INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ROORKEE

POWERHOUSE ROOFING

By:
Swatantra Kumar Karna
1st Year, M. Tech., AHES
Enr. No: 18512019
skarna@ah.iitr.ac.in
CONTENTS

• Typical Layout of Powerhouse

• Terminologies
• Types of Powerhouses
- Description and Roofing
• Pros and Cons of Removable Roofing
• General Requirements
• Design Procedures
– Indian Standards
– USCOE
– Nepalese Guideline
• Illustrative photos
• References

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 A Typical Layout of Powerhouse

Source: https://app.box.com/embed/s/scidzz0eo6l0oxv5rpec2poclwajrw4l

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Terminologies

• Super-structure

Source :
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Model-of-unit-plant-structure-in-hydropower-station-a-3-D-powerhouse-model-b-fro
nt_fig5_330067506
- Parts of powerhouse lying above the spiral case floor (More stringently above
generator floor)
- Includes main building comprising Machine hall, Roof, Roof supports, gantry
girder, gantry columns, beams or braces, panel walls, floors, auxiliary rooms
and service bay etc.
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Terminologies contd..

• Machine Hall

- Space of superstructure, housing hydro-electric as well as sometimes hydro-

mechanical equipment(turbines) and accessories
- Offer protection to the operating personnel (safety) and equipment (safety
and weather)

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Terminologies contd..

• Powerhouse roof
– Part of Superstructure of powerhouse that often protects/shelters the
equipment in the machine hall
– Dimensions depends on
1. Size of machine hall
2. Type of powerhouse
3. Roof loads (Dead load, live load and snow load)
4. Architectural requirements

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Types of powerhouse

(On the basis of housing of the main generating units)

Powerhouse

Semi-
Indoor Outdoor
outdoor

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Types of powerhouse contd..

• Indoor Powerhouse:
- The generator room is fully enclosed and of sufficient
height to permit transfer of equipment by means of an indoor
crane.

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Types of powerhouse Indoor powerhouse

• Height of roof is fixed by height of machine hall

Height of Roof

Height of
Machine Hall
Governed By Headroom
and Clearance requirement
of OHT Crane

Generator Rotor Wheel Runner(with

(With a part of shaft corresponding part of
above coupling) shaft)

NB: IS 12800(1-2-3) can be referred further for preliminary dimensioning of PH.

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Types of powerhouse Indoor powerhouse contd..

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Types of powerhouse contd..

• Semi-Outdoor
Powerhouse:
- The power house has a
low roof or deck immediately
over the generators.
- The height not being
sufficient to house the
overhead travelling crane.
- The erection and
maintenance of machine is
done through hatches provided
in the roof.

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Semi-outdoor PH contd..

• Parts of the roofs are

removable (Removable roof
Powerhouse) , Sometimes
Sliding one above another
• Gantry cranes with
extended cantilevering
arms serves the purpose of
erection and repair

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Types of powerhouse contd..

• Outdoor Powerhouse:
-The power house in which
generators, exciters, etc, are
provided with local steel
housings for weather
protection but are otherwise
fully exposed above the
intermediate structure.
- Require travelling gantry
cranes for the erection and
maintenance of the units

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Outdoor PH contd..

• No building to house
electrical and hydraulic
equipment is there
• Enclosure too is handled by
gantry cranes

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Pros and Cons of Removable Roofing
• Pros
1. Saving in cost of superstructure
2. Saving in handling equipment

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Pros and Cons of Removable Roofing contd..
• Pros
3. Improved aesthetical effect under certain circumstances
4. A highway or railway crossing may readily be established

• Cons
1. Instalment and repair work is confined to outdoors
2. Supervision of the individual machine is impaired
3. Outdoor PH does not permit even small indoor
maintenance (because of no inside crane)

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General Considerations
• General pattern and spacing of roof beams should
consider structural standpoint, architectural appearance
and internal lighting
• Whether any special provisions are required for
temporary support of crane parts from roof should be
checked
• Flat roof(with or without parapets) or pitched roof choice
depends on climatic conditions, architectural appearance
and on local prejudice
• In deep snowfall region flat roof with parapet not-
preferable
• For flat roofs, hollow precast concrete roof units are
preferable

