Level 3 Diploma Cold Water System Planning & Design | Revision Guide

Cold water systems in multistorey buildings can become complicated quickly — especially when mains pressure alone cannot provide the required flow and pressure at higher levels. In this Level 3 Diploma episode, Chris Bailey breaks down the planning and design of cold water systems and explains why boosting equipment is required in high-rise buildings and buildings constructed on high ground.

The episode works through the main boosting arrangements, including direct boosted systems, header pipe systems, indirect boosting through a low-level break system and automatic pneumatic systems. It then moves into the components and controls you'll encounter in larger installations, including pumps, flow switches, solenoid valves, transducers, temperature sensors, control boxes and accumulators.

Particular attention is given to accumulator operation and the calculations behind them. You'll work through pre-charge pressure, stored water volume, shower duration and refill time, alongside the principles behind Boyle's law and how compressed air helps maintain system pressure.

What you'll learn

• Understand why boosting equipment is required in multistorey and high-level buildings.
• Explain the purpose and operation of the main cold water boosting systems.
• Identify the components found within booster pump packages.
• Explain how flow switches, solenoid valves and transducers control system operation.
• Understand how break systems are designed to protect the incoming mains supply and prevent pump dry running.
• Calculate accumulator storage capacity, shower duration and refill times.
• Apply Boyle's law to the operation of accumulator vessels.
• Identify the design factors that need to be considered when selecting an accumulator.

Before moving on, have a go at the accumulator calculations yourself. Change the supply pressure, flow rate or stored volume and see whether you can work through the complete calculation without looking back at the episode.

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