SPECIFICATIONS AND CALCULATIONS A good engineering specification, by itself does

not necessarily imply that all parts of

construction specification actually meet the
SPECIFICATIONS listed targets and tolerances. Actual result of
construction or service involves inherent
Construction specifications also known as
variation of output.
technical specifications or simply
specifications, detail the work and
workmanship needed to complete a
Who Handles Construction Specifications?
construction project. As required documents
during the design phase, they’re part of a formal Typically, specifications are prepared by the
process. architect or designers. Generally, architects will
delegate them but often times project engineers
According to the Dictionary of Architecture and
will be involved due to their breadth of technical
Construction, specification is “a written
knowledge. Sometimes, on large-scale projects,
document describing in detail the scope of work,
companies will even call for specialized and
materials to be used, methods of installation and
professional specification writers to ensure all
quality of workmanship for a parcel of work to be
details are covered.
placed under contract, usually utilized in
conjunction with working (contract) drawings in Although they are separate from design drawings
building construction.” themselves, specifications should be
complementary to these documents and
Furthermore, according to The Construction
prepared in tandem. So, if the design advances,
Specifier, “specification sections are customized
so should the specifications, with more and more
in order to accurately describe the intended
details being added as plans get more complex.
materials, and then these sections are used by
the team to identify the type of products that
should be used onsite.”
Why are Specifications Important?
As mentioned, construction specifications are
If you’ve been around the construction industry
prepared before construction begins, in the
for more than a minute, you know the more
design phase as part of the contract documents.
details, the better.
Although their structure varies project-by-project,
typically they reflect packages to be given to THE CLEARER A DESCRIPTION IS, THE MORE
subcontractors from contractors. Specifically, LIKELY IT WILL BE EXECUTED CORRECTLY.
this is extremely helpful in the tender process.
Without access to the right and an abundance of
Specification is an integral part of a building data, projects can easily fail.
plan. It is a requirement in securing building
As construction projects become more complex
permit in the Philippines. It is a precise, explicit
and budgets become scrutinized, access to
statement of enumeration of particulars as to
ample data is critical to making the right
size, shape, equality, color, manner and
decisions when building. Most importantly, if
procedures of making things right. It is
specifications are done correctly, they reduce
presented in a short, simple, concise and direct
language easily understood.
risk. In construction, controlling risk is essential quality of materials and checking if installed
to managing end-to-end project lifecycle. properly.

Furthermore, specifications are particularly

important during the tender process for pricing.
Performance Specifications
With solid specifications, the contractor should
have no doubt about pricing during this process. Performance specifications discuss the
operational requirements of a project. It details
what the final installed product has to be
Main Types of Construction Specifications capable of doing.

Each project is unique and will need a different In this phase, the owner or general contractor
set of specifications and most likely doesn’t give a subcontractor specifications
corresponding packages. However, there are detailing how to finish the job. Instead,
three (3) main types of construction designers and architects give contractors
specifications commonly used on projects: details on how the final product has to work in
this phase. For example, a contract asks the
team to make a pump that pumps 300 gallons per
Prescriptive Specifications minute. There are no directions on how to make
the pumping system go that fast, so it is up to the
Of the three types of construction specifications,
contractor to figure it out.
prescriptive specifications focus on the details
for the types of materials used and the Of the three types of construction specifications,
installation of said materials. this phase involves most of the testing to make
sure a project meets all of its operational
Architects or engineers tend to take over the job
requirements.
of project design in prescriptive specifications.
Prescriptive specifications give a better image of The architect or engineer describes the project
what the final product will look like compared to outcome and trusts the trade contractor’s
other specifications. experience to get there. Since the contractor has
to figure out what to do, decisions about
Prescriptive specifications can be broken up into
materials and strategy move away from the
three separate parts: general, products and
architect and engineers and shift towards the
execution.
contractor.
GENERAL consists of information such as
national quality standards, product handling,
design requirements, and keeping quality control. Proprietary Specifications

The PRODUCTS phase will go over the different Proprietary specifications are used when you
products necessary for each task as well as the need to use a single type of product for any kind
individual performance levels of each product. of installation. These are the least common of
the three types of construction specifications,
The EXECUTION phase will go over how to
but they are for jobs involving existing
prepare materials and go through with installing
equipment and already completed
them. The process also involves testing the
installations.
When the owner or client wants to be consistent If you’re a designer or architect, spend the time to
with their materials or just prefers a specific type get these documents right so your vision for the
of material, use proprietary specifications. project is executed correctly.