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General Considerations contd..
• Joints between units should be thoroughly tightened by
cement grout or fine concrete
• Loose “continuity” rods should be inserted over support to
prevent cracks
• Where thermal insulation is required, water-proof
covering must be separated from structural roof by
insulating medium (granulated cork slabs, foam or gas concrete)
• Roof subject to intense solar heat
– Bituminous or Asphaltic water-proof skin covered by white or light
coloured slab
– Whole roof should be designed for expansion and contraction
without cracking
• For Pitched roof, arrangement of rafter and tiles, precast concrete
unit with asphalt or sheet metal weather protection may be adopted

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General Considerations contd..
• Special attention of weather overlap and structural
anchoring of all sheeted and tiled roof should be paid
(particularly where high winds and rain prevail)

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Design Procedure Indian Standard
• IS 4247 (Part 2) : 1992 ;
“Code of practice for
structural design of
surface power station”
• This standard ( Part 2 )
covers types, layout and the
structural design of
superstructure of a hydel
power hydroelectric power
house.

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Design Procedure Indian Standard contd..
• Live loads for roof should be taken in accordance with IS
875 (part-2)
• Types of Roofs may be
– galvanized corrugated steel sheets (roof the supporting member
may be a steel truss of a gable steel frame
– reinforced concrete, precast or cast : in-situ. (roof of the
supporting member may be may either be a steel truss or beam
or a reinforced concrete beam arch or a gable frame)
• Choice of Roof
– primarily depends upon its use and the available construction
facilities, time available for construction and the Steel roof support
may either be a beam fixed to economics
– Secondary consideration being architectural appearance

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Design Procedure Indian Standard contd..
• Slope of roof
– Galvanized Corrugated Sheet Roofing: Depends on the type of
truss used (generally from ¼ to 1/10 )
– RCC Roofing : A minimum slope of 1 in 120 should be provided for
proper drainage of roof.
• Waterproofing
– relevant Indian Standards (see IS 1346: 1976, IS 3036: 1980, IS
3067 : 1988 and IS 4365 : 1967 )
• Roof Supports : can be either steel or concrete
• Choice of Type of roof supports
– Depends on local weather conditions, construction equipment
facility, time for construction, type of gantry column, whether steel
or concrete and economics

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Design Procedure Indian Standard contd..
• Structural Design of roof supports
– The roof supporting member should be designed as part of the
superstructure frame consisting of roof supporting member, gantry
columns, beams, walls and the floors, if they form a part of the
frame
– Further guideline for Steel truss, Steel girder, concrete beam are
mentioned.

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Design Procedure USACOE
• EM 1110-2-3001: 30 April
1995, Updated 10 Oct.,
2008 “Planning And Design
Of Hydro-electric Power
Plant Structures”
• This manual provides
guidance for structural
planning and design of
hydroelectric power plants.

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Design Procedure USACOE contd..
• Roof of the semi-outdoor plant should be structured in order
to sustain sufficiently high live loads
• Powerhouse roofs may be pitched (gabled, hipped, vaulted,
etc.) or flat (pitch not greater than 1 inch per foot nor flatter
than 1/2 inch per foot).
• Pitched roofs are preferred because of lower maintenance
costs (flat roofs must be waterproof, whereas pitched roofs
need only be watershedding).
• Parapets that meet current safety codes should be provided
at all roof edges.
• Cants should be provided at the intersection of roof and all
vertical surfaces in order to eliminate sharp angles in the
roofing.

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Design Procedure USACOE contd..
• In designing the roofing system, i.e. insulation, roofing,
flashing, and expansion joint covers, the most current
roofing technology should be utilized.
• Whenever roofs are exposed to public view from the top of
the dam or the abutments, special materials may be used
for appearance, e.g. marble chips in place of gravel
surfacing.
• Special consideration should be given to the design of the
roof framing, as well as any ventilation duct work and piping
that must be carried under the roof, in order to obtain as
pleasing an appearance as possible.

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Design Procedure USACOE contd..
• The live loads shown in
adjacent Table are
recommended for the design of
slabs, beams, girders, and
columns in the area indicated
• These loads may be modified, if
necessary, to suit the conditions
on individual projects but will
ordinarily be considered
minimum design loads

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Design Procedure Powerhouse Design
Guideline, 2018 (Nepal)
• MoEWRI, DoED, Nepal,
June 2018 “Powerhouse
Design Guidelines of
Hydropower Structures”
• The guidelines provided are
aimed at providing
procedural guidance to
agencies responsible for
designing, constructing,
operating and maintaining
powerhouse for various
hydropower projects in
Nepal.

