CE2BES1-Building Environment Systems

Module Provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Zhiwen Luo
Email: z.luo@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
This module builds on the Part 1 modules Construction Technology CE1CCT, Construction Science CE1CCS and Empirical Studies CE1CES. It provides insight into environmental performance of buildings in general and their environmental systems. The module is closely linked to the Projects contained within module CE2CPR. This integrated approach enables the theories and concepts learnt in CE1CCT, CE1CCS and CE1CES to be applied, thus helping to reinforce knowledge, understanding and to develop critical analysis.

Aims:

Assessable learning outcomes:

Students will be able to:Ìý

• Understand the relationship among climate, urban climate and buildings.


• Understand passive environmental design and its relation to climate – appreciate the architectural design implication.


• Understand thermal comfort and indoor air quality.


• Examine the integration of environmental systems – heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, electric lighting, power, BEMS and IT, acoustics, water supply, drainage, active and passive fire safety provision systems,


• Understand the concept and integration of renewable energy systems for buildings and communities.


• Outline active and passive fire safety provision.

Additional outcomes:

• Apply a range of environmental systems principles to related team-based project work.


• Use relevant electronic databases and web resources to widen learning


• Evaluate current construction practices, issues and trends


• Apply principles to the oral and graphical communication skills required in project work

Outline content:

• Climate, urban and buildings.


• Passive urban and building environmental design.


• Human well-being, comfort and air quality.


• Heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems.


• Building and community renewable energy systems.


• Lighting and acoustics.


• Electrical power and IT systems.


• Water supply and drainage.


• Fire safety - passive and active methods of protection.


• Regulations and Standards that apply to environmental systems.

Global context:
The module draws directly from a wide range of internationally defined design methods and concepts of environmental systems, providing a global context to the module.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Lectures, tutorials and guided private study.