Learning to be Architect

Electrical related rooms are an essential part of most developments simply because modern buildings are so dependent on electricity. Here's an attempt to break down what some of these rooms contain to understand them better. In small developments such as a small shop front, electricity is obtained in a Low Tension format and used directly. However, in larger developments, electricity is obtained first in a High Tension format from the electricity supplier, then converted to Low Tension within the development itself for common day usage. To put it simply, Low Tension is electricity at low voltage, while High Tension is electricity at high voltage. While both high and low voltage are deadly to the human touch, the difference in voltage value is important in the transportation of electricity across electricity grids in terms of efficiency. (A little physics if you want to understand more) High voltage electricity loses less "energy" (i.e. Power) when transported across ...

It is imperative that Architects work closely with the three types of engineers mentioned above in the design of buildings. However, it could be confusing in the beginning when trying to understand what role does each engineer play. Here's a simple breakdown (that may be updated later on). Please take note that this is the understanding in the Singapore context, and may differ from country to country: Electrical Engineer He prepares the electrical, lighting and data items for your building; usually, architects need to talk to him during the design stage if there are any specific lighting looks in the room or specialised electrical equipment to consider His lighting designs have to meet minimum lux requirements based on the location and function of each space, if you are thinking of using a mixture of daylight and electrical light in a space, you need to have more lengthy discussions with his as well as lighting suppliers He will tell you his requirements for the location an...

When preparing sanitary ware for specifications and drawings, we often come across terms like "flush valve" and "cistern", which are different types of flushing systems for WC and urinals. Here's a general breakdown of their differences: Flush Valves Commonly used in non-residential projects, where there are higher volumes of water needed and more flushes per day Does not require a small water tank for each WC/urinal that you see either hanging from the wall or as a part of the WC at the bank (Commonly where they hide guns and important objects in old movies) Will not have a delayed flush after each flush, as water from sanitary pipes flow directly into the WC/urinal for flushing Usually concealed in the wall behind the WC/urinal, and would require a space of 200-300mm; could be serviced from the top (where the pipe space behind it is not full height, and looks like a ledge where you can put stuff on) and from the back (if there is a corridor between two ...