Lesson 1.1 Building - CEng 133 Building Systems Design PDF

CEng 133 – Building Systems Design Lesson 1.1. BUILDING LESSON SUMMARY This lesson discusses in detail the reason why we create buildings. It tackles the criteria for the evaluation of a building’s performance from the perspective of the user safety, comfort, c...

CEng 133 – Building Systems Design Lesson 1.1. BUILDING LESSON SUMMARY This lesson discusses in detail the reason why we create buildings. It tackles the criteria for the evaluation of a building’s performance from the perspective of the user safety, comfort, convenience, effects towards them, and the economic aspect of the process of materializing a building. BUILDING DEFINITION When we use the term “Building”, are we referring to “Building as An Act” or “Building as A Physical Manifestation”? To understand it better, let us differentiate the two. Building as An Act refers to the process of making something, commonly referred to as Construction; whereas Building as A Physical Manifestation refers to the output of a process that involved planning and formulating designs and manifesting them through construction. For the intents and purposes of this course, when we use the term “building”, it will refer to “Building as a Physical Manifestation” and will use the term “construction” when we refer to “Building as an Act.” To standardize our understanding of the definition of the building let us first look at some accepted definition of a building from different authors. A relatively permanent enclosed structure Francis D.K. Ching constructed over a plot of land for habitable (2012) use. Any permanent structure which provides Davies & Jokineimi shelter, encloses space and can be (2008) occupied by people, animal, goods or service. A more or less enclosed and permanent Cyril M. Harris structure for housing, commerce, industry, (2006) etc., distinguished from mobile structures and those not intended for occupancy. A three-dimensional physical development DPWH, NBCP erected within a lot or property or any (2004) combination of or all of its three different levels (at grade, below grade, above grade). From the various presented definitions and taking their important points we can then conclude that as building is “A structure which provides shelter and protection for various occupancies which include people, animals, goods, and services.” After defining a building, next we need to know what criteria is used to determine a good building. 1|Page  CEng 133 – Building Systems Design Lesson 1.1. Building BUILDING PERFORMANCE Expanding on the previous definition of the building that it serves to protect and shelter an occupancy; a building is also required to serve a function to its utmost performance. The buildings function can be checked by assessing three main performances, namely, (A.) Physical, (B.) Social, and (C.) Economic Performances. A. Physical Performance Refers to the building performance that secure the safety, comfort, and convenience of the users. This ranges from the simple sizing of elements in a room to prevention or mitigation of man-made disasters. a. Ergonomic Performance Refers to the dimension or measurement of spaces in relation to human scale (Anthropometrics). This usually asks the questions: 1. Are the spaces scaled with respect to human scale? 2. Will the users be able to utilize the elements found in the space? and 3. Are the elements positioned in such a way that they will not disrupt functionality of the space or are hazards to the users? b. Spatial Relation Performance Refers to the inter-relationship of spaces within and outside of the building. This usually asks the questions: 1. How are the spaces positioned relative to each other? 2. How are the spaces positioned relative to the site features? and 3. Are the spaces positioned in the most efficient way? c. User Comfort Performance Refers to the ability of the building to provide amenities or control factors that may affect the physiological comfort of the user. Amenities or control factors may include: 1. Ease and Convenience Refers to the positioning of doors, stairs, outlets, switches, and other elements that provide ease and convenience to the users. 2. Illumination Control Refers to controlling of the amount of light within or entering the space via the use of Lighting techniques and equipment. 3. Thermal Comfort Refers to controlling of the temperature within the space via the use of Thermal Controlling techniques and equipment 2|Page  CEng 133 – Building Systems Design Lesson 1.1. Building 4. Moisture Control Refers to controlling of the humidity within the space via the use of Moisture Controlling techniques and equipment 5. Noise Control refers to controlling of the noise within and entering the space via the use of Noise Controlling techniques and equipment d. Aesthetic Performance Refers to the effect of the building to the visual preferences of the users as well as the community at large. 1. Building Identity Refers to how a building will be identified visually. It could be Stylistic and/or Thematic in nature. 