You are on page 1of 6

RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEMS

Rainwater harvesting systems allow for the collection, ltering and storage of roof rainwater for
use in nonpotablefunctions. The storage capacity depends on the roof area and the anticipated
demand. In certain systems, when the storage tank level is insufcient, the mains water supply
automatically switches in.
Three types of rainwater harvesting systems are described in BS 8515: 2009. Water from the
storageairout
Stale air outtanks may be delivered by gravity or self-activatingpump directly to the points of
use; alternatively, thestored water is pumped to an elevated cistern whichthen gravity feeds the
points of use. Filtration systemsrequire routine annual maintenance and shouldretain particles of
size >1.25 mm. Rainwater is suitablefor ushing toilets, laundry operations, car washing,garden
watering and other non-potable functions.
Rainwater outlets must be clearly marked as nonpotable.
Guidance on calculating the required storage capacityis given in BS 8515: 2009. For the
approximate
ENERGY-SAVING MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS 393 calculation of the required storage
capacity, a domestic consumption of 50 l/day/person is appropriate.
To anticipate uctuations in supply, storage capacity should equal 5% of the annual demand or
5% of the average annual rainwater yield, whichever is the lesser.
Suitable provision is required for overow from the storage tank.

GREYWATER RECYCLING SYSTEMS


Greywater from domestic showers and baths can be recycled to ush toilets. One electronically
controlled systemcollects the greywater from showers andbaths and, without the addition of
chemical agents, skims off the oating material, allows the settlement of sand residues and
retains up to 100 l of greywater.
This is sufcient for approximately 20 ushes of the directly connected WCs. The system
automatically purges itself as appropriate and is topped up with fresh water when necessary. The
system conforms to the strict water regulations which prevent contamination of potable water
supplies. The system can save up to 30% of normal domestic potable water use, and in new
housing contributes to the Codefor Sustainable Homes which requires reduced water
consumption.
Code for Sustainable Homes water specications:
Water consumption (l/person/day)Mandatory code levels
=120 Levels 1 and 2
=105 Levels 3 and 4
=80 Levels 5 and 6

Low-emissivity glass
Low-emissivity glasses are manufactured from oatglass by the application of a transparent lowemissivity coating on one surface. The coating may be applied either online, within the annealing

lehr at 650C, as a pyrolytic hard coat, or off-line after glass manufacture by magnetic sputtering
under vacuum which produces a softer coat. On-line manufactured low-emissivity glasses and
some off-line products may be toughened after coating; also off-line low-emissivity coatings
may be applied to previously toughened glass. The on-line surface coating is more durable and is
not normally damaged by careful handling.Low-emissivity glass functions by reecting back into
the building the longer-wavelength heat energy associated with the buildings occupants, heating
systems and internal wall surfaces, whilst allowing in the transmission of the shorter-wavelength
solar energy(Fig. 7.18). The incoming solar energy is absorbed by the internal walls and reradiated as longer-wavelength energy, which is then trapped by the low-emissivity coating on the
glass.Low-emissivity coatings can reduce by three quartersthe radiant component of the thermal
transfer between the adjacent surfaces within double glazing. The reduction in emissivity of
standard uncoated glass, from 0.84 to below 0.16, gives a decrease in Uvaluefrom 2.8 W/m2K
for standard double glazing to 1.7 W/m2K with low-emissivity glass. Frequently,low-emissivity
glass is protected in use within sealed double-glazed units. The outer leaf in the double-glazing
system may be clear or any other specialist glass for security or solar control. Pyrolytic lowemissivity coatings are suitable for incorporation into secondary glazing for existing windows.
The emissivities of low-E coatings range for hard coats from 0.15 to 0.20 and for soft coatings
from 0.04 to 0.10. Following the changes in the requirements for energy conservation, lowemissivity glass double glazing has effectively become the standard for all new building works,
as in the Swiss Re building in central
London (Fig. 7.19).

Double-glazing units
Hermetically sealed double-glazing units are usually manufactured with aluminium or thin stainless steel spacers which incorporate moistureadsorbing molecular sieve or silica gel and are sealed with polyisobutylene,
polyurethane,polysulphide or epoxysulphide. The primary seal is backed up by a secondary seal,
usually a two-part silicone to prevent leakage, and is covered with a protective cap (Fig. 7.20).
Greater thermal efciency, to reduce cold bridging and the risk of condensation, is afforded by
thermoplastic or GRPspacers coated with a thin foil of aluminium or stainless steel to prevent
gas loss. Timber frames offer good insulation. PVC frames use multi-chamber systems and
plastic or minimal steel reinforcement to reduce thermal conduction. Aluminium and steel frames
require the inclusion of thermal breaks to reduce the risk of surface condensation and signicant
heat loss. Table 7.3 shows the relationship between centre pane and overall window U-values for
a sample of timber, PVCU, aluminium and steel frame systems.

