When we look at a building and address Base Building works, various items can be assessed. Base building infrastructure is often referred to as a key element that allows the building to function normally.
Items that may qualify for the ARCHI Incentive Schemes grants for base building works could be some of the following (subject to investigations and approvals):
Sewer pipe work upgrades
Many of the older buildings in Adelaide and North Adelaide were built with cast iron drains, and some with copper and brass. Over time (some more than 100 years old), these pipes have deteriorated and need replacement.
The sewer pipes play a key role in the functioning of a building’s daily operations, and without them working efficiently, the building cannot operate.
Pumps
Many of the buildings in the city will have some form of pump to help the transportation of fluids around and out of the building. The type of pump could be a circulation pump for hot water, a sewer macerating pump to remove waste from below street level or a jacking pump to move potable water to the upper levels of a multi-storey building.
Without these pumps working, the base building cannot operate to the current codes and standards.
Electrical
With an ever-changing landscape of what is better, gas or electricity, the need to have compliant and cabling that can handle demands placed upon it from hot water systems, induction cook tops, and inverter split systems.
Protecting consumers from electrical shock and appliances from surging, the need for up-to-date electrical infrastructure is another key factor in operating a building that could be adapted to the ARCHI Incentive Schemes for re-use into residential premises.
Heating and Cooling
Although many of the buildings that were built many years ago in North Adelaide and the city itself had very thick walls and kept a fairly consistent temperature year round the need to be able to heat and cool individual tenancies with the re-use scheme is important. Each building is different; some will have a central plant room, and others will have individual heaters and air conditioners for each apartment. Once again, regardless of the setup up these parts of the base building are required to be operating at an adequate standard for human occupancy.
Potable water services
Commonly used in these older buildings were copper, steel and brass to transport the water throughout the property’s various levels and rooms. Copper does not have an infinite operating life and will, over time, develop leaks and break down.
It is with this today we see the introduction of new systems in the plumbing market, such as Trade Pex and Rehau, when upgrading the copper and brass water lines. With a focus on costs today, these newer products are specified favourably as the ability to retrofit them into existing buildings is easier, as the product is flexible and far cheaper to supply and install. But like all parts, we have discussed equally as important for a building to operate seamlessly.