BUILDING

UTILITIES 2

TIERRA, REIJEN CANARY S.

AR22FB2

AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM
 Air conditioning is the process of altering the properties of air (primarily
temperature and humidity) to more favorable conditions. The control of these
conditions may be desirable to maintain the health and comfort of the
occupants, or to meet the requirements of industrial processes irrespective of
the external climatic conditions.

This process is most commonly used to achieve a more comfortable

interior environment, typically for humans and other animals; however, air
conditioning is also used to cool and dehumidify rooms filled with heat-
producing electronic devices, such as computer servers, power amplifiers, and
to display and store some delicate products, such as artwork.

Air conditioners often use a fan to distribute the conditioned air to an

occupied space such as a building or a car to improve thermal
comfort and indoor air quality. The cooling is typically achieved through
a refrigeration cycle, but sometimes evaporation or free cooling is used. Air
conditioning systems can also be made based on desiccants (chemicals which
remove moisture from the air). Some AC systems reject or store heat in
subterranean pipes.

In construction, a complete system of heating, ventilation, and air

conditioning is referred to as HVAC.

PRINCIPLES OF AIR-CONDITIONING: The goal is to keep it more

comfortable inside the house than it is outside.

TYPES OF AIR-CONDITIONING
1. CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONER
Of all the different types of air conditioners, this is the most common
type of cooling system as it is the most preferable for larger homes due to its
ability to cool efficiently. Central air conditioners circulate cool air through
supply and return ducts. Supply ducts and registers, which are in the wall or
floors, carry cooled air into the home. Then, once the air becomes warm it
circulates back into the supply ducts and registers where it will then be
transported back to the air conditioner.

Installing a central air conditioning system requires a lot of planning and

preparation as sizing is crucial to the functionality of the system. If you install a
system that is of the wrong size, even if it’s energy-efficient, you’ll find that
your utility costs are more than they should be.
 2. DUCTLESS, MINI-SPLIT AIR CONDITIONER
Ductless, mini-split systems are most common in parts
of the home that have been retrofitted. Like central air
conditioning systems, these systems have an outdoor
compressor/condenser and an indoor handling unit.

If you’re looking to cool individual rooms in your house,

this system might be just for you. Many ductless, mini-split
systems can have as many as four indoor handling units, which
are all connected to the outdoor unit.

Each zone has its own thermostat, allowing you to adjust the
temperature for each room accordingly. This is especially advantageous if
you’re wanting to cool only a particular part of the house that is being used.
3. WINDOW AIR CONDITIONER
Think of a window air conditioner as a compact unit, cooling only one
particular room. Also known as a “unitary unit,” this system is installed in the
window of a room.

Window units cool a room be emitting the warm air out the back of it
and blowing cool air into it. These types of units are best for those who live in
small spaces. It would not be ideal for a larger home as you will discover that it
doesn’t cool efficiently in that kind of environment.
4. PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER
Portable air conditioners are considered as the next generator of
window units. This type of air conditioning unit takes in air from the room and
cools it, then directs it back into the room. The unit then vents any warm air
outside by means of an exhaust hose that is installed in a window.

Like window air conditioning units, portable air conditioners are

designed to cool only one room. They’re easy to install, versatile, and an
affordable option. You’ll find that the portability of your air conditioner makes
staying cool on a hot summer day that much easier.
5. HYBRID AIR CONDITIONERS
Like hybrid cars, hybrid heat pump systems alternate between burning
fossil fuels and using electricity to run. The system intelligently chooses
between the two energy sources in order to save money and energy. You
won’t have to be held hostage by rising energy prices.

In the summer, your heat pump works as it normally does, pulling heat
from your home and distributing it outdoors. In the winter, your hybrid heat
pump system works in reverse, pulling heat from the outside environment and
distributing it into your home. If you remember the Second Law of
Thermodynamics from high school, you know that heat gets transferred from a
hot object to a cold object. When the refrigerant drops below the outside
temperature, the heat from the outdoors gets transferred to your heat pump’s
coils and thus into your refrigerant. Now, the extracted heat can be turned into
warm, conditioned air for your home.
6. GEOTHERMAL HEATING & COOLING
Geothermal energy is sustainable, energy-efficient, and has a long
lifespan. Since the ground temperature below us remains a fairly consistent 55
degrees no matter how hot or cold it is in the atmosphere, geothermal
technology is able to extract the heat from below and transfer it into your
home. A geothermal coil (”loops” or “wells”) is installed deep in the ground
and can be used to heat and cool your home. In the winter, heat is extracted
from the earth; in the summer, heat is extracted from your home and
distributed back into the ground.
 SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS
As with all air conditioning systems the principle remains the same
whereby the heat is removed from one area and replaced with chilled dry air
and the hot air is expelled, normally to the outside atmosphere. As you can see
from this typical example of an air conditioning system, the ambient air is
drawn over the condenser that can best described as a ‘radiator’ as seen on
motor vehicles but instead of water running through the system it contains a
refrigerant gas.

