Plumbing, Electricity, Acoustics

Discover sustainable methods for designing crucial building systems for architects. This indispensable companion to Norbert Lechner's landmark volume Heating, Cooling, Lighting: Sustainable Design Methods for Architects, Third Edition completes the author's mission to cover all topics in the field of sustainable environmental control. It provides knowledge appropriate for the level of complexity needed at the schematic design stage and presents the most up-to-date information available in a concise, logical, accessible manner and arrangement. Although sustainability deals with many issues, those concerning energy and efficiency are the most critical, making an additional goal of this book one of providing architects with the skills and knowledge needed to create buildings that use electricity and water efficiently. Guidelines and rules-of-thumb are provided to help designers make their buildings use less energy, less water, and less of everything else to achieve their primary objectives. In addition, this book: Addresses ways to reduce electricity usage through more efficient lighting systems and appliances and by incorporating automatic switches and control systems that turn off systems not in use. Covers the design of well-planned effluent treatment systems that protect against potential health hazards while also becoming a valuable source of reclaimed water and fertilize.r Provides coverage of fire protection and conveyance systems, including very efficient types of elevators and escalators and designs that encourage the use of stairs or ramps. Complete with case studies that illustrate how these systems are incorporated into large-project plans, Plumbing, Electricity, Acoustics is an indispensable resource for any architect involved in a sustainable design project.

Discover sustainable methods for designing crucial building systemsfor architects.This indispensable companion to Norbert Lechner's landmarkvolume Heating, Cooling, Lighting: Sustainable Design Methods forArchitects, Third Edition completes the author's mission to coverall topics in the field of sustainable environmental control. Itprovides knowledge appropriate for the level of complexity neededat the schematic design stage and presents the most up-to-dateinformation available in a concise, logical, accessible manner andarrangement. Although sustainability deals with many issues, thoseconcerning energy and efficiency are the most critical, making anadditional goal of this book one of providing architects with theskills and knowledge needed to create buildings that useelectricity and water efficiently. Guidelines and rules-of-thumbare provided to help designers make their buildings use lessenergy, less water, and less of everything else to achieve theirprimary objectives.In addition, this book:* Addresses ways to reduce electricity usage through moreefficient lighting systems and appliances and by incorporatingautomatic switches and control systems that turn off systems not inuse.* Covers the design of well-planned effluent treatment systemsthat protect against potential health hazards while also becoming avaluable source of reclaimed water and fertilize.r* Provides coverage of fire protection and conveyance systemsincluding very efficient types of elevators and escalators anddesigns that encourage the use of stairs or ramps.Complete with case studies that illustrate how these systems areincorporated into large-project plans, Plumbing, ElectricityAcoustics is an indispensable resource for any architect involvedin a sustainable design project.

Preface ixAcknowledgments xi1. Electricity - Basic Concepts 11.1 Introduction 21.2 History of Electricity 21.3 The Water Analogy 41.4 Ohm's Law 61.5 Types of Electricity 61.6 Power Factor 91.7 Types of Circuits 111.8 Power Generators in Series and Parallel 151.9 Voltage Drop 161.10 Electrical Power 181.11 Electrical Energy 191.12 Paying for Electricity 201.13 Reduction in Maximum Demand 221.14 Transformers 231.15 Electricity and Safety 241.16 Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) 261.17 Conclusion 26Resources 262. Electrical Distribution in Buildings 272.1 Introduction 282.2 A Brief Historical Perspective 282.3 Centralized Electrical Power 302.4 Decentralized and Private Sources of Electricity 312.5 Electrical Distribution in Small Buildings 322.6 Electrical Distribution in Large Buildings 362.7 Switches, Fuses, and Circuit Breakers 392.9 Conduits and Raceways 422.10 Office Landscapes 432.11 Electrical Safety Systems 472.12 Low-Voltage Circuits 502.13 Emergency Power 512.14 Communication and Building Control Wiring 532.15 Electrical Construction Drawings 562.16 Lighting Protection 562.17 Sustainability 582.18 Conclusion 59Resources 593. Plumbing--Water Supply 613.1 Introduction 623.2 Brief History of Water Supply 633.3 Sources of Drinking Water 643.4 Water Use 673.5 Private Water Supply 683.6 Rainwater Harvesting 713.7 Water Distribution in Buildings 793.8 Water Quality 853.9 Water Efficiency 853.10 Hot Water 883.11 Hot Water Conservation 973.12 Conclusion 103Resources 1034. Drainage 1054.1 Introduction 1064.2 Short History of Sanitary Drainage 1064.3 Basic Principles of Drainage 1144.4 Basic Concepts of Plumbing Fixtures 1154.5 Drainage Piping 1164.6 Water Closets and Alternatives 1214.7 Composting Toilets 1254.8 On-Site Septic Tank Systems 1264.9 On-Site Aerobic Systems 1284.10 Special and Innovative Treatment Systems 1304.11 Constructed Wetlands 1314.12 Biologic Machines 1344.13 Graywater Systems 1364.14 Alternative Community Sewage Systems 1394.15 Stormwater 1414.16 Special Drainage Systems 1524.17 Case Study 1534.18 Conclusions 155Resources 1555. Architectural Acoustics 1575.1 Introduction 1585.2 A Short History of Architectural Acoustics 1595.3 The Physics of Sounds 1615.4 The Biology of Sounds 1705.5 Perception of Sound 1755.6 Sound and Health 1795.7 Sound-Absorbing Materials 1805.8 Applications of Sound-Absorbing Materials 1825.9 Sound Transmission 1885.10 Design for Low Sound Transmission 1895.11 Acceptable Noise Levels 1945.12 Open-Plan Offices 1965.13 Impact Noise 1985.14 Mechanical Systems Noise Control 1995.15 Theaters, Classrooms and Auditoriums 2025.16 Rules for Drawing Ray Diagrams 2055.17 Electronic Sound Systems 2065.18 Noise Outdoors 2065.19 Conclusions 210Resources 2116. Fire Protection 2136.1 Introduction 2146.2 A Short History of Fires in Buildings 2166.3 Fire Principles 2216.4 Fire Prevention 2246.5 Passive Fire Protection 2256.6 Detection 2286.7 Alarms 2296.8 Safe Egress 2326.9 Fire Suppression 2356.10 Non-Water Fire Suppression Systems 2426.11 Smoke Control 2436.12 Fire Codes 2496.13 Elevators and Fires 2506.14 Lightning Protection 2506.15 Conclusion 2517. Conveyance Systems in Buildings 2537.1 Introduction 2547.2 A Short History of the Elevator 2547.3 Elevator Types 2617.4 Elevator Design 2657.5 Escalators 2717.6 Moving Walkways and Ramps 2757.7 Vertical Transport and Health 2767.8 Special Lifts for People 2807.9 Material Conveying Systems 2827.10 Conclusion 284Resources 284Index 285