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MECHANICAL/EQUIPMENT ROOMS
The appearance of each human is unique, yet each houses common elements.
These elements have been ingeniously located within us to insure they are efficient and protected, while allowing each of us to have a
distinctive facade.
As does our body,
a building requires temperature control, energy and plumbing to function. A building's appearance does not have to be jeopardized due to the inclusion
of mechanical/electrical/plumbing systems if the architect incorporates the required spaces during schematic design and approaches the task with a
creative attitude. Functional necessities and aesthetics must be considered with equal importance in order to create a professional design.
SPACES FOR PLUMBING SYSTEMS
An important fact to be aware of is that plumbing equipment can not always share the same mechanical rooms provided
for HVAC equipment (i.e., air handling units, chillers). Therefore, it is very important to coordinate with the plumbing engineer to insure that a floor
plan allocates the additional real estate required. Do not assume that a single mechanical room on a floor will suffice.
Basic Systems
Most commercial facilities will require spaces for the following:
Domestic Water Service Entrance
Fire Protection Water Service Entrance
Natural Gas Service Entrance
Domestic Water Heating Equipment
DOMESTIC and fire protection water supplies for a building require an accessible space located at the ground floor
having at least one exterior wall. (An exception to this would be when a building has a sub-grade level). NFPA and most plumbing codes do not allow
main water services to extend more than five feet from the exterior wall below a building slab on grade. Access is required to shut-off valves and drains.
The fire protection water riser will need sufficient room allowing local fire officials to inspect and test the system.
NATURAL gas piping is not allowed beneath a slab on grade unless it is within a trench having a removable cover. The service
should enter above grade through an exterior wall, and preferably into the mechanical room housing gas fired space heating/domestic water boilers. When gas
piping has to be concealed upon entering a building, such as within a chase, special provisions must be provided to allow venting of gas in the event a
leak occurs.
WATER heating equipment for domestic purposes are most commonly gas/oil fired or electrically powered. Gas/oil fired
heaters require a source of outside air to promote combustion and a safe location to exhaust fumes to the exterior via a flue vent. These requirements
are best met when the equipment is located within a room having an exterior wall and a roof. Placing gas/oil fired heaters beneath occupied upper
floors should be avoided. There is more flexibility in locating electrically powered heaters since they do not have the above mentioned requirements.
However, the utlity cost of electricity is usually greater than that of gas/oil.
All water heaters should be located with safety, service access, and energy efficiency in mind.
Additional Systems
Supplementary equipment may be included within plumbing systems requiring space provisions:
Domestic Water Pumps
Fire Protection Water Pumps
Water Treating Equipment
Medical Gas Equipment
DOMESTIC water pumping systems are required in buildings when the municipal water system can not provide sufficient
pressure required to operate fixtures and equipment. Most buildings over three stories in height will require a booster pumping system. Normally, the
most efficient and economical location for a domestic water pump room will be at an area within the ground floor having at least one exterior wall. Some
installations may require a water storage tank to provide an emergency supply of water and/or to physically separate the pumping system from the
municipal system. Climate conditions, size of tank, availability of site space and avalibility of interior space will determine whether to place the storage
inside or outside the building. Locating a domestic pumping system within a basement should be avoided in areas subject to flooding.
FIRE water pumping systems are required in buildings when the municipal water system can not provide sufficient
pressure required to operate sprinkler and/or standpipe systems. Most buildings that require a NFPA 14 compliant standpipe system will require a
booster pumping system. The most common fire pump systems are powered by an electric motor or a diesel engine. An electrice fire pump system will
require an alternate source of power (such as an emergency generator set) if the local authority determines that the normal source of power is subject
to failure. A diesel fire pump system has its own fuel supply and battery components which prevent the need for an alternate source of power.
Normally, the most efficient and economical location for an electric powered fire water pump room will be at an area within the ground floor having at
least one exterior wall. A diesel pump system should be placed within a single story area of the building or in a building separate from the main facility
due to the exhaust and requirements of the engine. The diesel engine will also require a source of outside air for combustion and its fuel supply
tank must be accessible by a truck for replenishing fuel. Some installations may require a water storage tank to provide a code required supply of water
and/or to physically separate the pumping system from the municipal system. Climate conditions, size of tank, availability of site space and avalibility
of interior space will determine whether to place the storage inside or outside the building. Locating a fire pumping system within a basement should be
avoided in areas subject to flooding.
WATER treating equipment will be needed where the municipal supply can not meet water quality standards required by
equipment. A few examples where treated water is required are dialysis stations, medical sterilization, laboratories and expensive water heating
equipment. The most common systems specified to treat water are water softeners, reverse osmosis systems and deionization systems. All water treatment
systems should be located as close as possible to the equipment it is serving and should be provided with sufficient access for service. The size of
these systems vary depending on demand. Therefore, close coordination is required with the persons specifying the equipment in order to provide
proper space.
MEDICAL gas systems are unique with respect to space requirements due to the fact that they can not share rooms with
non-medical equipment. Medical air compressors must be in a dedicated mechanical room and cylinder manifolds for oxygen, nitrous oxide, nitrogen,
carbon dioxide, etc. must be within a secured room used only for the storage of medical gas cylinders. Cylinder rooms should be located in an area
that can be easily accessed for periodic delivery and replacement of cylinders. The room will require one-hour separation from other areas and must
be exhausted to the outside. Space requirements for these systems vary, demanding close coordination with the persons specifying the equipment.
SUMMARY
View the buildings you design as a complete entity. Aquire an understanding of the plumbing
elements they require and incorporate this knowledge into your projects.
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