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: 

• 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.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	8
Tutorials	7
Guided independent study:	85
Total hours by term	100	0	0
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:
1 x 2 hour exam

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Formative assessment methods:
A series of tutorials provide students with the opportunity to improve their performance through the feedback provided.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
A minimum mark of 40% based on the submitted portfolio

Reassessment arrangements:

Re-examination in August.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1. Required text books: None


2. Specialist equipment or materials: None


3. Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: None


4. Printing and binding: None


5. Computers and devices with a particular specification: None


6. Travel, accommodation and subsistence: None

Last updated: 8 April 2021