On its journey around the system it has three main stages; the
evaporator contains the sub-cooled refrigerant and air blows through its veins
to release the chilled dry air into the room, the condenser contains the high
temperature gas that once again air is blown through the veins collecting the
heat as it passes through and this is then expelled outside.

An air conditioner is able to cool a building because it removes heat

from the indoor air and transfers it outdoors. A chemical refrigerant in the
system absorbs the unwanted heat and pumps it through a system of piping to
the outside coil. The fan, located in the outside unit, blows outside air over the
hot coil, transferring heat from the refrigerant to the outdoor air.
Most air conditioning systems have five mechanical components:

• A Compressor
• A Condenser
• An Evaporator Coil
• Blower
• A Chemical Refrigerant

Most central air conditioning units operate by means of a split system.

That is, they consist of a ‘hot’ side, or the condensing unit—including the
condensing coil, the compressor and the fan—which is situated outside your
home, and a ‘cold’ side that is located inside your home.

COMPRESSOR

An air conditioner compressor is the

component in the system that raises the
temperature and pressure of the vapor
refrigerant that leaves the evaporator coil. It is
important that the compressor raises the
pressure of the vapor refrigerant so that it
creates a pressure difference the pressure
difference is needed in order for the
refrigerant to flow. High pressure fluids flow
towards lower pressure fluid. Basically what is
happening is the compressor is raising the
pressure of the refrigerant so that the
refrigerant will flow to the lower pressure refrigerant in the evaporator coil.

The compressor raising the pressure will also increase the temperature.
The direction of heat transfer is from a higher temperature substance to a
lower temperature substance, the lower temperature being in the evaporator
coil and the hotter being in the compressor and condenser.
CONDENSER

A condenser is a device or unit

used to condense a gaseous substance
into a liquid state through cooling. In so
doing, the latent heat is released by the
substance and transferred to the
surrounding environment. Condensers
are used for efficient heat rejection in
many industrial systems. Condensers can
be made according to numerous designs,
and come in many sizes ranging from
rather small (hand-held) to very large
(industrial-scale units used in plant
processes). For example, a refrigerator uses a condenser to get rid
of heat extracted from the interior of the unit to the outside air.

Condensers are used in air conditioning, industrial chemical

processes such as distillation, steam power plants and other heat-exchange
systems. Use of cooling water or surrounding air as the coolant is common in
many condensers.

A condenser is designed to transfer heat from a working fluid (e.g. water

in a steam power plant) to a secondary fluid or the surrounding air. The
condenser relies on the efficient heat transfer that occurs during phase
changes, in this case during the condensation of a vapor into a liquid. The
vapor typically enters the condenser at a temperature above that of the
secondary fluid. As the vapor cools, it reaches the saturation temperature,
condenses into liquid and releases large quantities of latent heat. As this
process occurs along the condenser, the quantity of vapor decreases and the
quantity of liquid increases; at the outlet of the condenser, only liquid remains.
Some condenser designs contain an additional length to sub-cool this
condensed liquid below the saturation temperature.
EVAPORATOR COIL

The evaporator coil is the

part of your AC system that
actually cools the air before it is
blown into your home.

Most homeowners never

actually see the evaporator coil
because it is covered by a metal
case that is usually in an indoor
closet or attic. Your evaporator
coil is an A-shaped web of
copper coils that sits inside your
indoor AC unit.

What most people don’t realize is that AC’s don’t actually create cool air.
They simply remove heat from the indoor air, which is where your evaporator
coil comes in.

The evaporator coils are filled with very cold refrigerant (a heat transfer fluid).
And as warm air from inside your home passes over those cold coils, the
refrigerant absorbs all of the heat and moisture from that air. The result is
cold, dehumidified air that gets blown directly into your home.

