building services report

Building Services Systems

for

Old Folks Home

Building Services

BLD 60903/ ARC 2423

Prepare by:

Amos Tan Chi Yi 0318330

Neoh Jia Wen 0318228

Nge Jia Chen 0317738

Nor Syarianna Khairul Azhar Neo 0318236

Tang Ju Yi 0317735

Wong Carol 0317742

Tutor: Mr. Siva

Building Service Systems Report | 2 | P a g e

1 Abstract

2 Introduction to the building

3 Fire Protection System:

3.1 Active Fire Protection System

3.1.1 Literature Review: Active Fire Protection System

3.1.2 Proposed Active Fire Protection System :

- A. Automatic Fire Detection and Alarm Systems

- B. Fire Suppression Systems

3.2 Passive Fire Protection System

3.2.1 Literature Review: Passive Fire Protection System

3.2.2 Proposed Passive Fire Protection System:

-A. Fire Escape

-B. Fire Compartmentation

4 Air Conditioning System :

4.1 Introduction to Air-Conditioning

4.2 Literature Review: Centralized Air-Conditioning

4.3 Air Conditioning By-Laws

4.4 Proposed Air Conditioning System:

-Zoned Packaged Air Cooled Centralized Ducted Air Conditioning

Table of content


5 Mechanical Ventilation System :

5.1 Introduction to Mechanical Ventilation

5.2 Literature Review: Supply Ventilation System

5.3 Mechanical Ventilation By-Laws

5.4 Proposed Mechanical Ventilation System:

-Supply Ventilation System

6 Mechanical Trasnportation System :

6.1 Introduction to Mechanical Transportation

6.2 Literature Review: Hydraulic Elevator System

6.3 Mechanical Tranposrtation By-Laws

6.4 Proposed Mechanical Ventilation System:

-Hole-Less Machine Less Hydraulic Elevator

7 Summary

8 References

9 Appendix


The following proposal documents our journey of getting know building services in real life.

We were assigned to perform an analysis and propose buildings services in an elderly center.

The system that has been analyzed include fire protection system, air conditioning system,

mechanical ventilation system and mechanical transportation system.Through the study , we

gained insight related to the function and operation of the building service components which

we integrate it into the elderly center.

The analysis is documented and translated via detailed analysis with explanation on how the

building services components function and why they are suiteable for the elder center. Each of

the system are compareds with UBBL Law requirement in order to obtain better undestanding

of the regulations applied to different services.

1 Abstract


Elderly centre of Taman Kanagapuram

Location: Taman Kanagapuram, Jalan Klang Lama, 12, Jalan 18/16, Seksyen 18, 58200

Selangor

Area: 906 sqm

An elderly centre for 40-50 occupants is located in aquiet and old residential area- Taman

Kanagapuram, Old Klang Road.The project aims to create a “ neighbourhood atmosphere”- a

place with a balance between a “community “life stimulating the exchange and the

relationship, but at the same time, preserving the necessary privacy of each occupant.

Load-bearing ceilings and walls are made of concrete while all other structural elements are

wood. The three-storey building consists of two wings arranged around a semi-public “village

2 Introduction to the Building



square”, designed to host various events. This is also the location of the open cafe, gaming

space as well as an open, tended atrium.

The front wing houses the service areas such as dental, saloon, cafe and reception. Emergency

room is located on the ground floor and nearby office ,easily accessed, making work process

highly efficient. The back wings designed to house quiet spaces such as caretaker

accomodation, computer lab and reading area. Special attention has been paid to ensure

sufficient natural light floods the entire building and in the same time occupant can enjoy the

view.

Ground floor plan


Second floor plan First floor plan


3.1 Active Fire Protection System

3.1.1 Literature Review : Active Fire Protection

Active fire protection systems are installed for the express purpose of positively changing the

course and resulting outcome of a fire in a building. Active fire protection systems can be

broadly classified into the following four different groups:

1. Automatic Fire Detection and Alarm Systems

Related System: -Ionization Smoke Detector

-Heat Detector

-Two-Stage Fire Alarm System

-Fire Alarm Bell

-Manual Call Point

Fires predictably produce products of combustion including smoke, high tempertaures,

and radiant energy that can be identified by sensors placed throughout the building.

Once smoke levels exceeding a certain threshold are measured inside a detector, a

signal can be sent to an alarm system that notifies occupants in the building and/or the

fire department. Although fire detection and alarm systems can reduce the time it takes

for people to leave a building or how long it takes the fire department to arrive, they

do not slow the growth of the fire or reduce the production of smoke, thus the fire

hazard is still present.

2. Automatic Fire Suppresion Systems

Automatic fire suppresion systems apply a fire-suppressing chemical such as water,

carbon dioxide, dry chemical, or foam to a fire without the need for human

intervention, resulting in a reduction in the hazard to occupants, structures, and

contents. Water flow in a pipe due to the opening of a sprinkler can be monitored and

used to signal an alarm of fire, thus automatic fire suppresion systems both warn of a

fire and control it, thereby reducing the hazard.

3 Fire Protection System



3. Manual Fire Suppression Systems

Related System:- Multipurpose Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher

-Dry Riser System

-Hose Reel System

-Fire Hydrant

In large or tall buildings, it is difficult and time consuming for the fire department to

pull hose lines up stairs or across floors. To assist building occupants and fire fighters

in quickly applying water to a fire, standpipes ( vertical or horizontal pipelines ) can

be connected to a water supply to provide water where hose lines off fire trucks cannot

easily reach. Because both the fire department must be present and valves opened,

standpipes do not automatically control a fire. Although fire extinguishers and fire

hoses are used against unwanted fires, they require a willing human operator to be

present, so are another example of manual suppresion.


3.1.2 Proposed Active Fire Protection System

Unlike passive fire protection, active fire protection systems interact with their surroundings

e.g. by operating fans for smoke extraction, operating a fire sprinkler to control or extinguish

a fire, or opening a vent to allow assisted natural ventilation. The first stage of active fire

protection is to detect the fire, by detecting heat, smoke or flames (an automatic fire alarm

system is commonly used to trigger most active systems), this then automatically operates the

active systems (extraction fans etc).

Active systems are particularly useful in larger buildings where it is difficult to ventilate

central areas through natural openings such as windows, smoke and heat extraction systems

are often used. Their purpose is improve the visibility in the building so that occupants can

make their exit and to prevent flashover. Using active fire protection systems has some

benefits such as permitting design freedoms and encourage innovative, inclusive and

sustainable architecture.

The following are the introduction and function of the proposed active fire protection system

to be implemented in the Old Folk’s Home:


A. AUTOMATIC FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEMS

i) FIRE DETECTORS

According to UBBL 1984,

225. Detecting and extinguishing fire.

1. Every building shall be provided with means of detecting and extinguishing fire and

with fire alarms together with illuminated exit signs in accordance with the

requirements as specified in the Tenth Schedule to these By-laws.

(1) Ionization Smoke Detectors

A smoke detector transmits a signal to the control unit when the concentration of

airborne combustion products reaches a predetermined level. Ionization smoke

detectors are sensitive to the presence of ions, which are electrically charged particles

produced by the chemical reactions that take place during combustion. Ionization

smoke alarms can quickly detect the small amounts of smoke produced by fast flaming

fires, such as cooking fires or fires fueled by paper or flammable liquids.


