Service and equipment

Architectural Technologist, Architects, building service designer, manufactures and suppliers, consultants, buyers and installers may all contribute in some of their part to the overall design. Therefore, Architectural Technology has their responsibility to understand the building service and equipments usage in order to ensuring their deign is matched with the other parties to made the whole design works. In modern house, there are different kinds of building service, and equipment using in our dwelling. They are as follow:

As water is so important to related our daily life usage, a dwelling must be able to provide a stable supply of hot and cold water. To ensure our the water supply must be safe to drink. We need boiled or hot water.There are different types of water heaters. The most popular one in UK is storage water heater (Photo A). Compare to tankless water heater, storage water heater have the advantage of using less energy. As I mentioned about sustainable, solar water heaters ( Photo B) are being used increasingly, and the system are designed to supply hot water for most of the year. But during winter due to the less heat gain from Sunlight may not be sufficient, and affect the supply of hot water from Solar water heater.

(Photo A)

(Photo B)

In UK, there are companies supplying gas and electricity. Normally for a household, they pay high bills in winter time than summer due to the above heating service. 

Same as gas and electricity public services company, there are few companies in UK providing telecom service for household. They normally provides communication services of TV channel, phone line and internet service. However, such as Birmingham city center, the choice of services provider companies is oligopoly.

As I mentioned about flooding in UK. Rainwater drainage system (Photo C)is one of the method of reducing the risk of flooding. However, the most effective method to relieve pressures on the drainage system is reducing flood risk, eg. green roofs or rainwater harvesting (Photo D).

(Photo C)

(Photo D)

Mechanical ventilation is also a equipment for a dwelling. As I mentioned of EcoHat, it is an example of modern ventilation for a house.

Sources:

ottawa.ca. (2013). building-and-equipment-plan. Available: http://ottawa.ca/en/residents/public-health/food-safety-and-inspections/building-and-equipment-plan. Last accessed 19th Nov 2013.

london.gov. (2013). managing-rainwater-and-drainage. Available: https://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/environment/looking-after-londons-water/managing-rainwater-and-drainage. Last accessed 19th Nov 2013.