Thermal, Acoustics and Lighting

Recommended Prerequisites

The pre-requisites of this course are those corresponding to the application for the MSc course CMM.

Teaching Methods

The teaching methods of lectures aim at the global learning of the discipline.

The lectures are supported in the literature and presentations, with the support of media. There is an opportunity to discuss the concepts and more difficult issues. Tutorial lessons (22.5 hours) will be to answer questions and to help in the final project.

Learning Outcomes

To evaluate the thermal and acoustic behaviour of buildings, in particular with steel-framed structure, and propose improvement measures.

Predicting the need for lighting in buildings depending on the type of use of space, select the most suitable and energy efficient system, taking advantage of natural daylighting.

Identify key parameters that characterize the air quality inside a building. Relate the need for ventilation with air quality and the thermal and acoustic behaviour of the building. Select from different techniques of ventilation (natural, mechanical and mixed) which one is most appropriate.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Thermal behaviour of steel buildings

   - The climate;

   - The building envelope;

   - The building services;

   - The building use;

   - Thermal bridges;

   - High thermal inertia vs. low thermal inertia;

   - Passive house characteristics;

   - Measures to improve the thermal behaviour of steel buildings.

2. Acouystic behaviour of steel buildings

   - Measures to improve air-borne sound insulation;

   - Measures to reduce structure-borne noise transmission;

   - Indoor acoustic conditioning.

3. Lighting systems

   - Strategies for natural day-lighting;

   - Techniques for artificial lighting.

4. Ventilation and indoor air quality

   - Natural, mixed and mechanical ventilation techniques;

   - Requirements of indoor air quality;

   - Maximum concentration of pollutants and microorganisms;

    - The importance of maintenance of HVAC systems.

Assessment Methods

Continuous
Project: 50.0%
Exam: 50.0%

Bibliography

Norbert Lechner, “Heating, Cooling, Lighting: Design Methods for Architects”, John Wiley & Sons, 2^nd Edition, 2001.

“Multi-storey buildings in steel: Thermal and acoustic insulation”, ECCS Book No104, European Convention for Constructional Steelwork, 2002.

“A luz certa em sua casa”, ADENE - Agência para a Energia com o apoio técnico do CPI - Centro Técnico de Iluminação, 2009.

Jennifer O’Connor et al., “Tips for daylighting with windows: The integrated approach”, LBNL-39945 Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 2008.