(2) Heat Detectors

A heat detector transmits a similar signal when the temperature reaches a

predetermined level or when there is an abnormal rate of temperature rise. Due to the

nature of kitchens they are quite regularly filled with smoke, so a kitchen is not

suitable to locate a smoke detector. Optical and ionization smoke detectors in such an

environment will cause false alarms but this can be avoided by using heat detectors.

These heat detectors will detect abnormally high temperatures or rapid rises in

temperature and alert the building occupants of potential fire in kitchen.


ii) FIRE ALARMS


237. Fire alarms.

1. Fire alarms shall be provided in accordance with the Tenth Schedule to these

By-laws.

2. All premises and building with ground floor area excluding car park and

storage area exceeding 9290 square metres or exceeding 30.5 metres in height

shall be provided with a two-stage alarm system with evacuation (continuous

signal ) to be given immediately in the affected section of the premises while

an alert ( intermittent signal ) be given in adjoining section.

3. Provision shall be made for the general evacuation of the premises by action of

a master control.

258. Command and control centre.

Every large premises or building exceeding 30.5 metres in height shall be

provided with a command and control centre located on the designated floor and

shall contain a panel to monitor the public address, fire brigade communication,

sprinkler, waterflow detectors, fire detection and alarm systems and with a direct

telephone connection to the appropriate fire station by-passing the switchboard.

(3) Two-stage fire alarm system

In the elderly centre, a distinct alert signal can first advises the staff of the fire

emergency. After the staff investigating the source of alarm, if a fire exists, an

alarm signal will be activate or the caretaker are allowed to have time to evacuate

the elderly. On the other hand, if it is determined that the alert is a false alarm,

staff can silence the coded alert signal and reset the system. It is used in the elderly

centre to prevent undue distress to the occupants. This is particularly important

because evacuation assistance may be required.


(4) Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP) – Conventional Panel

A Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP) is an electric panel that is the controlling

component of a fire alarm system. The panel receives information from

environmental sensors designed to detect changes associated with fire, monitors

their operational integrity and provides for automatic control of equipment, and

transmission of information necessary to prepare the facility for fire based on a

predetermined sequence. Conventional panels have been around ever since

electronics became small enough to make them viable. They are no longer used

frequently in large buildings, but are still used on smaller sites. It is suitable for the

elderly centre where it is a small building with only 500sq.m floor area.

Figure 8: Fire alarm control panel


(5) Fire Alarm Bell

Fire alarm bell uses audible stimuli to alert the occupants during a fire or other

emergency condition requiring action. The minimum sound level of a sounder

device should be 65dB(A) or 5dB(A) above a background noise (if lasting more

than 30 seconds) and the maximum sound level should not exceed 120dB(A).

The elderly centre is located in between residential area whereby the fire alarm

bell should be located carefully. The maximum sound pressure level allowable at

the minimum distance when combining ambient noise with that of the

notification appliance devices should not exceed 110 dB.

Figure 9: Fire alarm bell


(6) Manual Call Point

Manual fire alarm call points for fire alarm systems are devices that enable

people to raise a fire alarm in the event of a fire incident by pressing or

breaking an element to activate the fire alarm system. It should be installed at a

height of 1.2m above floor level at exit routes and at the entry floor landings of

staircases. It should be placed with a maximum distance of 45m apart or 25m

apart for disabled person.


B. FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS

(i) FIRE EXTINGUISHER


227. Portable extinguishers.

Portable extinguisher shall be provided in accordance with the relevant codes of practice

and shall be sited in prominent positions on exit routes to be visible from all directions

and similar extinguishers in a building shall be of the same method of operation.

(7) Multipurpose Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher

Class A fire

Solid matters forming glowing reside. Wood, paper, textile, cloth, rubber, plastic etc.

Class B fire

Flammable liquid fires. These can be fires where cooking liquids, oil, gasoline,

kerosene, or paint have become ignited.

Class C fire

Fire extinguishers with a Class C rating are suitable for fires in “live” electrical

equipment. Computers and electricity apparatus can be found in the computer lab of

elderly centre.

Dry Chemical fire extinguishers extinguish the fire primarily by

interrupting the chemical reaction of the fire triangle. Today's

most widely used type of fire extinguisher is the multipurpose dry

chemical that is effective on Class A, B, and C fires. This agent

also works by creating a barrier between the oxygen element and

the fuel element on Class A fires.

Figure 1: Dry chemical fire

extinguisher


Figure 2: A fire extinguisher

should be located at 5 feet above

the floor.

Figure 3: Fire extinguisher and

fire extinguisher signage


(ii) DRY RISER SYSTEM


230. Installation and testing of dry rising system.

1. Dry rising systems shall be provided in every building in which the topmost floor is

more than 18.3 metres but less than 30.5 metres above fire appliance access level.

2. A hose connection shall be provided in each firefighting access lobby.

3. Dry risers shall be of minimum “Class C” pipes with fittings and connections of

sufficient strength to withstand 21 bars water pressure.

4. Dry risers shall be tested hydrostatically to withstand not less than 14 bars of pressure

for two house in the presence of the Fire Authority before acceptance.

5. All horizontal runs of the dry rising systems shall be pitched at the rate of 6.35

millimeters in 3.05 metres.

6. The dry riser shall be not less than 102 millimeters in diameter in buildings in which

the highest outlet is 22.875 metres or less above the fire brigade pumping inlet and

not less than 152.4 millimeters diameter where the highest outlet is higher than

22.875 metres above the pumping inlet.

(8) Dry Riser

A dry riser is a system of pipes and valves that extend to the upper storeys of an occupied

building. This system is based on an inlet (‘inlet breeching’ on the outside wall of a

property) and a series of outlets (Gate or Landing Valves) at each floor (internally) of a

property which are principally located in lobbies, fire shafts or stairwells. The dry riser

systems pipes are filled with compressed air which is released in an emergency to let

water flow through the pipes. The outlet points are positioned on the upper storeys

allowing firefighters easy access to water in the event of a fire. Dry risers have to allow fire

engine access within 18 m of the dry riser inlet box. It is located at the fire resistant shaft

which is the fire escape staircase in the elderly centre.


Dry Riser Inlet Cabinet and Dry Riser Outlet Cabinet

The inlet cabinet or breeching inlet should be positioned as closely as possible to the rising

main in order to reduce the pressure loss and within easily accessible reach of the attending

fire appliance which should be in un-obscured sight of fire crews and no more than 18 metres

away from the nearest vehicular access.

Figure 15: Dry riser main

Figure 17: Dry riser inlet with glass

front is designed to be broken during

an emergency.

Figure 18: Dry riser outlet should be

installed with it’s lowest point at

750mm above floor level.

Figure 16: Dry riser that connected to

a pressurized water source by

firefighter


(iii) HOSE REEL SYSTEM

According to MS 1489,

4.2.2 Siting

Hose reels should be sited in prominent and accessible positions at each floor level adjacent

to exits in corridors on exit routes, in such a way that the nozzle of the hose can be taken

into every room and within 6 m of each part of a room, having regard to any obstruction.