Contractors use proprietary specifications when If you’re an owner or contractor, ensure you have
their section of the projects is dependent upon all the information you and your team needs to
the performance of a specific product. carry out the details of your project on time and
budget.
Architects and engineers tend to try and avoid
proprietary specifications because it can lead And just remember being overly specific never
to promoting a specific manufacturer. hurt anyone in a construction process.

Favoring a manufacturer can discourage

competition during the bid phase of the project,
CALCULATIONS
which may increase the total cost of the project.
Architects and engineers will give the contractor The design of a building involves many
a list of reliable suppliers to choose to stop this. disciplines, and each of them contributes an
important element to the process.

Architects give your building the appearance of

How can Specifications Be Improved?
your choice and make it function the way you
Construction specifications will no doubt need want.
dedicated time and resources to get them right.
Mechanical, Electrical, and Sanitary Engineers
In general, the design phase is critical to setting
and Master Plumbers design the systems that let
up the success of a project and specifications
your occupants enjoy comfortable temperatures,
should be taken seriously.
fresh air, the convenience of electricity, potable
In the past, specifications were one of the last water, and sanitation services.
items to be written before tender. However, this is
Structural Engineers design structures to defy
changing. As the industry faces increased
gravity, withstand heavy wings, and continue
competition and technology like BIM provides a
standing even as the ground beneath them starts
better analysis of what needs to be done before
to shake. Engineers support their design with
construction begins, specifications have
structural computations – a complex, little-know
increased in importance. A natural first step in
tool that lacks the glory of architectural design.
creating valuable specifications is not waiting
until the last minure. They are the math behind your building’s ability to
stay upright. Engineers use them to determine the
loads that a building must withstand and the
Be Specific, Be Really Specific properties of members that comprise its
structure. In the permitting process, the accuracy
Construction specifications, although time
of structural calculations plays a critical part.
consuming and sometimes part of a tedious
Building department officials examine them for
process, are a necessary step in a successful
compliance with all applicable local codes, non-
project.
compliant calculations are sent back for revisions
to the engineering team, thus delaying the permit ELECTRICAL CALCULATIONS
process and the scheduled construction date.
Design calculations establish minimum
guidelines and requirements for generating
electrical calculations on projects. Electrical
How Structural Calculations Fit Into the Design
calculations should be made for all projects that
Process
include electrical components and should be file
Architectural planning is the first stage in the in the project notebook.
design process. This phase give the client a
chance to share his vision with the architect and
communicate your intentions regarding the ELECTRICAL DESIGN ANALYSIS
building’s appearance, function, and cost. The
Design calculations may be made either
architect then interpolates your conceptions into
manually or by computer programs. This is a
the design and lays them out in a set of drawings.
computation or selection of the following:
The next step is to design a structure that can
A. Size/type/number of wires and size/type of
support the building’s architectural features.
conduits for branch circuits, sub-feeders,
The engineers in charge of the process will
feeders, busway and service entrance.
perform several calculations during this process.
B. Type, rating and trip setting of overload
First, Engineers must predict what loads they
protective devices.
expect to act on the building. Referred to as
specified loads, these include: C. Short circuit current and interrupting
capacity of overcurrent protection device.
1. Live Loads, which are imposed by the
occupants, furniture, vehicles and D. Voltage Drop
equipment

2. Dead Loads, caused by the weight of the

SCHEDULE OF LOADS
building itself.
This is a load tabulation which indicates the
3. Loads inflicted by the forces of nature,
following:
such as wind and earthquakes.
a. Branch circuit for each load or
Next, Engineers must work out the design loads
combination of loads
– the loads they intend the structure to handle.
These are higher than specified loads, as b. Rating of each load and the corresponding
buildings are typically designed to withstand computations
more loads than they are likely to bear. c. Source of electric power and rating of
With loads established, engineers can design the service equipment protective device and
structure. At this stage, building code dimension disconnect
tables will be used to find out the appropriate d. Number of phases, type and size of wiring
sizes of structural members.
e. Service entrance, feeder, sub-feeder, etc.
Mechanical Load Calculations Plumbing and Sanitary Design

