Submission Format:

Unit Learning Outcomes:

  4. Evaluate the performance of a given building in respect of its human comfort requirements.

Assignment Brief and Guidance:

The college is looking to build a new three storey building. On the ground floor there is to be a reception area, a large room which can be used as a lecture theatre / conference room or similar use and offices. On the upper floors there will be class rooms, IT rooms and staff rooms. Each floor will have male, female and accessible toilet facilities.

The building will be a steel frame with non-load bearing infill panels on the north, east and west elevations.  The south facing elevation will be curtain walling with photovoltaic panels.

Task 1

1. With regard to the human comfort requirements for the building define the material selection strategy you would recommend in respect to the non-load bearing infill panels.

2. The infill panels for the external walls are to meet or exceed the current U value requirement.  Identify the materials which you are recommending for the wall and explain how they will contribute to a balanced indoor environment.

Task 2

The large room which can be used as a lecture theatre / conference room can be divided up using folding partitions.  When it is opened up to its full size it will measure 30m x 15m x 3.5m. It is made up of the following material surfaces:

Shading of the floor due to the seating and audience at 500Hz is 40%.

i.Calculate the total absorption at 500Hz.

ii.Calculate the reverberation time at 500Hz.

iii.Calculate the amount of extra absorption needed to achieve the optimum reverberation time for speech at 500Hz

The proposed lighting for the lecture theatre is to be provided by 80w fluorescent lamps (giving out 63 lm/w).  They are to be fixed in recessed luminaires at ceiling level. The proposed lamp fittings have a DLOR of 50%. The reflectance of the ceiling is 0.3 and the wall is 0.3. Light loss factor is 0.75.

4. Calculate the number of lamps required to give an illuminance level of 500 lux at floor level.

5. Suggest a layout for the luminaires

6. For one of the external non-load bearing panels show the U value calculations which demonstrates that the wall meets the requirements as set out in the Building Regulations. 

The male toilets on the upper floors measure 3m x 3m x 2.6m and there are two WC’s in each toiletand the ventilation is to be provided by a means of rapid mechanical extraction.

7. Calculate the number of air changes per hour.

8. Calculate the ventilation heat loss from the toilet.

Task 3

In the pursuit of a sustainable building the design team strive to minimise the use of energy, materials, water, and land.  Evaluate how the use of passive or active strategies can achieve this.