THE FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC

IDAH
SCHOOL OF ENVIRONEMENTAL STUDIES.
DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING TECHNOLOGY

ASSIGNMENT ON
BUILDING SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT 1
COURSE CODE: ( BLD 315)

SUBMMITED
BY
GROUP C
LEVEL: HND 1
NAMES OF GROUP MEMBERS
IBOYI ENEBINELSON
SULE ILIASU
OMAYEBU I. UMAR
RASAQ SULEIMAN OLAWOLE
ADENIYI JOHNSON TEMITOPE
OLUGBISI ODEDOYIN
AKAGWU SOLOMON AKOJI
DANIEL ENEMALI OMAOJO
UMORU MARTHA

QUESTION: DIRECT AND INDIRECT COLD WATER SUPPLY

APRIL, 2019.
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DIRECT AND INDIRECT COLD WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

COLD-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

For domestic dwelling, water supplied to kitchen sink that used for cooking shall

be direct supply from mains to ensure it cleanliness and high level of freshness. For

high-rise building or building constructed on high ground where pressure is low, it

is usually necessary to provide pumping equipment with extra water cisterm. There

are two distinct systems for cold-water supply:

1. Direct system

2. Indirect system

DIRECT SYSTEM

In a direct system water is supplied at mains pressure to all cold water taps/faucets,

WC (Toilets) cisterns and a cold water storage cistern. Tank if hot water is to be

supplied from open vented (low pressure) hot water cylinder.

This is an unbalanced cold water system because the cold water outlet pressure at

taps/faucets is higher that the hot water from the open vented cylinder.

To have a balanced cold water system, the cold water storage cistern must be

removed and the open vented hot water cylinder replaced with a mains pressure

supplied unvented hot water cylinder.

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The pipe circuit for cold water distribution in the home branches off after the

pressure reducing valve on the supply pipe thereby balancing the system enabling

equal cold and hot water pressure at all draw-offs (Outlets).

However, the trade off with the use of unvented cylinder is that you no longer have

stored cold water for toilet flushing in the event of a mains water failure. With a

direct cold water system you have the advantage of being able to draw drinking

water from any cold water taps/faucets in the house.

In direct system all sanitary fitting are supplied with cold water direct from the

main, and a cold-water feed cisterns is required to feed the hot water storage

cylinder.

The capacity in liters of the feed cistern is required to be at least equally to the

capacity in liters of the hot-water cylinder.

Good pressure on the water main is required, pipe work is reduced to a minimum,

and drinking water is available at every draw-off point.

ADVANTAGES OF DIRECT SYSTEM

1. Clean water for drink

2. Minimum pipe work

3. Low maintenance.

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DISADVANTAGES OF DIRECT SYSTEM

1. Pressurized water may be difficult during periods

2. Risk to the stop supply of water due to maintenance work.

If you have a direct cold water system you will only need water storage for hot

water. All of your taps with dispense drinkable water as they will be connected to

the mains supply.

A direct water supply has a greater risk of pollution than an indirect supply. They

are also affected by burst result in a lack of water for your property. Direct water

supplies are subjected to high pressures which cause wear and tear in your fittings.

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INDIRECT SYSTEM

An indirect cold water system is when water is supplied to the house at mains

pressure; this water is fed direct to a cold water storage cistern via the supply pipe

called the rising main:

A branch pie of the rising main delivers drinking water to the kitchen and garden

tap/faucet, cold water to all other taps/faucets and appliances is provided indirectly

from the cold water storage cistern (not for drinking) under gravity pressure not

mains pressure.

The hot water storage cylinder is also supplied with cold water from the same

cistern.

With an indirect cold water system there is always a temporary back up of stored

water in the event of a mains failure. Also, because it is a low pressure system it is

generally quieter therefore eliminating noise like water hammer which can occur

when high pressure water tries to negotiate tight bends in the pipe work.

Indirect cold water systems do slightly reduce the risk of impure water being

siphoned back into the mains water supply by having fewer outlets (taps/faucets

and appliances) connected to the mains supply.