Mechanical systems have a very important role in The classification of plumbing fixtures of water
buildings, keeping indoor conditions that are supply and drainage refers to fixtures in:
healthy, comfortable and safe for humans.
• Residences including houses and
Some example of mechanical equipment are
apartments
boilers, furnaces, air conditioners, chillers, air
handlers, cooling towers, fan coils, water heaters, • Toilets in the rooms of hotels and motels
booster pumps, fire pumps and automatic used by guests.
sprinklers.
• Similar installations in other buildings
Building mechanical systems use large amount where fixtures are intended for the use of
of energy and water, especially if they are individuals or families.
oversized or lacking smart controls. Mechanical
engineers do not recommend undersized
equipment either, since this can create Eight steps to determine plumbing system
unsuitable or dangerous conditions. More is not requirements
better in mechanical design, and the best
1. Available water pressure
performance is achieved when equipment
capacity is optimized for the building. 2. Determine the pressure requirements

Mechanical load calculation is a very important 3. Water supply demand

step of the building design process. When the 4. Pressure losses through building supply
capacity of all mechanical installations is systems
optimized for the needs of your building, you can
achieve high performance at an optimal cost. 5. Longest and developed pipe length

Consider that many mechanical components 6. Allowable friction loss

are heavy and bulky, and modifications can be 7. Pipe size and flow requirements
expensive and difficult.

By working with qualified mechanical

engineers during the design phase, you can
avoid expensive change orders during
construction.

The entire mechanical design process depends

on load calculations. Even if you use the highest
quality equipment, performance will be poor if
mechanical load calculations were inaccurate.
BUILDING SERVICE SYTEMS INTRODUCTION

Building service is one of the important parts of

WHAT IS A BUILDING? the building because:

A structure that has a roof and walls and stands - It will make a building function well
permanently in one place. The primary function of
- Responsible for the design, installation
buildings is to provide shelter to its occupants.
and operation and monitoring of the
WHAT IS BUILDING SERVICE? mechanical, electrical and public health
systems
Building function cannot be limited to provide
shelter only. Basically “Building Services” is what - Make a building more safe, more
that make the building comes to life. comfortable

Building should be designed in such a way to As such, a typical building services engineer has
provide an environment where people can feel a wide-ranging career path. Communication
comfortable, work, live and achieve. lines, telephones and IT networks also make an
important role in building services and the
So, everything inside a building which makes it
modern technology.
safe and comfortable comes under “Building
Services”. ICT uses fiber optics than normal internet cable
which increases internet speed instead of metal
A building must do what it was designed to do –
wires, signals travel with less loss and immune to
not just provide shelter but also provide a safe,
electromagnetic interference. Fibers are also
comfortable and livable environment.
used for illumination and are wrapped in bundles
Building services contribute largely to the so they can be used to carry images, thus allowing
sustainability and functioning of the building. viewing in tight spaces.

Building services systems are essential

provisions for a building, accounting for 20% to
BUILDING SERVICES
40% of the total construction cost.
• HVAC

• Water supply

• Drainage and Plumbing

• Lighting – Day and Artificial

• Communications, Telephones and IT

Networks

• Energy Supply = Gas, electricity and

renewable resources

• Automation

• Kitchen
 • Acoustics amount of energy, water and other resources
which lead to a large amount of wastes.
• Fire Detection and Protection
The complexity of mechanical and electrical
• Security and Alarm Systems
systems varies according to living standard of the
• Escalators and Lifts society, the climatic conditions of the region and
the occupancy and quality of the building.
• Ventilation and Refrigeration

