ENGineering Buildings

Buildings

MARCH/APRIL 2018 VOLUME 1/ISSUE 1

ENG

ineering

The official journal supplement for CIBSE Australia and New Zealand region

TALL BUILDINGS Feature

VACUUM DRAINAGE In the commercial building sector

DFMA Strategies What to consider

Refresh & restore your ceiling The smart, cost-effective alternative to acoustic ceiling tile replacement

BEFORE

AFTER

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Contents 5

ANZ

Committee

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Editorial

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News

Splash

People 12 The bottom line: Why we need stronger minimum standards for the buildings of tomorrow 16 Designing a solution for building commissioning

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20 Standard practice 24 “Wellbeing”……is it a buzz word or something to stay?

Thought leadership 28

Tall Buildings 33 Acoustics for vertical schools 36 Burning buildings 38 Diversity through design 40 Vertically challenged 42 Elevated

CPD Programme 44 Vacuum drainage systems in the commercial building sector

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Innovation 50 Making the switch to cold water taps 54 What to consider when implementing a DfMA strategy 56 Disrupting education: How technology is transforming the learning spaces of the future

Case Study 58

anaging resilient buildings – preparing for heat M waves

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EDITORIAL Editor & ANZ Chair: Paul Angus Tel: 02 8934 0000 Email: pangus@cibse.org.au Business Development Manager: Sharon Pestonji Tel: 0435 979 400 Email: spestonji@cibse.org.au

ANZ Committee

CIBSE ANZ ONLINE Website: www.cibse.org.au https://twitter.com/cibseanz https://www.facebook.com/CIBSEANZ https://www.linkedin.com/in/cibse-anz https://www.instagram.com/cibse_anz

Paul Angus CIBSE ANZ Chair pangus@cibse.org.au

Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers Australia and New Zealand Region Tusculum PO Box 671, Gladesville, NSW 2111, Australia Engineering Buildings is the official magazine for the CIBSE ANZ region for engineers, written by engineers.

Sharon Pestonji

Lindy Stephens

Mathew Klintfält

BDM spestonji@cibse.org.au

Honorary Secretary lstephens@cibse.org.au

Honorary Treasurer mklintfält@cibse.org.au

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ADMINISTRATION Tarnia Hiosan T: (03) 9758 1436 E: admin@adbourne.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Enquiries: (03) 9758 1436 Fax: (03) 9758 1432 Email: admin@adbourne.com

Adbourne Publishing cannot ensure that the advertisers appearing in Engineering Builders comply absolutely with the Trades Practices Act and other consumer legislation. The responsibility is therefore on the person, company or advertising agency submitting the advertisement(s) for publication. Adbourne Publishing reserves the right to refuse any advertisement without stating the reason. No responsibility is accepted for incorrect information contained in advertisements or editorial. The editor reserves the right to edit, abridge or otherwise alter articles for publication. All original material produced in this magazine remains the property of CIBSE and cannot be reproduced without authority.. The views of the contributors and all submitted editorial are the author’s views and are not necessarily those of the publisher.

The opinions expressed in editorial material do not necessarily represent the views of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). Unless specifically stated, goods or services mentioned in editorial or advertisements are not formally endorsed by CIBSE, which does not guarantee or endorse or accept any liability for any goods and/or services featured in this publication.

Peter Kinsella

Peter Whalley

VIC Chair pkinsella@cibse.org.au

WA Chair pwhalley@cibse.org.au

Phil Senn NSW Chair psenn@cibse.org.au

Sian Willmott YEN Chair swillmott@cibse.org.au

David Robinson SA Chair drobinson@cibse.org.au

Ian Van Eerden Immediate Past YEN Chair ivaneerden@cibse.org.au

Making a building smarter can be simple.

Raising your building’s IQ isn’t just about technology. Don’t miss 2018’s most important facilities management event.

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Editorial Welcome to the very first edition of Engineering Buildings

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ll the articles are written by building services engineers for the benefit and continued learning of engineers. This publication is an opportunity to discover exciting and innovative articles or projects being undertaken right here, within Australia and New Zealand.

We are pleased to be covering a wide array of disciplines and hot topics related to the Built Environment from key contributors across the industry. Within this publication we have focussed on the theme of high rise buildings, exploring the challenges and innovative solutions.

Mathew Burke discusses diversity through design, by bringing a new approach and thought process to high rise, with a great example of overcoming challenges and providing a solution with a great case study of a project he was involved with in the Middle East.

With rising costs and space constraints within inner urban areas, Vertical schools are becoming more common.

Kezia Lloyd examines how this presents a new set of challenges for engineers and how to early planning and consideration of the acoustic and ventilation requirements are essential.

In his article, Vertically Challenged, Les Wilson brings his wealth of experience of high rise buildings in South Africa, United Arab Emirates and closer to home in Perth. He focuses of the age old issue of spatial requirements and services riser, plus the complexities of plumbing in high rise buildings.

Chris Finegan lends his expertise, by delving into the history and technological advancements in Vertical Transport, an important aspect of high rise buildings.

The facades of high rise buildings can be spectacular, however they are in the spotlight due to the unfortunate rise of fires. Mark Anderson provides a holistic fire

engineering approach to provide a safe design outcome in his article Burning Buildings.

Continued Professional Development (CPD) is a key element for all engineers. Our Chapters are doing an fantastic job at organising technical meets in each state, (thanks to the Chapter Chairs and committees). We recognise that our region is geographically challenged, so we’ve refocused our attention on making CPD easier for you. How are we doing this? We have recently launched podcasts, discussing key issues within the industry, look us up on iTunes. We’ve also recently formed a training and education sub-committee, where we will be focusing our attention on bringing to you online training courses, plus CPD accredited presentations and mentoring opportunities. Within this publication, we kick off our CPD feature with Vacuum Drainage, the latest addition to AS 3500 – Plumbing and Drainage.

Wellbeing is a phrase being used heavily these days, maybe slightly too much…. so what is it and what is it all about? Giles Keay highlights how important your wellbeing is, especially in the highly pressurised Building Services industry, where working long hours to meet deadlines often result in engineers missing out on time for themselves and family.

We hope you enjoy this new publication and would value your feedback on how we can bring greater benefits to our members. Thank you to all our members, supporters, sponsors and contributors for making this possible.

CIBSE ANZ is here to support you and we welcome any suggestions and feedback from the CIBSE community.

PAUL ANGUS, EDITOR & CIBSE ANZ CHAIR pangus@cibse.org.au

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News Splash Batteries are included The world’s largest lithium ion battery is now operating, supporting the electricity grid in South Australia.

Built by Tesla, whose founder, Elon Musk, claims the 100MW battery is three times more powerful than any other batter operating today.

“This is history in the making’, said South Australian Premier Jay Weatheril, adding that the battery would prevent a repeat of an incident last year, where the whole state was left without power.

Weatherhill added, "The world's largest lithium ion battery will be an important part of our energy mix, and it sends the clearest message that South Australia will be a leader renewable energy with battery storage."

NCC Seminars announced for February & March 2018 The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) will visit captial cities in February and march 2018 to present on several topics, including exhibiting new fire safety content for Volume One, scheduled for inclusion in NCC 2016, Amendment One. This is your opportunity to hear about these important changes, plus: NCC 2019 – Public Comment Draft The improved CodeMark scheme Administration of performance solutions in respective jurisdictions The development and assessment of performance solutions If you have not yet been substantially involved in the development or approval of a performance solution, this case study will provide an invaluable insight into the process.

The NCC seminars usually sell out, so don’t miss your opportunity!

Register now – email seminars@loud.events

RLB Crane Index shows Australia's construction boom not over yet The recently released Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) Q4, 2017 RLB Crane Index indicates that the construction boom is far from over, highlighting the continuing strength in the construction sector within Australia's economy, rising 161 (5%) since the last publication.

The latest Crane Index has shown both an increase in the country's total number of cranes over the past six months to 685, and also a crane count increase in every key city

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across the country," said Stephen Ballesty, RLB's director of research & development.

"We're also seeing a crane count increase in every key city across Australia, except Darwin and Canberra.

Contrary to popular belief, the boom is not dead yet!"

Sydney still commands the sky with more than 50% of all cranes erected on construction sites around the country.

Melbourne at 22% and Brisbane's 12% are the only other capital cities with more than 10% of the nation's cranes.

2018 Seminar Series: The Anatomy of the Smart Building – Save the Date CIBSE ANZ is proud to bring you a programme that examines the internal workings of the smart buildings that delivers energy savings and sustainability. A programme that offers the perspective and expertise of a variety of stakeholders in the production of a smart buildings – from supplier to designer and client. The programme for 2018 is currently in production and seminars will be held in 4 cities across Australia and New Zealand in October 2018.

Read on and save the date

ARBS 2018 Exhibition Date: 8-10 May 2018 Connect and network with peers, colleagues, designers, contractors, suppliers, installers, and end users, over 3 action packed days of exhibition, seminars, product presentations, awards dinner and specialty networking events.

Click for details

Student of the Year | 2018 Graduate of the Year | 2018 Young Engineer of the Year | 2018

ENTRIES CLOSE 1st MAY CATAPULT YOUR CAREER IN BUILDING SERVICES ENGINEERING CIBSE ANZ 2018 Young Engineers Awards are open for entries and nominations from across Australia and New Zealand.

Finalists for all three awards will be flown to Sydney for the prestigious CIBSE ANZ Annual Function and Award ceremony at the Australian Museum on 21st June 2018.

Winners will be announced on the night and will receive a trophy and $1000 cash prize.

START YOUR ENTRY TODAY

www.cibse.org/CIBSE-ANZ-Young-Engineers-Awards

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the bottom line: Why we need stronger minimum standards for the buildings of tomorrow FRANKIE MUSKOVIC POLICY MANAGER, SUSTAINABILITY AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS, PROPERTY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

2018 will be a big year for policy making in the built environment. Perhaps by the time you’re reading this the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) will have released the draft provisions of the National Construction Code (NCC) 2019, comprising the biggest overhaul of Section J since its introduction back in 2006. For those thinking “finally!” I hear you.

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aving participated in efforts over the past decade at increasing stringency and trying to harmonise aspects of section J with other industry tools like Green Star and NABERS, this is a well overdue and welcome deep-seated review. The significance of this opportunity, the first revision of the NCC since its shift to a three-year review cycle, is one we all must recognise and engage with in good faith.

But more on that later.

As well as significant changes in the NCC on the table, there is a concurrent industry led effort looking ahead to how our minimum standards could evolve over time. Australia has committed to the Paris Agreement, meaning that by 2050, we need to be at or beyond net zero emissions. The built environment will be crucial to achieving this as the sector presents some of the lowest cost emissions reduction opportunities, is shovel ready and can make this transition without any new

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technological breakthroughs – we can build net zero emissions buildings today.

Energy use in buildings accounts for 23% of Australia’s emissions, and more than half our electricity demand.

In 2016, a coalition of industry bodies in the built environment combined forces to produce the landmark report “Low Carbon, High Performance” under the umbrella of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC). The report demonstrated that implementing a suite of energy efficiency opportunities in the sector could deliver $20 billion in savings by 2030.

Not chump change. In fact, if all the recommendations outlined in the report are adopted, buildings could meet over half the national energy productivity target and more than a quarter of the national emissions target.

Stronger minimum standards are a key area of policy reform requiring a longer-term strategy if we are to reach net zero emissions. 58% of Australia’s buildings in

At the time of Low Carbon, High Performance’s release, the ABCB were already progressing significant work on updating section J for commercial buildings in NCC 2019 but did not have a mandate to review stringency of residential buildings and there was no plan for how section J might be strategically reviewed on an ongoing basis after 2019. Given the NCC had just shifted to a three-year review cycle, there was an obvious opportunity to start a conversation on strategic long-term planning for the future of the Code. Enter the Building Code Energy Performance Trajectory Project, or more simply, the Trajectory project.

The Trajectory project will seek to define a long-term trajectory for the NCC’s energy requirements for both residential and commercial buildings, leveraging the work already underway by the ABCB on commercial buildings.

The project is being led by industry through ASBEC and ClimateWorks in partnership with the CRC for Low Carbon Living. Technical analysis for the work is being led by the same consultants who’ve done the work for NCC 2019, headed up by Dr. Paul Bannister and Energy Action.

be used to review and update proposed trajectories that take account of technological advances and changes in cost.

