ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING

2.22 SECTION TWO

TABLE 19 Changes in Pressure in Gas Pipes

Gain in pressure 0.96 0.89 0.81 0.74 0.66 0.59 0.52 0.44
per 100 ft (24.4) (22.6) (20.6) (18.8) (16.8) (15.0) (13.2) (11.2)
(30.4 m) of
rise in
vertical pipe,
in of water
(mm of
water)
Specific gravity 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70
of gas compared
to air

As with piping and fixtures for plumbing systems, gas piping and fixtures are subject to code
regulations in most cities and towns. Natural and manufactured gases are widely used in stoves,
water heaters, and space heaters of many designs. Since gas can form explosive mixtures when
mixed with air, gas piping must be absolutely tight and free of leaks at all times. Usual codes
cover every phase of gas-piping size, installation, and testing. The local code governing a partic-
ular building should be carefully followed during design and installation.
For gas supply, the usual practice is for the public-service gas company to run its pipes into
the building cellar, terminating with a brass shutoff valve and gas meter inside the cellar wall.
From this point, the plumbing contractor or gas-pipe fitter runs lines through the building to the
various fixture outlets. When the pressure of the gas supplied by the public-service company is
too high for the devices in the building, a pressure-reducing valve can be installed near the point
where the line enters the building. The valve is usually supplied by the gas company.
Besides municipal codes governing the design and installation of gas piping and devices, the
gas company serving the area will usually have a number of regulations that must be followed.
In general, gas piping should be run in such a manner that it is unnecessary to locate the meter
near a boiler, under a window or steps, or in any other area where it may be easily damaged.
Where multiple-meter installations are used, the piping must be plainly marked by means of
a metal tag showing which part of the building is served by the particular pipe. When two or
more meters are used in a building to supply separate consumers, there should be no inter-
connection on the outlet side of the meters.
Materials used for gas piping include black iron, steel, and wrought iron. Copper tubing is also
finding some use, and the values listed in Table 17 apply to it as well as schedule 40 (standard
weight) pipe made of the materials listed above. Use the procedure given here to size gas pipes
for industrial, commercial, and residential installations.

SWIMMING POOL SELECTION, SIZING, AND SERVICING

Choose a swimming pool to serve 140 bathers with facilities for diving and swimming contests. Size
the pumps for the pool. Select a suitable water-treatment system and the inlet and outlet pipe sizes.
Determine the size of heater required for the pool, should heating of the water be required.

Calculation Procedure

1. Compute the swimming-pool area required. Usual swimming pools are sized in accordance with
the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Swimming Pools, which uses 25 ft2 (2.3 m2) per bather
as a desirable pool area. With 140 bathers, the recommended area = 25(140) = 3500 ft2 (325.2 m2).

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 ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING

ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING 2.23

TABLE 20 Dimensions of Official Swimming Pools

Pool Bathing Bathing A B C D X Y Z L W

capacity, load, capacity
gal (L) persons per day Dimensions, ft (m)
55,000 48 418 8 9 5 3.25 15 20 25 60 20
(208,197) (2.4) (2.7) (1.5) (1.0) (4.6) (6.1) (7.6) (18.3) (6.1)
80,800 75 607 8 9.5 5 3.25 15 20 40 75 25
(305,860) (2.4) (2.9) (1.5) (1.0) (4.6) (6.1) (12.2) (22.9) (7.6)
120,000 108 900 8 9.5 5 3.25 18 25 47 90 30
(454,248) (2.4) (2.9) (1.5) (1.0) (5.5) (7.6) (14.3) (27.4) (9.1)
155,600 147 1,170 8 10 5 3.25 18 25 62 105 35
(589,008) (2.4) (3.0) (1.5) (1.0) (5.5) (7.6) (18.9) (32.0) (10.7)
207,600 192 1,555 8 10 5 3.25 20 30 70 120 40
(785,849) (2.4) (3.0) (1.5) (1.0) (6.1) (9.1) (21.3) (36.6) (12.2)
254,000 243 1,905 8 10 5 3.25 20 30 85 135 45
(961,492) (2.4) (3.0) (1.5) (1.0) (6.1) (9.1) (25.9) (41.2) (13.7)
306,000 300 2,300 8 10 5 3.25 20 30 100 150 50
(1,158,332) (2.4) (3.0) (1.5) (1.0) (6.1) (9.1) (30.5) (45.7) (15.2)
422,400 432 3,170 8 10 5 3.25 20 30 130 180 60
(1,598,953) (2.4) (3.0) (1.5) (1.0) (6.1) (9.1) (39.6) (54.9) (18.3)
558,000 590 4,180 8 10 5 3.25 20 30 160 210 70
(2,112,253) (2.4) (3.0) (1.5) (1.0) (6.1) (9.1) (48.8) (64.0) (21.3)
*Based on 8-h turnover.

