First Rate Facilities Attract Top Firms

Centrally Controlled Water and
Electricity Complete Security Management

The Ministry of the Interior's Building Research Institute presented three categories of awards, including the Building Exterior Energy-Saving Design Award, Building Control System Energy-Saving Award and Special Technology Award (this award includes the utilization of ice thermal storage systems and solar-powered water heating systems). The International Trade Building received awards in all three categories, demonstrating excellence in energy-saving efficiency.

The reasons given by the Building Research Institute for the awards included: vertically hung sunlight protection of up to 75cm and overall excellence in sunlight protection design; the use of double-layer heat-absorbent glass, each layer 8mm thick, offering excellent insulation properties; a suitable window-to-wall ratio of 28 percent, with appropriate placement of windows; the use of an ice thermal control system to significantly reduce temperatures of heat-radiating equipment, while lowering the main cooling tower capacity by 40 percent, compared to traditional control systems.


The ITB's automated control equipment system is provided by the BAS Central Control System, controlling the building's electricity, water, air conditioning, and elevators. The most special quality of the ITB's anti-emergency system is its automatic smoke and heat detection capacity and a water sprinkler system that prevents the spread of fires..


The built-in electrical and power supply equipment have the capability to meet different levels of dynamic power demand. Two emergency generators are on standby and are switched on automatically in the event of an electricity outage. Each unit in the building is equipped with an electricity consumption meter with the information relayed directly to the central computer for storage.


A water tank with a capacity of 300 tons is located in the basement. Water from the tank is pumped separately to the three-section tanks on the rooftop and 25th floors. Rain, waste and polluted water flow separately to ground level and are then discharged into the sewage system.


The building's structure and furnishings incorporate non-flammable and fire-retarding materials to reduce the possibility of fire. In addition, a smoke detection system is installed, along with an automatic sprinkler system, foam and Halon 1301 automatic extinguishing system, gas leakage cut-off system and building alarm, all of which are effective in putting out fires and ensuring the protection of life and property.


The entire building is under a central control system that can regulate the interior environment. The emergency ventilation room has intake and exhaust ports. In the event of fire, the ventilation room can decrease the amount of air going to the floor where a fire breaks out, thereby slowing its spread. It also keeps the stairs and emergency elevator free of smoke and heat.


The building is equipped with 15 high-speed passenger elevators serving the lower, middle and upper stories of the building. In addition, there are two elevators for freight and emergency use and two parking lot elevators, making a total of 19 elevators that may be used to reach the different floors in the building.

All elevators are monitored by a central surveillance system and each elevator has an emergency voice communications system and CCTV camera system. The computerized monitoring system is versatile enough to handle a range of routine and special situations, including VIP security, anti -theft, fire fighting and other functions.