CE2EST: Building Environment Systems and Technology

Module code: CE2EST

Module provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Alba Fuertes Casals, email: a.fuertes@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Rory Jones, email: r.v.jones@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to develop insight into the environmental design, technologies and environmental performance of complex buildings (such commercial and industrial buildings) and to develop understanding of key concepts related to the building construction technologies and building passive and active environmental systems.  

The Module Lead at the University of Reading Malaysia are Dr Sivaraman Kuppusamy (s.kuppusamy@reading.edu.my) and Dr Mustafa Klufallah (m.klufallah@reading.edu.my).

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Understand the relationship among climate, people and buildings. 
2. Understand and describe the construction technology of commercial, industrial and other buildings, and the criteria relevant to its selection, design, performance and specification.  
3. Understand and describe the passive and active building environmental systems and renewable energy systems of commercial, industrial and other buildings, and the criteria relevant to its selection, design, performance and specification. 
4. Evaluate alternative types of construction technologies and building environmental systems used in such buildings under different contextual scenarios. 

Module content

• Foundations and basements  
• Frames and cores, structural behaviour 
• Structural Floors 
• Roofs  
• Fire protection of structural components 
• External envelope  
• Internal finishes  
• Interaction of climate, people 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 
• Building Regulations in relation to construction technology and building environmental systems

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, seminars, and guided private study. 

For students studying at our campus in Malaysia: This module may be taught in a different semester and the breakdown of study hours may differ to those set out in the Study Hours table (please refer to the Module Handbook for the correct breakdown). In addition, you will be required to complete an additional 40 hours of study, taking the total number of study hours to 240 for this module. This is to comply with the Malaysian Quality Agency (MQA).

Study hours

At least 35 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

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

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs