LESSON 1
INTRODUCTION AND
DEFINITION OF TERMS
CE 355 UTILITIES 2 CIVIL ENGINEERING
MON & THU 4:00-5:30
IDr. DOMINIC E. DIOCSON, UAP,PIID
INSTRUCTOR
I. Introduction
Buildings become habitable only when utility systems are planned, designed,
installed, and maintained as an integrated whole. Each utility—water, power,
climate control, safety, communication, and transport—serves a distinct
function but must operate in concert with the building structure and site
conditions. Civil engineers coordinate architectural intent, mechanical and
electrical requirements, local codes, and sustainability goals to achieve
reliable, long-life service.
II. Water Supply System
A. Sources – Municipal mains are the usual source, yet wells or surface
reservoirs may supplement supply where public lines are distant or
unreliable.
B. Quality Requirements – Potable water must meet the Philippine National
Standards for Drinking Water or equivalent WHO limits; treatment may include
filtration, chlorination, or UV disinfection.
C. Demand Estimation – Calculate peak and average demands using fixture unit
counts or per-capita consumption; add fire-flow allowance if hydrants or
sprinklers draw from the same service.
II. Water Supply System
D. Distribution Networks – Layout follows a loop or branch arrangement. Loops
provide redundancy and balanced pressure, whereas branches cost less but risk
dead ends and stagnation.
E. Pipe Materials – Common options are uPVC, HDPE, copper, and ductile iron.
Selection depends on pressure class, corrosion potential, cost, and ease of
installation.
F. Hydraulic Design – Size mains to limit velocity below 3 m/s and head loss
below 10 m per 100 m, using Hazen-Williams or Darcy-Weisbach equations.
Provide pressure-reducing valves when static pressure exceeds fixture ratings.
II. Water Supply System
G. Backflow Prevention – Use double-check valves or reduced-pressure zone
assemblies at points where contamination is possible.
H. Codes – Follow the National Plumbing Code of the Philippines (NPCP) for
pipe sizing, valving, and testing.
III. Drainage and Wastewater
A. Sanitary Sewer – Collect greywater and blackwater separately or
combined, convey by gravity whenever slope allows, and ventilate
stacks to disperse sewer gas.
B. Stormwater Management – Roof and surface runoff flows to
downspouts, gutters, site swales, or underground retention tanks sized
for design storms such as a 25-year return period.
III. Drainage and Wastewater
C. Pipe Sizing – Apply Manning’s equation; maintain self-cleaning
velocity above 0.6 m/s at half-full flow.
D. Treatment and Disposal – Connect to municipal wastewater plants
where available; otherwise, provide septic tanks followed by leach
fields or aerobic package plants.
III. Drainage and Wastewater
E. Special Considerations – Install grease interceptors for kitchens, oil-
water separators for garages, and acid neutralizers for laboratories.
F. Regulations – Comply with the Philippine Sanitation Code and local
environmental discharge permits.
IV. Electrical Power Distribution
A. Service Entry – Medium-voltage feed from the utility transformer steps down to
220/380 V, 3-phase, 4-wire in commercial buildings.
B. Load Assessment – Calculate lighting, receptacle, motor, and HVAC loads; apply
diversity factors to obtain realistic demand.
C. Panelboards and Risers – Locate main distribution boards near the service
entrance; vertical busduct risers supply each floor.
IV. Electrical Power Distribution
D. Conductor Sizing – Use the Philippine Electrical Code tables for ampacity, limiting
voltage drop to 3 percent branch and 5 percent feeder total.
E. Earthing and Bonding – Provide a grounding electrode system of copper rods or
building foundation rebar to protect against faults and lightning.
IV. Electrical Power Distribution
F. Standby Power – Diesel gensets or lithium-ion battery energy storage supply
essential circuits such as life-safety lighting, fire pumps, and ICT rooms. Transfer
switches must be rated for the full load.
G. Power Quality – Include surge protection devices and harmonic filters when large
variable-frequency drives are present.
V. Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
A. Load Calculations – Use CLTD/CLF or software such as HAP to
account for envelope gains, occupancy, lighting, and equipment.
B. Equipment Options – Split-type DX units suit small zones, while
chilled-water fan-coil or variable-air-volume systems serve large
buildings.
C. Air Distribution – Design ductwork for friction loss of 0.8 Pa/m and
velocity under 10 m/s to minimize noise.
V. Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
D. Indoor Air Quality – Meet ASHRAE Standard 62.1 ventilation rates;
provide MERV-13 filters to reduce particulates.
E. Controls – Implement direct-digital-control (DDC) systems for
setpoint scheduling and energy monitoring.
F. Commissioning – Functional performance testing verifies coil
capacities, airflow balance, and automatic control sequences.
VI. Fire Safety, Detection, and Protection
A. Passive Measures – Fire-rated walls, smoke seals, and protected
stairwells compartmentalize hazards.
B. Active Systems –
1. Alarm and Detection – Addressable smoke and heat detectors feed
a fire alarm control panel that triggers occupant notification.
2. Automatic Sprinklers – Design density per NFPA 13: for light-
hazard occupancies, 0.10 gpm/ft² over 1,500 ft² maximum area of
operation.
VI. Fire Safety, Detection, and Protection
3. Standpipes and Hydrants – Class III standpipes supply 500 gpm at
65 psi residual pressure for interior hose streams.
C. Fire Pumps – Diesel or electric units sized for combined sprinkler
and standpipe demand, complete with jockey pump and flow test
header.
VI. Fire Safety, Detection, and Protection
D. Life-Safety Systems – Emergency lighting and illuminated exit signs
operate on battery or generator backup.
E. Code Compliance – Follow the Fire Code of the Philippines and NFPA
references adopted therein.
VII. Vertical Transportation
A. Passenger Elevators – Select traction or machine-room-less
(MRL) units based on travel height and speed. Capacity is
determined by handling capacity analysis during peak five-
minute intervals.
B. Freight Elevators – Provide larger car dimensions and rugged
finishes; coordinate shaft size early due to structural implications.
VII. Vertical Transportation
C. Escalators and Moving Walks – Specify rise, angle, and step width
in accordance with ASME A17.1.
D. Maintenance Access – Include hoist-way clearances, pit ladders,
and overhead working space for service personnel.
VIII. Security and Communication Systems
A. Structured Cabling – Category 6A copper and OM4 fiber
backbone terminate in telecommunication rooms located every
90 m horizontally.
B. Access Control – Card readers and biometric scanners integrate
with electric strike locks; emergency egress remains free via fail-safe
design.
VIII. Security and Communication Systems
C. CCTV – IP cameras positioned at points of entry, circulation hubs,
and perimeter zones, recorded on network video recorders with 30-
day retention.
D. Public-Address and Voice Evacuation – Speakers zoned to allow
phased evacuation under fire scenarios.
E. Building Management System (BMS) – Integrates HVAC, lighting,
power metering, and security on a common BACnet or Modbus
platform.
IX. Specialized Systems
Laboratories may need fume hoods with dedicated exhaust fans and
VAV controls. Hospitals require medical gas piping in copper, color-
coded for oxygen, nitrous oxide, and vacuum. Data centers demand
redundant CRAC units, hot-aisle containment, and fire suppression
using clean agents such as FM-200.
X. Integration and Coordination
Utility shafts, pipe chases, and ceiling plenums must be shown on
combined services drawings to avoid clashes. Regular coordination
meetings and 3-D BIM models help resolve spatial conflicts before
construction. Civil engineers also ensure that underground utilities
avoid structural footings and that manholes remain accessible.
XI. Sustainability Consideration
Rainwater harvesting can offset non-potable demand for irrigation or
toilet flushing. Solar photovoltaic arrays reduce utility power
reliance, while variable-speed drives and high-efficiency chillers cut
operating costs. Certification frameworks like LEED or BERDE assign
points for these strategies.
END OF LESSON 1
