Category: Essential Services in Buildings

The following are three types of wires: Now-a-days in most of the buildings concealed PVC conduit wiring is used. The PVC conduits may be laid on the surface or concealed. In both the cases care has to be taken to see that no water enters the pipes. In the case of concealed pipe, it is safe to surround the… Continue reading Wiring of Buildings

Following are the materials and devices used in the wiring of a building. 1. Cables Cables consist of copper of aluminium conductors surrounded by insulation. Aluminium conductors are used to reduce the cost but they are inferior in quality compared to copper cables. Now-a-days stranded wires are commonly used for better performance. Rubber or PVC insulation may… Continue reading Materials and Devices Used in Wiring

In an ordinary building, for distribution of electricity from the consumer control unit to other points, the supply is divided into three separate types of circuits, viz., Red wires are used for the live wire whereas the neutral is black or blue and earth wires are green and yellow. In the circuit a phase changer… Continue reading Distribution Circuits

The electricity from the sub-stations are stepped down through local transformers and supplied to nearby buildings as single-phase or three-phase supply (50 cycles per second at 220 volts between the phase and the neutral). Then the supply is 230 volts between a phase and a neutral and it is  volts between the phases. In a single-phase… Continue reading Single and Three-Phase Supply

Electrical power is provided to the building by the Government. Electricity is distributed in small towns and villages by overhead wires. But in large cities and towns the distribution is done through underground cables. The supply of electricity is including the cables up to the electric metre. In order to isolate the main supply from… Continue reading ELECTRICAL SUPPLY

Sedimentation is carried out with the object of removing such suspended mineral and organic matter from sewage. Sedimentation tanks are units in which sedimentation is brought about. The lighter organic sewage solids which settle in the sedimentation tanks are termed as sludge. The sewage that has been partially classified by the settling out of the… Continue reading Sludge and Effluent Disposal

1. Pipes and Gradients Pipe sizes for house drains and sewers are 100, 150 and 230 mm and in some cases 300 mm. In order to avoid deposition of solid matter, the pipes should be laid as per the recommendation of I.S. Code (IS: 1742–1972), Table 27.4. Table 27.4 Recommended gradient of sewer discharge pipes Source:… Continue reading Pipes for Drainage

The following aspects have to be considered in the design and construction of a drainage layout:

Plumbing system of drainage is one through which discharge from sanitary fixtures or appliances is conveyed. The three principal systems are single stack system, the one-pipe system and the two-pipe system. 1. Single Stack System In this system all waste matters such as from bath, kitchen and sink and foul matter from urinals or excreta… Continue reading Plumbing System of Drainage

Sanitary fittings and appliances comprise of traps, water closets, flushing cisterns, etc., which are discussed below. 1. Traps Traps are fittings which are installed in drainage pipes to prevent the passage of foul air or gases through drains, waste or soil pipes. This is possible because traps are equipped with water seals having a minimum… Continue reading Sanitary Fittings and Appliances