The primary duty and responsibility of Building Engineers is to maintain and monitor the

operational systems of a building including HVAC, mechanical (elevator, escalator), electrical system,
(gensets) plumbing, and fire protection systems (FDAS). Additionally, they will address inquiries from
tenants, visitors, and clients, making good customer service an integral aspect of their role.

There will always be people who will insist that what they believe is true or correct, or that they are right simply
because they are the "customers." While clients and customers may not always be right, it is crucial to ensure that
they feel they are right by demonstrating understanding, humility, and professionalism toward them. This is because
clients constitute the lifeblood of every business.

HVAC which stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning, refers to systems that not only regulate
temperature but also filter and purify indoor air, promoting health and ensuring optimal comfort.

Its role extends beyond mere climate control; it focuses on enhancing air quality and ensuring comfort for
occupants within a building.

Main Components of a Commercial HVAC System

1. Air Conditioner: It dehumidifies the air and removes heat, but doesn't directly cool the
building. It collaborates with other subsystems to regulate temperature.

2. Compressor: Acts as the starting point of the cooling cycle. It compresses refrigerant, raising
its temperature and initiating the cooling process.

3. Condenser: Functions as the heat exchanger on the hot side, transferring heat from the
building to the exterior. It converts gas refrigerant to liquid form.

4. Thermal Expansion Valve: Essential for the condenser's function, it lowers pressure on
liquid refrigerant, causing it to turn from liquid to vapor. It provides precise flow control into the
evaporator coil.

5. Air Handler (including Evaporator Coil and Blower): Circulates air, blowing cooled or
heated air into the building and then recirculating it. The evaporator coil is crucial for heat removal.

6. Terminal Units: Consist of an air filter, coil, and blower. Come in various sizes and are used
to control temperatures in single rooms.

7. Chiller: Removes heat from liquid in the building's pipes. Air-cooled chillers are cooled by
fans, while water-cooled chillers use a recirculation process with a cooling tower.

8. Duct System: Distributes air throughout the building, and keeping it clean and intact is
crucial for system performance. Regular maintenance, including cleaning and replacing filters, is essential
for optimal operation.
 Basic Fire Alarm System Components
1. Fire alarm initiating devices
2. Fire notification devices
3. Fire alarm control panel
4. Primary power supply
5. Backup power supply

1. Fire Alarm Initiating Devices - activate the system when a fire occurs.

There are two types of fire alarm initiating devices:

a. Manual initiating devices – These devices include pull stations, break glass stations or
buttons that need to be manually activated by someone in the building when they
identify a fire.
b. Automatic initiating devices – automatic initiation devices trigger the fire alarm system
automatically when a fire happens. These devices include heat, flame and smoke
detection. When heat, flames or smoke is detected, the devices send a signal to a central
control panel that activates the system.
2. Fire Notification Devices - to notify building occupants when a fire is detected. Some fire alarm
notification devices include: Bells, Strobes, Horns, Chimes, Fire Alarm Control Panel
3. The fire alarm control panel- The central hub of the fire alarm and detection system. The control
panel acts as the brain of the alarm system by monitoring and managing the initiation devices.
When an initiation device is triggered, a signal is sent to the control panel and the control panel
activates the notification devices. The status of the system is displayed on the control panel and
allows you to see when an issue is detected and allows you to control it manually.
4. Primary Power Supply - The primary power supply for your fire alarm system is supplied by your
power company. The primary power supply is typically 120- or 240-volt AC power sources.
5. Backup Power Supply - In the event of a power failure, the fire alarm system still needs to work to
alert people if a fire occurs. A backup power supply is an important part of any fire alarm and detection
system. The backup power supply includes 6- or 12-volt batteries to keep the system running when a
power failure happens.
 How Fire Detection and Alarm System (FDAS) Works?
Fire detector is activated by either smoke or heat detectors connected to the central fire alarm control panel
that send signal and trigger the alarms. FDAS systems are commonly connected to public address system, access
control systems and other emergency evacuation systems.

A jockey pump, also know as a pressure maintenance pump, maintains the pressure in the fire sprinkler
system to avoid non-emergency starting of the main fire pump.

Its purpose is to ensure that if a sprinkler is activated, causing a pressure drop, it triggers the main
fire pump. The jockey pump is designed to start before the main fire pump and return the fire protection
system to its minimum static pressure.

Fire pumps work by taking the water available from the water supply and increasing the pressure. This
stored energy allows water to be distributed along the sprinkler lines throughout the building especially if it
is a high rise building. Fire pumps are typically powered by electricity, steam, or combustible fuel. Fire pumps
turns ON Automatically but turns OFF manually. Only the BFP personnel is allowed to turn the fire pump Off.

Main Components of a Generator Set

Engine - It provides the power to the generator. The size of the engine determines how much power the generator can produce.
The type of fuel it uses is important to consider.

Alternator - This part turns the engine's power into electrical power. It has stationary and moving parts that work together to
make electricity.

Fuel System - It holds enough fuel to keep the generator running for several hours. For bigger generators, an extra fuel tank
might be needed.

