Environmental Science

in Buildinq
Fifth Edition

RANDALL MCMULLAN
MSc CPhys MCIOB MinstP

palgrave .
.'

Acknowledgements
The Aut hor and publishers thank the following organisations for permission to quote
from t heir material. as indicated here and in the text.
Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers for data in chapter 3. Building
Research Establishment for daylight data in chapter 8.

R. McMullan 1983, 1989, 1992, 1998,2002

AI rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of
;this publication may be made without written permission.
(f)'p aragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or
itra smitted save with written permission or in accordance with
tthe'p rovisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988,
'Or I Ader the terms of any licence permitting limited copying
issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, 90 Tottenham Court
Road, London W1 T 4LP.
Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this
pu bli(~ti on

m8Y

b~ liilbl ~

to criminol prmccution ond

~ivil

claims fo r damage s.
The ,a utho r has asserted his right to be identified as the author
of this wo k in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988.
First edition 1983
Second edition 1989
Third edition 1992
Fourth edition 1998
Reprinted three times
Fifth edition 2002
Published by
PALGRAVE
Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS
and 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010
Companies and representatives throughout the world
PALGRAVE is the new global academic imprint of
St. Martine's Press LLC Scholarly and Reference Division and
Palgrave Publishers Ltd (formerly Macmillan Press Ltd).
ISBN 0-333-94771 - 1
This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and
made from fully managed and sustained forest sources.
Editorial and layout by Hart McLeod, Cambridge
A catalogue record for this book is available
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Printed and bound in Great' Britain by
Antony Row.e Ltd,Chipp~n~am , Wiltshire

Contents
How to use this book
I

The Environment
The built environment
Climate
Environmental comfort

2 Principles of Heat
Nature of heat
Heat transfer
Gases and vapours
Refrigerators and heat pumps

VIZ

1
2
4
9
10
11
22
25 28

3 Thermal Insulation in Buildings

Thermal insulation
U-values
Thermal bridging
Structural temperatures

'36

4 Energy use in Buildings

62

Energy use
Thermal comfort
Heat losses
Heat gains
Energy balance
Energy regulations
5 Air Control in Buildings
Ventilation
Humidity
Condensation in buildings
Condensation conditions

37
43
52
57

63
65
70 ",
78
81
86
9)
94
98
107
112

iii

iv

Environmental Science in Building

6 Principles of Light
Nature of light
Nature of vision

Measurement of lighting
Colour
. .. .

. .

. , ..... ,

- .
. OJ

'

Lamps
Luminaires
Lighting design

145
153
156

8 Natural Lighting
Natural light sources
Daylight factors
Combined lighting

165
166
167
175

9 Principles of Sound
Nature of sound

Jound lcvcb
Attenuation of sound
Nature of hearing

.f

122
123
125
128
139

' 177 '

178
liB
190
194

10 Noise and Sound Insulation

Measurement of noise
Noise control
Noise transfer
Sound insulation

215

11 Room Acoustics
Acoustic principles
Reflection
Absorption
Reverberation

234
235
236
240
244

12 Electricity Supplies
, :''' ' .. ,. Current
electricity
.
, ,Magnetism
Induction
Power supplies
Electrical installations
~

..

'

13 Principles of Water Technology

J:.'lUlds at r~~t

Fluid flow
Fluid energy

200
201
211
213

252
253
265
271
'- '280 '
,-286
290
2Yl

296
2

Contents

14 Water .~upplies
Natural w~ters ,
Hardness of water>
Sources of water
Water treatment
Water installations

308
309
312
313
315
321

15 Waste. Water
Drainage systems
Nature of waste \.Vater
Waste; water treatment
Options for se,wage treatment

324
325
327
329
334

16 Green Buildings
Climate around buildings
Resources for buildings
Energy conservation
Pollution
Sick and healthy buildings
Future buildin ~s

337
338
344
345
348
350
353

Resource 1
Science information
Units
Chemical processes

356
356
359

Resource 2
References
General built environment
Energy, insulation and services
Noise and acoustics
Water and general environmental
General government: UK
Professional Bodies: UK and Ireland
Standards Organisations

364
364
365
365
366
366
366
367

vi

Environmental Science in Building

Preface
This book studies the science, technology and services that relate to the comfort
of humans and the environmental performance of buildings. The major topic
areas include climate, energy supplies and conservation, human comfort,
heating, ventilation, lighting, sound insulation, acoustics, electrical supplies,
water supplies, water treatment, sick buildings and green buildings.
The book is intended for students studying architecture, building,
engineering, environmental science and surveying at a variety of levels. The
contents of the book satisfy the principal requirements of courses for degrees,
national diplomas and certificates, and for examinations of professional
institutes. Tvvo decades of publication have confirmed the usefulness of the text
at all levels, from introductory student text to professional reference.
The book assumes minimum previous knowledge of science or mathematics
and makes facts and formulas accessible for reference and for use. Definitions
and units are expressed in forms appropriate for their context and enable access

.to the pr.actical technical literature of the various topics. Where a numerical

approach is required, worked examples are displayed step-by-step and

supported by exercises for practice.
The style of writing has been kept simple but, at the same time, it has a
technical content and accuracy appropriate- to these topics of study. The text is
illustrated by labelled drawings which are intended to help explain the text and
to act as models for student sketches.
The term environmental was not in common use when this book was first
developed. Since that time the need and interest for understanding our
environment has been reflected by new courses and their supporting materials,
including this book. This edition is a significant revision and expansion of the
hCH3k W kh places some of the topics into the broader framework of
elJJ.vioolllmernal concerns and the needs of current users. There was widespread
Sllllppomn f(i)~ :l eaving the title of the book Environmental Science in Building
undlanged as the central content of the book still aims to encourage knowledge
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Randall McMullan

How to use this book

How to use this book

You can use this book in different ways, depending upon your needs. For
example, the wpics don't have to be studied in a particular order as their use
depends upon your course or professional purpose. All of the subjects in the
book are worthy of further study and it is hoped that this book will be a starting
point for further investigations. To help you get the most from the book its
features are summarised below.

Text
Tihe chapters assume very little previous knowledge of a topic and lead you to
a good wOTking knowledge. If you have forgotten your school science you will
find it useful to read the introductory chapters on the: basic

prlncl1-'le~

uf heaL,

light and sound before studying the other chapters on these topics.
The content of the text itself gives an indication of the depth of knowledge
normally expected at this level of study. The style of writing has been kept
simple but it uses correct terminology and units. It can therefore act as an
example for the type of response expected when you need to display
knowledge of a topic, such as in a project.

Diagrams
The diagrams are intended to help explain the subjects in the book. The
drawings have also been kept relatively simple so that they can form the basi~
for drawings of your own. Remember that accurate labels are as important a~
the drawings.

Calculations
Calculations can giv greater understanding of some topics, and you may also
need them in your course. The text emphasises those formulas that are
especially useful and may be also helpful to memorise. Important types of
calculation are explained by carefully worked examples, using relatively simple
calculations. Where further practice is relevant there are exercises at the end of
the chapter.

Margins
Look in the margin for rapid reminders of key terms and ideas and for
references to other places in the book where there is related information.

vii

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Environmental Science in Building

-

~:.

Resource sections
~

..

At the end of the book there is extra information presented in forms that make
it eas'Yto look up information such as scientific terms, units and symbols. The
references section also has signposts to many external organisations whose
publications and internet sites give more information on a topic.

Big picture
In addition to the specialist information about each subject, you should aim to
place your knowledge in the context of wider environmental studies and
concerns. Use the first chapter and the last chapter of the book to help you see
the bigger picture.