Innovative plumbing design for residential buildings

Abstract

Building Services Engineers are responsible for the design, installation, and operation and monitoring of the mechanical, electrical and public health systems required for the safe, comfortable and environmentally friendly operation of modern building. The services team influences the architecture of a building and plays a significant role in the sustainability and energy demand of a building. A design team is fully responsible for delivering a fully coordinated functioning design, taking into account its unique nature and dealing with the changing requirements of clients and the external factors and also considering new areas like renewable energy, sustainability, low carbon technologies and energy management. With buildings accounting for around 50% of all carbon emissions, building services engineers play a significant role in combating climate change. Sustainable development encompasses in its scope several aspects of construction. Amongst them water and waste management form an important discipline. Environmental and economic issues are driving plumbing engineers to design piping systems that use fewer resources and have minimal impact on our planet. Role of Public Health Engineer in a design of a building had gained importance recently since they can contribute enormously to design a sustainable building. Among then various types of building, residential building has to be given more importance as the water consumption and waste water disposal from the building are high when compared to other buildings.Freshwater consumption is of major factor for the design of water systems in buildings. So the key factor in building design is the reduction of fresh water consumption.This can be done either by reducing the consumption levels or by augmenting alternative source for reducing fresh water consumption wherever possible This paper deals with various aspects to be taken care during design by a Public Health Engineer, thevarious methods of safe waste water and solid waste disposal and storm water management including rainwater harvestingwhich will help to create a sustainable environment.