Image Processing Reference
In-Depth Information
29.2 Building Services
Buildings should provide supportive conditions for people to work and relax. This means they
will usually be tuned toward human comfort parameters. Sometimes, zones or entire buildings are
optimized for the particular demands of machines, processes, or goods, which may differ from
human comfort. In any case, the environment needs to be safe, secure, and provide the necessary
infrastructure, including supply/disposal, communication/data exchange, and transportation. hese
requirements vary significantly depending on the purpose of the building.
Buildings fulfill these demands through appropriate design of building structure and technical
infrastructure, the latter being known as building services. For example, ventilation can be achieved
through opening windows (a structural design measure) or forced ventilation (a mechanical building
service).
Building services include “passive” installations for transport of energy, information, and mate-
rials (such as power distribution, waste water disposal, and data networks) as well as controllable,
“active” systems such as HVAC. Systems do not, however, clearly fall into one of these categories. For
example, water supply may include pressurization pumps, and power distribution may be extended
with switchgear monitoring, power factor monitoring, or on-site cogeneration.
Different building types will have different requirements regarding presence and performance of
these services. Table . highlights examples grouped by building disciplines. For a comprehensive
reference on building systems refer to [].
While the permissible environmental conditions for goods, machinery, and processes are usually
clearly specified, ensuring human comfort is a more complex affair. For example, thermal comfort
does not only depend on air temperature, but also air humidity, air flow, and radiant temperature.
Moreover,thelevelofphysicalactivity,theclothingworn,andindividualaswellasculturalprefer-
ences have to be taken into account. Much in the same way, one and the same amount of air flow can
be perceived as a pleasant breeze as well as a draft depending on thermal sensation. Also, the amount
of control available to individuals has an influence on whether they will consider otherwise identical
conditions as comfortable or not. his for instance applies to the ability to open windows and having
control over air delivery devices.
Not all sections of a building can (or need to) be treated equally with respect to environmental
conditioning. As an example, for access spaces like stairways, thermal comfort parameters are relaxed.
Also, the sunlit south side of a building may require different treatment than the one facing north.
Therefore, and for reasons of manageability in large complexes, buildings are split into control zones.
With room control, every room forms a zone of its own. Conditions can then be optimized for taste
or presence.
Typical HVAC equipment includes fan coil units, VAV (variable air volume) boxes, and radiators.
Valve and damper actuators are typical control elements. Fans are controlled in discrete steps as well
as continuously by way of variable frequency drives. Central plants (such as air handling units, boilers,
TABLE .
Building DisciplinesandExampleSystems
HVAC
Thermal comfort and air conditioning: mechanical ventilation, air humidification, free
convection heating/cooling
Visual comfort
Artificial lighting, shading (motorized blinds/shutters)
Safety
Fire alarm, gas alarm, water leak detection, emergency sound systems, emergency lighting,
CCTV (closed circuit television)
Security
Intrusion alarm, access control, CCTV, guard tour patrol systems
Transportation
Elevators, escalators, conveyor belts
Communication
technology
LAN, private branch exchanges; voice intercom, public address/audio distribution and
sound reinforcement systems
Supply and disposal
Power distribution, fresh water, hot water, waste water, gas, switchgear, pumps
Application specific
Clock systems, flextime systems; audiovisual systems (conference rooms, auditoriums,
digital signage); kitchen equipment, laundry/cleaning equipment, laboratory equipment
