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Pumps Used for High-Rise Buildings: Understanding the Unique Needs of Tall Buildings

If you are the owner or property manager of a high-rise building in New York City, you are faced with some unique challenges when it comes to pumps used to keep things running smoothly. Let’s talk about the one-of-a-kind pumps used for high-rise buildings, particularly for water supply and fire safety. Understanding how tall buildings differ is essential to keeping tenants safe, avoiding city citations and fines, and eliminating headaches caused by equipment not operating correctly.

Two Key Issues with Tall Buildings

Water supply and safety

Tall buildings have one trait that causes concerns with two building systems: they are fighting the force of gravity. The force of gravity that naturally pushes items to the earth (remember Sir Isaac Newton’s discoveries?) works in opposition to the flow of fluids to the upper stories of tall buildings, especially high rises. The taller the building, the more the force of gravity needs to be overcome on the top floors.

What Constitutes a High-Rise Building?

The official classification

The term “high rise” isn’t merely a colorful term we throw around to describe really tall buildings in New York City, also known as skyscrapers. High-rise properties have an official classification by the city, which makes it clear which buildings need extra help when it comes to meeting building and safety codes.

If you own or care for a property with an occupied floor that is 75 feet or more above New York City Fire Department (NYFD) vehicle access, such as a ladder truck, you have a high-rise building. The measurement for this is always taken from the lowest side of the building – important to note if you have a building constructed on grade.

This means that most eight- or nine-story buildings in the city fall under the high-rise designation. That includes many residential properties, like hotels and apartment buildings, as well as office buildings.

Water Circulator Booster Pumps

No more pressure problems

All tall buildings, but especially high rises, are subject to water pressure problems. Usually, tenants will complain they have weak shower pressure, but you may also hear things like:

• It takes forever to run a bath.
• Water pressure in sinks is poor.
• Toilet flushes are weak, and it takes a long time for the tank to fill.
• Appliances that use water, such as clothes washers and dishwashers, take extra time to fill or don’t really get items as clean as they should.

When clients in tall buildings call us or our partners at Sanitary Plumbing about water pressure problems, we first try to rule out other causes of low pressure. Sometimes old pipes or showerheads can be clogged. Other times a circulator pump has been installed incorrectly or it’s too small for the demand placed on it.

However, usually the problem is that the current water circulator pump can’t overcome the force of gravity enough to provide adequate water. In that instance, a booster pump, or a series of booster pumps, is needed to ensure enough water reaches the upper floors. In fact, failing to provide sufficient pressure above 20 psi and ideally around 60 to 80 psi can be a violation of your tenants’ rights.

When adding booster pumps to the property, we first assess the needs of the building at peak flow times, e.g., in the morning before work and in the evening between dinner and sleep. This lets us calculate a peak flow rate in gallons per minute (gpm).

We then look at the height of the building and any friction that must be overcome to get water to reach its destination. Our experts use these figures to decide which booster pumps to use, where to place them, and how many you need. Your property may need a series of booster pumps to achieve optimum pressure.

Fire Suppression Pumps

Ensuring proper sprinkler flow

If a property has low water pressure problems, it is also usually at risk of not meeting safety codes for the fire suppression system. This means that in the event of a fire, sprinkler heads won’t have adequate water flow to extinguish flames, which puts tenants in harm’s way and your property at risk too. Fire truck ladders can only reach so far for hose work, leaving upper stories in peril and creating hazards for firefighters.

Many buildings in New York City have to undergo inspections for fire suppression systems. But high-rise buildings must be especially vigilant about passing sprinkler flow tests. Monthly checks of fire suppression equipment must be performed, as well as annual inspections of the sprinkler system. These annual tests are done by a licensed plumber or licensed fire suppression specialist.

When Is It Time to Call Antler Pumps About High-Rise Building Pump Issues?

Your experts for tall building pressure problems

• When you or your tenants observe poor water flow from taps or to appliances
• If you suddenly experience a drop in pressure
• When your existing pumps seem to be malfunctioning or making excess noise
• If your water or fire suppression pumps are near the end of their expected lifespan
• When it’s been a long time since your last pump routine maintenance call
• When you’re ready to upgrade your pumps to newer, more efficient models
• If you fail a visual check or sprinkler pressure inspection

Don’t wait until water pressure or fire safety issues get out of hand. Call Antler Pumps today at 212-534-2500 or use our easy online form to schedule an appointment.