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Design Procedure PDG, 2018 (Nepal) contd..
• For types, selection and for general design consideration
of powerhouse roof reference may be taken from section
10 of IS: 4247-1992 (Part 2)
• For Underground powerhouse:
– Different types of roofs are due to cavern types

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Design Procedure PDG, 2018 (Nepal) contd..
• Underground
powerhouse cavern
types
1. Mushroom Shape
- Rock pressure in upper part
of cavern is supported by
concrete arch
- Sectional area required is
medium among alternatives

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Design Procedure PDG, 2018 (Nepal) contd..
• Underground powerhouse
cavern types
2.Elliptical/Horse-shoe Shape
- Rock pressure in upper part
of cavern is supported by
concrete arch
- Sectional area required is
big among alternatives

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Design Procedure PDG, 2018 (Nepal) contd..
• Underground powerhouse
cavern types
3. D-Shape
- Rock pressure in upper part
of cavern is supported by
arch action reinforced with
shotcrete and PS anchor
without arch concrete

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Design Procedure PDG, 2018 (Nepal) contd..
• Underground powerhouse cavern Roof
– The cavern ceiling should be formed with a curvature adapted to
the stress configuration in the rock to favor a self-supporting arch.
– Even in excellent rock, a lining or under-roof shall be provided to
• ensure safe working conditions for operators
• prevent damage to equipment from accidental rock fall
• collect and lead seepage of water to the drainage system

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Design Procedure PDG, 2018 (Nepal) contd..
• Underground powerhouse
cavern Roof
A. Compact concrete arch
- Designed to carry specified load
of overlaying rock and retain
pieces of rock
- Thickness of concrete arch
depends on assumed rock load,
shape of the cavern and quality of
concrete used
- Void between concrete and arch is
filled with grouting

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Design Procedure PDG, 2018 (Nepal) contd..
• Underground powerhouse
cavern Roof
B. Free span concrete arch
- Thin RCC arch is designed to intercept
falling minor rock
- For practical reasons and to control
cracks due to shrinkage of concrete,
the arch will be divided in 8-12 m long
sections by construction joints.
- A strong watertight membrane on top of
the arch will prevent seepage through
cracks, and there is no need for a light
suspended ceiling under the arch
- The distance from the arch to the rock
ceiling is typically 1.5-2.0 m for
facilitating the work and for easy
access for later inspection, removal of
minor rock fall and repair of the sealing
membrane

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Design Procedure PDG, 2018 (Nepal) contd..
• Underground powerhouse
cavern Roof
C. Fiber Reinforced Shotcrete Arch
with Suspended Light Ceiling
- Steel fiber significantly improves the
mechanical properties of the
shotcrete (steel fiber reinforced
shotcrete arch)

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Design Procedure PDG, 2018 (Nepal) contd..
• Roof Support
– Underground power stations are usually located in competent rock
not requiring extensive or expensive supporting arrangements
– Roof support to the main cavity may take form of Plain concrete
arch, RCC arch, Steel ribs or Rock Bolting.

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Illustrative Photos

Pic 1. Highway crossing a river over machine hall roof

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Illustrative Photos

Pic 2. Lighting by means of skylights

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Illustrative Photos

Pic 3. Beautifully designed roof and structure to perfectly suit in the

mountainous landscape
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 References
[1] Mosonyi, Emil. 1963, first Indian edition 2009. Water power development, vol-1. civil lines roorkee, India:
Nem Chand & Bros
[2] Brown, J. Guthrie. 1964(second edition), first indian edition 1984. Hydro-electric engineering practice, vol-
1.
Shahdara, Delhi-11032 , India: CBS publishers and distributors
[3] Department of Electricity Development, Nepal. Powerhouse design guideline, 2018
[4] Beureau of Indian Standards, 1992. Code Of Practice For Structural Design Of Surface Hydroelectric
Power
Station , IS 4247 (Part 2).< https://standards.bsb.co.in/BSBEdgeviewpdf.aspx > [Accessed 02 Apr 2019]
[5] US Army Corps Of Engineers . 1995. Engineering and Design Manual (planning and design of hydrolectric
power plant structure), EM 1110-2-3001 < <https
://www.publications.usace.army.mil/Portals/76/Publications/EngineerManuals/EM_1110-2-3001.pdf >
[Accessed 02 Apr 2019]

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Thank You !

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