A method and system for the distribution of water in a high rise building
is provided using a minimum number of piping risers. The system has a
domestic cold water riser, and a domestic hot water supply riser and a
return riser. At each serviced floor, a cold water supply main extends
from the domestic cold water riser and a hot water supply main extends
from the domestic hot water supply riser. On each floor at which riser
pressure is higher than domestic use pressures, a valve reduces the
pressure of the entire cold water supply main to domestic use pressures.
One or more valves at each of one or more suites on the floor reduce the
pressure of the hot water to each suite, leaving the hot water supply
main for the floor at full riser pressure. Coupling fan-coils with
chilled water supply and the full pressure domestic hot water provides an
efficient piping system for both environmental controls and domestic hot
water use. Regular and periodic circulation through fan-coils avoid
stagnation of the domestic hot water supply.