Where heavy furniture or equipment might be introduced into a room, the hose and nozzle

should be capable additionally of directing a jet into the back of any recess formed.

According to MS 1488,

-The rubber hoses be a minimum of 30 m in length

-Size of Hose Reel Pipe is 50mm diameter with a 25mm feed and the material is Galvanised

Steel which is the Medium Grade Class B for above ground

(9) Swinging arm hose reel

A hose reel designed to be mounted on wall and which is capable of being swung through an

arc of approximately (180) in a horizontal plane. It allows hose to be guided to any direction.

Figure 19: Swinging arm hose reel

Figure 20: Top view of swinging arm

hose reel


Elderly

Centre

FIRE HYDRANT


225. Detecting and extinguishing fire.

2. Every building shall be served by at last one fire hydrant located not more than

91.5metres from the nearest point of fire brigade access.

(10) Fire Hydrant

A fire hydrant can be found located 50m away from the elderly centre. Therefore, it is not

necessary to propose a new fire hydrant. Fire hydrants allow firefighters to access a local

water supply quickly. A fire truck will usually haul enough water to allow firefighters to

begin to fight a fire while hoses are being connected to the nearest fire hydrant. Firefighters

usually have to use a special pentagonal wrench to remove the valve covers on a fire hydrant.

Once the covers are removed, firefighters can attach hoses to the valves. They then open

a valve that allows water to flow through the hydrant into the hoses. Fire hydrants can supply

a large volume of water where water is pumped through hoses to the fire truck. The water is

pressurized and divided into several streams to supply water to multiple fire hoses at once.

Figure 21: Google street view of Jalan 18/16, Taman Kanagapuram.

http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-do-fire-hydrants-work













3.1 Passive Fire Protection System

3.1.1 Literature Review : Passive Fire Protection

Built facilities may be provided fire protection either by building in fire safety measures or by

means of early control through detection and extinction methods. Built-in measures

introduced through resistance-to-fire and reaction-to-fire improvement provisions may be

classified as passive fire protection, while the latter may be termed active fire protection.

Active fire protection systems function by reacting to conditions caused by a fire such as heat,

smoke or light to impede the fire process. Active and passive fire safety provisions are

complementary, not competitive.

The concept of passive fire protection is based on the principles of:

Controlling likelihood of ignition.

Containment of fire and it effects within an area – compartmentation, opening

protection like fire doors and wired glass, fire stops, dampers, etc.

Conferring fire resistance to the structure and building elements for a specified time

period – structural fire protection achieved with fireproofing materials such as sprayed

film intumescents, gypsum-based plasters and cementitious product, mineral wool

wraps and insulation, cladding or encasing in concrete.

Three major roles in building fire safety by:

Directly influencing the development of fire (by providing fuel or by controlling

ventilation).

Inhibiting the growth or spread of fire itself, or the spread of the products of fire.

Assisting the people affected or potentially affected by the fire to remove themselves

from a hazardous location, or to gain access to fight the fire.


Passive fire protection can be classified into the following :

1. Architectural Configuration ( Floor Area, Architectural Layout )

Related System : -Fire Evacuation Route

-Escape Travel Distance

-Assembly Point

2. Designed openings and their treatment (doors, windows and interstitial spaces in

separating elements)

Related System : -Fire Rated Door

-Fire Staircases

-Emergency Exit Signage

-Emergency Light


3.1.2 Proposed Passive Fire Protection System

Unlike passive fire protection, active fire protection systems interact with their surroundings

e.g. by operating fans for smoke extraction, operating a fire sprinkler to control or extinguish

a fire, or opening a vent to allow assisted natural ventilation. The first stage of active fire

protection is to detect the fire, by detecting heat, smoke or flames (an automatic fire alarm

system is commonly used to trigger most active systems), this then automatically operates the

active systems (extraction fans etc).

Active systems are particularly useful in larger buildings where it is difficult to ventilate

central areas through natural openings such as windows, smoke and heat extraction systems

are often used. Their purpose is improve the visibility in the building so that occupants can

make their exit and to prevent flashover. Using active fire protection systems has some

benefits such as permitting design freedoms and encourage innovative, inclusive and

sustainable architecture.

The following are the introduction and function of the proposed passive fire protection system

to be implemented in the Old Folk’s Home:


A. ARCHITECTURAL CONFIGURATION

i) FIRE EVACUATION ROUTE


Section 178: Exits for institutional and other places of assembly

In buildings classified as institutional or places of assemble, exits to a street or large open

space, together with staircases, corridors and passages leading to such exits shall be located,

separated or protected as to avoid any undue danger to the occupants of the place of assembly

from fire originating in the other occupancy or smoke therefrom.

Section 169: Exit route

No exit route may reduce in width along its path of ravel from storey exit to the final exit.

(1) Evacuation Route

Fire evacuation route is designed to provide a fast and efficient escape during an event

of fire. Two fire staircases are provided for means of escape in a distress situation.

One of the staircases is located near the back of the building while another one is

closer to the front.

Means of escape is a safe evacuation route to transport a building occupant from a

distressed situation to safe zones (outside of the building). Such protected areas or safe

zones should be constructed using non-combustible or extremely durable materials.

The fire evacuation route should be well designed to provide a fast and efficient means

of escape in a distress situation. There are two fire staircases in the building to provide

means of escape during an event of fire. The emergency exit signage should be

provided within the building as reference to building occupants at any place and floor

they are located at.



Section 165:

(3) In the case of individual rooms which are subject to occupancy of not more than six

persons, the travel distance shall be measured from the doors of each rooms: provided that the

travel distance from any point in the room to room door does not exceed 15 metres.

(4) The maximum travel distance to exits and dead end limits shall be specified in the Seventh

Schedule of these by-laws.

Section 174:

(1) Where two or more storey exits are required they shall be spaced at not less than 5 metres

apart measured between the nearest openings.

(2) Escape Travel Distance

With thoughtful consideration, the building provides good travel distance design to

prevent human traffic congestion when an event of fire occurs.

(3) Assembly Point

The assembly point is the final destination of the fire escape route. Upon escaping

from the building interior to the building exterior via escape staircase and emergency

exits, building occupants must seek refuge in an open area free from hazards of a fire

outbreak. This area must be large enough to accommodate the crowd, and serves as a

convenient location to conduct headcounts and miscellaneous rescue process.The

Figure 1: Travel distance from any point of

room to room door does not exceed 15m.


assembly point of the building is located at the car park, which is a large open space in

front of the building.


B. COMPARTMENTATION, DESIGNED OPENINGS AND ITS’ TREATMENT

i) FIRE RATED DOOR


Section 162: Fire doors in compartment walls and separating walls

(1) Fire doors of appropriate FRP shall be provided.

(2) Openings in compartment walls and separating walls be protected by a fire door having a

FRP in accordance with the requirements for that wall specified in the Ninth Schedule to

these Bylaws.

(3) Openings in protecting structures shall be protected by fire doors having FRP of not less

than half the requirement for the surrounding wall specified in the Ninth Schedule to these

Bylaws but in no case less than half hour.