Voltage Regulator - It controls the amount of electrical power the generator produces.

Cooling & Exhaust System - The generator can get hot, so it needs a system to keep it cool. It also has to get rid of the exhaust
gases safely.

Lubricating System - Like a car, the generator's engine needs oil to keep things running smoothly.

Battery Charger - This keeps the generator's battery charged so it can start when needed.

Control Panel - This is like the dashboard of the generator. It has buttons and meters to control and monitor the generator.

Main Assembly/Frame - This is the body of the generator, providing support and safety.

Remember, a generator doesn't make electricity, it transforms one kind of energy (mechanical) into another (electrical).
 What are the residential and commercial voltages?
Most household plugs are designed for 120 volts.

In commercial and industrial applications, several different voltages are used, including 208, 240, 480
and 600 volts.

What are the 3 types of voltages?

High (HV), Extra- High (EHV) & Ultra-High Voltages (UHV) ranges from 115,000 to 1,100,000 VAC.

Medium Voltage (MV) ranges from 2,400 to 69,000 VAC.

Low Voltage (LV) ranges from 240 to 600 VAC.

Transformers change voltage levels to supply electrical loads with the voltages they require. They supply the
required incoming electrical service to the buildings.

Power Distribution in Larger Buildings

In large buildings, they use a lot of electricity, so they need big and strong electrical equipment. The owners
buy powerful electricity because it's cheaper. They use a special machine called a step-down transformer to make it
safer for use inside the building.

After that, the electricity goes to a control center called switchgear. It makes sure the electricity goes to the
right places in the building safely. It has safety features like circuit breakers that can stop the power if there's a
problem.

In really big or complicated buildings, they might have more than one transformer and switchgear. But let's
keep it simple for now.

From the switchgear, the electricity goes through a heavy wire called a feeder. This wire can safely carry a lot
of electricity. It then goes to smaller control centers called electrical closets. Each closet manages a section of the
building.

In each closet, there's another transformer. This one changes the power to a level we can use in our homes.
From there, it goes to a panel that controls a bunch of smaller circuits. These circuits provide power to different
parts of the area, like lights, outlets, or machines.
If you are a Safety Officer, surely you will be asked about Hierarchy of Controls.

Key takeaways:

The hierarchy of controls is used to keep employees safe from

injury and illness in the workplace.

The five steps/stages in the hierarchy of controls (from most effective to least effective)

1. Elimination: Physically remove the hazard

2. Substitution: Replace the hazard
3. Engineering controls: Isolate people from the hazard
4. Administrative controls: Change the way people work
5. Personal Protective Eequipment: Protect workers

1. Elimination

Elimination, or physically removing a hazard from a workplace, is the most effective stage of the hierarchy of controls. When
hazards are eliminated or removed from a work environment, they no longer have the potential to negatively impact employees.

Examples:

Redesign a process to eliminate the use of hazardous equipment or product

Perform tasks at ground level rather than working high above ground

Store goods at lower heights so workers don’t have to climb tall heights and risk fall injuries or fatalities

2. Substitution

Substitution, or replacing a hazardous item or activity with something less hazardous, is the second-most effective stage of safety
control. Substitution serves a similar purpose to elimination, as it removes a hazard from the workplace or decreases the
potential for the hazard to negatively affect employees. If a workplace process is still in its design or development phase,
substitution can be an inexpensive and streamlined method for managing a hazard.

Examples:

Replace a caustic cleaning agent with a non-toxic alternative

Substitute a solvent-based paint with water-based paint

Use a non-silica abrasive material instead of sandblasting

3. Engineering controls

Engineering controls, or designing purposeful solutions that physically separate employees from hazards, are the third-most
effective stage of safety control. Many organizations favor engineering controls to remove the hazard at the source, rather than
after an employee comes into contact with a hazard. It’s important to note that while engineering controls can sometimes be
costly to implement, they typically result in lower overall operating costs due to the new safety features.

Examples:

Place barriers around fans and other loud machinery

Fence around dangerous high-voltage equipment

Install guardrails at worksites that are high above ground

4. Administrative controls

Administrative controls, or changes to the way employees work and perform particular processes, are the fourth-most effective
stage of safety control. Administrative controls are typically employed alongside other existing processes in which hazards are not
totally controlled.

Organizations sometimes favor administrative controls due to their low-cost nature, but such initiatives are often somewhat
ineffective and require significant effort on the part of affected employees.

Examples:

Limit the time a worker is exposed to a hazard

Create written formalized operating procedures

Install signs, labels and alarms

5. Personal protective equipment

PPE, physical equipment worn or used by employees while they perform their work, are the fifth- or least-most effective stage of
the hierarchy of controls.

Like administrative controls, PPE is typically used alongside preexisting processes that haven't completely controlled the
occupational hazard. Using PPE as a safety control is typically very costly in the long term and can be somewhat ineffective if worn
or used improperly.

Examples:

Eye and face protection (goggles and masks)

Head protection (hard hats)

Foot and leg protection (foundry shoes)

Hand and arm protection (chemical-resistant gloves)

Body protection (hazmat suits)

Hearing protection (earplugs)