2. Choose the pool dimensions. Use Table 20 as a guide to usual pool dimensions. This tabulation
shows that a 105-ft (32-m) long by 35-ft (10.7-m) wide pool is suitable for 147 bathers. Since the
next smaller pool will handle only 108 bathers, the larger pool must be used.
To provide for swimming contests, lanes at least 7 ft (2.1 m) wide are required. Thus, this pool
could have 35 ft/7 ft = 5 lanes for swimming contests. If more lanes are desired, the pool width must
be increased, if there is sufficient space. Also, consideration of the pool length is required if swim-
ming meets covering a specified distance are required. Assume that the 105 35 ft (32 10.7 m)
pool chosen earlier is suitable with respect to contests and space.
To provide for diving contests, a depth of more than 9 ft (2.7 m) is recommended at the deep end
of the pool. Table 20 shows that this pool has an actual maximum depth of 10 ft (3.05 m), which
makes it better suited for diving contests. Some swimming specialists recommend a depth of at least
10 ft (3.05 m) for diving contests. Assume, therefore, that 10 ft (3.05 m) is acceptable for this pool.
The pool will have a capacity of 155,600 gal (588,946 L) of water (Table 20). If installed indoors,
the pool would probably be faced with tile or glazed brick. An outdoor pool of this size is usually
constructed of concrete, and the walls are a smooth finish.

3. Determine the pump capacity required. To keep the pool water as pure as possible, three
turnovers (i.e., the number of times the water in the pool is changed each day) are generally used.

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 ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING

2.24 SECTION TWO

This means that the water will be changed once each 24 h/3 changes = 8 h. The water is changed by
recirculating it through filters, a chlorinator, strainer, and heater. Thus, the pump must handle water
at the rate of pool capacity, ga1/8 h = 155,600/8 = 19,450 gal/h (73,626 L/h), or 19,450/60 min/h =
324.1 gal/min (1266.9 L/min); say 325 gal/min (1230.3 L/min).

4. Choose the pump discharge head. Motor-driven centrifugal pumps find almost universal appli-
cation for swimming pools. Reciprocating pumps are seldom suitable because they produce pulsations
in the delivery pipe and pool filters. Either single- or double-suction single-stage centrifugal pumps can
be used. The double-suction design is usually preferred because the balanced impeller causes less wear.
The discharge head that a swimming pool circulating pump must develop is a function of the
resistance of the piping, fittings, heater, and filters. Of these four, the heater and filters produce the
largest head loss.
The usual swimming pool heater causes a head loss of up to 10 ft (3.05 m) of water. Sand filters
cause a head loss of about 50 ft (15.2 m) of water, whereas diatomaceous earth filters cause a head
loss of about 90 ft (27.4 m) of water. To choose the pump discharge head, find the sum of the pump
suction lift, piping and fitting head loss, and heater and filter head loss. Add a 10 percent allowance
for overload. The result is the required pump discharge head in feet of water.
Most pools are equipped with two identical circulating pumps. The spare pump ensures constant
operation of the pool should one pump fail. Also, the spare pump permits regular maintenance of the
other pump.

5. Compute the quantity of makeup water required. Swimmers splash water over the gutter line
of the pool. The water is drained away to the sewer in some pools; in others the water is treated and
returned to the pool for reuse. Gutter drains are usually spaced at 15-ft (4.6-m) intervals.
Since the pool waterline is level with the gutter, every swimmer who enters the pool displaces
some water, which enters the gutter and is drained away. This drainage must be made up by the pool
recirculating system.
The water displaced by a swimmer is approximately equal to his or her weight. Assuming each
swimmer weighs 160 lb (72.7 kg), this weight of water will be displaced into the gutter. Since 1 gal
(3.79 L) of water weighs 8.33 lb (3.75 kg), each swimmer will displace 160 lb/(8.33 lb/gal) =
19.2 gal (72.7 L). With a maximum of 140 swimmers in the pool, the total quantity of water dis-
placed is (140)(19.2) = 2695 gal/h (10,201.7 L/h), or 2695/(60 min/h) = 44.9 gal/min (169.9 L/min),
say 45 gal/min (170.3 L/min).
Thus, to keep this pool operating, the water-supply system must be capable of delivering at least
45 gal/min (170.3 L/min). This quantity of water can come from a city water system, a well, or
recirculation of the gutter water after purification.

6. Compute the required filter-bed area. Two types of filters are used in swimming pools: sand
and diatomaceous earth. In either type, a flow rate of 2 to 4 gal/(minft2) [81.5 to 162.5 L/(minm2)]
is generally used. The lower flow rates, 2 to 2.5 gal/(minft2) [81.5 to 101 L/(minm2)] are usually
preferred. Assuming that a flow rate of 2.5 gal/(minft2) [101 L/(minm2)] is used and that 325 gal/min
(1230.3 L/min) flows through the filters, as computed in step 3, the filter-bed area required is 325 gal/
min/[2.5 gal/(minft2)] = 130 ft2 (12.1 m2).
Two filters are generally used in swimming pools to ensure continuity of service and back-
washing of one filter while the other is in use. The required area of 130 ft2 (12.1 m2) could then
be divided between the two filters. Some pools use three or more filters. Regardless of how many
filters are used, the required area can be evenly divided among them.