2. Form, Massing, Colors, Patterns, Textures, and Details i Form and Massing – refer to the general shape of the building ii Colors, Patterns, and Textures – refer to the material preferences and how they contribute to the overall aesthetic of the building. iii Details – refers to the elements that add to the overall beauty of the building 3. Relationship between Building and its Site Refers to aesthetic relationship between the building the immediate site as well as to its surrounding sites. This usually asks the questions: i Is the building fit to the site? and ii Does the new building blend well with the existing buildings found around it? 4. Psychological Impact Refers to the aesthetic quality of the building, more specifically the space inside, whether it is conducive for performing tasks it was design for. e. Structural Safety Performance Refers to the ability of the building to stand and withstand external forces. This usually asks the following questions: 1. Is the building self-supporting? Specifically: i Will each element be able to carry its own weight? ii Will the elements be able to carry the weight of the other elements? iii Will the connection between elements hold together under the weight? 3|Page  CEng 133 – Building Systems Design Lesson 1.1. Building 2. Is the building stable to the site? Specifically: i Will the site be able to carry the load of the building? ii Will the building not settle on the site? If it does, will it settle differentially? 3. Will the building support against natural elements? Specifically: i Will the building be able to support against natural conditions? ii Will the building be able to resist natural disasters? f. Fire Safety and Prevention Refers to the ability of the building to prevent the development of fire, and, in the event of fire, control the propagation of fire and protect the users. These are usually achieved by checking: 1. Fire Rating and Resistance of Materials used 2. Inclusion and positioning of building elements that prevent propagation of fire 3. Availability and Positioning of Passive and Active Fire Suppression and Fighting System; and 4. Accessibility of BFP Fire Trucks to the Site during a fire. B. Social Performance Refers to the building performance that ensures the minimal negative impact to society at large. a. Social Impact Refers to the design that caters to the needs of the general society regardless of the users walk in life. 1. Accessibility Refers to the ability of the building to serve the less abled members of society. This includes access, comfort, and convenience of these users. 2. Sensitivity Refers to the features of the building that protect the user’s identity when sensitivity is necessary. 3. Human Rights Refers to the features of the building that continuously protect the human right of the users. 4|Page  CEng 133 – Building Systems Design Lesson 1.1. Building b. Impact to Neighborhood Refers to the physical features of a building that lessens the negative impact to the neighborhood 1. Environmental Impact Refers to the effect of the building design to the environment. This includes the potential effect of the systems used inside the building. 2. Traffic Impact Refers to the effect of the building design to the immediate traffic. This includes assessing whether the building will add to increasing traffic problems or aid in the relief of traffic congestions. 3. Cultural/Heritage Impact Refers to the effect of the building design to the immediate heritage and culture. This includes the buildings contribution to the enhancement of the local, regional, and national heritage in the future. C. Economic Performance (Life-Cycle Cost) Refers to the building performance that assesses the cost of the building from inception to demolition. This is done to make sure that the investment of the users is protected and secured. Included in the assessment are the following: a. Initial Cost Refers to the cost required to complete the building. 1. Feasibility Cost Refers to the cost required to check whether a building is justifiable and will be able to achieve a reasonable time of Return of Investments (ROI). 2. Design Cost Refers to the cost required to hire professionals for the formulation of a building design. 3. Construction Cost Refers to the cost used manifest the building design. i Construction Cost – refers to the cost required to construct the building which includes Material, Labor, and Equipment Cost as well as Operation and Administration Cost. ii Quality Control Personnel Cost – refers to the cost required to control the quality of the output of the construction. 5|Page  CEng 133 – Building Systems Design Lesson 1.1. Building b. Maintenance and Operation Cost Cost required to operate and maintain a building after its construction is completed 1. Operation Cost Refers to the day to day cost of operating a building (e.g Electrical Bill, Water Bill, Building Administration Cost) 2. Maintenance Cost Refers to the cost to maintain the facility to lengthen its life span (e.g. Repair Works, Renovation Works, Strengthening and Retrofitting Works All in all, these performances are what we expect to see in a designed building in order to provide full services to the users while considering the needs and wants of the owner or client. 6|Page