Course content

The course provides basic principles to different aspects of building physics ranging from moisture, heat transfer, and heat balance to assess thermal and energy performance of buildings, the level of sound insulation for building and room acoustics, artificial and natural lighting to guarantee the level of illuminance distribution for indoor visual comfort.

Simple calculation methods will be used to analyze and design building assemblies and construction details, choice of materials for wind, air, and rain tightness to perform energy, thermal and visual requirements regulated by the Norwegian Building Code.

Learning outcome

The course aims at giving an understanding of basic physical and material relations, as well as requirements and influences, relevant to the design of building elements and whole buildings.

Knowledge

The candidate should have knowledge of:

• The basic functions of a building apart from load-bearing.
• Relevant requirements for a building from user and regulations perspective.
• Relevant influences on buildings as a basis for the design of the building elements and construction details.
• Physical relations as a basis for analysis and calculation of heat transfer, thermal resistance and transmittance (U-value), wind, air, and rain tightness, and moisture transport in building assemblies, acoustics, and lighting in buildings.
• Basic methods for calculations in building physics (dvs. heat and moisture transfer, acoustics, artificial lighting, and daylighting).

Skills

At the end of course, the candidates will be able to:

• Assess relevant requirements and influences from a building physics perspective.
• Perform basic analyses and calculations of building physical aspects.
• Calculate power and energy requirements for a building.
• Utilize tools for calculation of heat transfer and hygrothermal transport in assemblies.
• Utilize tools for the calculation to preliminary assess visual and acoustic room comfort.
• Design heat, moisture, sound insulation, artificial and natural lighting (dvs daylighting).

General competence

The candidate has:

• An understanding of the background for building requirements related to users, society, and the environment.
• An understanding of requirements, influences, and physical and material relations as a basis for designing assemblies and buildings that fulfill requirements regarding reliability, performance, and sustainability.
• A good background for communicating with other disciplines and professionals (architect, structural engineer, HVAC engineer, electrical engineer, fire safety engineer etc.) involved in design, construction, and operation of buildings.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, calculation excercises, use of simulation programs.

Compulsory assignments

• Assignments

Recommended previous knowledge

Previous knowledge equivalent with TFY4106 Physics, TBA4125 BM4 Design of Buildings and Structures, together with basic knowledge about building materials.

Course materials

"J.V. Thue: Bygningsfysikk - grunnlag. 2016" ISBN: 9788245019940,

"S. Geving: Praktisk bygningsfysikk. 2021" ISBN:9788245028010,

Teknisk forskrift med veiledning,

Div. Norsk Standard.

Credit reductions