The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-07
OFFICE BUILDINGS NEEDS.
Mechanical Installation and Man
agement the CHEZ Frnture

aS e n1enr the Chief Feature.
NEW YORK, oct Charles Warren
Hunt. Secretary Of the American Society
Of Civil Engineers, recently read a paper
on Mechanical Installation in the Mod
ern Office Building" by Charles G. Oar
rach, at the meeting Of the organization.
The paper was presented 10 the meeting
for discussion. Mr. Darrch said. among
other things:
The mechanical installation in the mod
ern Office building presents TO the engineer
a field for the best utilization Of his en-
ergies. The office building Of today con-
tains all the convenience. and necessities
Of a great city. the microcosm Of which
II is In addition 20 the engineering fea-
lures Of city, a denser population must
be provided for. and the varied interests
and convenienees Of each tenant must be
thoughfully studied in order TO make the
little city success.
In the general arrangement OF the an
paratus there must be considerable econo-
my Of space: comfort. safety and econo-
my IN operation. convenience in distribu-
ton. addptability TO modification. ease in
repairs and beauty Of design. and the ma
chlnery must be constructed At the least
cost, TO be operated at the minimum ex
pense.
As far as possible building shouId he
an individual depending upon no orber
public or private and it is possible 10 he
independent Of everything except primary
supplies and sewage disposal.
The necessities are heating and ventiIa-
ton. lighting. water supplies. sewage dis
posal, policing and fire protection. trans
portauon and communication with the
outside world. The source Of power al
Fr.r-. 81. -
can DC utilized for heating the building
after doing its work in the engines Tbe
boiler power required to heat under the
most severe conditions IS. except in some
very nigh buildings. generally sufficient
10 operate the machinery In PhiIaIeIr,bio
and New York the outside ternoaraf1Irs
rams below 40 degrees during 20 per cent
OF luc yearly cycle and TO make a build
ing comfortable II must be heated 10 20
degrees tahrenhelt from September ! TO
May J. The safety. cleanliness and ON
cheney or the electric lamp. added To the
case OF distribution and production i'm me
building. make II the cheapest form nj ar
ulclaI light The standard is the sixteen
candle power lnCandcSCent lamp which
Is Gsed IN GInceS. small rooms. narrow cor
HdorS ana IN places where IL Is desired
70 conceal the lamps. High and largo
Railways and offices are frequently Iighred
with the enclosed arc lamp
For general illumination i'm halls ex
cept where special effect is required one
sixteen candle power lamp viii serve from
200 20 loo cubic feet of space. or Win
the usual ceiling height. one l4mp for
80 20 100 square feet
In offices the number varies from gDa
sixteen candle power lamp for 20 square
feet OF floor space 70 one for 50 square
feet Of floor space. the average iQ W-rII
Illuminated buildings being one lamp for
30 10 % square feet
Outlets are distributed in the offices
so that lamps may be installed for gen
eral illumination. and socket connections
provided for desk lights and fans
The writer has found that ma hmm,
amount OF current used will vary from
50 10 80 per cent of the total Installation
including the engine and boiIer-room
lighting.
THE financial success Of the office
building depends largely upon the eco
monte management Of the mechanical
plant
To this end the necessary Instruments
for measuring fuel and water supplies for
indicating and recording the power pro
duced and utilized and for detecting de-
teCtS IN the apparatus must be furnished
The building should also have annie
storage for coal, ashes. and general sun
plies. and "a repair shop. equipped with
machine and hand tools. supplies of ma
that ordinary repairs can be made by the
employees
However perfect the installation. with
out proper management il will fail. sue
cess depends upon the operating engineer
who should be an educated engineer and
a cool executive, with ready wit willing
hand and untiring energy well a
competent mcChlnlC-the most important
machine in the installation.