Minor Program

in
Building Systems Engineering

Jointly Offered by

Department of Architecture and Planning

&
Department of Mechanical Engineering

(Applicable from 2023 Admission onwards)

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CALICUT

Kozhikode - 673601, KERALA, INDIA
 INTRODUCTION

Building Systems Engineering is an Inter-Disciplinary Minor offered by the Department of Architecture and
Planning and the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

The focus of the Course is on the Energy Requirement in buildings in terms of various Building Services required
to be provided. The Course essentially deals with Energy Efficiency of buildings - both passive and active
measures. The students are expected to be gaining expertise in dealing with the Building Enclosure Design as
well as Building Services in the most efficient manner with least energy requirements aiming for Zero Energy
Buildings.

In addition to the theory courses, laboratory oriented course would give hands-on training on Building Energy
studies and Building System Simulation.

Graduates are expected to be employed in the areas of building systems design, energy and utilities management,
building operations, product development, and facility management in addition to their own core areas of
profession.

Options for higher studies would be available in Building System Design, Sustainable Building Design, Building
Technology, Building System Automation etc. in various universities in India and abroad.

Faculty Coordinators of the Programme:

1. Dr. Naseer M A, Professor, DAP

2. Dr. Bimal P, Asst. Professor, DAP
3. Dr. Jayasree T K, Asst. Professor, DAP
4. Dr. Gangadhara Kiran Kumar L. Asst. Professor, MED
 BASKET OF COURSES

Additional
Sl. Course P/
Course Title L T O Credits Categories
No. Code D
OE EI DA HM
1 AP2021E Building Science 3 0 0 6 3 Y N N N
2 AP2022E MEP System Design 3 0 0 6 3 Y N N N
3 AP2023E Lighting System Design 3 0 0 6 3 Y N N N
4 AP2024E Building Acoustics 3 0 0 6 3 Y N N N
AP3021E Building Energy 3 0 0 6 3
5 Y N N N
Conservation
6 AP3022E Building Enclosure Design 3 0 0 6 3 Y N N N
ME3233E Heating, Ventilation and 3 0 0 6 3
7 Y N N N
Air Conditioning
8 ME4266E Net Zero Energy Buildings 3 0 0 6 3 Y N N N
AP4021E Building System 1 0 3 7 3
9 Y N Y N
Simulation Lab
Total 25 0 3 55 27

A student should earn a Minimum of 12 Credits in order to acquire the Minor Degree in Building Systems
Engineering. There are Nine Courses available for students to choose from.

Depending on the background of the student opting for the Degree, the Coordinator would advise the Course
combinations.
DETAILED SYLLABI OF COURSES
 AP2021E BUILDING SCIENCE

Total hours: 39 Hours L T P O C

3 0 0 6 3
Course Outcomes:
CO1: Understand global and local climate and interpret the relevant data for building design
CO2: Appreciate the importance of human thermal comfort in indoors and passive measures
CO3: Determine the heat influx in buildings
CO4: Recommend lighting and ventilation requirements for buildings
CO5: Recommend acoustical design of enclosed space
CO6: Perform energy efficient and passive design of buildings

Fundamentals of Climatology
Global climate classification, elements of climate - Earth Sun relationship, seasonal variations, thermal balance of earth –
Characteristics of tropical climate, Solar radiation, wind, temperature, humidity, precipitation, sky condition & secondary
factors classification and typology - factors affecting site climate, Urban Heat Islands, Climate Change

Thermal comfort and thermal design of buildings

Human thermal comfort, thermal balance of human body, thermal comfort condition and their relation to overheated and
under heated periods, comfort indices - Thermal quantities, heat exchange of buildings, calculation of heat gain and heat
loss – Heat transfer in building enclosures, heat resistance of enclosures, capacitive and resistive techniques - Thermal
efficiency of buildings -selection of appropriate materials and construction techniques – Building orientation, shading
device design.

