Thermal and Acoustic Behaviour of Buildings

Not applicable.

Illustration of the subjects with the support of different information systems, as a means to captivate students’ interest and to give them a more active participation in classes. Students will also have at their disposal various documents and catalogues of equipment and materials.

Students will also be encouraged to do further study on these subjects, using the recommended bibliography, other books or documents, and the Internet.

Availability of teachers to clarify students’ uncertainties during office hours is provided. Outside these hours, contact will be made via electronic message (e-mail) and through the “InforDocente” platform.

In this subject we intend to present the fundamental notions of thermal comfort, the most common aspects of building construction and their influence on the thermal and acoustic comfort of its occupants.

At the same time, we aim to help students develop skills required to perform thermal and acoustic design of buildings, as well as contribute to the development of the capacity to conduct energy audits of buildings.

1. Thermal Comfort 
Definition of thermal comfort; thermoregulation; physical and individual parameters; human heat balance equation; thermal comfort equation; Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied (PPD); local thermal discomfort; occupational exposure to hot and cold thermal environments – heat stress and cold stress; physiological responses to heat and cold; medical effects of exposure to hot and cold environments; characterization of the occupational hot and cold exposures; heat and cold stress indices.

2. Thermal behaviour of buildings

2.1 Constructive Aspects of Buildings:
Reinforced concrete structure; intermediate floors and ground floors; walls; roofs; windows and shading devices; main types of finishing of interiors and exteriors surfaces.

2.2 Calculation of thermal inertia of a building; calculation of thermal transmission coefficients of building elements; calculation of solar glazing factors; natural and/or mechanic ventilation; calculation of nominal annual energy needs for cooling, heating and for hot water preparation; REH conformity verification of a building. Calculation of thermal heating and cooling loads of a building.

3. Acoustics of Buildings

General knowledge; isolation to air sounds; isolation to percussion sounds; acoustic quality of spaces; constructive solutions and application exercises.

Students will be able to pass this Curricular Unit (CU) through final exams and assessment tests, carried out whenever possible;

 Assessment by final exam:

The final exam will have an evaluation, which will count for 20 points and will consist of three component. The points of each part will be as follows: 4 points for the part of Thermal Comfort, 4 points for the part of Building Acoustics and 12 points for the part of Thermal Behaviour Buildings.

 If, in a given component, the student obtains a classification equal to or greater than 9.5 values, he is automatically exempted from taking that component in the final exam tests of the current academic year;

 If, in a given component, the student obtains a minimum classification of 7.5 values, this grade is guaranteed in the exam periods (normal, resource and special), thus contributing to the global average which, for final approval, must be equal or greater than 9.5 values.

Assessment tests: are valid – only – for the current academic year;

Assessment tests will be carried out during classes, on dates defined by the teacher, at the end of each component;

If, in a given assessment test (that count for 20 values), the student obtains a classification equal to or greater than 9.5 values, he is automatically exempted from taking that component in the final exam tests of the current academic year;

If, in a given assessment test (that count for 20 values), the student obtains a minimum grade of 7.5 values, this grade is guaranteed in the exam periods (normal, resource and special), thus contributing to the overall average which, for final approval, must be equal or greater than 9.5 values.

NAO