(4) Openings in partitions enclosing a protected corridor or lobby shall be protected by fire

doors having FRP of half-hour.

(5) Fire doors including frames shall be constructed to a specification which can be shown to

meet the requirements for the relevant FRP when tested in accordance with section 3 of

BS 476: 1951.

Section 164 (1)

All fire doors shall be fitted with automatic door closed of the hydraulically spring operated

type in the case of swing doors and of wire rope and weigh type in the case of sliding door.

Fire Resistant Doors are used to separate compartments in building to stop the spreading of

fire. It suppresses the fire by restricting the flow of oxygen and spread of flames. Single Leaf

door of 900mm x 2100mm are used at the computer lab, multipurpose hall, reading area and

saloon.

Figure 2: Single leaf fire-rated

door.

Dimension: 900mm x 2100mm

Figure 3: Fire-rated

door dimension


ii) FIRE STAIRCASE


Section 165: Exits to be accessible at all times

(1) Except as permitted by-law 167 not less than TWO separate exits shall be provided

form each storey together with such additional exits as may be necessary.

Section 168: Staircases

(1) Except as provided for in by-laws 194 every upper floor shall have means of egress

via at least two separate staircases.

(2) Staircases shall be of such width that in the event of any one staircase not being

available for escape

purpose the remaining staircases shall accommodate the highest occupancy load of

any one floor discharging into it calculated in accordance with provisions in the

Seventh Schedule to these Bylaws.

(3) The required width of staircase shall be the clear width between walls but handrails

may be permitted to encroach on this width to a maximum of 75 millimeters.

(4) The required width of a staircase shall be maintained throughout its length including at

landings.

(5) Doors giving access to staircases shall be so positioned that their swing shall at no

point encroach on the required width of the staircase or landing.

Fire staircases are vertical escape component of evacuation route, easily accessible from the

inside and outside of the building. It is designed for emergency escapes while also allowing

Figure 4: Fire Staircase width is

maintained throughout its length

including at landings.


firemen to enter the building in an even of fire. There are 2 fire staircases in the building, one

nearer to the front and another at the back. They allow the users to choose the safest and

nearest escape route during the case of emergency. The fire staircases are made up of

reinforced concrete as it is fire resistant.


iii) EMERGENCY EXIT SIGNAGE

According to UBBL 1984

Section 172: Emergency exit signs

(1) Storey exits and access to such exits shall be marked by readily visible signs and shall

not be obscured by any decorations, furnishings or other equipment.

(2) A sign reading “KELUAR” with an arrow indicating the direction shall be placed in

every location where the direction of travel to reach the nearest exit is not immediately

apparent.

(3) Every exit sign shall have the word “KELUAR” in plainly legible letters not less than

150 millimeters high with the principal strokes of the letters not less than 18

millimeters wide. The lettering shall be In red against a black background.

(4) All exits signs shall be illuminated continuously during periods of occupancy.

(5) Illuminated signs shall be provided with two electric lamps of not less than fifteen

watts each.

An exit sign is a device in facilities denoting the location of the emergency exit, guiding

people to the closest exit in case of fire or other emergency. Most relevant codes require exit

signs to be permanently lit. Exit signs are designed to be absolutely unmistakable and

understandable to anyone.

Figure 5: Emergency exit signage

Figure 6: Emergency exit signage height should be placed

above the door and exceeding 2.7min height from floor. Figure 7: Dimension of the emergency exit signage


(iv) EMERGENCY LIGHT

An emergency light is a battery-backed lighting device that comes on automatically when a

building experiences a power outage. It is fitted with charged battery to illuminate along exit

access pathways leading to exits, exit stairs, aisles, corridors, ramps, and at the exit discharge

pathways that lead to a public way. The level of illumination, quality and consistency of

emergency illumination are important for the building occupants’ safety during fire escapes.

Figure 8: Emergency Light


4.1 Introduction to Air Conditioning

Air conditioning is any process of removing heat from a space by cooling the air. This process

also typically results in the lowering of the humidity of the air. The primary purpose of this

process is to create a more comfortable thermal environment for its occupants. Air

conditioning is also required for some rooms that may have large amounts of heat-sensitive

equipment, such as server rooms or laboratories.

How Air Conditioning Works?

An air conditioning works by displacing heat in a space into the outdoor environment.

Principally it is accomplished by means of:

i) Transferring heat into a medium

ii) Transporting medium into the outdoor environment

iii) Transferring heat from medium into outdoor environment

Typically, this is done via means of having a fan to

suck into air from a space through a series of pipes

where the heat energy is transferred into the pipes

where there is the medium fluid called refrigerant.

The refrigerant is at this point in a gaseous state, but

when pumped outside it is compressed and

condensed into a liquid state. While it is done so, an

outside fan sucks outdoor air through a separate

series of pipes where the energy from the refrigerant

is transferred to the air, cooling it. The now cooled refrigerant is then pumped back into the

indoors where the cycle continues. This process is known as the refrigeration cycle.

4 Air Conditioning System


Figure 1: Refrigeration cycle


Types of Air Conditioning

Air conditioning can be split or packaged system. A split system would have at least two

separated physical units, the compressor outdoors and the air conditioning unit indoors. A

packaged system would have the entire air conditioning unit (compressor, condenser, AHU,

etc) in one single system.

For use in commercial units (or buildings with many rooms), air conditioning is typically of a

split system, because the split system has the advantage of being able to be centralized, and

reduce the overall amount of actual air conditioning units (compressor units).

A centralized split system typically composes of a large compressor unit, an air handling unit

(AHU) which then pumps cold air via ducts into the indoor spaces. While traditionally an

AHU requires a separate room to house the large complicated machinery, newer models today

are “packaged” in the sense that the AHU and compressor/condenser unit are in one single

physical box, thus not needing any separate rooms.


4.2 Literature Review : Centralized Air Conditioning

Introduction to Centralized Air Conditioning

The typical central air conditioning system is a split system, with an outdoor air

conditioning, or "compressor-bearing unit" and an indoor coil, which is usually installed

on top of the furnace in the home.

Using electricity as its power source, the compressor pumps refrigerant through the system

to gather heat and moisture from indoors and remove it from the home.

Heat and moisture are removed from the home when warm air from inside the home is

blown over the cooled indoor coil. The heat in the air transfers to the coil, thereby

"cooling" the air.

The heat that has transferred to the coil is then "pumped" to the exterior of the home, while

the cooled air is pumped back inside, helping to maintain a comfortable indoor

temperature.

Central air conditioning can also be provided through a package unit or a heat pump.

Centralized Air Conditioning System Benefits

Indoor comfort during warm weather – Central air conditioning helps keep your home

cool and reduces humidity levels.

Cleaner air – As the central air conditioning system draws air out of various rooms in the

house through return air ducts, the air is pulled through an air filter, which removes

airborne particles such as dust and lint. Sophisticated filters may remove microscopic

pollutants, as well. The filtered air is then routed to air supply duct-work that carries it

back to rooms.

Quieter operation – Because the compressor-bearing unit is located outside the home, the

indoor noise level from its operation is much lower than that of a free-standing air

conditioning unit.


