BUILDING SCIENCE-I

(AR506)
 OBJECTIVES

• To introduce the concept of architectural

climatology and thermal aspects in relation to
architectural design.

• To deal with the use of climatology and thermal

aspects for comfort and security in building and
built up environment.
Chapter 1.CLIMATOLOGY

1.1 Introduction and objective

• Climate, weather, macro-micro climates and urban climate
• Climatic factors- solar radiation, wind, temperature, humidity,
precipitation, sky conditions and secondary factors
• Climates of world and Nepal
1.2 Solar Radiation
• Types- direct, diffuse and reflected
• Solar radiation-absorption and reflection on earth
• Geometry of solar movement
• Solar chart and its uses
1.3 Solar Radiation and its control
• Control technique- orientation, vegetation, water body,
colour, texture
• Shading device- internal and external
• Shading angles for shading devices
• Design of external shading devices (calculation)
• Selective transmittance
Chapter 2.THERMAL ASPECTS

2.1 Concepts of Thermal Aspects

• Heat transmission- conduction, convection and radiation
• Absorptivity, reflectivity and emissivity
• Thermal resistivity, conductivity and transmittance
• Solar temperature, solar-gain factor

2.2 Heat exchange in Building

• Heat gain and heat loss in building
• Thermal balance in a room
• Thermal transmittance-wall, roof
• Calculation of thermal transmittance of walls
• Time lag and decrement factor
2.3 Thermal comfort and techniques
• Thermal balance for human body
• Thermal comfort in a room
• Thermal control technique in a hot climate
• Thermal control technique in a cool climate
• Thermal resistance and insulation

Chapter 3. DIFFERENT SHELTERS OF DIFFERENT CLIMATE

3.1 Different shelters on different climatic zones of Nepal

• Terai
• Hilly and Kathmandu valley
• Mountain

3.2 Different shelters on different climatic zones of world

• Warm humid
• Hot arid
• Composite
• Cold
Chapter 4. SHELTERS FOR DIFFERENT CONDITIONS

• Earthquake resistance building design

• Building design with respect to wind movement
• Building design in high and low humidity and condensation
• Building and internal comfort
• Building design according to bye-laws
 Chapter 1.CLIMATOLOGY

1.1 Introduction and objective

• Climate, weather, macro-micro climates and urban climate
• Climatic factors- solar radiation, wind, temperature, humidity,
precipitation, sky conditions and secondary factors
• Climates of world and Nepal
Climatology Scientific study of climate

Climate:
• Region with a certain condition of temperature, dryness, wind,
light, etc.
• Consists of series of physical systems (e.g.. rotation, revolution,
latitudes, longitudes, breeze, etc.) powered by sun
• Integration of physical atmospheric environment and
characteristics of geographical location over a period of time.

Weather:
• Momentary state of atmospheric environment at a certain
location.

Climate can be called the

integration of weather condition
over time.
 WEATHER CLIMATE

• Measured over • Measured over

short term. long period.
Humidity
• Day to day state • State of atmosphere
of atmosphere. Temperature over many years of
collected data.
Precipitation
• Reported as • Reported as
forecasts. Wind direction averages.
and speed
• Looks at a day or • Looks at charts of
a week. data over many
years.
Climate has 4 major elements:

• EARTH - Soil
• WATER - Humidity Climatology is all
about the study of
• FIRE – Sun and temperature these elements
• AIR - Wind

In built environment, we are generally concerned with local

climatic systems in particular:

• Macro-climate - climate of a larger area such as a region or a

country.

• Micro-climate - the variations in localized climate around a

building.
 Building site is affected by -
• prevailing wind
• solar radiation
• pollution levels
• temperature and rain penetration
• Orientation and ventilation of the buildings affects solar
radiation and prevailing wind.
• Location of nearby trees and buildings affects shading and
wind pattern.
• Nearby trees and building also protects from rains and other
forms of precipitation.
ARCHITECTURAL CLIMATOLOGY

• Architecture is all about art and technology.

• It includes public services, water supply and drainage, air
conditioning, ventilation, lighting, etc.
• Basic science a designer is concerned about.

