CE2BSA: Building Services Fundamentals and Applications

Module code: CE2BSA

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

Credits: 20

Level: 5

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Mehdi Shahrestani, email: m.shahrestani@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: 18 November 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The aim of this module is to provide students with the knowledge and understanding of building services including physical principles of sound, acoustics, and lighting together with the principles related to the design of drainage, and water distribution systems in buildings and fundamentals of water treatment and heating, cooling, and ventilation systems. Students will be able to further apply their acquired knowledge that applies to the design of a broad range of energy and environmental systems in the module of “Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Design (CE3HVD)”  and also in the module of “Design Project (CE3DPR)” both in part 3.  

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Analyse heating, cooling, heat recovery, humidification, and dehumidification processes  
2. Determine the level of sound and illuminance in the indoor environment,   
3. Compare the main approach for water distribution and drainage in buildings.  
4. Appraise the principal heating, ventilation, and air condition systems in terms of their energy and environmental performance. 

Module content

• Physical laws of light and sound, 
• Physics of light and methods of calculating lighting levels in the indoor environment, 
• Physical principles of sound and acoustics and sound transmission in the indoor environment, 
• Fundamentals of drainage, water treatment, water supply, and distribution systems in buildings, 
• Fundamentals of heating, cooling, and ventilation systems, 
• Health-related issues in building services,  
• Heating, cooling, heat recovery, humidification, and dehumidification processes,  
• Human thermal sensation and comfort,  
• Fire safety and health issues in building services,  
• Building performance assessment methods.  

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module is to be delivered through a series of lectures, seminars, practical classes, and workshops. Both in-person sessions and digital methods are used in this module to introduce the concepts and approaches relevant to the simulation of buildings and their relevant energy and environmental systems. Students will be offered an opportunity to consolidate their knowledge and understanding gained in this module by visiting a relevant exhibition centre. 

Study hours

At least 14 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: /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.

Practice questions will be provided in the tutorial sessions in order to provide students with an opportunity to test their understanding of the topics discussed in lectures and prepare students for the final exam.  

Reassessment

Additional costs