Underpinning all of this is a commitment to a “fabric first” approach. Buildings with smart passive design and highperformance facades require less plant and onsite or offsite generation. The building fabric also has a longer life than plant equipment and over the life of the building, it is more cost effective to focus on these design elements whose upfront cost will be offset through lower operating costs.

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2050 will be built after 2019.1 A staggering statistic, and one which reinforces the need to focus on improving standards now to avoid locking in poor performing building stock for decades to come. While the leaders in our sector are leading the world in sustainability – we’ve topped the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark since its inception seven years ago – there is a very long tail. Beyond those top tier performers who are competing for global capital and the business of a sophisticated tenant market, there has been little evidence others will build above the minimum requirements of the NCC, despite the fact that more energy efficient buildings cost less to run and are more comfortable to occupy. This means the advanced materials and techniques used on the best buildings haven’t been adopted broadly and materials like double glazing (cheaper than single glazing in Germany!) are not as widely used.

The first results of modelling completed for residential buildings paint a compelling picture. If a single household cuts their peak demand by one kilowatt (kW) through good design – equivalent to the power used to run a small oil heater – this would save almost $1,000 in required investment in electricity system infrastructure, thus reducing electricity prices for everyone. The analysis found there are immediate cost-effective opportunities to improve energy efficiency requirements in the NCC with measures that could reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling by an estimated 28 to 51 per cent across a range of housing types and climates. This is equivalent to between 1 and 2.5 stars on the NatHERS scheme. In most jurisdictions, implementing these improvements would mean setting minimum requirements at the equivalent of 7-star NatHERS or higher.

Reducing air leakage is a major opportunity for most building types assessed, along with ceiling fans and roof insulation in some cases. The analysis also showed rooftop solar PV is now more financially attractive than most of the efficiency opportunities assessed, making a strong case for the potential inclusion of onsite renewable energy requirements (in addition to maximising energy efficiency) in the NCC.

Defining trajectories towards net zero emissions for every asset class has thrown up some interesting challenges.

Not surprisingly, front and centre is the nexus between energy efficiency in building design and energy policy.

Looking ahead as far as 2050, how quickly will the grid decarbonise and at what point is it more cost effective to reach net zero emissions with offsite renewable energy?

This is outside the current mandate of the NCC, but treatment of onsite and offsite renewable energy will be an increasingly important consideration.

Trajectories will necessarily look different for different building types; it will be far easier for detached houses and large industrial sheds to reach net zero with energy efficiency and onsite generation than a high-rise office building for example. To deal with this conundrum, the project will establish some common principles that should

These findings will be released in an interim report in early February and will prompt discussion within industry. With no stringency increase on the table for residential buildings in NCC 2019, it is vital we conduct an open, inclusive dialogue and reach a consensus on changes to support moving forward. That is a key reason this project is led

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Which finally brings me to NCC 2019. Dr Paul Bannister and Energy Action led the technical analysis forming the basis of new draft provisions that constitute, on average, a 45% decrease in annual energy use compared to current requirements. They’ve also gone to enormous effort to simplify section J, and in some cases (thermal bridging, looking at you) rather than increasing stringency, they’ve drawn out the existing requirements that were so well buried that most people didn’t know they were there.

In addition to significant increases in stringency proposed for pumps, fans, chillers, boilers, PAC units, cooling towers, outside air, artificial lighting and lifts, the approach to glazing represents perhaps the biggest challenge in garnering strong industry support. It’s as much a cultural challenge as a technical one as the proposed approach sees the glazing calculator discarded in favour of much simpler table requiring the combination of a specified U value (total U-value of window+frame+wall) and product of Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) and Window to Wall Ratio (WWR) to be met for each façade by climate zone.

The baseline used doesn’t reference typical highlyglazed facades we see in premium office towers or new apartment buildings, but started with the question: if the cheapest window is a wall, how do we assess windows?

The baseline scenario used was the cheapest window that would achieve a minimum of 5% daylight factor in the perimeter zone. Turns out that is not a big window – in the order of 30% WWR. The cost effectiveness of the changes proposed for NCC 2019 are predicated largely on the construction of facades that will have less glazing than we see on our current flagship buildings. Given the ability to use performance verification methods (NABERS and Green Star to be added as options as well as JV3), you’d still be able to construct buildings with 80, 90% glazing – but you’ll have to invest in high quality double glazing as well as external shading. Many out there will say this is a good thing, and it’s high time we went back to investing in

This exposes an issue that’s been present in our industry a long time. There is little to no crossover between architectural design and detailed services design, leading to the oft presented anecdote of the pretty glass box that requires conditioning and the achievement of high NABERS and Green Star ratings. There are buildings out there that demonstrate well designed facades without floor to ceiling glass on every façade, like the Sirius building in Canberra, that can perform at the highest levels and attract premium tenants. The industry is therefore clearly capable of delivering against these standards, but the culture of architects vs engineers needs to change.

need to fix enforcement and compliance before raising minimum standards is a red herring. We need to do both.

Other countries who’ve adopted trajectories like Denmark have found that proving a roadmap for industry has improved compliance and caused industry to take bigger leaps towards net zero to avoid being left behind.

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better passive design and facades that don’t rely on optimised HVAC to achieve desired rating targets.

If the cheapest window is a wall, how do we assess windows?

Given the amount of time and effort that’s been invested

by Government and industry to get us to the stage of public consultation on NCC 2019 and the timeliness of the discussion around a long-term trajectory, the stakes are high. This is the moment for industry to demonstrate that we can lift our game, and to say we can walk and chew gum at the same time. The line I hear all the time, that we

I know no one who wants to see the NCC go nowhere in 2019 or to proceed with three-yearly reviews of provisions on an ad-hoc basis without knowing what might come next. If the industry in Australia can get certainty on a clear, consistent long-term plan for energy requirements in the NCC, I have every confidence that Australia’s engineers – who already deliver some of the world’s most sustainable buildings – will invest in the innovation required to get every building to net zero.

References 1. Based on floor area across all building sectors, given currently expected growth rates and allowing for refurbishment/rebuild of 1 per cent of the stock each year, in addition to net stock growth.

2. According to estimates undertaken by CSIRO for this project.

Interested to hear more thought leadership from Frankie? Tune into our podcast: Click here to listen

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Designing a solution for building commissioning, with the Standards Australia Incubator

Developing Standards can be time and resource intensive activity most often completed outside business hours and on top of other work. So you want to make sure it’s what the industry actually needs before you begin, right?

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hat’s the question the Standards Australia Incubator posed to building commissioning stakeholders at its Design Thinking workshop in December 2017.

the Incubator at Standards Australia, “Let’s work out what the problem is first of all, with regard to building commissioning, and make sure we are talking to the right people before we even start thinking about a solution”.

Standards Australia is the nation’s peak non-government, not-for-profit standards organisation. After 95 years in standards development, Standards Australia launched the Incubator, a key organisational initiative, in September 2017. Its twin mission being to find better ways of developing standards and more intuitive means of delivering them to the end user.

Thus began a two month consultation period, in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air conditioning and Heating (AIRAH), to more closely define the issue around building commissioning.

So how do you know if a standard is the right solution?

You work back from the problem. And that’s exactly what the Incubator workshop sets out to do.

“We went into this process with a completely open mindset.” says Ed McGuire, who is leading work on

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“You need to generate some noise,” says McGuire, “to attract attention and ensure you have the right people engaged in the conversation”.

Prior to the workshop, stakeholders were asked their view of the problem:

PEOPLE

• Services in buildings are not currently being tested as fully integrated systems during the commissioning process.

• As many aspects of these systems, such as fire safety and essential power are dependent upon each other, this may lead to critical failures, meaning a reduction in safety for occupants.

• Additionally, as buildings become increasingly complex, many of these functions are being integrated and automated through IT infrastructure.

• This increased complexity requires a complementary level of testing to ensure the system as a whole is functioning optimally. Without this, there may be significant operating inefficiencies including: higher running costs, loss of services and comfort and increased environmental impact through energy wastage.

With industry engaged and the issues around building commissioning beginning to slide into focus, the workshop was held in December 2017, with 20 industry representatives including fire engineers, building certifiers, builders, property owners and regulators, as well as facilitators from Standards Australia. CIBSE were well represented, with Phil Cowling (Cromwells), Steve Hennessy (WT Consultancy) and Paul Angus (AECOM) participating in the workshop.

A key element of the workshop was clarifying from the start that the solution did not need to be a Standard. It could be a set of educational videos, a handbook, or an app, that allowed users to rate designers and builders on the delivery of a project. We wanted participants to be as creative in their thinking as possible – what range of solutions could be implemented with the best chance of actually fixing the issue?

With that important criteria established, the team could now begin to apply the principles of design thinking to find a solution.

So what exactly is design thinking?

Design Thinking is a methodology that asks you to step into the shoes of the person who will ultimately use a product or service and understand their needs. From that position you can start to create user stories and ideate a wide range of potential solutions. It’s only then that you start to apply critical thinking and cull the weaker ideas based on criteria such as – why would this actually work for the relevant parties? What would engage them? Who drives this change?

The participants were initially asked to re-work and review the problem/opportunity statement from their own perspectives before launching into some warm-up exercises to get the creative juices flowing.

“That’s an important step” says Ed, “even though most people tend to cringe at the thought of it. The point is

not to embarrass people, it’s to get them thinking with a different part of their brain, so that they can actually be creative around the problem and not remain stuck in old modes of thinking about it. The key is to make it as fun and engaging as possible”.

Working through a variety of options, the group did eventually land on standardisation as their preferred solution, however they identified that to give a Standard the best chance of success, it would be helpful if it were picked up in regulation or by an existing building ratings scheme such as NABERS or Green Star.

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The participants are now working on a proposal to Standards Australia for a new document on building commissioning.

In commenting on the success of the process, Devan Valenti from the Green Building Council of Australia had this to say:

“I’ve attended many similar workshops like this but I thought that the Design Thinking approach really brought out a different perspective and energy in the room, which was exciting to see.

I felt it shifted everyone’s mentality and resulted in a really productive workshop.”

So what were the learnings for the Standards Australia incubator?

“We’re interested in testing new ways of initiating Standards Development projects, to ensure that stakeholders are on the right path by engaging with us, that the right people are on board, that the problem and opportunity are well understood and that there is commitment to work collectively towards a solution.

If those things are in place, the projects stand a far greater chance of success. We will definitely be running similar design thinking workshops on a variety of issues in the future.”

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The Standards Australia Incubator is encouraging submissions and ideas from stakeholders for trialling new ways of developing Standards and delivering content in ways that empower the user. Share your views by emailing incubator@standards.org.au.

Author Bio – Ed Maguire Ed has been managing the Standards Australia Incubator since its inception in mid-2017.

The incubator is a key initiative for Standards Australia, and is tasked with testing innovation around the Standards development process and the delivery of those Standards to the end user.

Ed pursued a successful career as an Investment Manager in his native Scotland before moving to Australia in 2005. Handy with a guitar, a rare twist saw him then sign a recording contract with Australian music legends Albert Music.

Although a fun and interesting journey, stardom failed to beckon.

Ed initially worked for Standards Australia as a Project manager in 2010, before moving into Program Management in 2015 and is now thoroughly enjoying the creative challenges of finding and testing innovation with the Incubator.

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STANDARD PRACTICE BRETT FAIRWEATHER I MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND DIRECTOR OF IT’S ENGINEERED PTY LTD

Have you ever found yourself staring in frustration at a non-compliant and unsafe design, or scratching your head trying to interpret the requirement of our local Building Code or referenced Standards? What did you do about it?

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id you joke about it with your colleague? Did you ignore it, copy and paste the relevant part of a similar recent project and carry on? Did you take to social media to vent your views? Or did you do something to help others avoid these same mistakes?

A simple practice note circulated to your colleagues can make a difference. You could also prepare a short paper of common oversights and solutions. Most of the industry bodies representing building services engineers would welcome a short presentation on common problems faced by fellow members.

But there are also ways to contribute directly to ongoing reform of the rules we must follow and the implementation of them, through involvement with technical committees progressing our local Codes and Standards.

How did you get involved in these technical committees?

I was approached by Steve Hennessy back in 2011 with the suggestion that I should take my interest in ventilation design and the growing knowledge of applicable Codes and Standards and represent CIBSE in the then upcoming revision of our ventilation Standard, AS 1668.2 (subsequently released in 2012, along with the new AS 1668.4 for natural ventilation).

