
Contrast • Harmony • Order • Balance • Unity


BSC REFERENCE BOOK:
More detailed explanations of the building science concepts and foundational design principles underlying the BSC App are provided by the reference book: Jens Pohl (2009, second edition) ; The Emergence of Building Science: Historical Roots, Concepts, and Application; Collaborative Agent Design Research Center (CADRC), Cal Poly , San Luis Obispo, CA 93407. The book is available for free download either by chapter or in its entirety.


The Emergence of Building Science
Provided as a more comprehensive and detailed reach-back source of information on the environmental subject matter areas of building science, namely: the thermal environment, natural and artificial lighting, noise control and acoustics, and energy conservation.
The Emergence of Building Science
Historical Roots, Concepts, and Application
Jens Pohl, Ph.D.
Professor of Architecture
College of Architecture and Environmental Design
California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly)
San Luis Obispo, California
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CHAPTER
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Technical Underpinnings in Mathematics and Physics
1.1 Linear Equations
1.1.1 What are Unknown Quantities?
1.1.2 Simultaneous Equations with Two Unknowns
1.2 Some Statistical Methods
1.2.1 Ordering Data
1.2.2 The Normal Distribution Curve
1.2.3 The Standard Deviation of a Sample
1.2.4 The Standard Deviation of the Population
1.2.5 The Coefficient of Variation
1.2.6 What is a Standard Error?
1.2.7 What are Confidence Limits?
1.2.8 Predicting the Strength of Concrete
1.3 Foundational Concepts in Physics
1.3.1 Units of Measurement
1.3.2 Temperature Scales and Thermometers
1.3.3 Objective and Subjective Measurements
1.3.4 Stress and Strain
1.3.5 Black Body Radiation
2.1 Heat Transfer between Body and Environment
2.2 Some Physiological Considerations
2.3 More about Individual Differences
2.4 Measurement of the Thermal Environment
2.5 Selecting the Appropriate Index
2.6 Thermal Comfort Factors
2.7 The Psychrometric Chart
2.8 Questions Relating to Chapter 2
3.1 How important is the Thermal Environment?
3.2 Thermal Building Design Strategies
3.3 Importance of Sunshading Devices
3.4 Radiation through Roofs
3.5 Sun Position and Orientation
3.6 Solar Design Steps
3.7 Achieving Air Movement Naturally
3.8 Removal of Heat by Ventilation
3.9 Questions Relating to Chapter 3
4.1 The Need for Energy Conservation
4.2 How is Heat Transferred?
4.3 Steady State Heat Transfer Assumptions
4.4 The Nature of Thermal Conductivity
4.5 Building Heat Flow Calculations
4.6 Energy Conservation Standards
4.7 Insulation and Insulating Materials
4.8 The Cause and Nature of Condensation
4.9 Heat Flow Calculation Example
4.10 Questions Relating to Chapter 4
5.1 Opportunities and Limitations
5.1.1 Solar Energy Incentive Programs
5.1.2 Availability of Solar Energy
5.2 Two Types of Solar Collection Systems
5.3 Flat Plate Solar Collectors
5.4 Solar Heat Storage Systems
5.5 Sizing a Solar Hot Water Service
5.6 The Degree-Day Concept
5.7 Sizing a Solar Space Heating System
5.8 Integrating Building Structure and Heat Storage
5.9 Passive Solar Systems
5.9.1 Direct Gain Systems
5.9.2 Trombe System
5.9.3 Sunspace System
5.9.4 Roof Pond System
5.9.5 Radiative Cooling of Water Ponds
5.10 Photovoltaic Systems
5.11 Questions Relating to Chapter 5
6.1 Some Historical Background
6.2 Light Speed and Color
6.3 What is Light?