Types of Centralized Air Conditioning

A central air conditioner is either a split-system unit or a packaged unit. In a split-system

central air conditioner, an outdoor metal cabinet contains the condenser and compressor, and

an indoor cabinet contains the evaporator.

In a packaged central air conditioner, the evaporator, condenser, and compressor are all

located in one cabinet, which usually is placed on a roof or on a concrete slab next to the

house's foundation. This type of air conditioner also is used in small commercial buildings.

Air supply and return ducts come from indoors through the home's exterior wall or roof to

connect with the packaged air conditioner, which is usually located outdoors.

Air Conditioning System Components

The air conditioning part of your "split system" includes a compressor, a fan, condenser coil,

evaporator coil and a refrigerant. The system extracts heat from indoor air and transfers it

outside, leaving the cooled indoor air to be recirculated. Air conditioning and cooling

efficiency is measured using a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). A higher SEER

signifies higher energy efficiency.

The basic components of an air conditioning system:

>A Condensing Unit (the outdoor section)

>A matching indoor Air Handler or Gas Furnace with coil

>Ductwork to transfer the cooled air throughout the building.


4.3 Air Conditioning By-Laws According to UBBL 1984,

Part III – Space, Light and Ventilation

41. Mechanical Ventilation and Air-Conditioning

1. Windows and openings allowing uninterrupted air passage is not necessary if the rooms are

equipped with mechanical ventilation or air-conditioning.

2. In case air-conditioning failure there should be alternative ways to introduce fresh air into

the room within half an hour.

3. This provision apply to building with mechanically ventilated or air-conditioning.

4. Windows and openings allowing uninterrupted air passage is no necessary if the toilets are


.

The UBBL does not state specifically what air conditioning systems are required and for

spaces, thus the choice and installation of the air conditioning is dependent on the expertise of

the design team.


4.4 Proposed Air Conditioning System:

ZONED PACKAGED AIR COOLED CENTRALIZED DUCTED AIR

CONDITIONING

4.4.1 Introduction and Recommendation

This system is widely used in many medium sized commercial and residential buildings to

provide an efficient method of distributing cooling air to a large number of spaces. It is a

simple, low maintenance system that does not require any additional M/E or AHU rooms to

be provided for, also has the capacity to either recycle or to introduce outside air into the

building.

4.4.2 Terminology

Zoned – Zoned air conditioning systems are used when there are two distinct areas where

cooling needs may be different. Zoned systems can also be used when there is the energy

consumption is too big for a single unit to handle. Zoned systems have the advantage of a

failsafe, and thus if a single unit fails, another unit can still be used.

Packaged – Refers to the integration of the compressor unit and the AHU unit into a single

unit which then sits on the foundation or on the roof of the building. This does not require an

additional AHU room on each floor, minimizing its footprint and easing its construction.

Air cooled – Refers to the condenser unit being air cooled instead of water cooled. This

allows for far simpler installation, as no additional water reservoir and cooling tower is

needed to provide the cooling fluid.

Centralized – Refers to the only cooling unit in the entire system – the packaged condenser

and AHU unit. All of the cooling and heating elements are located in one centralized system.

Ducted – Refers to the necessity of installing air ducts to provide cooling air throughout the

entire building while also extracting hot air from any given space. These ducts will then


channel hot air to the centralized condenser/AHU unit to be cooled before be resent back into

the spaces.

4.4.3 Equipments and Components

Figure 2: Packaged rooftop

unit

Figure 3: Sheet aluminium

ducting

Figure 4: Ceiling mounted

register

PACKAGED AIR COOLED COMPRESSOR, CONDENSER

AND AHU UNIT

This unit includes all the necessary cooling equipment needed to

channel hot air out of a space, cool it, and then provide enough

pressure to be channeled back into the building through ducting. It

is an all in one unit (compressor, condenser and AHU) and thus

does not require any AHU rooms. It is air cooled, and thus does not

require an additional water supply and cooling tower

DUCTING

Made of non-porous material, typically metal (aluminium),

ducting channels the hot interior air to the packaged unit and

channels the cooled air back down into the spaces. Ducting

can be in many forms, and the diameter of the ducting is

dependent on the CFM value of a space.

REGISTERS/DIFFUSERS/GRILLE

These openings are serve as the aperture in which the cooled

air from the ducts enters a room. While the terminology is

specific (a register is a diffuser that has openable grilles),

typically it is called a register. A register has controls that

allow the amount of cooled air entering a space, allowing

temperature control

INTAKE SUPPLY GRILLE

Intake grilles are openings to lower pressure environments

allowing hot air to be channeled through into the intake ducts

to be transferred to the packaged cooling unit.

Figure 5: Intake supply

grille


4.4.4 Air Conditioning Sizing

As it is essential that each room be adequately cooled, the air conditioning system has to be

correctly sized, to provide a cooling solution that is both economical yet powerful. To do this,

a few units are used to accurate assess an air conditioning sytem.

BTU – British thermal unit, equivalent to 1055 joules. It is the amount of work needed to

raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1 degree F. Used in calculating amount of

cooling work needed.

Or Ton of cooling – Used by the US, equivalent to 12,000 BTU/h (3.52KW). It is the amount

needed to freeze 907 kg of water into ice in 24 hours. Not used here in Malaysia.

SEER rating – Used to assess the efficiency of an air conditioning unit, the higher the value,

the more efficient the air conditioning unit is. Typical SEER ratings vary from 10 – 33.

CFM – Cubic feet/minute. It is the volume of air at sea level that is being displaced per

minute. This is especially important in selecting the correct size of the ducting system.

(i) Selecting an appropriate air conditioning unit

Rule of thumb method: [(Gross square feet of building x 25)/12000] – 0.5 = amount of

Ton of cooling. Some air conditioning manufacturers do list their products in Tons of

cooling. To convert to BTU/h, multiply by 12,000.

For this building, the calculation is as follows:

Gross SF of building = 4305.

Amount of Ton of cooling: 8.5

BTU/h amount = 101,625.

The DAIKIN UATQ120C 10 kilowatt packaged air conditioning unit has a BTU/h of

124,500, and thus would be suitable for this building. Note, packaged air conditioning units

have a typically lower SEER rating than split units, at around 14.


(ii) Selecting an appropriate ducting system

Ducting can be categorized into two: flexible and rigid. Rigid ducting is mainly

composed of sheet aluminium that is not flexible, and is typically of a large size requiring

large amounts of space. Flexible ducting can be found in smaller diameters, and is made

of metal foil lined with non-porous material. This system does not require much space,

and thus is most suitable for this building.

Figure 6: Table for duct diameter according to CFM

Rule of thumb method: 1 square foot of floor area is roughly equivalent to 1 cubic

feet/minute of air flow. Thus, it is a simple method of choosing

the diameter of the duct depending on the area of the room. Not

all ducts must be of the same diameter, as it depends on the area

of each individual room.

