MABY4200 Building Physics and Climate Adaptation of Buildings Course description

The goal of the course is to gain thorough knowledge of building physics processes and mechanisms so that these principles are taken into account in the design of integrated, energy efficient and climate-resilient building envelopes. The effects of the outdoor and indoor climate, relevant mechanisms relating to heat and moisture transfer and not least their impact on energy efficiency and the degradation of building materials will be addressed. The following topics are addressed in particular:

• principles of interaction between exterior climate and building envelope;
• heat, air and moisture transport through building elements and components;
• heat transfer and thermal performance of building elements and components, transparent (e.g. windows) and non-transparent (wall constructions);
• sources of heat loss, for example air leakages, thermal bridges;
• moisture transport and design of building elements against surface condensation and mold growth;
• moisture buffering in building materials;
• coupled heat and moisture transport through building envelope;
• air infiltration in buildings and design of an airtight building envelope;
• natural ventilation due to wind and stack effect;
• sound proofing and building acoustics.

No formal requirements over and above the admission requirements. Some knowledge of basic building physics at bachelor's degree level is an advantage.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge:

The student:

• has advanced knowledge of building physics principles and methods for assessing and calculating heat, air and moisture transfer in buildings.
• has advanced knowledge of coupled hygrothermal phenomena in the building envelope.
• is capable of giving an account of standards and requirements for buildings and structures with regard to heat, mass and moisture transfer in the building envelope.
• is capable of identifying effects of the outdoor and indoor climate and explaining how they are related to heat, mass and moisture transfer in the building envelope.
• is capable of taking sound proofing and acoustic properties of building components into consideration.

Skills:

The student is capable of:

• using analysis methods, calculation tools and numerical simulations related to heat and moisture transport, thermal and hygrothermal performance, thermal bridges, infiltration and natural ventilation and sound proofing of building components.
• designing common building components and building details based on building physics principles and calculation results.
• assessing the need for measurements, such as airtightness measurement, thermography techniques and determination of moisture content in building components, and of interpreting the results.

General competence:

The student is capable of:

• explaining the background for user-related, societal and environmental requirements for buildings.
• applying relevant regulations, instructions and documentation.
• presenting results in a scholarly manner with the help of written reports and oral presentations.

The teaching consists of physical and degital lectures, demonstration of measurement methods and simulations tools. In addition, a project assignment will be given in which the students are to perform analytical and simulation-based calculations of the performance of building components in connection with the different building physics phenomena.

Digital lectures will be recorded, and the material will be made available to students on CANVAS.

If lectures are delivered online, they may be recorded, and the recordings will be made available to students on Canvas.

The following required coursework must be approved before a student can take the exam:

1. Meet all deadlines during the semester for submission of all 5 project reports.

Type of assessment:

1) Project portfolio, which consists of 5 reports, weighted 50%. The students will work in groups of 2. The total length of the portfolio (all 5 reports) are expected to be approx. 60-80 pages, without appendices.

2) Individual written exam (3 hours), under supervision, weighted 50%.

All assessment parts must be awarded a pass grade (E or better) in order for the student to pass the course.

Both the project portfolio and the written exam can be appealed.

Assessment part:

1) All aids are permitted.

2) All written aids (including lecture notes) are permitted.

Grade scale A-F.

Two internal examiners.

External examiners are used regularly.

Dimitrios Kraniotis