Lighting and Ventilation design

Daylighting, Daylight factor concept - daylighting systems – Daylight design parameters, Daylighting design for various
occupancies (SP 41) – Natural ventilation, functions of ventilation, concepts of ventilation, factors affecting air movement,
air movement around buildings, air movement inside, area, shape and location of fenestration in aiding ventilation
- ventilation design - Influence of courtyards in climatic modulation,
.
Acoustics in Enclosures
Introduction to Building Acoustics - Characteristics and measurements of sound, auditory range, decibel scale - behaviour
of sound in enclosed spaces - principles of geometrical acoustics - sound built up and decay - reverberation and
reverberation time calculation - acoustical problems - design criteria for speech and music - selective behaviour of acoustic
materials, installation and maintenance.

Note: In addition to classroom teaching, students should be provided additional input through special lectures by experts
from the industry. Projects should be assigned to students for hands-on experience of real-world situations.

References:
1. Koenigsberger O.H et al., Manual of Tropical Housing and Building, Orient Longman, 1993.
2. Givoni. B, Man, Climate and Architecture, Applied Science Publishers, 1981.
3. Martin Evans, Housing, Climate and Comfort, Thames and Hudson, 1984.
4. Brown G.F, Sun Wind and Light, John Wiley and Sons, 1985.
5. Arvind Kishan, et. al, Climate responsive Architecture, Tata McGraw Hill Publishing Company, 2001.
6. David M Egan, Architectural Acoustics, McGraw Hill, New York, 2007.
7. T. E. Vigran, Building Acoustics, Taylor & Francis, 2008
8. SP41- Hand Book on Functional Requirements of Building, Bureau of Indian Standards, 1987.
9. Esmond Reid, Understanding Building, Routledge, 2016.
10. Relevant Indian Standards.
 AP2022E MEP SYSTEM DESIGN

Total hours: 39 Hours

L T P O C
Course Outcomes: 3 0 0 6 3
CO1: To design HVAC system and vertical transportation in a building
CO2: Appraise various systems and techniques used in electrical systems in the building
CO3: Appraise various systems and techniques for plumbing services in buildings
CO4: Prepare mechanical, electrical and plumbing layouts

Introduction
Introduction to MEP - need for integration - Standards and regulations like ASHRAE, NBC, BIS etc. - Role of
Architects, Engineers and other stakeholders

Mechanical Systems
Introduction - Psychrometry - Thermal comfort - Thermodynamics - Refrigeration cycle - Types of air conditioning
systems - Load calculation - HVAC systems for different spaces- domestic, commercial, parking etc. - Room air
distribution through building, insulation of building materials, and equivalent temperature difference – draft, throw,
drop, entrainment ratio, spread – Types of air outlets – location of air outlets – supply air conditions – location of
return air opening – general considerations in air duct design and layout – duct construction. Case study of planning
and design of HVAC systems in various buildings - Vertical Transportation Systems, various types, design criteria -
Preparation of schematic layouts.

Electrical Systems
Introduction - Fundamentals of electrical engineering, single phase and three phase supply, types of wires and wiring
system, concealed & surface conduit wiring, electrical accessories, main switch - distribution boxes, metering,
transformers etc. - Simple wiring circuits, master-on and master-off, corridor light switch, Design of distribution
system, branching of sub circuit, methods of wiring, load calculations, conductor size calculations. Electrical safety,
earthing – pipe and plate earthing, lightning protection in buildings, circuit breakers - MCB and ELCB, safety
regulation in domestic commercial and high rise buildings, Auxiliary power systems - inverter, DG, solar, electrical
installation in different buildings like high rise apartments, hotels, hospitals, industries etc. - Case studies -
Preparation of schematic layouts.