Ducting Diameter Schedule

Room Area m2/sqf Duct diameter

Cafe 21.7m2/233.5sqf 9”

Kitchen 10.4m2/112sqf 7”

Dental 12m2/130sqf 7”

Sickbay 12m2/130sqf 7”

Lobby 35.7m2/384sqf 12”

Office 13m2/140sqf 8”

Computer Lab 44.4m2/473sqf 12”

Reading Area 37m2/398sqf 12”

Caretaker accommodation 37m2/398sqf 12”

Saloon 60m2/645sqf 14”

Massage 14.4m2/155sqf 7”

Multipurpose Hall 94m2/1011sqf 16”


5.1 Introduction to Mechanical Ventilation

Introduction

Ventilation is necessary in buildings to remove ‘stale’ air and replace it with ‘fresh’ air.

Generally, it helps in moderating internal temperatures, creating air movement which

improves the comfort of occupants. Very broadly, ventilation in buildings can be classified as

‘natural’ or ‘mechanical’. Mechanical (or ‘forced’) ventilation tends to be driven by fans.

Whereas, natural ventilation is driven by ‘natural’ pressure differences from one part of the

building to another. Natural ventilation can be wind-driven or buoyancy-driven such as Stack

effect and Cross Ventilation.

The design of mechanical ventilation systems is generally a specialist task, undertaken by a

building services engineer. Whilst there are standards and rules of thumb that can be used to

determine air flow rates for straight-forward situations, when mechanical ventilation is

combined with heating, cooling, humidity control and the interaction with natural ventilation,

thermal mass and solar gain, the situation can quickly become very complicated. This, along

with additional complications, such as the noise generated by fans, and the impact of

ductwork on acoustic separation means it is vital building services are considered at the outset

of the building design process, and not seen as an add-on.

5 Mechanical Ventilation System



In commercial developments, mechanical ventilation is typically driven by air handling units

(AHU) connected to ductwork within the building that supplies air to and extracts air from the

interior. Typically they comprise an insulated box that forms the housing for; filter racks or

chambers, a fan (or blower), and sometimes heating elements, cooling elements, sound

attenuators and dampers. In some situations, such as in swimming pools, air handling units

might include dehumidification. See Air handling units for more information.

Where mechanical ventilation includes heating, cooling and humidity control, this can be

referred to as Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC).

Extracting internal air and replacing it with outside air can increase the need for heating and

cooling. This can be reduced by re-circulating a proportion of internal air with the fresh

outside air, or by heat recovery ventilation (HRV) that recovers heat from extract air to pre-

heat incoming fresh air using counter-flow heat exchangers.

Mechanical ventilation may be controlled by a building management system (BMS) to

maximise occupant comfort and minimise energy consumption. Regular inspection and

maintenance is necessary to ensure that systems are operating optimally and that occupants

understand how systems are operated.


TYPES OF BASIC MECHANICAL WHOLE-HOUSE VENTILATION SYSTEMS:

(i) Exhaust

Exhaust ventilation systems work by depressurizing your home. The system exhausts air from

the house while make-up air infiltrates through leaks in the building shell and through

intentional, passive vents.

Exhaust ventilation systems are most appropriate for cold climates. In climates with warm

humid summers, depressurization can draw moist air into building wall cavities, where it may

condense and cause moisture damage.

(ii) Balanced

Balanced ventilation systems, if properly designed and installed, neither pressurize nor

depressurize your home. Rather, they introduce and exhaust approximately equal quantities of

fresh outside air and polluted inside air.


(iii) Energy Recovery

Energy recovery ventilation systems provide a controlled way of ventilating a home while

minimizing energy loss. They reduce the costs of heating ventilated air in the winter by

transferring heat from the warm inside exhaust air to the fresh (but cold) outside supply air. In

the summer, the inside air cools the warmer supply air to reduce cooling costs.

There are two types of energy-recovery systems: heat-recovery ventilators (HRV) and energy-

recovery (or enthalpy-recovery) ventilators (ERV). Both types include a heat exchanger, one

or more fans to push air through the machine, and controls. There are some small wall- or

window-mounted models, but the majority are central, whole-house ventilation systems with

their own duct system or shared ductwork.

(iv) Supply (Applied on this project)

Supply ventilation systems use a fan to pressurize your home, forcing outside air into the

building while air leaks out of the building through holes in the shell, bath, and range fan

ducts, and intentional vents (if any exist).


5.2 Literature Review : Supply Ventilation System

Nowadays, because of central heating and cooling, as well as the desire for privacy, people

tend to make little use of windows for ventilation, so infiltration has become the principal

mode of natural ventilation in homes. Unfortunately, a home’s natural infiltration rate is

unpredictable and uncontrollable because it depends on the home’s air tightness, outdoor

temperatures, wind, and other factors. During mild weather, some homes may lack sufficient

ventilation for pollutant removal. Tightly built homes may have insufficient ventilation at

most times. This axiom implies that houses should be tightly sealed to reduce infiltration, and

a mechanical ventilation system installed to provide fresh air and remove pollutants when and

where needed, in a controlled manner(i.e., in amounts needed) that does not negatively impact

indoor air quality, building components, or heating and cooling bills. Therefore, mechanical

ventilation still comes into play. In Malaysian context, Supply Ventilation System works

extremely well due to our hot and humid climate. The Elderly Centre is located in a relatively

flat topology, therefore passive ventilation is not as effective. Fresh air is retrieved from a

higher point and pressurises the inner of the house, pushing the stale air out, creating air

movement thus, and increasing the users’ comfort.

How Supply Ventilation System Works?

Like exhaust ventilation systems, supply ventilation systems are relatively simple and

inexpensive to install. A typical supply ventilation system has a fan and duct system that

introduces fresh air into usually one -- but preferably several -- rooms that residents occupy

most (e.g., bedrooms, living room). This system may include adjustable window or wall vents

in other rooms.

Supply ventilation systems allow better control of the air that enters the house than exhaust

ventilation systems do. By pressurizing the house, supply ventilation systems minimize

outdoor pollutants in the living space and prevent back drafting of combustion gases from

fireplaces and appliances. Supply ventilation also allows outdoor air introduced into the house

to be filtered to remove pollen and dust or dehumidified to provide humidity control.

Supply ventilation systems work best in hot or mixed climates. Because they pressurize

the house, these systems have the potential to cause moisture problems in cold climates. In

winter, the supply ventilation system causes warm interior air to leak through random


openings in the exterior wall and ceiling. If the interior air is humid enough, moisture may

condense in the attic or cold outer parts of the exterior wall, resulting in mould, mildew, and

decay.

Like exhaust ventilation systems, supply ventilation systems do not temper or remove

moisture from the make-up air before it enters the house. Thus, they may contribute to higher

heating and cooling costs compared with energy recovery ventilation systems. Because air is

introduced into the house at discrete locations, outdoor air may need to be mixed with indoor

air before delivery to avoid cold air drafts in the winter. An in-line duct heater is another

option, but increases operating costs.


5.3 Air Conditioning By-Laws According to UBBL 1984,

Part III – Space, Light and Ventilation

41. Mechanical Ventilation and Air-Conditioning

1. Windows and openings allowing uninterrupted air passage is not necessary if the rooms are


2. In case air-conditioning failure there should be alternative ways to introduce fresh air into

the room within half an hour.

3. This provision apply to building with mechanically ventilated or air-conditioning.

4. Windows and openings allowing uninterrupted air passage is no necessary if the toilets are



5.4 Components involved in Supply Ventilation System

Fan

-To remove hot and polluted air.

