Key Takeaways

• Electricity and plumbing can be incorporated into 3D printed houses in several ways during the design and printing process.
• Conduits and piping are often printed directly into the concrete walls and floors, then connected after printing is finished.
• Another option is leaving channels in the printed walls to run wires and pipes through later.
• For multi-story buildings, vertical shafts can be printed to carry utilities between floors.
• Smart design software and precise printing allow utilities to be seamlessly integrated into 3D printed houses.
• While technical challenges remain, electricity and plumbing can be added to printed homes to make them fully livable.

How Are Electricity and Plumbing Installed

A key question surrounding 3D printed homes is how essential utilities like electricity and plumbing can be integrated into printed structures. Early printed homes lacked connections, but advanced design software and printing techniques now allow utilities to be incorporated.

When printing the concrete walls, floors, and roofs layer-by-layer, the locations of electrical and plumbing systems can be strategically planned. Channels and conduits can be placed directly into the structure while printing to accommodate wiring and pipes.

Here are some key methods used to run electricity and plumbing within 3D printed dwellings:

Allowing Space For Conduits Directly During 3D Printing

The most seamless option is to actually leave space for hollow tubes and conduits in the concrete walls and floors that encapsulate electrical wires and plumbing pipes.

• Floor plan is digitally modeled with conduit locations specified.
• Print nozzle deposits the concrete and prints enclosed voids for conduits.
• Conduits provide easy access for running utilities after printing.
• Allows utilities to be embedded in walls without extra channels.

Pros: Excellent integration, minimal post-print labor needed.

Cons: Limited flexibility if changes needed later.

Carving Wall Channels For Utilities After Printing

An alternative is to make space for utilities once the concrete has cured:

• Channels are digitally modeled then printed into walls.
• Straight channels may run vertically or horizontally.
• Allows easy installation of wiring and pipes after printing.
• Channels can branch to reach outlets and fixtures.
• Utilities remain accessible for maintenance.

Pros: Flexible, utilities can be adjusted after printing.

Cons: More finishing work needed compared to conduits.

Table: Comparing Conduits vs. Channels for Utilities

Method	Integration	Flexibility	Labor
Space Left While Printing	Seamless	Low	Minimal after
Channels Carved After Printing	Moderate	High	More after

Printing Vertical Utility Shafts

For multi-story buildings, vertical shafts must be printed to run utilities between floors:

• Circular shafts printed from ground floor up through ceiling.
• Often located in central corridor or non-living spaces.
• Allows plumbing stacks and electrical risers to connect floors.
• Printed branches can connect shafts to room utilities.

Pros: Enables multi-floor utility distribution and access.

Cons: Layouts must accommodate vertical shafts.

Finishing Touches

Once major utilities are embedded, final connections are made:

• Wires and pipe sections added to complete circuits and supply lines.
• Outlets, switches and fixtures attached at access points.
• Walls smoothed and patched around ports.
• Meters, service panels and septic installed.

Integrating electrical and plumbing into printed buildings requires careful coordination during design and printing phases. When executed well, the result is homes with seamless internal utilities.

Researchers are also developing new techniques such as placing pipes during the printing process. Automated post-processing methods also show promise for faster installation.

Challenges With Printed House Utilities

However, some key challenges remain:

• Limited space within printed walls puts size constraints on conduit channels.
• Difficult to alter printed internal components later if layout changes needed.
• Tradespeople lack experience with printed homes’ unfamiliar methods.
• Meeting building codes requires oversight and special inspection.
• Multi-story buildings still require traditional vertical distribution and drainage.

Future Outlook

Advances in 3D printing will enable faster, cheaper, and more seamless integration of utilities:

• New conductive and insulated printing materials allow single-step installation.
• Hybrid printing with pre-fab modules streamlines plumbing and wiring.
• Sensors and AI can optimize utility routing and detect defects.
• Standardization will help meet building codes and quality standards.

Conclusion

In summary, 3D printing technology shows promising capabilities for effectively incorporating essential electrical and plumbing systems during construction. Homes with printed and embedded utilities are now providing comfortable, modern living. While still an emerging field, digitally designed and automated integration of utilities offers exciting potential to enable practical and affordable 3D printed homes.

References

• 3D printing for remote housing: Benefits and challenges – ScienceDirect
• Conventional Construction and 3D Printing: A Comparison Study on Material Cost in Jordan (hindawi.com)