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However, this can easily be protected against in both the and indirect cold water

system by installing a non-return valve or check valve immediately after the main

stop-valve supplying water to the house. This would be good practice.

A non-return or check valve only permits water to flow through it in one direction.

Fitting a drain valve after (downstream) the non-return valve after the main stop-

valve will enable draining of the rising main pipe.

Garden taps/faucets should also have a non-return valve to prevent back siphoning

which can contaminate the distributed water within the house and the mains

supply.

Indirect system all the sanitary fittings, except drinking water draw-offs at sinks

and fountains, are supplied indirectly form a cold-water storage cistern.

Since the cistern supplies cold water to baths, showers, etc. and also feeds the hot

water cylinder, its capacity in liters will be approximately double that required for

direct system.

Requires more pipe work than the direct system, more expensive to installed and

provides a large reserve of water

ADVANTAVGE OF INDIRECT COLD WATER SYSTEM

1. No risk of stop supply water (storage) – reserve.

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DISADVANTAGES OF INDIRECT COLD WATER SYSTEM

1. Only water supply from sink can be used for drinking direct.

2. More pipe work

3. More expensive to install.

If you have an indirect cold water supply, the only taps that source water from the

mains supply will be those used for drinking water and food preparation, the rest

will source from the storage cistern. Storage water is used for heating, bathing and

flushing the toilet.

Indirect supplies causes less wear on plumbing materials than direct supplies

because less pressure is put on them.

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ISOLATING THE SYSTEM

The entire water system in both direct and indirect cold water system can be

isolated by closing off the main stop-valve. This stop-valve can be located inside

or outsider the property. If located outsider it is generally below ground.

Water to any cold water storage cisterns/tanks can be closed off by the stop-valve

on the rising main just before connecting to the cold water storage cistern/tank.

Water to the INC cistern, cold water storage cistern/tank and a feed and expansion

cistern/tank for central heating must be isolated with a stop-valve or service valve

prior to connecting to the cistern as water is allowed to enter these cisterns through

a ball float valve.

If the ball or valve failed then there would be considerable water wastage and

possible water damage to the property.

All water cisterns/tank must have a overflow or warning pipe designed to

discharge water in a conspicuous external location so quickly alerting you to the

problem. Most modern close-coupled WC cisterns will overflow pipe discharges

externally.

The water supply from the storage cistern/tank feeding the hot water cyclinder can

isolated by closing off the gate valve. This is a full bore valve designed to allow

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full water flow through it, and should ideally be installed in the vertical section of

pipe before connecting to the hot water cylinder.

Because this cold water feed connection is made near the base of the hot water

cylinder a drain valve should be located before connecting to the cylinder to enable

the cylinder to be drained. Unvented hot water cylinders depending on type and

building regulations are Isolated by the main stop-valve on the supply pipe before

the cold water control valves, or a stop-valve before the cyclinder connection, or an

integrated stop-valve if using a composite valve set-up.

A composite valve is comprised of a line strainer, a pressure reducing valve, a non-

return/check valve, an expansion release valve and a isolation valve designed to

speed up installation of unvented cyclinders.

All water pipers servicing taps/faucets, baths basins, sinks and appliances such as

dish washers and washing machines etc. should ideally be fitted with service

valves on both the hot and cold service pipes. This will enable easy isolation for

repair of upgrade without having to isolate the entire house or property.

DRAINING COLD WATER TAPS/FAUCETS AND PIPES

In a direct cold water system close off the main stop valve and open all cold taps to

drain, in multi level properties the kitchen tap / faucet will be the last to drain.

Further draining can be done through a drain a valve if fitted.

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With an indirect cold water system to isolate the bath room taps/faucets close off

the gate valve on the appropriate cold feed pipe from the cold water storage

cistern/tank, then open all bathroom cold taps / faucet to drain.

If you can’t find the appropriate cold feed isolating valve then close off the stop-

valve before the cold water storage cistern/tank. Failing that you can place a

wooden batten across the top of the cistern / tank and tie the float valve to it,

preventing it from opening then open bathroom taps / faucets to drain. However, it

can’t access the loft then close off the main stop-valve.

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