What were your first impressions working on these committees?

I was quite uneasy in the first few committee meetings.

I was clearly short by 10 to 20 years in experience compared to the many highly respected industry practitioners alongside me in these meetings. Were my

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views relevant? Could I offer advice that anyone didn’t already know?

As it turns out though, the background and experience of the committee was quite diverse and I did have suitable experience from projects I’d worked on and discussions I’d had with other practitioners. Sharing a role in the drafting of the content to be included in the Standard, I offered my thoughts and participated in the many debates over what was written vs what was intended, always seeking clearer requirements.

Following my input into AS 1668.2, Simon Hill (fellow sub-committee member for the ventilation Standards and chair of the committee for the mechanical fire and smoke control Standard) invited me to join his committee for the then upcoming revision of AS/NZS 1668.1 (subsequently released in 2015). CIBSE agreed that I could continue representing them in this and I accepted the role.

In 2018, I will take on the role as chair of the AS 1668.1 sub-committee.

So, what do these committees actually do?

Technical committees are formed by Standards Australia to bring together the knowledge and experience of relevant stakeholders. It is then the task of these committees to form a consensus on the clauses prepared by them.

The development or revision of a Standard starts with the submission of a project proposal. If Standards Australia deems the proposal to be acceptable, the scope is agreed and the committee is tasked with resolving that scope.

Why do these committees keep changing the requirements? What was wrong with how we’ve always done things?

It may be unfortunate, but reform in the Codes and Standards governing our industry is generally driven by events that highlight failures in the existing requirements.

In order to implement a change, there needs to be a proven shortcoming in the existing requirements – typically an example of a failure that has occurred, despite the design having adhered to the requirements, or where the requirements could have been misinterpreted by a reasonable person. The committee cannot make changes without the relevant scope being accepted in a project proposal.

So, this reform relies on a contribution of knowledge and experience, by someone. This can be anyone. We can all submit a project proposal to Standards Australia and we can all submit feedback on drafts that are released.

You can find plenty of information on these contributions on Standards Australia’s website.

Commenting on drafts doesn’t require you to give up time for committee meetings, just offer a few lines of text to highlight the problem and offer a solution.

Why can’t we just apply what works elsewhere?

I’m all for a global approach to building services designs – the transfer of skills, combined knowledge, shared resources in research and development, innovation opportunities for a larger market etc will benefit communities worldwide.

But we’re not there yet. And we can’t dismiss our legal obligations to abide by the rules that apply in the jurisdiction of each of our projects.

Just like the story about space ships being designed based on the width of horse butts (you’ll need to research this story for yourselves), we must work within the requirements of local constraints. By ignoring some aspects of these and applying what we’re familiar with instead, we may unwillingly be overlooking a crucial aspect of safety, health or amenity relied upon by other parts of the legislation.

What do you get out of this role?

Involvement in these technical committees is voluntary, but I have learnt a LOT about the content in this role.

While I only ventured into the role to contribute to the revision of a Standard, I eventually realised that the industry needs more support in finding and following the requirements. After a number of years of involvement in these committees and an in-depth understanding of the content, I walked away from my previous job and am now supporting other practitioners throughout the industry through my own business – a ventilation helpdesk of sorts – saving others time navigating various requirements, offering innovative solutions, providing independent reviews and delivering training for my clients and various industry bodies. All with the aim of helping others succeed in their own work.

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Once the committee comes to their consensus, a draft is released and public comment is sought from the whole industry. The committee will then amend the draft based on feedback and recommendations received, before final editing and a stakeholder voting process.

How does someone else get involved with these committees?

If you are willing to contribute the time required, above and beyond your normal work load, you could contact Standards Australia and voice your interest in a particular area, or submit a project proposal to demonstrate changes that you’d like to be involved in.

By submitting constructive comments on drafts, the technical committees may also seek your input, drawing on your knowledge and experiences.

Any final thoughts?

I too get quite frustrated when I see occupant safety overlooked or just ignored in a design, but I wanted to be part of a change in this area and do sleep better at night knowing that I’m contributing something to improve this situation, hoping this results in smarter and safer designs.

I encourage others who like the sound of this role to get involved. The industry needs your support.

For more information, visit www.itsengineered.com.au

Interested to hear more thought leadership from Brett? Tune into our podcast.

Click here to listen

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ENGINEERING INNOVATION AT ARBS 2018 The future of the built environment, with a focus on innovative responses to existing and emerging trends, will be on show at ARBS 2018, Australia’s only international air conditioning, refrigeration and building services trade exhibition which returns to Sydney on the 8-10 May 2018 at the International Convention Centre (ICC).

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ith more than 350 exhibitors and in-excess of 9,000 visitors, the exhibition is forecast to be the largest ARBS to date and will offer the industry unrivalled access to the latest in HVAC&R in the southern hemisphere.

The engineering and construction industry, more than ever, needs to embrace sustainable and energy efficient developments, and engage in the debate at all levels to change the paradigm in the interests of Australian economic growth. ‘The industry continues to face some serious challenges including the changing nature brought upon through innovation and automation, government regulations, affordability and environmental concerns. Therefore, it’s vital to keep connected and remain current in the approach to how we design, engineer and build infrastructure and buildings’, says Ian Hopkins, ARBS Chair and industry advocate.

The exhibition facilitates this through the exploration of cutting-edge intelligent building technologies and solutions in the brand-new show floor precinct, IBTech@ARBS. Data and technology is transforming our built environment and as smart building solutions continue to evolve, they allow property developers and owners to reduce costs, improve energy efficiency and enhance occupant comfort.

Recent advancements have meant greater integration and interoperability between key systems, resulting in highly sophisticated building control strategies. IBTech@ARBS examines this and more through a series of displays, presentations and hands-on sessions.

Alongside the exhibition, and of interest to the engineering and construction industry, will be the Speaker Series – a full seminar program which will see industry leaders and experts present on an array of topics and management issues whilst facilitating discussions on how we can better design, control and innovate to sustainably and efficiently transform our built environment.

The Speaker Series presentations enable you to connect with peers and remain informed and inspired by exploring the future of HVAC&R and the built environment. At ARBS 2018, see all the latest products, talk to manufacturers and distributors about new innovations and enjoy many of the social activities including the awards presentation dinner.

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Since 1998, ARBS has provided a unique forum for the entire industry to connect and develop mutually beneficial business relationships, to source and discover the latest products, systems and service evolutions and to share knowledge of emerging technologies, methodologies and best practice. If you are involved in HVAC&R or building services, then you cannot miss this major industry event. Quick and easy preregistration is available online which grants free entry across all three days – visit www.arbs.com.au.

Sydney ICC Central Energy Case Study A case study highlighting the unique features of Sydney ICC’s central energy plant. Presentations will be delivered by the lead consulting engineers and contractors behind the $1.5 billion redevelopment and will explore challenges faced throughout the project and key lessons learnt.

Sydney ICC Central Energy Plant Tour Don’t miss out on a rare opportunity to undertake a site tour of ICC central chiller plantroom and experience the system in operation.

Barangaroo South District Cooling from concept to operation A significant contributor to achieving the carbon positive goal is the district cooling system that provides chilled water to all types of building within the development.

Explore challenges including laying the foundations of a workable sustainability strategy; the precinct wide cooling design concepts and strategies employed; integrating the detailed design of the commercial building’s cooling systems; and the transition from construction to the required operating performance.

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“Wellbeing” ……is it a buzz word or something to stay?

GILES KEAY I MANAGING DIRECTOR, CONSTRUCTIVE, MRICS FRCSA

Wellbeing is a phrase being used heavily these days and perhaps slightly too much… so what is it and what is it all about?

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he time of businesses to just expect their staff to turn up on time and be paid for their work and expect them to be satisfied has gone. There is now a much larger expectation by employees to be provided a certain level of support and guidance that encompasses far more than just their role.

Wellbeing is defined by the World Health Organisation as “a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.” And in the Collins Dictionary as “the condition of being contented, healthy, or successful”. These definitions correlate directly to Wellbeing in the workplace and what the ultimate goal of all employees and employers should have for every staff member in the business…. Including the owner or leaders!

So why is it needed?

Today we are faced with a world that is moving a such a fast pace that many people don’t have time to stop to take a breath, the cost of living is so high families juggle at least 2 full time jobs' and childcare/school, and on top of that, there is the social media we are all subjected to hourly portraying lives that are perfect (or so we are led to believe) only increasing the pressure

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for us to have equally as perfect fulfilling lives and therefore never stopping!

Technology is adding to the pressure in that if it is used wrongly it can have an extremely negative impact on an individual rather than providing flexibility for work by always making you contactable and connected with not only clients and colleagues for work but also your friends and family meaning that if you don’t manage it correctly you never get to switch off.

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Many of us have had moments when things have seemed impossible and challenging in different aspects of our lives. I have seen first hand how these situations can seriously impact someone’s ability to focus and deliver in their role at work and then the detrimental effect it can have not only on themselves but also the business and very often their colleagues.

Why is it so important for the Building Services sector?

The engineering and construction industry is one of the highest pressured in the world being driven by clients on meeting strict time and budget parameters. It is this that can put a huge strain on the team working on a project causing many to have to work long hours to meet these deadlines often having to miss out on time

for themselves and family. It is not unusual for a large proportion of engineers raising issues of overworking when seeking a new job and opportunity and their

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questioning around support and workload will be high on their list of priorities for any new company.

demonstrate the desired behaviours making it part of the DNA and culture of the organisation.

It is not a new concept either to realise that employees who are happy and in a state of wellbeing will always be more engaged and have a higher level of productivity than those who are not. If you wish to ensure a high level of retention of staff, then this is the first place to look before considering anything else.

As the founder and owner of constructive I have always had a very strong focus on our own staff and ensuring the highest level of support but have recently taken a huge leap forward and launched a brand-new initiative focused on our employees and their ongoing health and wellbeing. Our “peoplefirst” initiative covers all areas of;

So how do we ensure employees are in a state of Wellbeing?

Each business is different in respect to what resources it has or how its structure can affect their ability to implement different schemes however, it is important to realise that much of creating the right work environment can be free or very cost effective. Everything you do from creating a flexible environment, gratitude for work completed well, recognition, training and development and ensuring structure so everyone has purpose can be straightforward to commit to.

In relation to the implementation of external support to assist with EAP for instance that can incur costs but surely a small price to pay to ensure that an employee is in a positive mental state.

It is important to communicate within a business, both up and down, and for colleagues to be aware of each other and notice when things are not going so well for others. This level of communication and listening can be vital support within a company.

Implementing schemes that work A strategic wellbeing program needs to be tailored to an organisation, many will not work as they are too generic and merely ticking a box. It is crucial that the MD/CEO and senior members of the team show and

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• Health & Well Being • Rewards

• Career & Personal Development • Flexibility

We are leading from the front in the recruitment industry we believe and truly believe that by providing this our employees will attain higher levels of productivity and longevity with the company.

We are always striving to work with engineering consultancies and companies who offer a similar environment and support to their employees as it not only provides attractive opportunities to consider but also ensures the longevity and success of the placements employment.

So, will it stay?

I personally believe that Wellbeing is no buzzword although finally we have a phrase to bring it to the forefront, this is a fundamental issue for many and if you are a manager in a business take heed, there are many businesses in the market who are embracing this change and you do not want to be left behind.

If you are an employee in a business, make sure your voice is heard if the support is not there, and if you need support yourself, never be afraid to ask for help.

For more information contact your Diversey Representative or Customer Service:

AU - 1800 647 779 or aucustserv@diversey.com 29 Chifley St, Smithfield NSW 2164 AUSTRALIA - diversey.com

ÂŽ Diversey 2018 All rights reserved.

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Getting the message out MICHELLE DUNNER I EDITOR, FACILITY MANAGEMENT MAGAZINE

Throughout the built environment, there are legions of very smart people working on interesting projects that result in great insights – and many of these could easily be shared with the wider world.

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n marketing speak it’s called becoming a ‘thought leader’ and technology means there are more opportunities than ever before to get your point of view across to the people you’d like to influence.

The trick is to know how to disseminate your intellectual property in a way that’s going to make people stand up and take notice – aka the right way of getting your message out.

