A Guide To Maintaining Consistent Water Pressure In Commercial Buildings
Commercial plumbing — particularly in multi-story offices, apartments, and retail developments — typically experiences high water demand, which can easily strain the system and result in inconsistent water pressure. Ideally, commercial buildings should aim for a maximum water pressure of 60 pounds-per-square-inch, the U.S. Department of Energy advises. But, if the pressure drops too low, water flow becomes frustratingly slow, whereas excessive pressure can damage pipes, valves, and fixtures.
Fortunately, if you install pressure-control valves and booster pumps, you can optimize water pressure on all floors in high-traffic commercial buildings, even throughout peak use times.
Install pressure-reducing valves
A pressure-reduction valve should be installed by the main shut-off valve to control the water pressure that initially flows into the building. Ideally, the valve used here should be six bar maximum to maintain a safe, consistent pressure. In turn, this prevents potentially costly pipe ruptures caused by excessive water pressure. However, if water pressure issues persist, professional plumbers can identify and rectify the source.
For example, 45% of commercial buildings currently have leaks, which often cause low water pressure. Low water pressure obviously doesn’t help building occupants, whereas undetected leaks can also damage building infrastructure over time. Fortunately, professional plumbers can fix leaks before they cause expensive water damage. A leaky faucet, for instance, costs around $150-$300 to repair, leading Santa Cruz plumbing company, Anytime Plumbing, explains. In comparison, it costs between $1,000-$5,000 to repair severe water damage.
Use a 10:1 pressure reduction ratio
Valves should also be installed on each floor of the building to further regulate pressure. Ideally, stick to a 10:1 pressure reduction ratio here. So, a valve shouldn’t reduce the pressure of a ten bar system to any lower than one bar. This ratio is necessary as the water pressure isn’t the same on each floor — it actually drops slightly with each floor you go up in the building.
Each valve therefore needs to be specifically calibrated to maintain the right pressure (between 2.5-5 bars) for each individual floor level. Otherwise, valves can become damaged if they’re left to deal with excessive pressure.
Don’t forget booster pumps
As water pressure decreases on higher floors, booster pumps should also be installed to pressurize the water and push it upwards through the building. Although it’s possible to have a single, large booster pump system installed on the ground floor, it’s more effective to install several boosters on at least two separate floors.
This includes a few pumps on the ground floor that transport water to the first few floors, as well as another set of pumps mid-way up the building (usually in a plant/mechanical room) that serve the top level floors. Two smaller sets of booster pumps are cheaper yet just as effective as a single, large pump installation.
Plumbing design that prioritizes safe and consistent water pressure is essential in high-traffic, commercial buildings with higher water demands. As long as you correctly install pressure-reduction valves and booster pumps, you’ll successfully generate optimal water pressure on all floors.