But what happens to all of the heat that your evaporator coil has just
absorbed?

Well that is what that big metal box in your backyard is for. The
refrigerant inside of your evaporator coils carries that heat all the way to your
outdoor AC unit. From there, your condenser coils dump all of the heat into
the outdoor air.

Your AC repeats that “absorb heat/dump heat” process until your home
reaches your set temperature.
BLOWER

Air conditioner blower or

fan is one of the key components
that is needed as part of the air
conditioning system. The
function of the blower is to
produce air movement to the
space that is being conditioned.
There are basically four types of
fan that are commonly used in
the HVAC equipment. They are
the propeller fan, centrifugal
fan, vane-axial fan and tube-axial
fan.

The air conditioner blower

motor is what turns the fan blades that cause air to move through the AC
system. It is an essential part of the AC unit because it both removes warm air
from the interior and blows cool air through the vents.

It is the job of the AC blower motor to turn the fan, which causes air to
move through the AC system. Among other things, this makes air move over
the evaporator coils, a process
which allows heat to be absorbed
by the refrigerant and moved
outside the house.

It also moves air through the

ductwork and provides plenty of
cool air for every room. Because of
this, the blower motor is an
absolutely essential part of any AC
system. If your blower motor
doesn’t work, then your AC system
doesn’t work.
CHEMICAL REFRIGERANT

Refrigerant is a compound typically found in either a fluid or gaseous

state. It readily absorbs heat from the environment and can provide
refrigeration or air conditioning when combined with other components such
as compressors and evaporators. If you’ve heard about the R22 refrigerant
phase out in favor of R410A refrigerant, you might be especially interested to
know more about how refrigerant works and what part it plays in cooling your
home.

Without refrigerant, there would be no air conditioning, refrigeration or

freezing technology.

Air conditioners contain refrigerant inside copper coils. As refrigerant absorbs

heat from indoor air, it transitions from a low-pressure gas to a high-pressure
liquid. Air conditioning components send the refrigerant outside where a fan
blows hot air over the coils and exhausts it to the exterior.

The refrigerant then cools down and turns back into a low-pressure gas.
Another fan located inside the home blows air over the cool coils to distribute
the resulting cold air throughout the building. Then the cycle repeats.
FIRE-PROTECTION SYSTEM

Fire safety is integral for business owners. A fire can spark in an instant
and spread within seconds. Businesses investing in fire protection systems
realize significant benefits when the systems perform as expected. These
systems reduce damage to the building, expensive equipment, documents, and
inventory. Fire suppression systems, smoke detectors, and sprinkler systems
are all types of fire protection systems that help with fire detection and
protecting building occupants and equipment.

It is important to understand the functionality of fire protection systems.

Systems work in different ways, but all have a common goal to detect a fire
and protect the building, its occupants, and valuables. A common fire
protection system is a smoke detector and a sprinkler. If a fire sparks, smoke
sets off the detector causing the sprinkler system to activate. The water
protects against the spread of fire. While this is an effective method, when
dealing with certain critical equipment or special hazards, automatic fire
suppression systems using clean agents are a better choice. These systems
detect and suppress fire while leaving no residue.

One of the main benefits of a fire protection system is that in the long
run, it saves money. Another benefit of some types of fire protection systems
is the automatic dispatching of emergency services. These systems will work to
immediately suppress the fire, while also notifying the authorities to send
emergency professionals to your location.
TYPES OF FIRE-PROTECTION SYSTEM
1) Wet Systems
This is the most common and effective way of getting rid of any fire that
starts. The sprinklers are linked to high-pressure pipes containing water that
are activated to release water whenever any detection of fire is made. This can
be either abnormally high temperatures or smoke that may cause fire. The
sprinklers immediately go off letting out water that potentially gets rid of the
fire danger.
2) Dry Sprinkler Systems
In these types of sprinklers, pressurized nitrogen is filled in the pipes and
not water. This is usually done in cases where the pipes are expected to be
exposed to very low temperatures that would normally cause the water to
freeze. The air is made to prevent water from entering the pipe unless a fire
breaks when the sprinklers will be open letting out the air thus allowing water
out of the sprinklers to take care of the fire.
3) Fire Pumps
Sometimes the high pressure needed to push out water to stop a fire
cannot be reached; this is why it is important to have a fire pump that is
powered electrically or using diesel. The pump draws water from another
water supply point directing it to the pipes and out the sprinklers hence putting
out the fire.
4) Sprinkler Heads
These are the ones with the heat detection sensors that allow the
sprinkler to be activated whenever there is a fire, and they allow the water to
be released through them. They are the most important component in
stopping fires as they are the key to every other step.
5) Stand Pipes
These are the many pipes that are interconnected to each other which
come from a major source of water which allow firefighters to get access to
water required to stop a huge fire that the sprinklers were not able to
completely take out.
 SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS
ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION (AFP)
is a group of systems that require some amount of action or motion in
order to work efficiently in the event of a fire. Actions may be manually
operated, like a fire extinguisher or automatic, like a sprinkler, but either way
they require some amount of action. AFP includes fire/smoke alarm systems,
sprinkler systems, and fire extinguishers as well as firefighters. Fire/smoke
alarm systems are used to detect whether there is fire and/or smoke in a
building. Sprinkler systems are used to help slow the growth of the fire. Fire
extinguishers and firefighters are used to help put out the fire altogether.

  Elements of active fire protection require action in order to have an

impact if there is a fire. A prime example is a sprinkler system, which needs to
be activated either automatically or manually in order to have an effect. Just
like passive fire protection, the more active methods are designed to either
stop a fire or to slow it down, but unlike passive fire protection can also be
used to extinguish the fire..

The objective is to give people in the building time to escape safely, as well as
reducing the damaging impact that the fire has on the building before the
emergency services are able to arrive and put it out. Other examples of active
fire protection may include fire extinguishers, which are activated by manual
use, as well as fire or smoke alarms that automatically sound to alert those in
the building that there is a problem.
PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION (PFP)
is a group of systems that compartmentalize a building through the use
of fire-resistance rated walls/floors. Compartmentalizing your building into
smaller sections helps to slow or prevent the spread of fire/smoke from one
room to the next. PFP helps to limit the amount of damage done to a building
and provides its occupants more time for evacuation. PFP includes fire/smoke
dampers, fire doors, and fire walls/floors. Dampers are used to prevent the
spread of fire/smoke throughout the building through its ductwork. Fire doors
help to compartmentalize a building. Fire-stopping helps to separate the
building into compartments. Photo-luminescent egress path markers help light
the way to safety.

Passive fire protection does not require activation in the same way as
active fire protection and is often integrated into the building itself. It usually
involves the use of fire-resistance rated walls and floors and features that are
designed to compartmentalize the building and to contain a fire in one place.
Like active fire protection, the use of passive fire protection is intended to help
preserve life and to reduce the spread of fire through a building before the
emergency services arrive.

Some examples of passive fire protection may include dampers – which

help to minimize the spread of fire and smoke through the duct system of a
building - and fire doors, which act to divide the building into fire proof
compartments. Fire walls and floors are also essential to enable the building to
be compartmentalized – as long as these are correctly installed and regularly
checked they will stop the spread of fire by containing it in a smaller space
than would be the case if there was no compartmentalization.
The main components are:

Automatic Fire Sprinklers

As implied by their name, automatic sprinklers respond to fire with no
need for human intervention. Movies and TV series have spread some
erroneous ideas about fire sprinklers; for example, there is a common belief
that sprinklers shower indoor spaces completely with the slightest sign of
smoke. In reality, fire sprinklers operate automatically as they respond to heat,
and in many cases one sprinkler is enough to douse a fire.

An automatic sprinkler system for a large building can represent a

sizable investment, but repairing the damage of an uncontrolled fire can be
much more expensive. In addition, occupants may suffer disabling injuries or
even lose their lives.

The recent Trump Tower fire in NYC could have been mitigated or

prevented altogether with automatic sprinklers. However, they are only
required in new residential towers or existing ones that undergo a major
renovation. In the case of office buildings at least 100 feet tall, Local Law 26 of
2004 mandates fire sprinkler installation by July 1, 2019, but there is no
equivalent document for residential towers.

There are special applications where discharging water is hazardous, and

other fire-extinguishing substances are used instead (BC 904). Some examples
are foam, carbon dioxide and halon.
Standpipes
A standpipe is a piping system that delivers water from a main source to
hose connections in key locations throughout a building. These connections are
used by firefighters, and the NYC Building Code covers five possible standpipe
configurations:

Automatic dry

Automatic wet

Manual dry

Manual wet

Semi-automatic dry

Dry standpipes are normally filled with pressurized air, and water enters
the system when needed; on the other hand, wet standpipes are permanently
filled with water. Automatic systems establish the required flow by
themselves, while manual systems rely on an FDNY pumper truck. Semi-
automatic systems need a remote signal to activate, but can establish the
required flow by themselves once this happens.