-To bring in outdoor air to comfort the people or to cool the building.

-To circulate indoor air

Located in the attic, to hide the ductworks and avoid noise pollution.

Central Supply Fan

Figure 7

Filter

-To sift the external air before releasing air into the room

-To trap and prevent dust, smoke, bacteria, etc. from entering the room

-Different filter for different applications

Installed at the inlet grille to avoid dirty substances from entering the compound.

Figure 8


Ductwork

-To channel outside air towards the room or the air from the room towards the outside

-Usually in round or rectangular section

Rectangular Ducts

Rounded Ducts

Mechanical Damper

-In occurrence of fire, to avoid the fire from spreading from one room to another.

-Usually placed at compartment walls.


Grille & Diffuser

-Located at the edge of the ductwork where the air is released into the room.


6.1 Introduction to Mechanical Transportation System

Mechanical Transportation refers to transportation system that is used to move or transport

goods and people vertically or horizontally, such as elevator, escalator and travellators. In this

particular assignment, as the project context only consist of elevator, the review will be

elaborating on mechanism of elevator.

An elevator is defined as a permanent lifting equipment serving two or more landing levels,

including a car for transportation of passengers and/or other loads, running at least partially

between rigid guide rails, either vertical or inclined to the vertical by less than 15 degrees.

Elevator is an integral part of all multi-storey buildings, as it provide important access for

goods and people throughout the floors. Especially for the disabled and elderly, where stairs

and ramps are deemed impractical, elevators are often a legal requirement in new multi-storey

buildings according to wheelchair access laws.

Elevators may be classified according to the following technical parameters:

1. Hoist Mechanism

- Elevators can be classified according to hoist mechanism to 4 main types :

i) Hydraulic Elevators

ii) Traction Elevators

iii) Climbing Elevators

iv) Pneumatic Elevators

6 Mechanical Transportation System



2. Building Height

- i) Low-Rise Building (1-3 Stories)

:Typically uses hydraulic elevators because of lower initial cost.

ii) Mid-Rise Building (4-11 Stories)

:Typically uses Geared Traction Elevator.

iii) High-Rise Building (12 Stories and above)

:Typically uses Gear-less Traction Elevator.

3. Building Type & Uses

- i) Hospital Elevators

ii) Residential/Domestic Elevators

iii) Agricultural Elevators

iv) Industrial Elevators

v) Commercial Elevators

vi) Parking Buildings Elevators


6.2 Literature Review : Hydraulic Elevator

Hydraulic elevators are used primarily in

low and mid-rise installations, where

moderate car speed ( up to 150 ft. per

minute ) is acceptable. A car is connected

to the top of a piston that moves up and

down in cylinder from a reservoir, raising

the piston. The car is lowered when the

hydraulic fluid returns to the reservoir. The

up and down motions of the elevator car are

controlled by the hydraulic valve.

The main space planning elements of a

hydraulic elevator are the machine room,

usually located at the base, at the hoist way,

which serves as a fire-protected, ventilated

passageway for the elevator car. Adequate

structure must be provided at the base of

the hoist-way to bear the load of the

elevator car and its supporting piston or

cylinder.

There are three configuration of hydraulic elevators : holed, hole-less, and roped hydraulic.

The cylinder in a holed hydraulic elevator is centred below the car and bored into the earth.

The cylinder depth will be approximately equal to the travel distance plus the pit both sides of

the car and do not penetrate below the elevator pit. Hole-less hydraulic elevators have

substantially less travel than holed types. With roped hydraulic elevators, a plunger moves the

Fig 3. Conventional Hydraulic Elevator


cables or ropes, which then moves the elevator car. All three configurations can be used in

commercial applications, but holed and hopeless are the most common types.


6.3 Mechanical Transportation Laws

124. For all non-residential buildings exceeding 4 storeys above or below the main access

level at least one lift shall be provided.

151. Ventilation to Lift Shafts

Where openings to lift shafts are not connected to protected lobbies, such lift shafts shall be

provided with vents of not less than 0.09 square metre per lift located at the top of the shafts.

Where the vent does not discharge directly to the open air the lift shafts shall be vented to the

exterior through a duct of the required FRP as for the lift shafts.

152. Openings in Lift Shafts

(1) Every opening in a lift shaft or lift entrance shall open into a protected lobby unless other

suitable means of protection to the opening to the satisfaction of the local authority is

provided. These requirements shall not apply to open type industrial and other special

buildings as may be approved by the D.G.F.S.

(2) Landing doors shall have a FRP of not less than half the FRP of the hoistway structure

with a minimum FRP of half hour.

(3) No glass shall be used for in landing doors except for vision in which case any vision

panel shall or be glazed with wired safety glass, and shall not be more than 0.0161 square

metre and the total area of one of of more vision panels in any landing door shall be not more

than 0.0156 square metre.

(4)Each clear panel opening shall reject a sphere 150 milimetres in diameter.

(5)Provision shall be made for the opening of all landing doors by means of an emergency

key irrespective of the position of the lift car.


153. Smoke Detectors for Lift Lobbies

(1) All lift lobbies shall be provided with smoke detectors.

(2) Lift not opening into a smoke lobby shall not use door reopening devices controlled by

light beam or photo-detectors unless incorporated with a force close feature which after thirty

seconds of any interruption of the beam causes the door to close within a preset time.

154. Emergency Mode of Operation in the Event of Main Power Failure

(1) On failure of mains power all lifts shall return in sequence directly to the designated floor,

commencing with the fire lifts, without answering any car or landing calls and park with

doors open.

(2) After all lifts are parked the lifts on emergency power shall resume normal operation:

Provided that where sufficient emergency power is available for operation of all lifts, this

mode of Operation need not apply.

155. Fire mode of Operation

(1) The fire mode of operation shall be initiated by a signal from the fire alarm panel which

may be activated automatically by one of the alarm devices in the building or manually.

(2) If main power is available all lifts shall return in sequence directly to the designated floor,

commencing with the fire lifts, without answering any car or landing calls, overriding the

emergency stop button inside the car, but not any other emergency or safety devices, and park

with doors open.

(3) The fire lifts shall then be available for use by the fire bridgade on operation of the

fireman’s switch.

(4) Under this mode of operation, the fire lifts shall only operate in response to car calls but

not to landing calls in a mode of operation in accordance with by-law 154.

(5) In the event of main power failure, all lifts shall return in sequence directly to the

designated floor and operate under emergency power as described under paragraphs (2) to (4).


Due to the circumstances that the project brief calls for design for the elderly, the

following codes are also reviewed and referenced:

MS1184:2002 - Code Of Practice On Access for Disabled Persons to Public Buildings

10. Lifts

10.1 Every lift forming part of vertical access for the disabled persons should have an

unobstructed depthin front of the lift doors of not less than 1800mm.

10.2 It should maintain a floor level accuracy within a tolerance of 10mm throughout the

range of rated load.

10.3 The handrail in the lift car should not be less than 600mm long at 1000mm above the

finished floor level and should be fixed adjacent to the control panel.