6.4 Light Viewed as Mechanical Waves
6.5 Measurement Units of Light
6.6 Light Reflection, Absorption, and Transmission
6.7 The Visual Field and Adaptation Level
6.8 Perceptional Constancy
6.9 The Nature of Glare
6.10 Questions Relating to Chapter 6
7.1 Variability of Daylight
7.2 Quality of Daylight and Color
7.3 How Much Daylight is Available?
7.4 Measurement of Daylight
7.5 Model Analysis
7.6 The Daylight Factor Concept
7.7 Glare from Daylight
7.8 Questions Relating to Chapter 7
​8.1 Definition of Terms
8.2 Creation of Light Artificially
8.3 Functions of the Luminaire
8.4 Light Fixtures
8.5 The Lumen Method of Lighting Design
8.6 The Room Cavity Ratio
8.7 The PSALI Concept
8.8 Lighting Power Budgets
8.9 Questions Relating to Chapter 8
9.1 What is Sound?
9.2 Objective Units of Sound Measurement
9.3 Addition, Deletion, and Reduction of Sound Pressure Levels
9.4 The Concept of Octave Bands
9.5 Subjective Units of Sound Measurement
9.6 How Do We Hear Sound?
9.7 Hearing Conservation in the Environment
9.8 Sound Measurement Instruments
9.9 Questions Relating to Chapter 9
10.1 Reflection and Diffraction of Sound
10.2 Absorption of Sound
10.2.1 Porous Absorbers
10.2.2 Panel Absorbers
10.2.3 Acoustic Ceilings
10.2.4 Volume Absorbers
10.3 Speech Communication
10.3.1 Speech Interference Level
10.3.2 Background Noise
10.3.3 Masking Sound Principles
10.3.4 Artificial Sound Blankets
10.3.5 Open-Plan School Buildings
10.4 Halls for Speech and Music
10.4.1 Audience Absorption
10.4.2 Psycho-Acoustic Considerations
10.4.3 The Concept of Reverberation Time
10.4.4 Concert Halls
10.4.5 The Sydney Opera House
10.5 Questions Relating to Chapter 10
11.1 Noise Control by Legislation
11.2 Air-Borne and Solid-Borne Sound
11.3 Air-Borne Noise Insulation
11.3.1 Single-Leaf Panels and the Mass Law
11.3.2 Sandwich Barriers and Multi-Leaf Walls
11.3.3 Sound Transmission Class (STC)
11.4 Solid-Borne Noise Insulation
11.4.1 Impact Insulation Class (IIC)
11.4.2 Methods of Solid-Borne Noise Insulation
11.5 Noise Insulation in Practice
11.6 Common Noise Sources
11.6.1 Ventilation Noise
11.6.2 Industrial Process Noise
11.6.3 Residential Noise
11.6.4 Vehicular Traffic Noise
11.6.5 Trees and Shrubs
11.6.6 Aircraft Noise
11.7 Questions Relating to Chapter 11
12.1 Human Resistance to Change
12.2 Discernable Trends
12.2.1 The Home as a Workplace
12.2.2 Recycling and Waste Management
12.2.3 Water as a Precious Commodity
12.2.4 Energy Self-Sufficiency
12.2.5 A Healthy Building Environment
12.2.6 Quality of Life Expectations
12.3 Fundamental Concepts and Definition of Terms
12.3.1 Sustainability
12.3.2 Ecological Design
12.3.3 Eco-Efficiency
12.3.4 Ecological Footprint and Rucksack
12.3.5 Life-Cycle Assessment and Costing
12.3.6 Embodied Energy
12.3.7 Factors 4 and 10
12.3.8 Green High-Performance Buildings
12.4 Assessment of High-Performance Buildings
12.4.1 Assessment Framework Concepts and Principles
12.4.2 The LEED Assessment Framework
12.5 Energy Design Strategies
12.5.1 Passive Building Design Strategies
12.5.2 The Building Envelope
12.5.3 Hot Water Systems
12.5.4 Daylight and Artificial Lighting
12.5.5 Active Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation
12.6 Water Conservation Strategies
12.6.1 Water Consumption Goals
12.6.2 Lower Flow Rate Fixtures
12.6.3 Graywater Systems
12.6.4 Rainwater Capture
12.7 Closed-Loop Building Materials
12.7.1 Methods for Determining Embodied Energy
12.7.2 Deconstruction and Disassembly
12.7.3 Selecting Green Building Materials