It involves majorly on:

• how climatic elements behave on us
• how we can benefit from them
• how we can withstand its adverse affects

Major steps in architectural climatology are:

• Climatology – study of climatic elements
• Biology – study of human comfort level w.r.t. climatology
• Technology – creating of built environment
– combination of above and final product
HOT - HUMID TEMPERATE
HOT - ARID COLD
 ‘Back to MACRO AND MICRO CLIMATE’

Macro-climate:

• Macro climate around a building cannot be affected by any

design changes

• However, building design can be developed with a

knowledge of macro climate in which the building is located
such as
-hot/cold region
-temperature difference
-rainfall
-wind speed and direction

• Above factors will guide the orientation and zoning of the

building
Micro-climate:

• Site of a building may have many micro climates caused by

the presence of hills valleys, slopes, streams and other
buildings.

Effect of Local Terrain:

• Surrounding slope for e.g. hollow/valley have effect on air

movement.
• Hot air rises up due to buoyancy effects (anabatic flow), to be
replaced by cooler air drifting down the slope (katabatic
flow).

• This results in cooler temperature at valley floors than at

locations up the slope.

• The most favorable location, thermal belt, lies just above the
level to which pools of cold air build up, but below the height
at which exposure to wind increases.
Effects of Buildings:

• Buildings themselves create further micro-climates by shading

the ground, changing wind flow patterns.

• Average temperature is higher at the core of the city than its

surroundings

• Solar energy absorbed and re-emitted from building surfaces,

pavements roads etc. creates a warming effect on the
surrounding air

• Large and tall buildings reduce wind speed at ground levels

significantly causing stagnant air

• Extensive shadows block access to sunlight for long periods,

increasing space heating costs in surrounding buildings.
OBJECTIVE of enhancing Micro-Climate around Buildings:

• To reduce costs of winter heating.

• To reduce summer overheating and the need for cooling.

• To maximize outdoor comfort in summer and winter.

• Improves durability of building material (reduced rain

penetration).

• Provide a better visual environment in spaces around buildings.

• Encourage growth of plants.

• Discourage growth of mosses and algae.

• Facilitate open air drying of clothes.

 HOW to enhance Micro-Climate around Buildings:

Solar Access:
• Allow maximum daylight into space and buildings.
• Shade space and windows from prolonged exposure to
Vegetation
summer sun.
preventing
• Protect
prevailing windsspace and windows from glare.

Wind Protection: Shading

• Protect space and buildings from prevailing winds and cold

(e.g. North/East) winds.
• Prevent buildings and terrain features from generating
turbulence.
• Protect spaces and buildings from driving rain and snow.
• Protect space and buildings from katabatic flows, while
retaining enough air.
• Movement to disperse pollutants.
HOW to enhance Micro-Climate around Buildings:

Features:

• Provide thermal mass to moderate extreme temperatures.

• Use vegetation for sun shading and wind protection
(transpiration helps moderate high temperatures).
• Provide surfaces that drain readily.
• Provide water for cooling by evaporation (pools and
fountains).
FACTORS Affecting Micro Climate:

Outside Designers Control Within Designers control

Area and local climate Spacing and orientation of buildings
Site and surroundings Location of open spaces
Site shape Form and height of proposed buildings
Topographic features Fenestration-arrangements of windows
Surrounding buildings Tree cover
Ground profiling
Wind breaks
Surrounding surfaces (paving grass etc
Ways to enhance micro-climate by influencing solar access and
wind control:

Solar access:
• Minimize solar overheating in hot places and maximize solar
access in cold places.
• For heating, orient a building NS with maximum glazing on the
south face.
• Deciduous trees (oak, maple, elm) offer shading in summer
and loose leaves at winter.
• Light colored paving will increase radiation by reflecting .
• Paving stones will also provide external thermal mass and
keep cool.
• Grass planted outside a building will reduce the ground
reflected solar.
• Use of courtyards and water body can also moderate the
effects of high temperatures on summer.
Ways to enhance micro-climate by influencing solar access and
wind control:

Wind control
• Avoid building flank facing the wind.
• Avoid abrupt changes in building heights.
• Avoid piercing buildings at ground level.
• Orientate long axis of building parallel to the direction of wind.
• Use pitched roof rather than flat roofs and stepped forms for
higher buildings.
• Groups of buildings can be arranged in irregular patterns to
avoid wind tunneling.
• Coniferous trees and mounds of earth and hedges can also
reduce the impact of wind and driving rain.
Ways to enhance micro-climate by influencing solar access and
wind control: