Buildings & Construction

When designing a drinking water supply in high rise buildings, both level control in reservoirs and pressure control systems are important to ensure reliable 24/7 water supply with sufficient leeway. Pressure spikes and water hammer are unwanted phenomena in high rise buildings that can affect the "pressure quality" in water supply systems and might even damage them.

Designing a safe, effective water delivery system for a high-rise building presents a number of challenges. One of these is ensuring that the water in basement and rooftop reservoirs remains at an acceptable level at all times. If the level is too low or too high, it may result in poor service to consumers; and overflow can result in catastrophic damage to property. The installation of a level control valve in the system can help keep water at a safe level and prevent these issues.

Pressure oscillation is a phenomenon that develops in some water supply systems in high-rise buildings. It can be a nuisance for building occupants as it creates unstable flows in faucets, disturbs the stable mix of hot and cold shower water, and might even damage delicate appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers.

On a large construction project, time is of the essence. Delays are costly not only in terms of the project itself, but because they can impact future business. Ease of installation is therefore an important consideration when selecting water supply valves. Where multiple valves are used in a project, a hard-to-install valve can add significantly to completion time.

The Azrieli Sarona Tower is a 56 floor + 7 floors below ground skyscraper in the Sarona neighborhood of Tel Aviv, Israel. The second tallest building in Israel and one of the most unique with its twisted and double-glass wall that reflects the sky, the 1.4 Billion NIS structure has become Tel Aviv’s latest icon.

In today’s era of global urbanization, high rise buildings offer a practical way to comfortably meet the needs of many while economizing on valuable real estate. However, tall buildings present challenges when it comes to designing water supply systems.

In this video, you will view a water supply system in a high-rise building that is divided into several pressure zones. The lower pressure zone is fed directly from the city water system, while the high-pressure zones are supplied from the building's top reservoir. 

This century marks the first time in history that city dwellers have outnumbered the rural population on a global scale. While the global trend towards urbanization has already reached its peak in developed countries, there are still vast regions of the world just beginning to shift from primarily rural to an urbanized population and economy. This includes large areas of Africa and Asia, home to a significant portion of the world’s population. Due to the size of today’s global population, this urbanization is happening at an unprecedented scale; for instance, in China alone cities will need to absorb 250 million migrant workers by 2030.

For 50 years, BERMAD has been the recognized pioneer and world-leading provider of high quality hydraulic control solutions. Today, we’re announcing our new Buildings & Construction website and blog as an educational resource for property owners, managers, and developers wishing to improve the operational efficiency and reliability of their buildings’ water systems.