Getting published, whether in a print magazine like Facility Management, your company’s own website, a blog or a social media platform like LinkedIn is one of the fastest ways to build brand awareness for your business, as well as raise your own profile.

So if your goal is to get more recognition in 2018, tap your marketing colleagues on the shoulder and start getting yourself out there. To help you put your best foot forward, here are my top eight dos and don’ts.

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Do have something to say In the newspapers, thought leadership is known as an ‘op-ed’ which stands for opinion or editorial article.

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In these articles, the writer is making a point – and that’s what you need to do if you’re going to get traction with your clients and prospects. If you’re not going to be bold or introduce new ideas, it’s unlikely you’ll establish yourself as an authority in your industry.

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This, admittedly, can be a scary prospect, but you’ve got to be prepared to put your head above the parapet – and risk getting it knocked off.

Just remember that having someone disagree with your point of view isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it can open up lines of discussion and communication.

Your marketing and communications people can help you craft your messages that will enhance your standing as a subject matter expert and reflect well on your company.

Do try to write regularly Writing on a regular basis gives you regular touchpoints that build your sphere of influence and lay the foundation for becoming known as a subject matter expert or thought leader.

One post on a blog or LinkedIn or one magazine article isn’t enough. If you get the opportunity to be published, you need to follow up regularly.

Talk to your company’s marketing team to formulate a campaign plan. If you don’t actively use social media, they can also help you leverage what you do write to ensure it reaches the maximum number of people.

And remember – writing blogs and publishing on social media can get you noticed by mainstream media too.

Do know your audience Most of us who go down this path bask in the warm glow when our peers pat us on the back with a hearty ‘well done’ but often they’re not the people you’re trying to impress. Unless you’re writing for, say, a CIBSE journal, your readers will be far from dazzled by your technical acuity.

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Think about how to present your work so that it has an impact with the audience. If you’re not sure of the best way forward, talk to your company’s marketing and communications people for guidance.

Don’t waffle Start off by telling your readers something they don’t already know. You’re not writing an essay, so there’s no need to set a scene. Only the most committed readers will plough through to get to the point you’re actually trying to make.

Do try to be succinct I call it the ‘Keith Richards’ effect. In his autobiography, the Rolling Stones legend talked about the junkie mantra that, if a little of the wacky stuff is good, more must be better. So many subject matter experts think that if the request for 500 words comes in, providing 5000 is the way to go.

Let’s face it – you probably don’t have time to write 5000 words (or, if you did, you’d be in a different job) and most people certainly haven’t got time to read it.

You don’t need to tell the whole story. The key to becoming a thought leader is to leave your reader wanting more.

Don’t go crazy with the graphs Yes, we know a picture tells a 1000 words and including visuals can be of enormous benefit rather than just putting out a slab of text.

But your audience needs to be able to make sense of them. Highly detailed technical drawings or intricate graphs are perhaps best left for a presentation where you can explain them and field questions.

Don’t give your readers eyestrain or a headache trying to work out what the graph or diagram is all about.

You don’t need to tell the whole story. The key to becoming a thought leader is to leave your reader wanting more.

If you give away all your intellectual property, someone else can just take it and run with it.

There’s a real skill in imparting information of value that makes a potential client want to pick up the phone and ring you to find out more.

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Repetition does not equal emphasis. There’s no need to finish your article or blog with the ‘key points’ you’ve already made.

Do have a feel for the issues at play You need to have a hook.

An example of that could be as simple as the start of a new regulatory framework.

Don’t assume that your readers are all over impending new lighting or plumbing requirements and is ready to go when the clock ticks past midnight on the deadline day. It could be valuable to outline the main points of the changes, or focus on an aspect that you believe might be commonly overlooked.

Michelle Dunner is the editor of Facility Management magazine, and a financial services industry marketing consultant.

HAVE AN IDEA? WRITE TO US!!

Do you know of an exciting project we should write about? Is there an outstanding engineer in your midst? Are you working on an innovative technology which you'd like to share? Do you want to comment on an article you've read in Building Engineers?

Email pangus@cibse.org.au and we'll be pleased to consider your suggestions.

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FOR VERTICAL SCHOOLS

HIGH RISE BUILDINGS

BUILDING SERVICES ACOUSTICS A rapidly growing population in Australia and New Zealand is driving demand for the expansion and building of many educational facilities. Given space constraints within inner urban areas, many schools and universities are now forced to build up rather than out. This is presenting a new set of challenges for engineers.

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hen designing education environments, creating classrooms that enable effective learning and encourage interaction is key to success. With respect to the acoustic environment, the internal noise levels and the reverberation control are paramount to ensuring high levels of concentration and engagement. However, for the building services design, ventilation rates are key as carbon dioxide levels in a classroom have been shown to impact alertness and aptitude in learning.

Ventilation for schools are typically designed to comply with the Australian and New Zealand Building Codes requirements or Ministry of Education Guidelines in New Zealand, preferably by means of opening windows or vents. For a vertical school, where the classrooms are at height, opportunities to provide openable windows may be limited. Furthermore, where the facility is in an urban setting, high levels of external noise may require nonoperable windows. In commercial building conversions, this high ventilation rate is generally provided through the use of large fans, which distribute outside air throughout the school. However, some new build schools are opting for a mixed mode design to provide the ventilation rates required whilst achieving a more sustainable outcome.

Where mixed mode ventilation is sought, one of the primary acoustic concerns is noise ingress through façade openings. With this, the ventilation and acoustic requirements are at odds. The opening must allow for the easy flow of air: a trait that favours a fully open window.

However, to reduce noise ingress through the façade, a lower free area, longer route, and internally insulated ducting may be required. The design of these vents can

be a balancing act between the required free area of the opening, and the resulting bulk of the ventilation path.

Many vertical schools that contain mixed mode ventilation utilise the stack effect of the central atrium to aid in relieving air from the building. However, where enclosed classrooms are used, air must also be drawn through the internal wall. Like the façade vent, this opening must be designed to consider the ambient noise levels within the atrium and limit noise transfer into the classroom.

The more common design solutions for this are available through proprietary systems built into a bulkhead at the façade, or a builder’s work plenums built into the façade depth.

The nature of school timetables is such that large proportions of students and staff must move around the campus simultaneously. In a vertical facility, movement from floor to floor is often aided through lifts, and a central atrium with stairs. These central atriums, which are often connected to the surrounding classrooms due to the mixed mode ventilation design, require significant smoke extraction plant as part of the building’s fire engineered solution. The noise level from this equipment must meet the requirements of Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1668.1:2015 The use of ventilation and air conditioning in buildings, Part 1: Fire and smoke control in buildings.

AS/NZS 1668.1 requires the noise level in occupied spaces from the operation of smoke control systems to not exceed the greater of 65 dBA or the occupied background noise level plus 5 dBA up to a maximum of 80 dBA. This is to ensure that the students and staff can

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communicate, and hear all alarms and evacuation messages to safely exit the building during fire mode.

Whilst this may not seem to be a particularly onerous acoustic requirement, due to the large air volumes required by the smoke extract fans and limitations on fan technology to achieve these volumes, noise levels emitted internally often struggle to achieve this.

Where the conditions suit a mixed mode ventilation design, the smoke extraction plant can be used, sometimes at a reduced capacity, to aid in relieving air from the building during normal school operation. This is mainly required where acoustically treated ventilation paths result in additional static pressure on the ventilation system. Although the smoke extraction plant may be operating at a reduced capacity, the acoustic design requirements become much more onerous to achieve the relevant acoustic design criteria for teaching spaces.

The best method to address the noise levels from the smoke extraction and relief air plant is through locating the fans in a clerestory level, and away from occupied areas. This often requires very early discussion of placement. If the early space planning does not allow for suitable placement, there is a risk that sound attenuators will be required; this may drive a requirement for more powerful (noisier) fans and can lead to integration difficulties within limited space.

In summary, vertical schools are becoming more common. Ventilation rates for classrooms are important, and opportunities to utilise a mixed mode ventilation design are desirable, especially for new builds. A central atrium may be incorporated into the design which can be

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used to assist with the mixed mode and smoke ventilation strategies. Acoustic requirements are often at odds with the mixed mode ventilation strategies; as such, careful planning and consideration of the acoustic and ventilation requirements at an early stage of the project will ensure a more sustainable outcome whilst achieving a good acoustic and air quality environment that is conducive to learning.

CIBSE TM57: Integrated School Design provides guidance for new and refurbished schools design. Access TM57

About the authors – Simon has recently joined WSP as an Associate leading the Acoustics discipline in South Australia. He studied mechanical engineering at the University of Adelaide and has worked as an acoustic engineer on many projects across Australia. Simon is also currently Vice President of the Australian Acoustical Society; a society which aims to promote and advance the science and practice of acoustics in Australia.

Kezia is a Chartered Engineer working in the Acoustics field. She studied mechatronics engineering at the University of Auckland, and has since worked as an acoustic engineer across the globe. Kezia currently resides in Sydney and is an Associate Director at WSP.

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Burning Buildings MARK ANDERSON I TEAM LEADER, PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION GROUP PTY LTD

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ost regulations are based upon events that have occurred such as the requirement for walls and ceilings to prevent fire spread after the Stardust disco fire in Dublin and the Grenfell and Lacrosse fires will be no different. We will implement various new procedures, and new pieces of legislation take an enormous amount of time and money to reinvent the wheel. We will end up with the emperor’s new clothes where everyone will say how wonderful and why did we not do this before and now we will be safe.

These cladding fires cannot be considered a new event, cladding fires have occurred before and measures were put in place to prevent them just as they are now (on spandrels). What happened to these regulations and protective measures? Nothing they are still there, however we are now accepting single components tested in isolation (like ACP cladding) in what is obviously a very complex building system, the façade, with its multifunctional requirements to provide protection against wind, rain, and provide thermal comfort etc as well as providing management measures of vertical fire spread.

This acceptance is all without adequate knowledge of how the elements interact in that system. If we can understand how this complex system works we will bridge the gap.

So now I have caught your attention and pinned your interest I will start with the real message of this article.

What can the Fire Engineering community do to encourage safe practices and use of all the necessary procedures to provide safe cost-effective buildings?

Holistic Fire Engineering Holistic fire engineering will provide the safest most cost-effective building. However this approach is rarely adopted in Australia. At present fire engineers mainly deal with fire related issues after the issue has arisen and noted by a building surveyor or certifier.

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There are very few architect’s practices that I know of who have an in-house fire engineer that works within an integrated design team of architects and engineers, with the aim of creating buildings that are optimised for all variables, including fire safety. (Foster and Partners in the UK do have this capability and utilise it to identify problems early and solve them before design is out of concept stage).

Fire Engineering should be dealt with the same way as sustainability and environmental aspects are i.e. at the onset of design to then form an integral part of the whole design process.

Paul Bryant of Kingfell a respected UK Fire Engineering consultancy has suggested that we introduce and evolve from the existing prescriptive/performance standards to adopt such a fire engineering approach. I whole heartedly agree that this is the way forward and wait in anticipation for his methodology. From my point of view we should adopt existing templates and knowledge rather than develop something totally new i.e. a hybrid of the existing system.

What benefits can Holistic Fire Engineering provide?

• Ensure that a fire engineered solution takes into account all real threats affecting the building, it occupants and usage. Any hazardous event could be included based upon a risk assessment (such as arson).

• Take into consideration all relevant fire related regulations not those just adopted by the State • Utilise prescription and performance regulations, whatever is most applicable • Provide an analysis that is auditable

• Be carried out by competent qualified professionals as assessed by an independent body

8. Final Strategy will be established and will be of a state that approval can be given based upon both the earlier analysis and peer review and that the metrics have been suitably followed.

It can be challenging to provide a holistic approach to fire engineering in the present climate if the designers and other engineers are reluctant to work closely to develop the best efficient and safest building. This can be for various valid reasons such as fire engineering being a young unknown discipline that has not developed for as long as other disciplines like mechanical engineers and structural engineers.

HIGH RISE BUILDINGS

clear and concise and enable non-fire professionals to judge if the gaps are acceptable.

So instead of feeling sorry for ourselves how can we collaborate better?

Fire engineers need to better influence the design and the design process and to take on a more proactive approach to concept design. This can be achieved through emphasis on safer practice, more efficient design of fire safety measures that are seamless within the design. There is also a need for strategic and methodical development of the discipline through more studies of gaps in the knowledge surrounding fire and better promotion of the discipline.