• Harnessing Solar, Wind and Biomass

energy OBJECTIVES OF BUILDING SERVICES
ENGINEERING DESIGN
• Façade Engineering
• HYGIENE (prevent disease and ensure
health)
IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING SERVICES
• SAFETY ( protect against risks)
Today, with the advancement of sciences and
• COMFORT (physio- and psycho- well-
technology, all those building services listed
beings)
above are more modern and became
indispensable for buildings. • CONVENIENCE (efficiency and
productivity)
As an example, certain types of buildings such as
department store or industrial buildings are
almost 100% dependent of electrical lighting,
WORK ACTIVITIES
ventilating and space heating.
Building services engineers design building
High rise buildings rely on vertical transportation
services systems, supervise the installation and
and high-speed pressure for water supply.
operation. Certain types of buildings need
Although those services are indispensable for complex building services.
modern buildings, they also have an impact. In
For example, computer rooms need precise
fact, implementation of those services demands
controls of temperature and humidity, hospital
a considerable amount of floor and ceiling so
operating theatres must be completely sterile,
proper planning is necessary for their allocation.
and factories must prevent any harmful fumes
Increase of ceiling and floors will lead to an from going into the atmosphere.
increase of the cost of construction to which
Office buildings, swimming pools, cold stores,
building construction team should be aware of.
museums, and leisure centers also have practical
One of the considerable impacts on building is
requirements that building services engineers
the increase of energy consumption which does
need to meet.
not only affect the building but the environment
as well. Some building services engineers are mainly
office-based as they specialize in design work.
In fact, designing, construction, operating and
They work closely with the architect, the
maintaining buildings demand a considerable
customer and other members of the design team
to prepare a design for a building project. This
includes all drawings and detailed specifications • Designing site-specific equipment as
for use by the contractor. They often use required;
computer-aided design (CAD) packages for this
• Overseeing and supervising the
work.
installation of building systems and
Design must meet environmental needs, use specifying maintenance and operating
energy efficiently and meet the budget set by the procedures;
customer. Engineers need overall knowledge of
• Monitoring building systems and
the full range of building services, although they
processes;
usually specialize in either mechanical services
or lighting/electrical services. • Making decisions about expired systems
equipment and the appropriate location of
Typical works of building services consulting
new equipment;
firms include:
• Facilities management;
• Feasibility, inspection, technical reports,
estimating • Liaising closely with other professionals,
including structural engineers, builders,
• Design, specification, drawings, tender
architects and surveyors, and in-house
procurement
project teams;
• Contract management, site supervision,
• Attending a range of project group and
cost control
technical meetings;
Activities vary according to the specialist area of
• Ensuring that the design and maintenance
work and employer. However, tasks typically
of building systems meets legislative and
involve:
health and safety requirements;
• Negotiating and developing project
• Advising clients and architects on energy
contracts and agreeing these with clients,
use and conservation in a range of
if working in consultancy, and putting out
buildings and sites, aiming to minimize the
tenders;
environmental impact and reduce the
• Commissioning, organizing and assessing carbon footprint;
the work of contractors;
• Working on a variety of projects within a
• Working with detailed diagrams, plans and short period of time.
drawings;

• Using specialist computer-aided design

CLASSIFICATION OF BUILDING SERVICES
(CAD) software and other resources to
design the systems required for the project Mechanical systems include:

• Managing and forecasting spend, using • HVAC Systems: heating, ventilation and air
whole life cycle costing techniques, conditioning
ensuring that work is kept to budget;
• Site drainage: water, drainage, sanitary
disposal
 • Plumbing: water distribution, water • Gravity and pumped combination
treatment, sanitary facilities
The choice of the distribution system depends on
• Fire protection: water supply, standpipe, the topography of the site, location and extent of
fire and smoke detection, annunciation the distribution area and elevations and site
conditions.
• Gas supply

Electrical systems include:

GRAVITY AND PUMPED COMBINATION
• Electrical power: normal, standby,
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
emergency power supply and distribution

• Lighting: interior, exterior, emergency light

• Auxiliary: telephone, data, audio and video

sound

Building operation systems include:

• Transportation: elevators, escalators,

moving walkways

• Processing; product, food, services

• Automation: environmental control and

management

COLD WATER STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION

WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

The water distributed for fire protection,

domestic, commercial, agricultural, and
industrial uses is treated. The general guidelines
for treated water are:

The water must be clean, colorless, odorless, free

from suspension and harmful bacteria.

Water supply system is set up in urban and

suburban areas, as well as most of the rural
areas. The purpose of distribution system is to
deliver water to consumer with appropriate
quality, quantity and pressure.

There are three (3) types of water distribution

system:

• Gravity system

• Direct pumped system

PIPING SIZING AND PLUMBING energy. Electricity provides energy for the
elevators and materials transporters, and energy
for signal and communication equipment.

Lighting is the major user of electrical energy in

most buildings. In commercial buildings, motors
are the second heaviest use of electrical energy
for heating, ventilating, and air conditioning
(HVAC) systems, plumbing pumps, elevators and
most industrial processes. As a designer, we have
The selection of pipes and sizing varies according responsibility for seeing that power is available
to different function and purpose. Oversizing of where needed for our client’s equipment and for
pipes will result in high cost and it may be making sure that the lighting and appliances are
unnecessary. It will also cause delay in receiving appropriate and energy efficient.
water at outlets. However, under-sizing of pipes
may result in slow or even no water during peak GENERAL DISTRIBUTION
demand period. It will also create noise as the
water pressure is too high to flow through such a
narrow pipe.

