of the
essential services such as HVAC, Maintenance schedules and reports among others.
2.7 Building Management System
The BMS is a system that regulates the entire components of the essential services. There
is a centralized point from which all information and signals flow and are processed
before corrective action is relayed.

3. ASSESSMENT OF BUILDING ELEMENTS AND SERVICES
The Building code of Australia provides various requirements upon which the building
elements and services are to be established. For instance, in the BCA code section C, it is
required a building fire resistance capability should be such that it can maintain structural
stability in the event of fire. Therefore, the materials selection must support the fire
resilience of the buildings. In some cases, concrete structures are preferred to wood for
the obvious reason of maintaining its structural stability. However, some areas within the
building with minimum risks of fire spread can have wood claddings especially in storage
of some equipment. In fact, referring to the drawings attached, it can be seen that
concrete structures dominate the structural make-up of the building. Besides, there is also
a provision in C 2.7 which states that firewalls must be integrated in the design; this
would help minimize the risk of fire spread to other units within the building. In fact, the
fire wall must be constructed such that no sarking-type cross through it as stipulated in
the BCA code (NCC, 2016).
4. RECOMMENDATION
The following are therefore points that need to be addressed:
The storm and rain water management needs to be properly done so that the building
becomes more water efficient and self-sustaining. The waste water, as mentioned earlier, can
be treated and reused in the maintenance of the vegetation cover around hence providing a
socio-ecological balance throughout the year and seasons.
Furthermore, the building energy use must be relooked. Although this was not highlighted
during site investigation but it actually plays a key role in ensuring best performance of
building. In the United Kingdom, for instance, the BREEAM code has been used to
champion for improved energy efficiency in buildings. In fact, the gas-powered furnaces are
progressively being replaced by efficient boilers that are being powered by renewable energy
technologies like solar and wind. In this regard, it is recommended that these be considered at
least in the near future. .
5. CONCLUSION
In conclusion, therefore, this report has provided the essential services that are present in the said
building. Notably, all of these services should be integrated in a manner that they work
interdependently with almost zero negative effects. The building in question can further be
transformed into a more sustainable building in the university. For instance, in the management
of water within the building, a more sustainable system can be established such that no amount
of water goes to waste. Specifically, a recovery of at least 70% of the water use should
progressively be achieved. This can be done by imposition of policies that incline towards
sustainability. Additionally, the energy use, as mentioned earlier, will have to be checked. A

system to check all of these can be established as well. Data on a daily basis must be used to
derive the exact situation of water and energy use. Perhaps, more investment in the renewable
energy technologies can be a boost to the university staff and management as more austerity
measures are needed. Admittedly, therefore, the building needs to be renovated so as to
transform it into a more sustainable structure where occupants’ and users’ wellbeing and comfort
can tremendously be improved.
REFERENCE
CAERT. (no year).Classes of Fires and Types of Extinguishers. Available at:
http://tuscolaagriculture.weebly.com/uploads/8/3/8/9/8389114/fire_extinguishers.pdf
Campbell, R. (2016). Home Fires Involving Heating Equipment. Available at:
www.nfpa.org/~/media/files/news-and-research/fire-statistics/...causes/osheating.pdf
Chapter 7: Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning (HVAC). Available from:
https://www.uky.edu/bae/sites/www.uky.edu.bae/files/Chapter%207%20Heating%20Ventilation
%20Air%20Conditioning.pdf
Feiza, T. (no year). Chapter 3 – Utility Systems – Heating and Air Conditioning. Available from:
http://www.atdhomeinspection.com/chapter3.pdf
KEMI. (2006).Fire and fire protection in homes and public buildings. Swedish Chemical
Inspectorate. Available at: https://www.kemi.se/global/rapporter/2006/rapport-1-06.pdf
NCC. (2016). Building Code of Australia: Building class 2 to 9. Available at:
http://mgoboard.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/NCC2016-BCA-V1.pdf