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Building Services Engineering l May/June 2020
Water, the
LIFEBLOOD of buildings Key considerations to keep it flowing In these extraordinary times, building owners of all types, including hospitals, need to have confidence in their critical systems. Many people are working every day to keep critical buildings operating 24/7. Indeed, as populations grow and more buildings are constructed, so does the demand for clean water and energy efficient building solutions. Different construction projects have varying demands and needs, including hospitals and residential homes. It is important that systems are designed according to the project’s specific requirements, and a bespoke system may be needed. Here Kevin Devine, General Manager Sales – Ireland, Xylem Water Solutions, shares some key considerations in this current environment when keeping buildings operating safely and efficiently is more important than ever.
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Water is the lifeblood of any building. Supplied by an urban water utility, it needs to be distributed inside the building to meet the actual demand and
pressure at any time. We expect a constant, continuous flow of water. This is achieved by way of constant pressure systems with variable frequency drives that speed up or slow down the pump depending on a household’s water requirements. The result is reliable, constant pressure on demand. Modern hot water recirculation systems provide instant hot water when the tap is opened. Systems fed by a central heating or district hot water supply require efficient hot water circulators to run energy efficiently. Hot water recirculation is about saving water and safety. With a recirculation system, the water in the pipework will always be above 55°C and thereby free from bacteria, such as legionella, which can contaminate water, and be transported in water systems. Specialist treatment systems ensure continuously-high water quality by disinfecting drinking water, cooling water and efficiently handling wastewater.
Reliable drinking water
Kevin Devine, General Manager of Sales at Xylem Water Solutions, Ireland.
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How we manage water needs careful consideration. Buildings must be designed to be water efficient, flood resilient and save energy at the same time.
With water systems in buildings under more strain, it is more crucial than ever that we can count on reliable drinking water supply, clog-free wastewater systems and water densification. Therefore, there is absolutely no room for error. Whether it’s an emergency replacement of a pressure boosting station, an extension of the wastewater system for a hospital, repair parts for existing pumps in apartment blocks or even service and maintenance work, the access to 24/7 support on standby is crucial to keep water systems up and running.
Wastewater challenge Collection and disposal of wastewater can be a real
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