A lateral radiant heat flux experiment on a typical Aluminium Composite Panel.

This process should involve the following: 1. Quality design review prior to the commencement of the design, to enable all stakeholders to gain an understanding of the building, its processes and occupancy profile.

2. Identify and estimate risks such as Intentional risk, accidental risk, environmental risk, business continuity risk, process risk, risk to public/occupants/operators.

3. Objectives setting such as life safety, property protection, business protection and continuity, and environmental protection.

4. A Holistic design review that will assess the scenarios and key objectives that derive from the two previous exercises.

5. Holistic acceptance criteria should include consideration of the use of evaluation tools such as fire and evacuation modelling.

6. Holistic fire safety strategy will be tasked with the preparation of the strategy 7. Peer Review is the point where an independent review will be undertaken. It is also at this point where national requirements will be evaluated against the proposals and a gap analysis established. The gap analysis should be

How can this be achieved?

Its not an easy process but we must collaborate with other disciplines to ensure that fire engineering is considered at all stages. If we were for instance to try and prevent a Grenfell we need to evaluate the cladding design in its entirety and investigate the existing building parameters’ in collaboration with the façade engineers, structural engineers and sustainability engineers to provide a system that works as one to prevent vertical fire spread as well as achieve all the other functions that a façade must achieve. It is almost certain that each individual component in the Grenfell fire would have complied with standards and current practice however when constructed together they failed to achieve the necessary vertical fire spread requirement. This could have been through a combination of design gaps and flaws in construction.

The façade is only one area where fire engineering can provide such safe design outcomes. Other areas include structural fire engineering, fire suppression measures, fire detection measures, smoke management techniques, compartmentation, and safe egress.

Holistic fire engineering better serves the community through improved, safer and more cost effective designs if integrated at the start of that process rather than providing plug holing measures.

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Tall buildings –

Diversity through design MATHEW BURKE I ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, ADP CONSULTING

Intelligent MEP services design is integral to the connectivity of cities, as well as the connectivity of the buildings themselves. By moving away from a traditional design approach, it is possible to diversify the origin point of each of the building services and provide a network like a neighbourhood or suburban type arrangement.

Infrastructure drives design

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n the great building and infrastructure boom in Australia, there is increasing demand placed on the existing authority infrastructure. Bigger buildings, higher density, more GFA I hear you say? Are all putting upward pressure on the supporting network of power, water , sewer and we won’t mention data connection (maybe another time) It seems as though every feasibility and concept design meeting hinges around the location of the substation, or where the water tanks need to be located. Our architect friends looking to put them way in the back, and the network providers insisting that they all be accessible from the street. The poor old building services engineer is stuck in the middle.

Throw into the mix increasingly tall buildings are being developed in ever decreasing land size with even smaller street frontages. For example, the Phoenix apartment building Melbourne by Fender Katsalidis, 29 storey, 88m high and a tiny 6.5m wide. The architectural vision, client yield and authority requirements are too often competing for the same real estate, Often times the ideal location for the substation is also the ideal location for the driveway and the fire booster valve.

Traditionally Building engineers have successfully been designing and building tall buildings using the tried and true method of collocating transformers near main switch boards,

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chillers near to cooling towers, pumps next to tanks, locating them all together in the basement and supplying services up the building. It works, its efficient and I for one am not suggesting that our fore fathers have been getting it wrong, but there is a case to think about if differently if we change some of the design assumptions.

So, why bother changing if we don’t need too?

I was recently involved in a project in the middle east.

This project was originally designed as a 40+ level residential apartment tower with a local engineering firm doing the MEP design. The original MEP design team struggled to come to terms with the scale of the building and unfortunately made the mistake of trying to scale up their small building experience and the design just didn’t work.

In true Middle eastern fashion, the structural works kept going to meet the program while a workable MEP solution was redesigned. Ultimately the structure was complete before the original design team could provide a workable solution.

That’s where we came in. We were asked to provide solution that could not only deliver MEP services to the project whilst working with the physical contains of the existing structure as well as the legislative constrains of the existing authority approval. Not long after we took over the project, the client informed us that a hotel operator was brought on board and now the project had

Then a break through. Once we decided not keep the plant collocated in the basement and considered the building a vertical city, we could diversify the origin point of the services and provide a network similar to a neighbourhood or suburban type arrangement.

Taking a new approach

We worked with the architect to remove most of the plant from the basement, freeing up valuable space for the new kitchen and laundry. The transformers, chillers, and water tanks were collocated in the mid-level and high level plant rooms with in the newly created pool plant, recreational spaces and function room spaces essential to the hotel operators requirements. Once we then had agreement we approached the local power authority and were able get approval to locate transformers at intermittent plant rooms levels, effectively breaking the building into 12 storey sections. Then with the addition of a chiller and a water storage tank, these soon became neighbourhoods. With each neighbourhood connected to each other, there was now an inherent redundancy and diversity integral within each system. This then allowed the original service pathways to be utilised whilst maintaining the operator’s requirements for diversity and maintainability without compromising guest comfort and experience.

Clearly using the traditional method was not going to work, so a new approach was needed and with the support of the client, the builder and the local authorities.

By going back to first principles for tall building design we identified every service we would need (power, water, drainage, comms, exhaust and air conditioning).

We came up with a load diagram that looked like a pyramid, wide base and a narrow top. In this configuration, all the services did not fit into the existing penetrations in the structure.

HIGH RISE BUILDINGS

changed to a 286 room luxury hotel apartments as well as providing new services such as commercial kitchen and Laundry, front of house, swimming pool, health spa and security services into a structure that was now complete.

By diversifying origin points and connecting services in a matrix style, existing service reticulation pathways can be utilised to cater for a higher demand and for additional services. Another example of where this type of intelligent MEP design could be used was a recent project, the Capri Hotel in Brisbane. It was a commercial building but is now enjoying life as a 239 room hotel, using the existing structure, services pathways and incorporating a change of use to increase density and yield.

So what does this mean?

Well, to be honest, not much to the everyday building services design. But that is not what make us different, that is not what sets us apart. By rethinking the base drivers a whole new model of service delivery is possible.

This intelligent MEP service design is easily adaptable to service mixed use developments where spatial efficiency is achieved by servicing each of the building uses in a separate stratum, then using the diversity to provide redundancy of the services in the other strata.

As we generate a load profile that is concentrated at the base and reduces as it approaches the top, by locating MEP plant throughout the vertical strata of the building, connecting each stratum to dedicated MEP plant, then interconnecting each stratum to each other, a matrix style diversification is achieved, lowering the individual service corridor spatial requirements and allowing additional services to be incorporated.

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Vertically Challenged LES WILSON I SENIOR HYDRAULIC ENGINEER, GHD

I have been involved in the hydraulic design of 10 high-rise buildings consisting of residential, offices and mixed developments. My first experience was back in 1993 and the most recent in 2015. The IBC (International Building Code) defines high-rise as a 'building with an occupied floor located more than 75 feet (22,860 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access'. High-rise means different things to different people, the common conception is that a high-rise means a building standing between 12-40 levels and anything above – a skyscraper.

T

he two main challenges I have identified in my experience are a) spatial and b) consistency in services shaft alignment. It's a sad but true fact that more often than not, plumbing, mechanical and electrical services are shoe-horned into spaces that make installation difficult and future maintenance almost impossible. I vividly recall the words of a senior partner representing one of Cape Town's more successful architect practices at a design meeting back in the 90s. As our first meeting got underway he talked about the importance of making services accessible and said “Gentlemen, let the building services breathe". He compared the structure of a building to the human body, where the structural framework was the skeleton; the building fabric was the body and the building services – its arteries and nervous system. When asked by the structural engineer what the nervous system has to with spatial – he replied, "Have you ever suffered a pinched nerve?"

In 2015, our company undertook a high-rise project in a prime location in the UAE. The architectural, structural and building services design was undertaken from Perth.

The project location offered prime views of the waterfront from two sides of the tower. The apartments were aimed at the high end of the market and as such, every additional lettable metre of space had a dollar value. There were soon lively debates over the lack of space left for building services and inconsistent shaft alignment between some of the floors.

Within the tower, the lower mid-levels housed serviced apartments; upper levels housed branded apartments and

40

The number of parking bays was set by the regulatory authority and appeared to take precedence over the more essential services, with the result that the potable water storage, fire storage tanks, recycled water (pre and post treatment) storage tanks, grey water treatment plant, pumps, generators and chillers had to be dove-tailed into the remaining spaces. This was further exacerbated by the physical shape of the lower basement boundary, which mimicked the curvature of the waterfront and formed a sort of promontory. The hydraulics and fire services drew the short straw and ended up in the 'beaky' end space.

Although the main consideration with potable water storage is to achieve sufficient volume to match the design demand, the containment shape also plays an important part.

Due to the confined area, conventional tanks were not an option and we made use of the physical structure itself, placing cast in-situ separation walls to create holding volumes to meet the needs of the various water storage service requirements. The promontory end offered the best solution for the portable water in terms of the actual holding volume. However the profile of the tank was unsuitable as it had the potential to create dead spots within and thus would be an issue with water quality. This area was later dedicated to the collection of the grey water from baths, showers, wash hand basins and condensate. After some painstaking juggling all the water storage space was allocated. The greywater treatment plant proved to be a real headache. It is one thing to nominate an area for equipment making sure it all fits in, but future maintenance has to be factored in.

Issues regarding the reverse osmosis filters and how they could be accessed and removed without fouling another piece of equipment proved to be a challenge, as did pump access for future maintenance and future removal

with reference to the limited access passage. However, after submitting the basement layout to our 'Architect of Records' in the UAE, we learnt that the access path could not be used as an egress path for fire safety reasons. We were completely unaware of this ruling. So it was back to the drawing board and 'hats off' to our principal architect who painstakingly massaged internal walls around to create an egress passage albeit at the expense of the pump rooms which became even tighter. This was not without pain to our structural team who had to redesign elements of the walls and attendant reinforcement.

HIGH RISE BUILDINGS

level 56, two penthouses. The podium through to basement levels cantilevered out towards the waterfront and housed a number of villas, a gym, corporate function spaces, recreation areas, prayer rooms, entrance to the pools, a restaurant, food and beverage outlets and back of house facilities. Car parking, plant and equipment took up the remaining floors to lower basement.

Alignment of service shafts became one of the biggest bun fights. It caused untold problems routing mechanical ducting and drainage stacks. Issues associated with sanitary drainage flows in high-rise buildings are well documented.

Over the past few decades academia working hand in hand with industry have made tremendous progress into understanding what happens within stacks with reference to air flow dynamics and transient pressures. Therefore, keeping the stacks as straight as possible became a focal point as were the shafts allocated to the LPG gas risers to minimise the number of joints and potential leaks. It would have been more conducive to the overall services design had more thought gone into the internal layouts. For example, a kitchen area sitting directly above the living room of an apartment below does not bode well for the tenant when the drainage pipes run in the ceiling void.

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, the project location offered prime views of the waterfront from two sides of the tower. It was decided to include additional apartments by splitting in half the two transfer plant rooms originally at level 19 and 41. To compensate, half of levels 20 and 42 facing away from the waterfront were given over to plant space. Even though this arrangement was a benefit for the developer in terms of apartment sales, it tended to 'bottle neck' services coming out of the double height floors and we now found that the myriad of services could not fit within the corridor ceiling spaces.

To fully explain all the issues that were encountered by the building services team would fill a book let alone a few pages. But, after all the turmoil, it was refreshing to see how the Perth based team worked hand in hand to resolve issues. The understanding between the individual disciplines was exemplary and I honestly cannot recall one single argument between the teams. This was an incredible achievement in itself as the pressures on time lines were extremely challenging.

When driving between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, I noted some amazing building outlines, from the gentle curves invoked in the 'Capital Gate' to the circular building. I can only assume that servicing these buildings provided some interesting challenges.

CIBSE Guide G – Public Health and Plumbing Engineering, provides further guidance on hydraulic systems.

41

Elevated CHRIS FINEGAN PRINCIPAL VERTICAL TRANSPORT ENGINEER, AECOM

In the beginning... there was no vertical transportation but the need for vertical transport is nearly as old as civilization itself.

O

ver time people have employed many forms of lifting devices using human, animal and water power to raise objects. The early lifting devices relied on these basic forms of power from the time of primitive societies up until the Industrial Revolution.