EMERGENCY POWER SYSTEM

PIPE USAGE DIAMETER (inches)
An emergency power system is an independent
Rising Main 6 source of electrical power that supports
important electrical systems on loss of normal
Overflow Pipe 5
power supply. A standby power system may
Distribution Pipe 4 include a standby generator, batteries and other
apparatus. Emergency power systems are
Service Pipe 3 and below
installed to protect life and properly from the
effect of loss of primary electric power supply.

ELECTRICAL SUPPLY SYSTEM Mains power can be lost due to downed lines,
malfunctions at a substation, inclement
Electricity is the most dominant kind of energy in
condition, planned blackouts or in extreme cases
a modern building. Electricity supplies electrical
a grid-wide failure. In modern buildings, most
outlets and lighting fixtures. Ventilation, heating
emergency power systems have been and are still
and cooling equipment depend upon electrical
based on generators. Normally, these generators DISTRIBUTION BOARD
are Diesel engine driven, although smaller
A distribution board is a control board or
buildings may use a gas engine driven generator
enclosure that houses the fuses, circuit breakers,
and larger ones a gas turbine.
and ground leakage protection units used to
distribute electrical power to numerous
individual circuits or consumer points. The board
SWITCH BOARD
typically has a single incoming power source and
There are multiple elements that make up a includes a main circuit and a residual current or
switchboard including a frame, buses, earth leakage protection device.
overcurrent protective devices, service metering
and outer covers.

SEWERAGE, SANITARY AND DRAINAGE

In order to manage human waste, industry waste

and excess rainwater to keep the living area of
human clean and comfortable, the drainage
system, sewerage system and sanitary
appliances play an important role.

Drainage system is a system of piping to run off

excess water whereas sewage system is to
dispose the wastewater and solids in a proper
way. Wastewater also called sewage, can be
defined as any liquid waste that contains animal,
vegetable or chemical waste in solution. A fixture
that connected to the sewer pipe is sanitary
appliance which allows a person to put in sewage
or liquids into the sewerage system and the
medium used to flush the sewage into the sewer
pipe is water.
SEWERAGE water resources and prevent untreated amount of
overflow directly into our water body.
Sewerage is considered as the collection,
treatment, and disposal of liquid waste. Physical
structures required for that collection, treatment
and disposal are all included in sewerage work.

Sewage is the liquid waste carried by a sewer and

may include domestic and industrial discharges
as well as storm sewage, infiltration and inflow.
Sewage which forms in the sanitary
conveniences of dwellings, commercial or
industrial facilities and institutions is sanitary MANHOLE
sewage. Storm sewage is flow derived from
It provides access to a sewer for testing, visual
rainfall events and carried into sewers intended
inspection of sewers, maintenance of flow or
for its transporting.
water quality-monitoring instruments and
removing obstruction in the sewer line.
Furthermore, it also allows joining of sewer or
COMBINED SEWER AND SEPARATED SEWER
alignment of sewer or both and help in ventilation
Combined sewer is designed to collect rainwater of sewage. It is provided when there is change in
runoff, domestic sewage and industrial grades or sizes of sewer. Normally, at the junction
wastewater in the same pipe then transport to s of two or more sewer there will be manhole
sewage treatment plant to be treated and provided.
discharged to a water body. Between dry and wet
weather, there will be large distribution in flow
which will cause the combined sewer overflows.
The overflow may cause serious pollution to the
environment.

MECHANICAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

Mechanical transportation systems also allow

Separated sewer is designed to collect storm people who were previously unable to climb
water and wastewater with separate pipe. The stairs, for example, the disabled and the elderly to
system will be split into sanitary sewer system move throughout a building. It also enables
and storm sewer system, and they will collect and structures to be built higher as building materials
direct wastewater and storm water respectively. can be transported easily to upper floors when
This provide more capacity and prevent flooding. constructing the building.
Besides, it also allow stormwater to be used as
Vertical transportation consists of elevators and
escalators while horizontal transportation
consists of travelators.

Elevators are the most used mode of vertical

transportation in modern buildings, namely
commercial, office, and residential structures
having more than three stories. Elevators are
used to move persons from levels to levels within
a structure.

