Course syllabus

Course memo

Published 2023-10-16

BOM285 Building performance: Design and assessment Sp2 2023/2024 (7.5 hp)

Course is offered by the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering

Contact details

Examiner: Pär Johansson (theme 0, 2, 3, 5), par.johansson@chalmers.se

Theme teachers:

• Toivo Säwén (0, 1, 4, 5), sawen@chalmers.se
• Ali Naman Karim (0, 3, 5), ali.karim@chalmers.se
• Fredrik Domhagen (0, 5), fredrik.domhagen@chalmers.se
• Magnus Heier (1), magnus.heier@equa.se
• Martina Stockhaus (2), martina.stockhaus@pe.se
• Josef Johnsson (3), josef.johnsson@skanska.se
• Oscar Eriksson (3), oscar.eriksson@skanska.se
• Despoina Teli (4), teli@chalmers.se
• Lars Ekberg (4), lars.ekberg@chalmers.se

Study administrator: Ingela Gustafsson, Ingela.gustafson@chalmers.se

Guest lectures: Anders Ekberg, Sweco; Anders Lindvall, Thomas Concrete Group; Jimmy Lovén, VBK; Kristina Mjörnell, RISE; Magnus Heier, EQUA AB; Fredrik Rosenhall, Inobi

Student representatives

Jakob Engström, jakeng1231@gmail.com
Mohammed Hadrous, hamodi.hadrous@live.se
Ingolfur Hannesson, hannesson22@gmail.com
Wilma Hultgren, wilmahultgren@hotmail.se
Simon Jobäck, simon.joback@gmail.com

Start-up meeting: 2023-11-01, at 12-13 in SB-K496

Mid-course meeting: 2023-11-29, at 12-13 in SB-K496

Final meeting: Sp3, tba

Course purpose

The aim of the course is to provide in-depth knowledge on building physics performance criteria (mainly daylight, durability, indoor air quality and thermal comfort) and what is required to fulfill them. The course also provides a basic overview of various engineering roles and their impact on how the functional requirements are met throughout the construction process (including moisture safe design, operation and evaluation) and on the choice of materials and designs that are made. Furthermore, an orientation is given about requirements and recommendations in norms and standards for the various engineering roles. 

Schedule

Detailed schedule

TimeEdit

Course literature

Introduction to Building Physics, Carl-Eric Hagentoft, 2001 (Store and online).

Climate and Architecture, Torben Dahl, 2008.

Both books are available printed at the library and at bookstores, most of the required pages are provided through Canvas (as many as we are allowed to copy).

Additional literature is provided on Canvas. For the fundamentals, you can use your own course books on heat and mass transfer, building physics, physics, etc.

Course design

The course is divided into five focus areas or themes:

Theme 0. Introduction and fundamentals

Theme 1. Daylight and windows

Theme 2. Climate and building design

Theme 3. Moisture safety and durability assessment

Theme 4. Indoor air quality

Theme 5. Holistic approach

Within each theme there are lectures, exercises, study questions, mandatory weekly assignments (project part 4.5 c) and one of the following: computer lab/home lab/discussion/presentation exercise. The course ends with a written exam (examination part 3.0 c).

You will meet the teachers at least twice a week. This is the best time to ask questions. You may also use e-mail. For e-mail addresses see Contact details.

Course material is provided through Canvas, which is also used to hand in the assignments. TimeEdit is used for location and time. The document “Course content” is a framework that describes the activities in the course.

Changes made since the last occasion

The assignment instructions have been revised.

The written reporting has been reduced by introducing submission templates.

Learning objectives and syllabus

Learning objectives:

• Determine heat and moisture conditions in air, materials and building components at varying boundary conditions in different climates.
• Select and apply relevant models, input data, and measuring techniques to determine heat and moisture conditions in air, materials and building components.
• Understand the impact of changes in the building envelope on indoor environmental qualities, such as daylight, thermal comfort (incl. thermal storage), moisture safety and indoor air quality.
• Evaluate characteristics of different materials, and material combinations' suitability, with respect to heat and moisture exposure, including the effect of degradation processes and impact on indoor air quality.
• Motivate the selection of materials and models by critically evaluating and summarizing the work process in both written and oral presentations.
• Reflect upon ethical dilemmas, including sustainable development, with respect to a building's performance.

Link to the syllabus on Student portal: Study plan

Examination form

The project part (4.5 c) is examined by weekly assignments (hand-in on Thursdays at 12.00) and by two discussion exercises. One is mandatory on November 31 and one is semi-mandatory on December 11.

In case of major difficulties to attend the mandatory discussion (i.e. surgery, wedding), contact Pär Johansson so that the discussion can take place in advance. In case of emergency/illness, contact Pär Johansson via e-mail ASAP. Regarding the semi-mandatory discussion, I strongly recommend participation, but it is possible to hand in an essay instead (1000-1200 words).

The written examination (3.0 c) takes place on January 8, 2024.  Approved aid during the exam is Chalmers approved calculator. Equations (as shown on Canvas under page Equations and examples of previous exams) and all needed material data are provided with the exam. It is mandatory to sign up for the exam, see information here.

Cheating is defined as ‘trying to mislead in an examination or other assessment’. Examples of cheating is to copy text from the internet, hand in another person’s work under your own name, and to use unauthorized means during exams. Cheating can result in, for example, suspension. Suspected cheating is reported to the Chalmers' Disciplinary Committee and handled by them. For more information, see here

Mandatory assignments

Deadline for handing in written assignments are Thursdays at 12.00 (except at 17.00 for assignment 3b) (see dates below). Assignments are to be handed in through Canvas assignment. Feedback on the assignments is received at noon Wednesday, two weeks after the latest.

Theme 0. Fundamentals exercises and building description (Nov 2). Feedback Nov 15.

Theme 1. Computer lab and hand-in (Nov 9). Feedback Nov. 22.

Theme 2. Computer lab and hand-in (Nov 16). Feedback Nov. 29.

Theme 3a. Computer lab and hand-in (Nov 23). Feedback Dec. 6.

Theme 3b. Presentation/discussion exercise and hand-in (Nov 31)

Theme 4. Home lab and hand-in (Dec 7). Feedback Dec. 20.

Theme 5. Discussion exercise (or essay) and hand-in (Dec 14)

 

It is mandatory to be present at the presentation and discussion of theme 3b (Nov 31) and semi-mandatory to be present at the discussion of theme 5 (Dec 11), see Examination above.

The work and hand-ins are usually made in groups of three students, except for the Repetitions hand-in (theme 0) and the final hand-in (theme 5) which are individual. The ethics task is part of the MPSEB programme syllabus after one full semester.

The assignments are graded U (fail) or G (pass). In case of not approved assignment, corrections should be handed in by December 13 to get grading before the exam.

If an assignment is not handed in on time, the next chance is one week before the written exam in April (April 4).