In ancient Greece, Archimedes developed an improved lifting device operated by ropes and pulleys, in which the hoisting ropes were coiled around a winding drum by a capstan and levers. Roman gladiators and wild animals rode crude lifts up to the arena level of the Coliseum.

The load was raised by a rope wound on a large drum.

By the 18th century, machine power was being developed.

A belt-driven lift was installed in an English factory in 1835. The first hydraulic industrial lift powered by water pressure appeared in 1846.

On March 23, 1857, the world’s first passenger safety lift went into service in a store at Broadway and Broome Street in New York City. The lift was powered by steam through a series of shafts and belts.

As better gearing arrangements were developed, the speed of the geared electric lift increased from 0.5 m/s to 2.0 m/s. This brought the electric lift into passenger service in medium height buildings.

In 1903, Otis introduced the design that would become the standard in the lift industry. The gearless traction electric lift with safety gear, this could be employed in buildings of any height and operated at much higher speeds than steam-powered lifts.

The basic relay based lift control system has now been replaced with electronics. Gearless traction lifts typically

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operate at speeds from 2.5 m/s-9.0 m/s. Gearless lifts can operate at speeds greater than 15 m/s. However, the distance required to reach those speeds & to slow down are too great for anything but ultra-high rise buildings.

Another consideration is the effect on the human body & senses due to the acceleration/deceleration rates necessary to achieve those speeds.

Gearless and geared traction lifts have dominated the industry for buildings of between 5 and 60+ floors for many years and have remained fundamentally unchanged during that time.

HIGH RISE BUILDINGS

Electro-(oil) hydraulic lifts were extensively used for buildings of 2 and 5 floors until the advent of the machine room less (MRL) lift in the early 1990’s. This revolutionary lift system is based on the first major breakthrough in lifting technology in nearly 100 years.

Designed initially for buildings between 2 and 30 floors, this system employs a smaller sheave than conventional geared and gearless lifts. The reduced sheave size, together with a redesigned motor, allows the machine to be mounted within the liftwell therefore eliminating the need for an overhead machine room with the attendant building costs, loss of lettable area & services to the machine room.

MRL’s operate at speeds from 1.0 m/s to 3.0 m/s, travel up to 150 m and are capable of carrying loads from 630 kg to 5000 kg.

Another major development in lift technology is the advent of the destination despatch/control (DCS) system. This system allows the passenger to input the required floor they wish to travel to at the lobby rather than choosing either up or down direction button.

The system generally improves lift efficiency as the lift car will not stop at floors other than that selected.

The DCS system adds design flexibility by way of; • Up-peak, two-way and inter-floor traffic.

• Segmenting/grouping traffic or tenants to preferred floors.

• Enhanced monitoring and control functions.

• Tenant Directory, hot keys, touch-less entry

• Expansion of security card credentials (hotel/apartment entry).

• Smartphone application.

• Building monitoring – individual identification (security and emergency evacuation).

ENG

• Building services control interface.

Another recent major development in lift technology is the “Twin” system which incorporates 2 lifts within the same liftwell (shaft). This system may reduce the building footprint by way reducing the number of liftwells thereby increasing the building efficiency. The “Twin” system would generally only be incorporated in high rise developments.

Recent developments in regenerative drive systems and electronics have improved efficiency and energy consumption significantly for all types of vertical transportation.

The vertical transportation industry is continually researching methods to improve passenger safety and comfort and remains the safest method of transport on the planet.

For further guidance on Vertical Transportation systems in Buildings, refer to CIBSE Guide D

ineering

Buildings

WWW.CIBSE.ORG.AU Check out our monthly newsletter – your best resource for all the latest news, events, policies, continuing education and career related information.

43

Vacuum Drainage Systems in the Commercial Building Sector CHRIS HERBERT NATIONAL SALES MANAGER

The aim of this CPD article is to provide an overview of Vacuum Drainage Technology and specifically, its adaptation within commercial buildings as covered under AMDT No. 2 (2017) of AS3500:2.2015 (Vacuum Drainage Design and Installation). This CPD article however does not look at the use of vacuum drainage outside of buildings which is covered by the Water Services Association of Australia code WSA 06-2008.

I

n this article, you will discover how we utilise the unique pressure differential that exists between relative atmospheric air pressure and the partial vacuum we create within a sealed piping network to transport waste water. We will also look

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into the history of vacuum drainage systems, discuss what building applications are best suited to this type of technology and provide an overview of the three fundamental elements required to create a vacuum drainage system.

Whilst vacuum has been used as a means of conveying waste water since the late 19th century, it is widely accepted that the first toilet specifically designed to use vacuum as its primary means of waste removal was developed by Swedish Engineer Joel Liljendahl in the mid-20th century.

Vacuum drainage technology continued to develop as a proven alternative to gravity and it initially found a niche within the marine market where ship owners and operators were able to realise significant potable water savings with vacuum toilets using on average around 1 litre per flush. Furthermore, with the ability to lift waste water vertically and transport it horizontally in much smaller bore piping, independent of gravity, installation time was drastically reduced along with waste water disposal costs. For these reasons, this technology was quickly adapted for use within other forms of transport, namely the rail and aerospace markets. Today, almost every vessel built from super yachts to cruise, cargo and Navy ships as well as most major airline and train manufacturers choose to employ a vacuum drainage system for waste water management.

The commercial building market in Australia has however been slow to adopt this new technology with concerns about reliability and onerous approval processes for its adaptation. Due to this, a small group of vacuum drainage system suppliers came together under the Plumbing Products Industry Group (PPIG) in 2011 to discuss ways of improving the uptake of this innovative approach to drainage within the industry. Together, this group developed both a watermark Technical Standard SATS 100 for vacuum toilets (with all toilets achieving a 6 Star WELS rating) and more notably, the recent inclusion of vacuum drainage systems within the Sanitary Plumbing and Drainage code AS/NZS3500.2.

How Vacuum Drainage Works – Pressure Differential The term vacuum by definition is considered a space that is partially (or to the greatest extent possible) exhausted of matter, particularly air, to a point where the remaining matter in the space exerts a lower pressure than that of the surrounding atmospheric pressure. Since vacuum is most commonly measured relative to atmospheric gauge pressure, it is defined as a negative value on a scale approaching -1 Bar, otherwise known as absolute zero.

By using air pumps or liquid seal pumps, vacuum drainage system manufacturers are able to produce a partial vacuum within a sealed pipe network and exploit the pressure differential they have created. With specifically designed equipment installed as an interface between the sealed pipe network and the surrounding atmosphere, waste water is quickly and efficiently pushed

to a central collection point without any reliance on gravity.

So what building applications are best suited for this type of technology?

Vacuum drainage systems can be used both as the primary means of waste water handling, and as a hybrid installation alongside a conventional gravity system in almost every building type from shopping centres, office towers and supermarkets to hotels, hospitals and correctional facilities amongst many other applications.

One of the key drivers for vacuum drainage technology early on was to enable operators to split waste steams between black and grey water for separate treatment.

Today, this is still a relevant benefit for installations where there may be a requirement to handle waste streams separately such as for grey water reuse or in areas with limited sewage disposal capacity. Alternatively, in cases where waste water may be contaminated and require a different method of management, such as in cancer treatment or trade waste, vacuum drainage systems make this a simple solution for any project.

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History

An added benefit of using vacuum to transport waste water is that very little potable water is required for each flush, often just enough to rinse the bowl. When tested for watermarking purposes, the EVAC vacuum toilet was shown to use on average just 0.9L per full flush which can afford projects significant sustainability credits.

As we’ve discovered earlier, transport of waste water within a vacuum drainage system is enabled by exploiting the pressure differential that we’ve created by producing a partial vacuum in the pipe network. Not only does this enable us to lift waste water vertically from the point of collection but also horizontally and in any desired direction around existing infrastructure with very little fall, typically in piping up to 50% smaller than that used in conventional gravity drainage applications. This unique benefit of a vacuum drainage system makes complex building structures possible where drainage via gravity would be impractical or result in the installation of multiple pumping stations.

Another application made simple using this technology is in the remodelling of historic buildings where impact on the existing structure needs to be limited. You may also be simply re-furbishing an existing building where access through or from below the slab is limited or where existing infrastructure is too costly to relocate to employ conventional drainage.

Vacuum drainage systems are also inherently hygienic which makes them the perfect addition for hospitals, medical centres and laboratories. Since we are using a closed type network under a constant partial vacuum, ingress of vermin and bacterial growth is eliminated along

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with the risk of leaks in the case of damage to the vacuum piping since air would be drawn in at the site of the break while ever vacuum remains in the pipe network.

Finally, when waste water is transported within a vacuum drainage system, speeds of up to 10m/s can be experienced which enables the system to be selfcleansing leading to a reduction of blockages.

into the vacuum pipe network for a defined period of time before the valve is closed. At the same time as the vacuum interface valve is open, the vacuum soil fixture rinse valve will provide rinse water for the vacuum soil fixture and also replenish a small puddle of water in the vacuum soil fixture after the vacuum interface valve has closed. This is considered one cycle.

Vacuum controller

What makes up a vacuum drainage system?

Before we look at the specific equipment and design principles required to make up a vacuum drainage system, it is important to firstly understand how waste water is transported. On initial startup of a vacuum drainage system, a partial vacuum is created within the pipe network and as long as no connected services are activated, a perfect installation will hold this static vacuum within the system almost indefinitely. When the isolating valve between a connected service and the vacuum pipe network known as a vacuum interface valve (VIV) as actuated, the local pressure differential created forces the waste water and a quantity of air, often vertically into the vacuum pipe network before the valve closes. These VIV’s are connected to vacuum water closets (VWC) and small tanks called vacuum automatic interface units (VAIU) which are the entry point for waste water to the vacuum drainage system. Eventually friction and gravity will bring any residual waste water, ie. waste water that hasn’t made it to the main riser, to rest at low points in the pipe network called reforming pockets. Reforming pockets are specifically designed to enable the re-acceleration of waste water in the horizontal plane towards the main riser by creating a localized pressure differential when another VIV on the same line is actuated again. Not only can reforming pockets be used to re-accelerate waste water towards the central collection point, they can also be used to reform grade or to re-route around obstructions. The placement of reforming pockets is based on intervals as dictated by the AS/NZS3500.2 and can be of an open or closed design.

1. Vacuum interfacing equipment a. Vacuum Water Closet (VWC): A complete vacuum water closet consists of either a floor mounted or wall faced bowl, commonly in porcelain or stainless steel and a soil fixture interface value unit including a vacuum interface valve, a rinse valve and a vacuum controller.

When the user of a VWC activates a flush cycle by using either a pneumatic or electronically controlled flush button, the vacuum controller opens the vacuum interface valve that is isolating the VWC from the vacuum in the pipe network. While this valve is open, waste water and a quantity of air will be forced through piping up to DN50

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Vacuum soil fixture rinse valve

Vacuum interface valve

Fig 1. Typical Vacuum Toilet Arrangement

b. Vacuum Automatic Interface Valve (VAIU): A complete VAIU is composed of a buffer of varying size dependent on the application, a sensor to sense the level of waste water in the buffer, a vacuum interface valve and a vacuum controller that controls the operation of the VAIU. Normally a VAIU would be operated pneumatically by the available vacuum within the vacuum drainage system but this operation can also be managed electronically.

Once a predetermined level of waste water has filled the buffer, the vacuum controller will open the vacuum interface valve that is isolating the VAIU from the vacuum in the pipe network. While this valve is open, waste water and a quantity of the surrounding air will be forced through piping up to DN50 into the vacuum pipe network for a defined period of time before the valve is closed.

This is considered one cycle and the VAIU will continue to cycle while ever there is waste water entering the buffer.