Elevators are also used to move goods and in

some cases motor vehicles. They provide ease of HYDRAULIC ELEVATOR
movement between floors as well as function as Hydraulic elevators are supported by a piston at
a transportation device for various goods. the bottom of the elevator that pushes the
TYPES OF ELEVATOR elevator up as an electric motor forces oil or
another hydraulic fluid into the piston. The
There are two types of elevator system which is elevator descends as a valve releases the fluid
traction elevator and hydraulic elevator. from the piston.
Traction elevator includes geared traction, They are used for low-rise applications of 2-8
gearless traction, and machine-room less. stories and travel at a maximum speed of 200 feet
For hydraulic elevator, it includes conventional per minute. The machine room for hydraulic
hydraulic elevator, hole less hydraulic elevator elevators is located at the lowest level adjacent to
and roped hydraulic elevator. the elevator shaft.

TRACTION ELEVATOR

Traction elevators are lifted by ropes, which pass ELEVATOR COMPONENTS

over a wheel attached to an electric motor above Elevator has two main elements which is
the elevator shaft. They are used for mid and high-
rise applications and have much higher travel the elevator car and the elevator shaft.
speeds than hydraulic elevators. A counterweight Elevator Car
makes the elevators more efficient by offsetting
the weight of the car and occupants so that the The primary components of an elevator
motor does not have to more as much weight. Car are:

1. Car sling

2. The
elevator
cabin

3. Car
operating
panel
 4. Car door Intercommunications System
are located. Some panels are
5. Car Operator
provided with switches and
6. Guide Shoes buttons that are used by
elevator operators and others,
CAR SLING
inside the service cabinet.
A car sling is the framework which encloses the
cab. The ropes, guides, and platform are
attached to the sling. The width and height of the CAR DOOR
sling depends on the platform. Width and cab
All the passenger and fireman’s elevators use
height respectively.
center operating elevator car door. As for the
freight elevator/cargo lift, the door used is two
vertical sliding doors. The two vertical sliding
doors can either be operated automatically or
manually. Most elevators only have a front
opening door.

ELEVATOR CABIN

The elevator cabinet is

the interior of the car
where passengers stand CAR OPERATOR
while being transported. A door operator is a motor-driven device
The cabinets are monitored on
completely enclosed with the elevator
openings being only the car that opens
car door, an emergency and closes
trap door as well as ventilation apertures. An the car doors.
elevator cabinet has many choices for the
finished interior materials such as stainless steel,
cold rolled steel, bronze and plastic laminates. GUIDE SHOES

Elevator car doors

contain guide shoes
CAR OPERATING PANEL
which are devices used to
Is a device mounted inside a car, which the items guide both car and
necessary for car operation such as Car buttons, devices used to guide
Door Open/Close buttons, Alarm Button and both car and
counterweight along the path of the guard rails. In 1. Guide rails for both the car and
addition, they also make sure that the lateral counterweight
motion of the car and the counterweight is kept as
2. Counterweight
a bare minimum while it is travelling along the
guard rails. 3. Suspension Cables

Roller guides are guide shoes which use rollers 4. Landing doors
that rotate on guide rails. (A set of three wheels
5. Buffers in the pit
that rolls against the guard rails) rather than
sliding on the rails.
GUIDE RAILS

ENTRANCE PROTECTION SYSTEM The guide

rails of an
All automatic elevators, regardless of whether of
elevator are
not equipped with made of steel
detection beams, are with a T shape,
required’ they are used to guide and direct the course of
travel of an elevator car and elevator
by ANSI to have safety
counterweights and is usually mounted on the
edge on the car doors that
sides of the shaft.
causes the car and hoist
Traction elevators use two sets of guide rails. The
way doors, which operate
rails to guide the elevator car are called main rails
In synchrony, to reopen when the safety edge while the rails to guide the counterweight are
called counterweight rails.
meets any obstruction. Car doors are arranged to

“nudge” when almost closed or after a specific

COUNTERWEIGHT
time period.
The counterweights consist of individual flat
plates of steel. The
ELEVATOR SHAFT number of plates in
the stack depends on
An elevator
the amount of weight
shaft is the
required.
space
enclosed by The counterweights
fireproof walls and elevator doors which houses are secured within
the elevator as well as the pit. The shaft the counterweight
terminates at the underside of the overhead frame by rods that run through the weights
machinery space floor or at the underside of the themselves. This design prevents the plates from
roof. becoming loose and falling out.

