Service mains through the basements

The practical nature of much research work in some countries is illustrated by this report from the Civil Engineering Institute of the Bauakademie of the German Democratic Republic. It describes how the crucial installation of mains supplies in urban rehabilitation ‐ for district heating, water supply, electricity, telephones ‐ is achieved by forming a continuous ‘tunnel’ through the basements or cellars of old terraced buildings, and running the new supply networks in specially constructed service ducts, thus avoiding costly and complex road works.