BUILDING UTILITIES 2: Transformer Vault

Electrical and Mechanical Systems

By: Ar. Chris Luna  Buildings requiring an expected load of 200
KVA or above shall be provided with a
Utility Facilities in Buildings transformer vault

Introduction  Transformers may be mounted on poles or

structures within the property if enough
space is available

 Located in a service area (askarel, dry,oil

immersed transformer, cabling and other
electrical devices

 0.8 to 1.2% of the basement floor area

 Typical sizes: 3.5 x 4.5, 4.0 x 4.5, 4.0 x 5.0

(in meters)

Generator Room

 Generator rooms are generally located in

areas where sound, exhaust and vibration of
equipment are of general planning concern.

 This area is usually located in the basement

service area

 A good scheme is to have one side of the Electrical Room

room directly accessible from the outside
(for maintenance and service  It is a room or space in a building dedicated
to electrical equipment.
 1 to 1.5% of the basement floor area
 The size of the electrical room is usually
 Typical sizes: 3.5 x 4.5, 4.0 x 4.5 and 4.0 x proportional to the size of the building.
5.0 (in meters)
 Electrical equipment may be for power
distribution equipment, or for
communications equipment.

 It is a space for the switchgear, transfer

switch, panel board etc.

 0.5 to 0.9% of the basement floor area

 Typical sizes: 2 x 3.5, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 x 4.0 (in

meters)

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Pump Room
Garbage Room
 It contains sewage ejector or pumps or
pumps, pipings and valves  It contains bins, garbage bags and chute,
etc.
 0.35 to 0.8% of the basement floor area
 0.3 to 0.45% of the basement floor area
 Typical sizes: 2.5 x 3.5, 2.5 x 4.0, 3.0 x 4.0
(in meters)  Typical sizes: 3.0 x 5.0, 4.0 x 5.0, 5.0 x 6.0

Pipe Chase

 It contains vertical & horizontal pipe – water

supply, sanitary or drainage system

 It also contains the soil and waste stacks,

risers, horizontal branches

 It shall be provided behind the battery of

fixtures

 0.035 to 0.085% of the floor area where the

toilet group is located

 Typical thickness: 0.30, 0.40, 0.50, 0.60 and

0.80 meters wide

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Equipment Room Mechanical Floor

 It is a room or space within a building for the
storage or installation of mechanical or
electrical/electronic devices.
 It can house telecommunication installations
that serves the occupants of the building
 0.5 to 0.9% of the basement floor area
 Typical sizes: 2 x 3.5, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 x 4.0 (in
meters)
 A mechanical penthouse or mechanical level
is a story of a high-rise building that is
dedicated to mechanical and electronics
equipment.
 Tall buildings require dedicated floors
throughout the structure for this purpose
 As a rule of thumb, skyscrapers require a
mechanical floor for every 10 tenant floors
 Sometimes buildings are designed with a
mechanical floor located on the thirteenth
floor, to avoid problems in renting the space
due to superstitions about that number.

Mechanical Equipment Room

 A mechanical room or a boiler room is a

room or space in a building dedicated to the
mechanical equipment and its associated
electrical equipment Sewage Treatment Plant
 A small building or home may have at most  It contains skimming chambers, aerator unit,
a utility room but in large buildings filters, piping etc.
mechanical rooms can be of considerable
size
 1.25 to 2.0% of the basement floor area
 0.5 to 0.9% of the basement floor area
 Typical sizes: 5.0 x 6.0, 6.0 x 7.0, 6.0 x 8.0
(in meters)
 Typical sizes: 2 x 3.5, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 x 4.0 (in
meters)

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Vent Shaft

 Area allocation may vary according on

location, area to be ventilated, occupancy,
ventilation requirements etc.

 0.625 to 10% of the floor area per floor

Other Space Requirements

 Building Administrator’s Office

 Engineering Department
 Building Maintenance Office
 Housekeeping Department
 Workshop Area

NOTHING FOLLOWS

Source:
 George S. Salvan, Architecture and
Construction Data, Goodwill Bookstore,
2005
 PowerPoint Presentations of Ar. Henry
Herrera and Ar. Rino Fernandez of the UST
College of Architecture
 Building Utilities II hand out of Ar. Raffy Alli
of the UST College of Architecture
 Various internet articles and images

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