Buildings & Construction

With the growing demand in modern life for urban living, we have seen a surge in the number of buildings in cities worldwide, especially high-rise skyscrapers which seemingly defy the laws of gravity!

To achieve these sky-high targets, we need to consider the engineering challenges required to provide a smooth, quiet and uninterrupted supply of water throughout the building.

Supplying water at the required pressure in Israel’s high-rise buildings is an ongoing challenge. The standard practice in high-rise buildings is to pump water up to a reservoir on the roof. The water then descends through the building piping using gravitational force, creating high pressure that must be reduced for consumer use.

In emergencies, the functional stability of vital structures such as the Bank of Israel is crucial. An underground shelter was constructed for the building, 40 meters below ground level. To provide a flow of drinking water to the people living and working there, a water supply system was required. The system also had to supply water for the fire hydrants.

How to gain control of fire in highway and railway tunnels

Water supply for firefighting has always posed a challenge, especially when trying to get water into long and narrow tunnels with limited access for fire trucks.

Pressure reducing valves (PRVs) are used in high-rise buildings to maintain constant outlet pressure at all times. These PRVs often operate in tough conditions that can cause them to fail and stop protecting against high pressure conditions, which in turn can result in severe flooding, damage to pipes and fixtures, mold and other health hazards.

One of the biggest challenges in designing safe and effective water delivery systems in high-rise buildings is ensuring that the water in basement and rooftop reservoirs remains at acceptable levels at all times.

In a recent BERMAD webinar, “How to Design & Implement a Pressure Reducing Station for Extreme Pressure Difference,” Nimrod Shafir, our Building & Construction Application Engineer talked about the challenges of designing and implementing water supply systems in high-rise buildings that ensuring reliable water supply and stable pressure to all levels at all times.

Background

The Shenzhen OCT Tower is an office building and commercial complex located in a dynamic business area of the Nanshan district in China. It was designed by Parsons Brinckerhoff Consultants Private Limited and developed by Shenzhen OCT Properties Company Ltd; and is comprised of a main 300 meter high-rise building (60 floors) and a few low buildings.

After years of planning, a new high-speed train from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv was finally opened in September 2018. Travelling at speeds of up to 160 km/h, the train passes through hilly terrain, tunnels and bridges on it's way to Tel Aviv's international airport. Millions of people use Israel railways every year. Because the line runs between the airport and Jerusalem, the volume of travelers is expected to be high.

Variable flow pumping systems are becoming the preferred HVAC system for new buildings today. And, increasingly, constant volume heating and cooling systems are being converted to the variable flow systems in existing buildings to capitalize on the energy savings they can provide.

<< Download brochure on BERMAD's Integrated Pressure Reducing System >>

The integrity and cost-effectiveness of your high-rise water system is crucial to the safety and satisfaction of the end user. Burst pipes and hard-to-maintain systems—whether for drinking water or fire protection—can be costly and often cause untold damage to property and even threaten human safety.

Many of these problems stem from water pressure fluctuations and can be prevented with proper water pressure control. At BERMAD, we take pride in developing pressure safety systems built to stabilize pressure spikes or drops.

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.