Description
Technical service systems for research and other technical buildings are to provide a high safety of supply as well as flexibility to be able to adapt to constantly changing requirements of new research processes. Service layout and dimensioning of control rooms have to be based on a thorough evaluation of future electrical energy consumption and the different required mains. The voltages needed follow the brief and local planning requirements.
Close cooperation of all participants of the planning process is required to achieve an optimised service and control room layout. All parameters concerning the position, orientation, extendibility, and modular setting of service areas and electrical control rooms are determined at an early planning stage. The number of central and secondary control areas results from the building geometry, the number of storeys, the total floor area, the particular use of the building, and the related specific energy consumption.
Most research and technological buildings contain individual transformer stations. Required service areas such as medium and low voltage switchgear, transformers, and safety power supply should be arranged next to each other. According to the respective building layout, all issues concerning the ventilation of the spaces, transport of equipment and substances, and maintenance have to be addressed by the building structure – for instance with the position of installation shafts or the plant room. Floor-to-floor heights of service areas have to take account of raised floors.
Despite their high thermal output, in most cases service rooms with optimal, i.e. north orientation and sufficient openings for air-intake and exhaust do not need mechanical ventilation. Such a layout helps to save energy and reduces maintenance costs.
The installation of diesel generators for emergency or safety power supply requires particular care: The generator should be accommodated in a room near the transformer station. The potential impact of exhaust pipes, ventilation, air and structure-borne sound on adjacent spaces has to be carefully studied and co-ordinated with other consultants.
Supplementary service areas for information technology or specific functional requirements consume a considerable amount of additional space.
The layout of electrical plant rooms and distribution of electrical services follows technical and economical parameters. Technical parameters include:
– A clearly structured service layout
– Stacking of switch rooms
– Crossing with other service ducts should be avoided if possible
– Energy losses within mains should be minimised
– Supply distances should be short to avoid voltage drops
– Flexible selection of voltage, circuit, etc.
– Low-maintenance
– Accessibility
– Reliability
– Long life spans and maximum flexibility in case of changes of use and extensions
Economical parameters are:
– Low investment costs through specification of non-specific, generic equipment
– Special solutions should be restricted
– Short utility lines
– Short installation periods
– Low running and follow-up costs
Fire regulations to a large extent determine layout and building standards of electrical plant rooms and service supply. Furthermore, negative electromagnetic influences – particularly of electrical service systems – on highly sensitive measuring and research equipment have to be restricted. When specifying equipment, materials, the strategy for grounding and potential equalisation and service supply, these requirements have to be taken into account.
Due to the fast development of information, computer, communication, security and media technology, central facilities and floor plans should contain buffer zones that can accommodate additional or changed equipment. Installation of supplementary gear, maintenance work or even a replacement of the entire system should be possible without interrupting research operations and without affecting existing systems.
The position and number of switch rooms is influenced by the range of different uses, the architectural design, and the maximum lengths of electrical and IT service lines.
The layout of the horizontal distribution on each floor has to be established in detail with the architect and other engineers and consultants in accordance with the specific architectural and fire protection requirements. Important criteria for the layout include the individual spatial requirements, ventilation and media concepts for laboratories as well as building regulations for electrical service systems, access, and maintenance. Installation of electrical service systems within escape routes is governed by specific building regulations.
Electrical service systems in workspaces run optionally in trunkings, within a raised floor or in under-floor ducts. In laboratories, service systems run almost exclusively in wall trunkings or in conduits within the laboratory furniture. Flexibility and accessibility have to be regarded as important criteria for the specification of distribution systems.
Planning and design of cutting-edge electrical supply systems is not restricted to the initial installation but must be aware of ongoing changes throughout the life of a research building and its technical service systems.
Originally published in: Hardo Braun, Dieter Grömling, Research and Technology Buildings: A Design Manual, Birkhäuser, 2005.