Fig 2. Typical VAIU arrangement Vacuum controller

Vacuum interface valve

Buffer with sensor internal

VACUUM REFORMING POCKET (CLOSED)

ISOLATION VALVE

ISOLATION VALVE

WALL MOUNTED VACUUM WATER CLOSET

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LEVEL 03

WASHING MACHINE

VACUUM REFORMING POCKET (OPEN) ISOLATION VALVE

LEVEL 02

FLOOR VACUUM WATER CLOSET

VACUUM URINAL

WASH BASIN

LEVEL 01

ISOLATION VALVE

VACUUM INTERFACE UNIT

VACUUM STATION

TO SEWER

LEVEL 00

Fig 3. Multi-level vacuum drainage system

2. Vacuum Pipe Network

3. Vacuum Station

Pipework and fittings used in a vacuum drainage system can be manufactured from several types of material depending on the waste water to be handled but must be suitable to withstand a constant partial vacuum, typically PN10 and above. Due to the self-cleaning velocities that will be experienced by the pipe network, bracing intervals and bilateral support of the pipework at changes in direction are required. While standard manufactured fittings should be used where available, wye junctions for incoming branch lines should be 45°, reducers should be concentric and 90° changes of direction be made up of long radius bends or two 45° fittings to reduce losses that can affect waste water velocities. Joints within a vacuum pipe network must be smooth and protrusion free to ensure full bore flow conditions. Generally, the vacuum pipe network will be split into main lines of up to DN100 and branch lines up to DN50 with each being sized dependent on the VWC’s and VAIU’s connected to it up to a maximum Vacuum Loading Unit (VLU). It is a requirement to install isolation valves at each branch connection to the main, however additional isolation valves at each toilet as well as the vacuum station will aid in fault finding.

The Vacuum Station is considered the heart of a vacuum drainage system and consists of vacuum pumps and controls as well as holding tanks and forwarding pumps in some applications. The purpose of the vacuum station is to manage the levels of vacuum within the pipe network, exhaust waste air from the vacuum generation process and manage the transfer of waste water to either a municipal sewer connection or some form of waste treatment facility. There are typically two types of vacuum stations, those with tanks and those without, and both types provide specific benefits for the applications they are applied to.

In a tank style vacuum station, the vacuum generation and waste water discharge is handled independently of each other using the tank to split the air and waste water mixture as it enters the main holding tank from the vacuum pipe network. This style of system is particularly useful in applications where you can experience high simultaneous demand for vacuum with the tank serving as a vacuum buffer during particularly heavy use.

Vacuum stations which do not use a tank are known as inline systems where vacuum generation and waste water discharge duties are handled by a common pump.

This pump creates a liquid ring vacuum seal using the incoming waste water from the vacuum pipe network

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while simultaneously discharging the air and waste water mixture. The inline style vacuum station is typically much smaller and better suited for lower demand applications however, adding a small buffer tank in front of this type of vacuum station will provide some redundancy for any unexpected heavy use.

Fig 4. Typical Tank Style Vacuum Station

CPD Questions

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1. What core principle allows waste water to be transported within a vacuum drainage system? o

A: Gravity

o

B: Kinetic Energy

o

C: Local Pressure Differential

o

D: Piping layout

o

E: Pump capacity

2. What are the two standards referenced in this CPD article that are pertinent to vacuum drainage systems within the commercial building sector? o

A: AS3500.2:2015 and SATS 100

o

B: ISO and NSI

o

C: AS1172.2:2014 and AS1345

o

D: BS EN 12109:1999 and BS EN 12056-2

o

E: AS1477 & ASTM D1785

3. Which of the below building applications are not suited to vacuum drainage technology?

Fig 5. Typical Inline Style Vacuum Station

Whilst this CPD article has given you a very broad overview of vacuum drainage systems and how they can be applied to the commercial building sector, each system supplier employs varying techniques and methods for achieving the required outcomes of AS/NZS 3500.2. It is highly recommended that a vacuum system specialist be engaged to assist in correctly sizing and designing any vacuum drainage system to ensure efficient operation for the life of the system.

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o

A: Commercial Offices

o

B: Medical Centres or Hospitals

o

C: Supermarkets

o

D: Jumping Castles

o

E: Shopping Centres

4. What was the recorded flush volume of the EVAC vacuum toilet reference in this article? o

A: 0.5L per full flush

o

B: 0.9L per full flush

o

C: 1.3L per full flush

o

D: 3L per half flush

o

E: 4.5L per full flush

6. What are the three fundamental elements of a vacuum drainage system? o

A: Tank Style, Inline Style and Pumps

o

B: V acuum Controller, Vacuum Interface Valve and a Buffer with sensor internal

o

Please fill out your details below and send your completed questionnaire to: info@australianvacuumsystems.com.au Name: Company Name:

Address:

C: Pressure rated piping, local pressure differential and Vacuum Interface Valves

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??

5. According to the CPD article, what key outcome does a very low flush volume toilet achieve for any building project?

acuum Interfacing Equipment, o D: V Vacuum Piping and a Vacuum Station o

E: Tanks, Isolation Valves and Toilets

7. What are the three key benefits of using reform pockets within your vacuum drainage system as described in the CPD article? o A: around

Email: By completing this questionnaire and providing my details, I consent to the following:

o

B: grade

o

CPD certificate

o

C:

o

Future contact from the sponsor

waste water towards the

8. Why would you predominantly consider using an inline vacuum station over a tank style system? o

A: L ikelihood of high simultaneous flush demand

o B: Volume tank required for vacuum redundancy o

C: S mall vacuum system in a low demand application

o D: Requirement to split vacuum generation and waste water handling duties o E: Very large project or heavy use environment

CPD Continuing professional development (CPD) is the regular maintenance, improvement and broadening of your knowledge and skills, to maintain professional competence. It is a requirement of CIBSE and other professional bodies.

This journal can be used to meet your CPD requirements.

Study the modules and answer the questions on the final page. Each successfully completed module is equivalent to 1.5 hours of CPD. Modules are also available at www.cibsejournal.com/cpd

49

Making the Switch to Cold Water Taps

Could a simple, yet effective method of adopting the simple principle of foregoing hot water for handwashing significantly reduce the amount of energy and water operational costs? Supplying cold water to the typical floor amenities of an office building is a sustainability innovation that surpasses current best practise in world leading commercial building design.

B

ased on a 25,000m2 high rise building in Sydney, running costs are anticipated to be 1000kL of water and $3,500 in energy costs per year, as well as an avoided $3,000 in annual system maintenance, including labour and parts. Additionally, expected 10 yearly capital replacement costs are avoided. Up to $200,000 in initial capital outlay can be re-coupled through deletion of domestic hot water plant, riser and water reticulation.

Sometimes during the pursuit of sustainable buildings, we miss some of the easiest fruit to pick. This article explores an initiative that in the author’s experience, has failed to gain traction, but is about as passive a strategy as they come. The financial savings headline this article, however, the argument for why this initiative is viable follows.

Australia is the driest inhabited continent and water scarcity issues have always been a concern. From a construction context, steps have been taken to reduce water consumption in buildings through the creation of the WELS2 rating scheme. Federal and state governments have legislated water conservation using various mechanisms, including via the National Construction Code (NCC).

The adoption of aerated taps allows the effective delivery of water to users within commercial applications whilst substantially reducing the flow of water through these

50

The water conservation from these taps has resulted in fantastic water savings. However, the reduction of flow through devices providing such water efficiency has had an adverse impact on the time it takes for hot water to reach a tap. Conventional practice in commercial buildings necessitates the provision of a hot water reticulation system to continually circulate hot water to amenities in order to minimise the ‘dead leg’ length of pipework. The length of the dead leg is determined by the proximity of the tap to the hot water pipework reticulation riser. In most applications, the average length of dead leg is 6m or more.

The net result of this dead leg is that for taps that have not been used recently, the water in the pipework between the hot water reticulation riser and the tap will have cooled.

Consequently, a person who is expecting hot water when turning on the tap may have to wait 10 seconds or more.

Health guidelines3 recommend that to wash hands effectively, such as following the use of a toilet, the following 5 step procedure should be adopted: 1. Wet hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off tap, apply soap.

2. Lather hands by rubbing them together with soap and getting backs of hands, between fingers and under finger nails.

INNOVATION

fixtures and fittings. As an example, 6 Star WELS taps can discharge as little as 1.5L/min compared with typical taps that discharge anywhere from 9-18 litres.

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3. Scrub hands for at least 20 seconds.

4. Rinse hands well under clean, running water.

5. Dry hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

The Property Council of Australia’s published Office Building Grades do not specify hot water as being required in amenities.

Health

Many commercial buildings in Sydney, including some recently completed Green Star and NABERS Water rated buildings may take up to 10 seconds to provide hot water at a tap. This duration is dependent on dead leg length and tap flow rate. If water is not running during hand washing, most users will never leave the tap running long enough to access the hot water circulating in the ring main.

Research conducted on the efficacy of temperature in hand washing in 2002 concluded ‘Results indicated that water temperature exhibits no effect on transient or resident bacteria reduction during normal handwashing…

Although there were slight increases in Log10 reductions, visual skin irritation, loss of skin moisture content and transepidermal water loss at higher temperatures, results were not statistically significant for any parameter.’4

Given hot water is not a prerequisite to hygienically wash hands, the standard practice of installing hot water to hand wash basins is a waste of energy and water, both assuming a person may leave the tap running until hot water flows, or water is kept hot 24 hours per day, but rarely used by those washing hands in the amenities basin.

The study aimed to debunk the widely held belief that warm water resulted in more effective handwashing.

Further independent research has found that for hot water to kill bacteria on hands, the temperature would need to be at a scalding 95C+. Hot water temperatures are limited

by AS/NZS3500.4:2015 Heated Water Services AS3 to between 40-50C. Scientific literature has found ‘no evidence that using hot water that a person could stand would have any benefit in killing bacteria. Even water as cold as 40F (4.4C) appeared to reduce bacteria as well as hotter water, if hands were scrubbed, rinsed and dried properly. Hot water can have an adverse effect on hygiene. Warmer water can irritate the skin and affect the protective layer on the outside which can cause it to be less resistant to bacteria.’5

Additionally, within the greater Sydney metropolitan area, the average temperature of cold water delivered at the tap is approximately 18C (see below table), not very cold by any reasonable standards. Hence there is an enormous opportunity to save energy, water, plant and equipment installation capital expenditure and maintenance associated with provision of hot water infrastructure to typical floor amenities by delivering hot water only where it is needed, such as EoT showers. In these locations, an on-demand solution can match demand profiles.

Universities have been the first to take up the mantle with several universities in Australia, including UNSW, specifying cold water only to basins in their new buildings.

However, this is still a new frontier for the commercial office sector where comparison amongst other buildings drives decision making within the brief.

Compliance Our research turned up no statutory requirement to provide hot water in amenity toilets. Further, NSW Government Fair Trading and the NCC Part B2 require compliance with AS/NZS3500.4:2015 Heated Water Services. This presents additional regulatory hurdles to ensure scalding is avoided via hot water systems.

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The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention3 and World Health Organisation guidelines6 for handwashing specify running water (warm or cold) for wetting and rinsing hands with a focus on running water not temperature.

Benefits Environmental 1. Dematerialisation – Without a hot water system to service the amenities on typical floors, the buildings proposed hot water pipework reticulation is avoided resulting in fewer materials and attendant embodied energy and reduced space required within plant areas and risers.

2. Energy savings – A smaller, dedicated gas or electric driver hot water plant can be installed to service End of Trip facilities where showers are required. An ondemand system can result in significant energy savings, NABERS Energy improvements and, importantly reduced superfluous GHG emissions.

3. Water use reduction – When a delay of up to 10 seconds can be experienced in waiting for tempered water, assuming water is left to run until warm, a loss of 0.75L per hand wash could be expected on a 4.5L/min water saving tap. Translated across the typical usage of

Economic & Resource 1. Resource saving – avoidance of significant capital costs associated with plant and riser installation.

2. Operation and maintenance saving – avoidance of ongoing labour and parts associated with annual maintenance.

3. Energy savings – the table below sets out expected ongoing operational energy and resource savings associated with a 25,000m2 multi-storey office building.

Element

Cost Saving per annum

Energy Saving per annum

Gas

$ 2,850

142,000 MJ

Electricity

$

Water

$ 2,040

600

4,000 kWh 1,000 kL

Based on 2c/MJ, 15c/kWh, $2.04/kL

Social Our buildings can become tools to educate and reinforce the perception that hand washing hygiene is not influenced by water temperature, but the duration of scrubbing with soap, rinsing and adequate drying.

US research7 suggests that educating the community that warm water does not improve the efficacy of handwashing could prevent one million metric tonnes of CO2e annually in the US. If adopted nationally in Australia, by taking an Australian size proportion of those figures, or 70,000t CO2e, this is equivalent to: • 10,506,132 trees planted; or

• 460,795 cars off the road for a year; or

• Energy required to power 233,470 Australian homes for a year.

