In the design of a fountain, the technical compartment is an element of great importance, because it preserves and safeguards elements that are essential for the correct functioning of the fountain and therefore for its durability, such as the filtration and recirculation system, the panel for measurement and automatic balancing of Ph and Redox, the chemical products, and the electrical panel.
A technical compartment is in itself a space strictly necessary to contain systems serving the fountain or water garden. It can be placed both externally and internally in the reference building envelope and the typological characteristics regarding its use must be unequivocal. Taking into consideration the “technical compartment” category from the broadest point of view, two macro-categories emerge:
- underground technical compartment
- above ground technical compartment
When choosing one or the other type, there are many considerations, generally, we consider the context, the surrounding urban and landscape structure, the design of the project, and the final effect. In Forme d’Acqua projects the advice is always to create a technical room above ground, mainly to protect the safety of workers, as part of their duties, and of customers, in the context of full use of the fountain and spaces adjacent to it. An underground compartment is a confined environment (in Italy regulated by the Consolidated Safety Act or Legislative Decree 81/2008 and Presidential Decree 177/2011), where the performance of work tasks in total safety involves a series of important safety, emergency and operational procedures rescue, as well as a series of specific PPE. In a confined environment, the underestimation of risks, in addition to the lack of education and training and the non-use of adequate PPE, are the main causes of accidents at work. These phenomena do not happen often, however, with greater probability it is possible to encounter situations similar to this: the flooding of the underground technical room.
Extreme weather events, cloudbursts, and strong thunderstorms happen more and more frequently, due to climate change, and are increasingly faster and more violent. In addition to the environment, homes, roads, and businesses paying the price, the technical spaces also suffer, where the bilge pumps, although active and functioning well, are unable to cope with the power of certain storms and are flooded.
To reduce the severity and number of such phenomena – both environmental and accident-related – a valid alternative is the choice of an above-ground technical compartment. This type of compartment appears as a sort of wardrobe, equipped with two or more front doors, depending on the specifics of the project, where the technical parts are housed, thus, not being a confined environment, in the event of the exhalation of toxic fumes ( possible if an operator mistakenly puts acid in the chlorine tank or vice versa), the risk of intoxication is drastically reduced compared to what would happen in an underground technical compartment.
The peculiarity of the above-ground technical rooms is that they are “out in the open”, which might lead one to think that they are subject to overheating. However, this does not happen because they are effectively insulated and ventilated structures, thanks to the front slits which allow correct and continuous air recirculation. As regards the electrical panel, it must be housed in a separate compartment from that containing the pumps and chemical products. In projects located in areas characterized by particularly torrid climates during certain periods of the year, a mechanical ventilation system (aspiration and extraction) is installed inside the electrical panel. This system distributes the cool air more evenly, improving thermal comfort and reducing the risk of damage to electrical components due to excess humidity or heat.
We usually work on underground technical spaces in restoration projects, especially when it comes to ancient or historic fountains. We take care of the implementation of existing systems and adaptation to current regulations, improving energy efficiency and preserving the original structures without altering the aesthetics of the historic building. For this reason, our staff is adequately trained and equipped with the personal protective equipment necessary to carry out their work safely. A valid alternative solution to the underground technical spaces is the technical spaces located on level -1 (such as the underground car parks), which are functional and strategic, being actual rooms built below ground level. In this case, the surrounding soil provides excellent natural insulation, maintaining more stable temperatures and reducing the need for heating or cooling. Furthermore, these rooms are less exposed to extreme weather phenomena such as storms, storms, or hail. The technical systems located in the basement floors are easily accessible for maintenance and repairs, improving operational efficiency.
A great advantage of the above-ground technical compartment, which makes the difference from an aesthetic point of view, is its full customization: shape and colours follow the project as a whole, so much so that – once sized to correctly contain the technical parts – where you can indulge yourself to make it harmonious with the overall design, or to insert it into the complex without highlighting it too much. Its structure is usually made of AISI 316L steel in the areas close to the sea (because it is more resistant to salty air, so much so that it is defined as “marine steel”), while in the rest of the cases you can opt for AISI 304, a steel equally high-quality stainless steel, but less resistant to corrosion. Internally the compartment is covered in aluminium, which is used to attach the control units, panels, and various technical elements, so as not to alter the aesthetic value of the compartment.
When we propose an above-ground technical compartment, we are above all offering a safe way to proceed with the execution of the works: to create an underground technical compartment you need to dig about 3 meters deep and this is not always possible or easy in a country like Italy, which is synonymous with cultural heritage! The discovery of archaeological assets, during the realization of construction works, is a well-known matter for companies operating on Italian soil, because it usually involves a suspension of the execution of the works for a time, which translates into an inevitable delay in delivery jobs. Of course, to avoid this you can always request the preventive verification procedure of the archaeological interest, developed by archaeology companies in charge of archaeological investigations or excavations, but it involves an additional cost (and time). With the above-ground compartment these problems do not arise, because, in the absence of adequate flooring, it is sufficient to create a foundation of only 20 cm, burying only about 10 centimetres.
Other elements to take into consideration during the excavation phase are the various pipes for conduits (water, electricity, gas) and the presence of superficial aquifers. The latter represents a critical factor in the management of underground technical spaces, requiring preventive and management measures to guarantee the safety, reliability, and durability of the technical equipment. Surface aquifers are the main cause of water infiltration, increasing the risk of flooding and excess humidity, which can encourage corrosion of materials, reducing their lifespan and increasing the need for maintenance.
The leakage of water into an underground compartment could damage the electrical and mechanical parts, creating a dangerous situation, since the immersed electrical parts would prevent technicians from entering the room safely. Furthermore, even under normal conditions, access to an underground technical compartment requires the use of specific PPE and tools to facilitate inspection, ensuring the safety and accessibility of the environment. Maintenance operations are therefore more complicated: while in an above-ground technical compartment, it is sufficient to open the doors and wear the PPE necessary for the work to be carried out (such as topping up acid and chlorine, cleaning the filters, etc.), in an underground one it is necessary to train and train staff with a course for “work in confined spaces”. Thanks to this course, technicians learn the procedures for assessing the risk of entry into confined spaces and the use of all the equipment necessary for safety and monitoring.
In conclusion, the choice of the technical compartment plays a fundamental role in the design and maintenance of fountains and water gardens. Opting for an above-ground technical room often proves to be the safest and most practical solution, significantly reducing the risks to the health and safety of workers and users, and simplifying maintenance operations. Furthermore, the possibility of aesthetic customization and ease of access and management make the above-ground technical spaces an advantageous choice also from a design and functional point of view. In a context like the Italian one, rich in cultural heritage and characterized by archaeological and geological constraints, the preference for above-ground technical spaces represents a strategic decision that guarantees the sustainability and efficiency of the works in the long term.
