11.3.18 Services
Internal services shall comply with the Technical Requirements and be in accordance with statutory requirements. Issues to be taken into account include:
- installation
- recording of factory testing and commissioning
- access for site connections, inspections, and commissioning.
All service installations should be designed and installed in accordance with Part 8 Services.
The design and System Manual should clearly define:
- how design, manufacturing and installation tolerances are accommodated
- which services are factory installed and which are site installed
- designer responsibilities for factory installed and site installed elements and overall coordination.
Service mains and service outlets should be:
- designed to ensure the fire resistance of walls and floors is not impaired
- designed to ensure that the required sound insulation of walls and floors is maintained
- installed in accordance with the design
- on the warm side of the insulation
- designed to accommodate differential movement where required.
Careful positioning of service pop-ups and entry points is required to align with service entry points and factory installed services to volumetric units. A pre-installation survey should be undertaken prior to installation of units.
11.3.18.1 Installation
Prefabricated wiring systems should be tested and installed in accordance with BS 8488. The manufacturer should provide details of whether any or all of the connectors within the prefabricated wiring system should be accessible for inspection, testing and maintenance.
Timber frame walls and floors
Services installed in volumetric units with timber frame walls and floors should be in accordance with Chapter 6.2 External timber frame walls and Chapter 6.4 Timber and concrete upper floors.
Light steel frame walls and floors
Services installed in volumetric units with light steel frame walls and floors should be in accordance with Clause 6.10.22.
11.3.18.2 Factory testing and commissioning
The method of testing and commissioning of factory installed services should be detailed in the System Manual.
Pressure testing of factory installed water supply, gas supply, heating and waste pipework should be undertaken where practicable. Exposed ends of all pipework should be sealed to prevent contamination and protected to prevent damage.
Appropriate performance and safety testing should be undertaken to factory installed prefabricated wiring systems in accordance with BS 8488.
Written records should be provided for testing undertaken to factory installed services and included in system verification documentation.
11.3.18.3 Access
Where access is required to connect service mains through walls or floors, a suitable method should be detailed in the System Manual for making good the access point in accordance with the design to maintain the fire, sound, air, thermal, and moisture resistance of the structure.
Consideration should be given to:
- providing adequately located and sized access points to install, test and commission service connections on site
- provision of suitable information in the handover file where access points are to be permanently sealed (such as behind a tiled wall), to allow future users access in the event of a fault or for routine maintenance.
Consideration should be given to providing access for inspection or maintenance or a leak detection system where concealed riser voids contain water supply pipework.
Last updated: 2nd January 2025