Source: eTool

Building owners are reluctant to make this change given the anticipated tenant expectation for warm water over the building life. Education can address the misperception that hygienic handwashing requires warm water so that this initiative can be adopted in Premium office buildings.

It’s up to professionals to promote these initiatives to drive change.

In summary, deleting the provision of hot water to typical floor amenities delivers the full spectrum of sustainability benefits; economic; social and environmental. It is compliant with all regulatory and health requirements and will contribute towards Green Star and NABERS ratings.

It is not limited to new builds. Existing commercial

buildings could turn off their hot water supply to amenities basins and enjoy energy savings today.

The capital and operational savings are clear.

The environmental benefits have been quantified.

The opportunity to avoid waste is in our face. Let’s embrace the switch.

CIBSE Guide G – Public Health and Plumbing Engineering, provides further guidance on hydraulic systems.

References 1 Based on a 25,000m2 high rise office building in Sydney 2. Australian Government: Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme 3. US Center for Disease Control & Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/ handwashing/ 4. Michaels, B. et al. Water temperature as a factor in handwashing efficacy, Sept 2002. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.14715740.2002.00043.x/abstract 5. https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/ energy/2013/12/131213-washing-hands-hot-water-wastes-energyhealth/

INNOVATION

a 25,000m2 office building, this could result in 1 million litres of waste water per year, impacting a project’s NABERS Water rating.

6. World Health Organisation – Hand Hygiene: Why How and When? http://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/Hand_Hygiene_Why_How_and_ When_Brochure.pdf 7. The Environmental Cost of Misinformation: https://www.ncbi.nlm. nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3692566/

About the Authors Joe Karten: Joe is Sustainability Manager at Built. With a passion for green buildings, Joe has applied technical experience gained internationally to the Australian green buildings market for the past decade. Initially developing rating tools and administering certifications at the GBCA then transitioning to delivering green buildings from the contractor’s side, Joe has guided many projects to certification including Green Star, LEED and NABERS. Alex Kobler: Alex Kobler is a chartered Project Engineer in Wood & Grieve Engineers' Sustainability team in Sydney. His work has been influential in shaping the environmental outcomes of many of Sydney's most recent prominent developments. Alex provides technical advice across the property industry, with a focus on environmental outcomes, energy strategies, water reduction and occupant health.

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What to consider when implementing a

DfMA strategy

JON DEADMAN I BUILDING SERVICES LEADER, SOUTHERN REGION, LAING O'ROURKE AUSTRALIA

Whether you know it as Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA), Modular Construction or Pre-Assembly, one thing is apparent, the practice of assembling modules containing building services elements off site and installing into a building as a substantially complete product is gaining traction.

W

ithout doubt there have historically been different drivers for DfMA on some projects in Australia, largely attributed to the ability to get large numbers of skilled trades to remote natural resource projects, and the costs associated with accommodating them. However the pipeline of work in our major cities is going to put pressure on the availability of resources in a very different environment and smart contractors are starting to look seriously at how to drive productivity and how to diversify away from the site.

Laing O’Rourke has been investing heavily in the development of DfMA within its UK business for the last 20 years due to the well-publicised benefits that arise from undertaking work in a safe environment not subject to the impact of weather and construction delays. Over the last few years we have been working with our local supply chain to localise this learning and imbed it into our projects.

Challenges of adoption – spatial planning Taking a design which is intended for the traditional disparate installation of services and reworking the layout

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retrospectively to allow services to be combined into services “highways” can be a challenge. The locations of service risers in particular often mean that pipe and duct sizes become too large to fit economically within the modular frame system.

The different services have different requirements for access, maintainability and commission-ability. Working out the best vertical arrangement within the module is one of the biggest challenges facing the designers. Efficiently

INNOVATION steelwork and bracing can add a substantial cost and can often be the factor which determines the economic viability of the solution. This bracing can however also be a benefit in certain applications such as hospitals and other critical building where seismic restraint is required. accommodating cross overs, turnouts and branches without clashing with adjacent horizontal services within the module takes careful early consideration and this is where experience can play a valuable role.

Different Services – different requirements Whilst there is no set rule on the most efficient module size, the most prevalent type of service being installed can be a driver – different types of pipework system come in different standard lengths. For horizontal distribution modules we have found 6 metres to work well, whereas for vertical modular risers its 12 metres. Some joining technologies such as crimping are well suited to modular construction where joints between modules can be slipped over and crimped post installation, however these are not allowed for use on services such as fire and some gasses is Australia whereas in Europe they are more widely accepted.

Hidden benefits The requirement for modules to be transportable can be both a blessing and a curse. The amount of additional

We have previously looked to reduce the amount of steel work by implementing a reusable transport frame or cradle which can be removed once the services have been affixed to the structure. Resent projects however have seen a change in this methodology and we are instead looking to utilise the module frame to suspend ceilings or provide the head track for walls.

The numbers On a recent project Laing O’Rourke, working with its supply chain, converted an existing client design based upon building services which were to be installed traditionally, into a modular solution incorporating: • 216 x 6 meter long horizontal modules • 20 x 12 meter tall vertical risers

The horizontal risers amount to 1.3km of combined services, most sections incorporating around 15 individual services. These were installed by a team of 4 people in 27 days. The vertical risers took an average of 15 minutes per 12 metre section to lower into position within the concrete riser.

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DISRUPTING EDUCATION:

HOW TECHNOLOGY IS TRANSFORMING THE LEARNING SPACES OF THE FUTURE RONEEL SINGH I TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, WSP TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS ANZ DISCIPLINE LEADER (CPENG)

The billion-dollar education industry in Australia and New Zealand is booming.

As universities and other higher education providers compete for students that are digitally-savvy, the need to create innovative, engaging and interactive learning environments has never been greater.

J

ust like other industries, traditional models of education are being disrupted. Classrooms, lectures and textbooks are being replaced by innovative, engaging and interactive learning environments.

“Technology in education is a game changer. It has evolved the student experience by providing an environment where people can immerse themselves in what they’re learning.”

The Connected Classroom With the rise in digitisation, the traditional classroom is changing. Meeting the needs of current and future generations of students requires innovative learning facilities.

“We’re now designing teaching environments with the student’s learning journey in mind,” adds Roneel. “That makes sense, because learning shouldn’t be a one-way

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flow of information. The technology needs to support real-time student-to-student, teacher-to-student and student-to-teacher interaction. Today, we are using the flexibility of data networks and software to create dynamic learning environments, without the huge cost and rigidity of traditional AV infrastructure.

One such example is our involvement in Deakin University’s Building IB Refurbishment project. Our simultaneous design allows one teacher to deliver one class across two campuses in different locations at one time. This is providing efficiencies to the university while improving student access to a course that would otherwise have been cancelled due to low numbers in one campus.

Roneel explains, “The enhanced student experience is facilitated through our AV solutions which ensure the seamless transfer of teaching language, intelligible speech and visual connection – elements that are critical to engagement and interaction between students and the teacher.”

Education Supercharged As part of delivering education at a broad scale, there has been an evolution towards superlabs – multi-disciplinary facilities saturated with technology that can accommodate large groups of around 250.

WSP played a key role in the development of Australian’s first superlab – the award-winning X-LAB at the University of Technology Sydney. It seats 240 people and is designed to make the greatest use of multimedia while minimising distraction. It can accommodate both large first-year classes and smaller, more specialised groups, with up to 12 classes taking place simultaneously.

There are eight demonstrator stations at the front, and teachers use a touchscreen to push up to three different HD videostreams to student displays, or pull content from one group to show to the class. Even though the benches are only 1.5m apart, adjacent students can listen to completely different things. WSP’s audio design effectively creates smaller, acoustically isolated areas within an open-plan space, using ultra-directional speaker systems.

The university had projected that it would need five extra teaching labs by 2020, or approximately 3,000 m2 m of additional space. Building the superlab saved more than 350 m2, as well as the need for walls and corridors between separate spaces, and consolidated staffing requirements too.

Interactive Campuses

The most common large size is now about 100 seats,” explains Roneel. “However, we’re also seeing the development of non-didactic spaces where you can fit 60 people, with a walkable central corridor and a screen on each side. This allows groups of six students to sit around a table with a dedicated screen, and the lecturer can send individual content to each of those screens. And remote students have the opportunity to dial in.”

In helping Western Sydney University bring its 14-storey vertical campus to life in Parramatta, we delivered stateof-the-art technology to enable innovative collaboration and learning.

INNOVATION

“Our vision is to create learning spaces where students can use multiple media sources simultaneously, and be able to work in the same room as people from different disciplines who are solving very different problems, alone or in groups.”

“The modern classrooms were developed with the university to provide an environment where the lecturer can move around the room and be connected to students locally and remotely,” explains Roneel. “Our design included complex audio and video solutions to enable a seamless technology experience that complements teaching styles.

“We worked closely with academic staff to understand classroom scenarios and teaching techniques to tailor our designs to the faculty’s needs. The result is the creation of one of the most digitally-infused and technology-rich academic and research spaces in Australia. For example, our advanced AV capabilities can track the movements of the lecturer and allow for presentation and consultation of sessions for remote students.”

Where to Next?

Roneel believes that the next frontier is a totally immersive teaching experience.

“Tools for 3D models and visualisations already exist – now we just have to make them work at scale in the classroom or lecture theatre. Being able to take 3D models and interact with them will become the norm.

We’re maybe five, at most eight years away from this paradigm.”

While there has been a trend towards creating superlabs, education institutions are also building smaller lecture theatres.

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Managing Resilient Buildings –

Preparing for heat waves ANDREW LEADER –– BUILDING BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES TECHNOLOGIES ANDREW SMITH SMITH II LEADER A.G. A.G. COOMBS COOMBS ADVISORY ADVISORY

Heat waves are a regular extreme weather event in Australia. With respect to building air conditioning systems this is commonly thought of as two or more days when the ambient temperature exceeds the maximum temperature that the building and its systems were designed for.

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Although tenancy leases may not require the maintenance of specific internal temperatures, this is usually expected, misunderstandings arise and importantly tenants become dissatisfied with the building’s performance. This is sometimes more of an issue in higher quality grade buildings where there is a raised expectation around Indoor Environmental Quality standards.

Older buildings tend to have greater spare air conditioning capability ‘designed in’ compared to new buildings.

The closely designed air-conditioning systems in newer buildings generally cope less well with heat wave conditions although this can be offset by better building ‘insulation’ standards.

The extra load placed on air conditioning systems during extreme heat events results in increased energy consumption and may cause the contracted maximum electrical supply demand level to be exceeded, triggering ongoing electricity supply charge penalties.

consumption and avoiding potential maximum demand penalties.

Heat wave BMCS strategies can be activated either automatically by the presence of pre-established conditions (e.g. time-temperature profiles and internal conditions) or manually by the Facility Management team in line with a pre-determined activation plan (e.g. based on weather forecast information and internal conditions).

Air-conditioning control strategies to pre-empt heat wave events can include combinations of the following: • Adjusting internal set point temperatures • Manipulating fan speeds • Manipulating chilled water system and condenser water system operation • Overriding lighting controls • Operation of night purge or building pre-cooling methodologies • Altering plant start and stop times – optimal start and stop

Often the worst of these events follow a very warm weekend when the building’s air-conditioning hasn’t been running. Internal air temperatures and the temperature of the building’s internal ‘fabric’ are elevated before the Monday morning start.

The particular strategies and their combination depend upon the thermal performance characteristics of the subject building and its air conditioning systems – the combination of the building physics and the building systems. The understanding of this interrelationship is the key to achieving optimal performance during heatwave conditions. Developing successful strategies is an iterative exercise with an initial approach optimised based on the review of performance data.

With recent improvements in weather forecasting, heat waves can now usually be reliably anticipated 4-5 days in advance.

These strategies can result in significant improvements in internal conditions during heatwave events and substantial avoided energy costs.

Modern Building Management and Control Systems (BMCS) can be pre-programmed with control strategies to pre-empt heat wave conditions. These can manage the operation of air conditioning plant to achieve improved internal conditions whilst reducing the effect on energy

Extreme weather events have become more common and severe.

CASE STUDY

D

uring a heat wave, buildings rely on any excess capability in the air conditioning system to provide acceptable internal temperatures.

When the demand for cooling surpasses this capability, internal temperatures can rise beyond comfortable levels.

This article first appeared in the Hotel Engineer Volume 22 Number 4.

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