Building and Architectural Science

At the end of this course, the students should be able to: 1. explain thermal comfort in buildings; 2. explain transmission and vibration in buildings; 3. identify and apply acoustic materials in buildings; 4. calculate reverberation time; and 5. carry out simple lighting design in buildings.

Introduction to building physics, thermal comfort, lighting, acoustics, heat transfer in buildings. Acoustics: nature of sound, sound pressure, intensity and power; the Decibel; Sound level meter and weighting scales; Transmission of sound and vibration in buildings; Transmission loss, Maximum acceptable noise levels; Means of noise and sound insulation; Room Acoustics – Room Acoustics criteria, acoustics principles, Geometric design techniques; Sound absorbents – Case studies of some acoustical buildings, Types of auditorium; Noise – Effects, noise limiting curves, hearing risk, construction site noise, noise control; Reflection, types of reflectors; panel, curve; echoes, Absorption, absorption coefficient, types of absorbers; porous, panel, cavity; Reverberation, reverberation time, calculation of reverberation time. Light: Nature of light, Electromagnetic radiation, Elementary Physiology of the eye, accommodation, adaptation, colour sensitivity; Basic units of measurement – luminous flux, solid angle, luminous intensity, luminance; Behaviour of light on surfaces; Introduction to main criteria in lighting design – acuity, glare, modelling appearance and costs.