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Course & Unit Catalogues


AR50467: Environmental performance of materials and buildings

[Page last updated: 23 October 2023]

Academic Year: 2023/24
Owning Department/School: Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering
Credits: 10 [equivalent to 20 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 200
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Academic Year
Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Report (CW 100% - Qualifying Mark: 50)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: Understand energy flows into and out of building envelopes, including conduction, thermal bridging and through controlled air exchange.

Critically evaluate the effect of material choices and building elements on thermal performance and occupant comfort, including the effect of humidity and VOC emissions from construction materials and building fabric.

Critically and systematically evaluate and compare the environmental performance of a range of materials, products and systems, allowing you to select, design and specify sustainable construction materials creatively and with confidence.


Synopsis: Develop a deep understanding of how the different elements of a building work separately and in combination in terms of energy flow, occupants' environmental impact and low carbon building performance, including a comprehensive understanding of construction material choices.

Content: Designing buildings for people and the environment, including:
  • Climate change and the built environment in a local and global context;
  • Human thermal comfort and productivity;
  • Introduction to integrated design, including good acoustic design;
    • Early stage modelling, standards and performance evaluation.


Sustainable construction materials and their contribution to low carbon building performance, including:
  • Material choices for sustainable construction, including traditional, natural and modern materials;
  • Environmental impact of construction materials;
  • Embodied energy and life cycle assessment of carbon and costs.


Thermal performance of building envelopes, including:
  • Heat flow though complex structures;
  • Heat loss through ventilation and overall building heat loss factors;
  • Thermal mass and dynamic performance;
  • Condensation risk assessment.


Course availability:

AR50467 is a Must Pass Unit on the following courses:

Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2023/24 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2024/25 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2023/24.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.