Standpipes can also be divided into three classes, based on their hose
connections:
Fire Alarm Systems
A fire alarm system monitors the building for the presence of fire,
producing audible and visual signals if fire is detected. A control unit receives
inputs from all fire detection devices, automatic or manual, and activates  the
corresponding notification systems. In addition, fire alarms can be used to
initiate the adequate response measures when fire is detected.

It is important to note that fire alarm requirements change significantly

depending on the occupancy classification of the building in question.
Following the right set of requirements is the first step for a code-compliant
fire alarm design.

Fire alarms must not be confused with emergency alarms (BC 908),
which are used to signal dangerous conditions that involve hazardous
materials.
Smoke Control Systems
Humans avoid fire by instinct, but the hazards associated with smoke are
not common knowledge. In addition to limiting visibility, smoke can cause
poisoning if large enough amounts are inhaled. Therefore, a fire protection
system must also be capable of handling smoke effectively, avoiding its
accumulation and removing it from the building. Note that smoke movement is
driven by pressure and temperature: you will not see smoke flowing from a
lower-pressure area to a higher-pressure area, and it also tends to rise along
with hot air.

Smoke control systems can be either mechanical or passive. Note that

they complement each other:

Mechanical systems use fans to control smoke movement.

Passive systems use smoke barriers to limit is movement, which don’t

consume power.

One of the most important requirements for a smoke control system is

keeping elevator shafts and staircases clear. These areas are used to evacuate
the building, and smoke accumulation can make escaping more difficult for
occupants.
Fire Command Center
A fire command center is required in various occupancy classifications,
including high-rise constructions. The fire command center is a centralized
location that displays the status of various fire protection systems, such as
detection equipment, alarms, communication systems and controls. It also
provides manual control for many of these systems.

The fire command center must be accessible. The NYC Building Code
requires it to be installed in the lobby of buildings, on the main entrance floor,
and near the FDNY designated response point. The main components required
are:

Fire alarm controls

Auxiliary Radio Communication System (ARCS) control panel

Elevator controls

Smoke control system panel

Post-fire smoke purge system control panel

FDNY telephone system

Public address system

Manual release for automatically-closing doors

Fire Department Connections
As implied by their name, fire department connections are used by the
FDNY for hoses and pumping equipment. They must be located where they
don’t obstruct firefighting operations, while providing optimal coverage - the
code requires at least one connection for every 300 feet of exterior wall length
(note that exceptions and special cases apply).

Fire Pumps
As you might guess from their name, fire pumps are used to establish a
reliable water supply for all fire protection systems that require it. If a fire
pump is used with the sole purpose of supplying water for a fire sprinkler
system, it is considered a sprinkler booster pump.

Note that fire pumps are normally powered by electricity. NYC codes
provide a list of requirements for the backup power systems for fire pumps,
ensuring their operation even if the electric service is interrupted during an
emergency.

Fire pumps are expensive, but they are not mandatory for all fire protection
systems. With smart design decisions, it may be possible to avoid their use
completely while still having a code-compliant system.
Post-Fire Smoke Purge
As previously stated, smoke hinders visibility and is extremely dangerous
when inhaled. Clearing the smoke in a building is important to resume building
operation as soon as possible once a fire is extinguished. This is precisely
what post-fire smoke purge systems do: eliminating smoke quickly after a fire
incident.

Since post-fire smoke purge systems operate after a fire, they are not
classified as life safety systems. Nevertheless, their use is mandatory in all
occupancy groups indicated by the code.

Auxiliary Radio Communication System (ARCS)

Code Section: BC917

An ARCS is a communication system used by firefighters, which meets the

following conditions:

Wireless

Bidirectional

Exclusive radio frequencies for the FDNY, to prevent interference

Independent from the electrical and communication systems in the

building.

An ARCS is mandatory in all new commercial constructions exceeding 75

feet, and new residential constructions exceeding 125 feet. It must provide
optimal building coverage, providing a reliable communication system for
firefighters anywhere inside the building.