The Curtain Wall


The rst steel-framed skyscrapers, built in the late 19th century, introduced the concept of the
curtainwall, an exterior wall supported at each story by the frame. The name curtain wall
derives from the idea that the wall is thin and hangs like a curtain on the structural frame.
(Most curtain wall panels do not actually hang in tension from the frame but are supported from
the bottom at each oor level.) The earliest curtain walls were constructed of masonry (Figure
19.2). The principal advantage of the curtain wall is that, because it bears no vertical load, it can
be thin and lightweight regardless of the height of the building, compared to a masonry
loadbearing wall, which may become prohibitively thick and weighty at the base of a very tall
building.
Curtain walls may be constructed of any noncombustible material that is suitable for exposure to
the weather.
They may be either constructed in place or prefabricated. In the next chapter, we will examine
curtain walls that are made of masonry and concrete. In Chapter 21, we will look at curtain walls
that are made of metal and glass. In both chapters, we will see that some types of walls are
constructed in place and others are prefabricated, but all are supported by the frame of the
building.
Curtain Wall Testing
and Standards
Structural Performance and
Resistance to Wind and Rain
For any new curtain wall design, it is advisable to build and test a full-scale section of wall to
determine its resistance to inltrationof air and water and its structural performance under heavy
wind loadings. There are several outdoor laboratories in
North America that are equipped to conduct these tests. A full-scale specimen of the wall system,
often two stories high and a bay wide, is constructed as the exterior wall of a chamber that can be
pressurized or evacuated by a calibrated blower system.

Curtain wall testing is conducting according to the American Architectural


Manufacturers Association standard
AAMA 501 Methods of Tests for
Exterior Walls, which itself references numerous other standards for specic aspects of the
testing. The specimen is tested rst for air inltration, using
ASTM E283, in which it is subjected to a static air pressure that corresponds to the pressure that
will be created by the anticipated maximum wind velocity in the vicinity of the building. Air that
leaks through the wall is carefully measured, and the rate of leakage is compared to specied
standards.
A static test for water penetration is next, using ASTM E331: The wall is subjected to a static air
pressure while being wetted uniformly across its surface at a rate of 5 gallons per hour per square
foot (3.4 L/m2-min). Points of water leakage arenoted, and leaking water is carefullycollected
and measured. A dynamicwater penetration test may also be performed in accordance with
AAMA501.1, using an aircraft engine and propeller to drive water against the wall.
The structural performance of the wall is tested according to ASTM
E330, in which a calibrated blower subjects the wall specimen to air pressures and suctions as
high as 50 percent over the specied wind load, and the deections of the structural members in
the wall are measured.
Optionally, tests for thermal performance, sound transmission, and the effects of thermal cycling,
seismic loads, and movement of the structure to which the curtain wall is attached may also be
performed.While all these tests yield numerical results, it is also important that the behavior of
the specimen be observed closely during each test so that specific problems with the design,
materials, detailing, and installation can be identied and corrected.
Most wall System specimens fail one or moreof the tests for air and water leakage on the rst
attempt. By observing thesources of leakage during the test, it is usually possible to modify the
ashings, sealants, weep holes, or other components of the design so that the modied specimen
will pass the subsequent test. These modications are then incorporated into the nal details for
the actual building.
After testing has been completed and nal design adjustments have been made, production of
the wall to the site can commence as soon as the frame is ready to receive the system.Curtain
wall systems require careful inspection during installation to be sure that there are no defects in
workmanship. Even seemingly small imperfections in assembly can lead to large, expensive
problems later. As work progresses, installed portions of the curtain wall can be checked for
water leakage according to AAMA
501.2. This involves directing water at the joints in the wall with a hose that has a specied
nozzle and following specied procedures to isolate the causes of any leaks. Wheredeemed
necessary, more elaborate instrumented eld tests for water and air leakage can also be
performed. Components begins, and deliveries
Thermal Performance and
Other Properties
The thermal properties of curtain wall systems are most commonly tested according to AAMA
1503, for thermal transmittance, and AAMA 507 for solar heat gain coefcient, visible

transmittance, and condensation resistance, although comparable NFRC standards may also
sometimes be used. Curtain wall systems are adaptable to a great variety of glass types, frame
sizes, and congurations. For this reason, determining precise Ufactors and other properties for a
particular system design usually requires more detailed analysis than, for example, when
standard window congurations are specied.Where impact or blast resistance is required,
curtain wall systems can be tested to the same standards described in Chapter 18 for doors and
windows.

You might also like