7. Choose the number of water inlets and outlets for the pool. The pool inlets supply the recircu-
lation water required. Usual practice rates each inlet for a flow of 10 to 20 gal/min (37.9 to 75.7 L/min).
Given a 10-gal/min (37.9-L/min) flow for this pool, the number of inlets required is 325 gal/min/
10 gal/min per inlet = 32.5, say 32.
Locate the inlets around the periphery of the pool and on each end. Space the inlets so that they
provide an even distribution of the water. In general, inlets should not be located more than 30 ft
(10 m) apart.

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 ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING

ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING 2.25

Size the pool drain to release the water in the pool within the desired time interval, usually 4 to
12 h. Since there is no harm is emptying a pool quicklyif the sewer into which the pool discharges
has sufficient capacitysize the discharge line liberally. Thus, a 12-in (305-mm) discharge line can
handle about 2000 gal/min (7570.8 L/min) when a swimming pool is drained.

8. Compute the quantity of disinfectant required. Chlorine, bromine, and ozone are some of the
disinfectants used in swimming pools. Chlorine is probably the most popular. It is used in quantities
sufficient to maintain 0.5 ppm chlorine in the water. Since this pool contains 155,600 gal (589,008 L)
of water that is recirculated three times per day, the quantity of chlorine disinfectant that must be
added each day is (155,600 gal)(3 changes per day)(8.33 lb/gal) [0.5 lb of chlorine per 106 lb
(454,545.5 kg) of water] = 1.95 lb (0.89 kg) of chlorine per day. The required chlorine can be
pumped into the pool inlet water or fed from cylinders.

9. Size the water heater for the pool. The usual swimming pool heater has a heating capacity, in
gallons per hour, which is 10 times the gallons-per-minute rating of the circulating pump. Since the
circulating pump for this pool is rated at 325 gal/min (1230.6 L/min), the heater should have a capac-
ity of 10(325) = 3250 gal/h (12,306.6 L/h).
Since the entering water temperature may be as low as 40F (4.4C) in the winter, the heater should
be chosen for this entering temperature. The outlet temperature of the water should be at least 80F
(26.7C). To heat the entire contents of the pool from 40F (4.4C) to about 70F (21C), at least 48 h
is generally allowed. Instantaneous hot-water heaters are usually chosen for swimming pool service.

10. Select the backwash sump pump. When the filter backwash flow cannot be discharged
directly to a sewer, the usual practice is to pipe the backwash to a sump in the pool machinery room.
The accumulated backwash is then pumped to the sewer by a sump pump mounted in the sump.
The sump should be large enough to store sufficient backwash to prevent overflowing. Assuming
that either of the 130-ft2 (12.1-m2) filter beds is backwashed with a flow of 12.5 gal/(minft2) [509.3 L/
(minm2 )] of filter-bed area, the quantity of water entering the sump will be (12.5)(130) =
1725 gal/min. If there is room for a 5-ft deep, 8-ft wide, and 5-ft long (1.5-m deep, 2.4-m wide,
and 1.5-m long) sump, its capacity will be 5 8 5 7.5 gal/ft3 = 1500 gal (5678 L). The differ-
ence, of 1625 1500 = 125 gal/min (473.2 L/min), must be discharged by the pump to prevent over-
flow of the sump. A 150-gal/min (567.8-L/min) sump pump should probably be chosen to provide a
margin of safety. Further, it is usual practice to install duplicate sump pumps to ensure pool opera-
tion in the event one pump fails. Where water is collected from other drains and discharged to the
sump, the pump capacity may have to be increased accordingly.

Related Calculations Use the general procedure given here to choose swimming pools and their
related equipment for schools, recreation centers, hotels, motels, cities, towns, etc. Wherever pos-
sible, follow the recommendations of local codes and of the Joint Committee on Swimming Pools.

Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning

BUILDING OR STRUCTURE HEAT-LOSS DETERMINATION

An industrial building has 8-in (203.2 mm) thick uninsulated brick walls, a 2-in (50.8-mm) thick
concrete uninsulated roof, and a concrete floor. The building is 150 ft (45.7 m) long, 75 ft (22.9 m)
wide, and 15 ft (4.6 m) high. Each long wall contains eight 5 10 ft (1.5 3 m) double-glass win-
dows, and each short wall contains two 4 8 ft (1.2 2.4 m) double-glass doors. What is the heat

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