10.4 At least one lift car, adjacent to a public entrance that is accessible for disabled persons,

should be designed as a lift for wheelchair users, complying to all the sub-clauses of this

clause, and should have space for a wheelchair to be turned through 180’ inside the lift in

accordance with figure 8.

Figure 8. Lift Car Requirement


10.5 The lift door installation should provide the following:

A) Should provide a clear opening of not less than 800mm in accordance with figure 8.

B) Sensing devices should be provided to ensure that lift car and landing doors will not close

while the opening is obstructed, subject to the nudging provisions which operate if the door is

held open for more than 20s; and

C) If sensing devices as in b) above are not provided, the dwell time of an automatically

closing door should not be less than 5s and the closing speed should not exceed 0.25m/s.

10.6 Lift controls should comply with the following:

A) Controls should be clearly indicated and easily operated in accordance with clause 27.

B) Call buttons should either project from or be flush with the face of the car-operating panel.

The width or diameter of the buttons should not be less than 20mm.

C) Floor buttons, alarm buttons or emergency telephone and door control buttons in lift cars

and lobbies should not be higher than 1400mm above finished floor level. The hearing

impaired can use an alarm button and not the emergency telephone. An alarm button should

always be provided, and preferably of a design which ights up and produce sound when

pressed to reassure those trapped inside.

D) All buttons should be so designed that the sight impaired can identify them by touch.

Button not already so designed are best modified by fixing, embossed or braille


6.4 Proposed Mechanical Transportation System:

Hole-less Machine-less Hydraulic Elevator

Due to the consideration of the project, which is a low-rise 3 storeys public building in

serving of elderly people, we have chosen Machine-Roomless Holeless Hydraulic Elevator

with extra width that accordes to MS1184, to accommodate Machine-Roomless Holeless

Hydraulic Elevators are supported by pistons at the sides of the elevator that pushes the

elevator up, and doesn’t require an additional machine room, which eliminate the needs for

extra space, thus saving unnecessary space for the center.


Compared to conventional elevator, machine-less holeless hydraulic elevator eliminates the

need of any extra machine room as shown in the left picture, saving space and allowing it to

be compact as shown in the right picture.

MECHANISM OF HYDRAULIC ELEVATOR:

Oil Hydraulic Lift Application:

The pump forces fluid from the tank into a pipe leading to the cylinder. When the valve is

opened, the pressurized fluid will take the path of least resistance and return to the fluid

reservoir. But when the valve is closed, the pressurized fluid has nowhere to go except into

the cylinder. As the fluid collects in the cylinder, it pushes the piston up, lifting the elevator

car.


When the car approaches the correct floor, the control system sends a signal to the electric

motor to gradually shut off the pump. With the pump off, there is no more fluid flowing into

the cylinder, but the fluid that is already in the cylinder cannot escape (it can't flow backward

through the pump, and the valve is still closed). The piston rests on the fluid, and the car stays

where it is.

To lower the car, the elevator control system sends a signal to the valve. The valve is operated

electrically by a basic solenoid switch (Actuator). When the solenoid opens the valve, the

fluid that has collected in the cylinder can flow out into the fluid reservoir. The weight of the

car and the cargo pushes down on the piston, which drives the fluid into the reservoir. The car

gradually descends. To stop the car at a lower floor, the control system closes the valve again.

Components of Direct Acting Mechanism:


1.A Plunger/Piston/Jack

The cylinder shall be constructed of steel pipe of a sufficient thickness and suitable safety

margin. The top of the cylinder shall be equipped with a cylinder head with an internal guide

ring and self-adjusting packing.

The plunger/piston/jack shall be constructed of a steel shaft of a proper diameter machined

true and smooth. The plunger/piston/jack shall be provided with a stop electrically welded to

the bottom to prevent the plunger from leaving the cylinder.

1.B Hydraulic Power Unit

The power unit shall be generously rated and shall operate with minimum noise and vibration.

The unit shall be mounted on vibration insulators above the machine room floor. A silencer

unit shall be fitted in the hydraulic system to minimize the transmission of pulsations from the

pump to the car and the elimination of airborne noise.

The hydraulic power unit consists of the following components:

A. The Tank.

The tank shall have sufficient capacity to provide an adequate reserve to prevent the

entrance of air or other gas into the system. A sight glass tube shall be provided for

checking the oil level and the minimum level mark shall be clearly indicated. An oil

level monitoring device shall be provided, and if operated, shall maintain a visual and

audible signal in the control panel until the fault is rectified.

So, the main function of the tank is holding the liquid used in the system, This liquid is

usually oil based because:

- Non compressible.

- Self lubricating.


B. Motor/Pump.

The main function of the pump used in hydraulic elevator is constantly pushing Liquid

into the cylinder to lift the elevator, the pump is Submersible type with Variable Speed

Valve Leveling.

The pump and pump motor shall be mounted on one robust bedplate or within the power

unit assembly if it is suitably rigid. The motor pump and bearing(s) shall be so mounted and

assembled that proper alignment of these parts is maintained under all normal operating

conditions.

An oil filter shall be fitted on the pump inlet. A stopcock shall be provided to enable the

filter to be cleaned or changed without significant loss of oil. The pump motor shall be of the

single speed squirrel cage or slip ring type and it shall run with minimum noise and vibration.

C. Valve.

The power unit control valve shall be a variable speed proportional valve type that

includes all hydraulic control valving inherently. A stopcock shall be provided between

the control valves and the cylinder(s), and also between the reservoir tank and the pump if

the pump is mounted outside the tank.


In conclusion, we have understand and learn about the workability and functions of each and

every system in depth according to the by laws after completing this assignment. For example,

through fire protection system, it will help to ensure that the building have the necessary

requirements to help guide the inhabitants escape out from the building. In mechanical

ventilation, optimal ventilation system that suits the local climatic condition will help the

building to achive optimal thermal comfort for the inhabitants. Through the study of mechanical

transportation, we are able to propose and integrate suitable tranposrtation mechanism and

methods that can aid inhabitants to move from floor to floor, especially for disabled persons.

Besides that, we also understand how each building services functions complements each other

and helps to serve the building better and safer. Throughout this exercise, we are able to propose

and integrate various building services into a building as well as prepare drawings for each

proposed system.

7 Summary



8 References

2 Introduction to the building 1. Central Air Conditioning. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2016, from

http://www.energy.gov/energysaver/central-air-conditioning

2. Greeno, R. 2000. Building Services Equipment. 5th Edition, Longman

3. Hall, Frederick E. 1997. Building Services and Equipment. Volume 2. 2nd Edition

4. Malaysian Standard 1184 Code of practice on access for disabled person to Public

Buildings

5. Uniform Building By-Laws 1984

6. Stein, Benjamin & Reynolds, John S. 2000. Mechanical and Electrical equipment

for Buildings. New York, John Wiley

7. Central Air Conditioning. (n.d.). Retrieved November 24, 2016, from

http://energy.gov/energysaver/central-air-conditioning

8. Central Air Conditioning Buying Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved November 24, 2016, from

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/central-air-conditioning/buying-guide.html

9. Heating & Cooling 101. (n.d.). Retrieved November 24, 2016, from

http://www.goodmanmfg.com/resources/heating-cooling-101/how-central-ac-

systems-work

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