Building physics

Summary

The course presents the fundamentals of how a building interacts with its environment in terms of energy, heat, air movement, and moisture. The theory is used to explain the principles of well-performing new and retrofitted building designs in addition to the diagnosis of failing performance.

Content

Keywords

Heat and mass conservation and transport, building materials, hygrothermal performance of buildings

Learning Prerequisites

Required courses

Energy and comfort in buildings ENG-445

Recommended courses

General physics: thermodynamics PHYS-106

Important concepts to start the course

Heat and mass transfer

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

• Formulate heat, air, and moisture balances for the analysis of hygrothermal problems.
• Apply the transport equations of heat, air, and moisture in building components and zones.
• Classify building materials regarding their hygrothermal properties, and their effect on the energy performance of buildings.
• Apply mathematical methods for solving hygrothermal problems related to buildings.
• Design hydrothermally functional building components and diagnose non-performant solutions.

Transversal skills

• Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.
• Take responsibility for environmental impacts of her/ his actions and decisions.
• Demonstrate the capacity for critical thinking

Teaching methods

Lecture presentations, exercises.

Expected student activities

Practice exercises, participate in discussions and group work

Assessment methods

2 written tests (30% + 30%) and a group project (40%)

Supervision

Resources

Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)

No

Bibliography

S. Medved, Building Physics: Heat, Ventilation, Moisture, Light, Sound, Fire, and Urban Microclimate, Springer

Websites

• https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-74390-1

Moodle Link

• https://go.epfl.ch/CIVIL-479

Prerequisite for

master projects involving knowledge in building physics