Emerging Plumbing Design & Engineering Topics for 2017

Plumbing design and engineering professionals face a variety of emerging challenges in the coming year. The unique demands of industrial facilities, manufacturing plants and cleanrooms present an ever-growing need to develop adaptive solutions that meet the needs of stakeholders.

For 2017 and beyond, the DesignTek Engineering team has identified three emerging plumbing design trends that will significantly affect the future success of our industry.

Plumbing Design Inspired by Biospheric Principles Earth’s natural filtration and recycling systems inspired the Romans in their construction of the aqueducts. Today, industry experts are calling for engineers to recall the methodological efficiency of nature for the future of commercial and industrial plumbing technology.

As water conservation and environmental protection become more compelling, frequently by way of building codes and statutes, plumbing engineers and design professionals are urged to take more inspiration from nature and less from technology.

Nature’s systems, when undisturbed by mankind, represent true sustainability and efficiency. Scientists believe that using ideas based on natural systems holds great promise for the future of plumbing engineering and design.

Plumbing Design to Accommodate Peak Usage Cycles As new high-capacity facilities — such as sports stadiums — near completion, construction managers frequently recruit members of the community to participate in “flush-offs.” These tests, requiring hundreds (or thousands) of participants to simultaneously flush all of the facility’s toilets and urinals, are designed to ensure that the plumbing design is capable of handing peak usage cycles.

Imagine what might happen if the test pushed the system beyond its capabilities. Building systems must be sufficient to handle the facility’s potential use. Learning about design flaws late in the game can be expensive. In 2017 and beyond, plumbing design and engineering must pass stress testing before construction, not after. This is especially true for cleanrooms and other high-stakes industrial facilities.

Specialty Plumbing Design for Wastewater Separation As the water use requirements of cleanrooms and large industrial facilities grow, so do the challenges of wastewater processing. At the same time, legislative requirements for reducing water use and eliminating toxic effluent are increasing exponentially. Plumbing design engineers must adapt and develop innovative systems to clean and reuse wastewater resulting from industrial processes.

Separation technologies and containment systems can better allow building systems to process wastewater in accordance with its contaminants. Plumbing engineers must coordinate with project owners, users and regulatory agencies to identify design principles that will ensure efficient operation while minimizing costs and ensuring the safety of facility staff as well as the public and the environment.

The experienced engineers and industrial design professionals of DesignTek Consulting Group LLC are on the forefront of emerging technologies in industrial and cleanroom design and construction. Contact us today to learn more about how emerging plumbing design technologies can improve your facility’s production and cost efficacy.