The main components of an elevator shaft are:

SUSPENSION CABLES ARRANGEMENT OF ESCALATOR

Elevator cables are used Escalators are constructed in two ways which are
to suspend and bear the parallel arrangement and crisscross
weight of the elevator arrangement. The difference between the two
car and counterweight. arrangement is that in the crisscross
They are generally made from thick steel wire arrangement, the upper and the lower terminal
ropes. They are used on traction elevators and are entrances and the exits to the up and down
usually attached to the crosshead and extending escalators are separated by the horizontal length
up into the motor while looping over the sheave of an escalator, whereas in either of the parallel
on the motor and then down to the arrangements, the two escalators face in the
counterweights. same direction.

Parallel escalator arrangement

LANDING DOOR

Landing door is installed to connect every floor of

the building to the lift shaft. Landing door works
dependently in conjunction with the elevator car
door. It is opened or closed by electric motors.
During emergency, the landing door can be
opened or closed manually like the elevator car Crisscross escalator arrangement
door. The difference between the car doors and
the landing doors is that the elevator car door
travels through the hoist way with the car but the
landing doors are fixed doors in each landing
floor.

ESCALATOR SYSTEM

An escalator is a moving staircase generated by

ESCALATOR COMPONENTS
an electric motor.
Escalator is able to carry
people between floors of
a building. The device
consists of a motor-
driven chain of
individual, linked steps
that move up or down on tracks, allowing the step
treads to remain horizontal.
ESCALATOR TRUSS Every air-conditioning system is designed to carry
out wither for comfort or industrial purposes. Air-
An escalator truss
conditioners designed for comfort purposes are
is the structural
usually found in homes, restaurants, hospitals,
frame of an
vehicles and public transports. They function to
escalator
remove discomfort of allergies an help preserve
consisting of the
the thermal comfort of a building.
lower section,
incline section, and There are four types of air-conditioning systems:
upper section. It is
1. The Window Air Conditioning System
made of a hollow metal structure that bridges the
lower and upper landings composed of two side 2. Split Air Conditioning System
sections joined together with cross braces across
3. Centralized Air Conditioning System
the bottom and just below the top.
4. Packaged Air Conditioning System

ESCALATOR STEPS
FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
Escalator steps are solid aluminum or steel
linked by a continuous metal chain that forms a Buildings commonly contain three basic sources
closed loop. The edge of each step is connected of ignition: chemical, electrical, and mechanical.
to two wheels attached to the tracks, to enable In chemical combustion, most commonly known
the control of the of the orientation of the steps by as spontaneous combustion, some chemicals
tracks. reach ignition at ordinary temperature within
buildings. Electrical heat energy is most
commonly supplied by resistance heating, a
familiar process in many appliances and in
space-heating equipment. Mechanical hear
energy is produced by friction, by overheating of
machinery, and occasionally by the heat of
compression.
AIR-CONDITIONING AND MECHANICAL
VENTILATION
ALARM INITINIATION DEVICES
Air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation
systems executes cooling for commercial SMOKE DETECTOR
residential or industry buildings. Air-conditioning
Two commonly used
systems are responsible for providing fresh
smoke detectors are
outdoor air to regulate the indoor contaminants
Optical smoke
such as smells from occupants, volatile organic
detectors and
compounds (VOC’s) emitted from interior
ionization smoke
furnishings, cleaning chemicals, etc. A properly
detector. Smoke
maintained and designed system will provide a
detectors can detect
continuous flow of fresh air in a building.
the presence of smoke in an area when it reached landings or corridors. The call point contains a
the ceiling where the detector is normally depressed plunger pressing against a glass front.
located. Smoke detector is an automatic
actuating device which is a first device to detect
fire and notify the occupants in the building. It is NOTIFICATION APPLIANCES
normally connected to the alarm system and
ALARM BELL
power by central alarm system or a fire
suppression system. Alarm bell may be used for fire alarm signals
where their
sound is
GAS DETECTOR distinctive and
will not confuse
Measures and indicates the concentration of
with similar
certain gases in
audible signals
an air via
used for other
different
purpose. Bells may be provided with 4-inch
technologies.
through 12-inch gongs (in 2-ich increments). The
Generally used
6-inch and 10-inch sizes are the most commonly
to prevent toxic
used. Usually, bells with 4-inch gongs are
exposure and
reserved for use as trouble signals. Generally, the
fire, gas
larger the diameter of the gongs, the lower the
detectors are often battery-operated devices
frequency and the louder the audible signals.
used for safety purposes. Gas detector is
manufactured as portable or stationary unit and
work by signifying high levels of gases through a
SPEAKER
series of audible or visible indicators, such as
alarms, lights or a combination of signals. Speakers are frequently used as fire alarm
signaling appliances. Since they reproduce
electronic signals, they can be made to sound like
BREAK-GLASS any mechanical signaling device and have the
capability of reproducing unique sounds that are
Is a manual actuating device to activate fire
not practical on mechanical appliances. In
alarm. Electrically
addition, they may be used to give live or recorded
operated alarm
voice instructions.
may be operated
from break glass
call point and once
operated; the alarm
will continue to sound automatically. The usual
maximum travel distance to operate the alarm is
30m and the call points should be fitted at a
height of about 1.4m above the floor, either on
SIREN FIRE INDICATOR LIGHT

Sirens usually are limited to outdoor applications Fire detectors like smoke or gas detector are used
but are sometimes to trigger the fire alarm. They are connected in
used in extremely parallel with each other but in series with the
noisy indoor areas. indicator lights. Once the fire detectors are
Sirens are motor- activated, the fire indicator light will turn RED
driven or electronic From GREEN to indicate a fire or overhead
appliances and conditions. Fire indicator lights are often used for
may be either alternating or direct current electrical room, gen-set room, AHU room, etc.
operated. They are not very practical for use as a
coded audible signal.
FIRE CONTROL / EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS

FIRE HYDRANT SYSTEM

LIGHTING AND SIGNAGE
The fire hydrant system is the backbone of the
EMERGENCY EXIT SIGN
Firefighting system in a building or premises. The
Emergency exit sign is part of a complete life System is a water distribution system consisting
safety and fire protection system and is required of water tank, suction piping, fire pumps and a
In all public buildings. Exit signs are positioned Distributed piping system. The distributed piping
doorways and stairwells and are always System establishes connectivity throughout the
illuminated. Emergency lights are usually building through fire hydrants, hoses and nozzles.
installed inside, however, exterior pathways, The purpose is to provide a readily available
parades and some public venues also have Source of water to any point throughout the
emergency lighting. The right light depends on a building. This helps in controlling fire during an
variety of factors. emergency.

EMERGENCY EXIT LIGHT SPRINKLER SYSTEM

Emergency lighting is lighting for an emergency Typically, Fire Sprinkler Systems are made up
situation when the main poser supply is cut and from a series of components including stop
any normally illumination fails. The loss of main valve, alarm valve, fire sprinkler, alarm test valve
electricity could be the result of a fire or a power and motorized alarm bell. In addition to this,
cut and the normal lighting supplies fail. This may there are additional components that support
lead to sudden darkness and a possible danger to this arrangement including a valve monitor,
the occupants, either through physical danger or pressure switch and flow switch.
panic.
HOSE REEL SYSTEM both in the air to the point where the combustion
stops.
Hose reel system is intended for the occupant to
use during the FIRE EXTINGUISHER
early stages of
Fire extinguishers are extremely valuable for
fire and
Extinguishing fires at the early stages, but they
comprises hose
Cannot be used successfully to deal with large
reel pumps, fire
Fires. Portable fire extinguishers are the first-aid
water tank, hose
Firefighting appliances which can be carried by
reels, pipe work
hand and from which the extinguishing agent can
and valves. The
be Expelled, usually under pressure.
hose reel system generally serves as an initial
firefighting aid. The system is manually operated
and activated by opening a valve enabling the
water to flow into the hose that is typically 30
meters away.

WET RISER SYSTEM

FIREMAN SWITCH
The wet riser system is a typical installation in a
high-rise The fireman switch is a switch-disconnect or
building. It is isolator for
used to supply special
water from the applications.
wet riser water These switches
tank, through wet are on the outside
riser pipes, distributed to each floor, and ending wall of
at the canvas hoses and hose reels. commercial
buildings. They are designed to by easy to spot
and used by firemen to turn off neon-lighting or
CARBON DIOXIDE FIRE SUPPRESSION other hazardous electrical equipment in case of
SYSTEM fire.

Carbon dioxide is a clean and efficient fire FIRE STAIRCASE

extinguisher A fire escape is an emergency exit, usually
agent. It is installed at the outside of a building or
colorless, non- sometimes inside but separate from the main
conductive and areas of the building. It provides a method of
non-corrosive escape in the event of a fire or other emergency
inert gas which evaporates without leaving any that makes the stairwells inside a building
residue after discharge. CO2 works by smothering inaccessible.
the flames and reducing the flames and reducing
the oxygen content in the vapor phase of fuel or