Plumbing Systems
Fundamentals of plumbing design - Plumbing hydraulics-basic fluid properties-static head dynamic- head-flow under
gravity and pressure conditions-water hammer- Plumbing Fixtures, Materials- flushing system for WCs-Urinals-
Bidets electronic flush valve-air valves-relief valves- bath tubs-supply taps-sinks- skive valves etc. - Plumbing
systems: One pipe, two-pipe systems- Single stack system partially ventilated single stack system - Septic tanks -
Types of pumps- Methods of distribution-method of layout of distribution pipes- distribution system for multi-
storeyed buildings, large development, swimming pools etc.- Case studies - Preparation of schematic layouts.

Note: In addition to classroom teaching, students should be provided additional input through special lectures by
experts from the industry. Projects should be assigned to students for hands-on experience of real-world situations.

References:
1. Deolalikar, S. G., Plumbing Design and Practice, Mc-Graw Hill Education, 2015.
2. Husain, S.K, Textbook of Water supply and Sanitary Engineering, Oxford and IBH, 2006.
3. A.K.Mittal, Electrical and mechanical services in high rise buildings, New Delhi: CBS Publishers &
Distributors, 2009.
4. B. Rigby and F. Porges, Design of Electrical Services for Buildings, London: Routledge, 2012.
5. J.F. McPartland and B.J. McPartland, Handbook of practical electrical design, New York: McGraw-Hill,
1999.
6. Arora C. P, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Mc-Graw Hill Education, New York, 2008.
7. Wang, Shan K., Handbook of air conditioning and refrigeration, Mc-Graw Hill Education, New York, 2000.
8. Ananthanarayanan, P.N., Basic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Mc-Graw Hill Education, 2013.
9. M. P. H. G. Smeenk, Internet of Things for Smart Buildings. Packt Publishing, 2023.
10. Relevant IS Codes and National Building Code 2016.
 AP2023E LIGHTING SYSTEM DESIGN

Total hours: 39 Hours

L T P O C
Course Outcomes: 3 0 0 6 3

CO1: Understand the fundamentals of lighting design

CO2: Identify the challenges in the lighting design of interior spaces
CO3: Distinguish and select appropriate lighting fixtures and techniques to meet the lighting requirements
CO4: Prepare lighting layout for different spaces

Fundamentals of Lighting
Human light perception with eye, perceptual psychology, units in lighting, radiometric and photometric units, types
of lighting sources, quality of lighting, diffuse and direct, brilliance, glare, calculation of glare index, colour
rendering, controlling light, principles of light control, polar curve, reflectors, lens systems, luminaries- permanent
and movable, secondary reflectors, fibre optic systems, lighting design concepts

Lighting Design
Introduction - Lighting systems - Lighting criteria for different spaces- Qualitative and quantitative methods, lumen
method, lambert's cosine law, MHCP, MSCP, Illumination from Point source, lamp selection criteria, luminaire
selection - Lighting design and calculation - Local/general lighting Calculation-Lumen method.

Lighting Applications
Criteria and standards for different purpose/activity illumination- Residence, Office, Institution, Hospital and
commercial display lighting, street lighting, security lighting - Case studies for foyer, auditorium, offices, hotel,
sports, exhibitions etc. - Light Pollution- Outdoor lighting – Street and flood lighting (Sports stadia), Swimming pool
lighting and underwater luminaries.

Lighting Automation
Energy efficient lighting - Lighting automation for energy efficiency - Certifications like ECBC, LEED etc. -
Preparation of lighting layouts.

Note: In addition to classroom teaching, students should be provided additional input through special lectures by
experts from the industry. Projects should be assigned to students for hands-on experience of real-world situations.

References:

1. Mark Karlen, Christina Spangler, James R. Benya, Lighting Design Basics, Wiley, 2017.
2. L. Watson, Lighting design handbook, McGraw-Hill, 1990.
3. D. Phillips, Lighting modern buildings, Oxford: Architectural Press, 2000.
4. Cuttle, Christopher. Lighting design: a perception-based approach. Routledge, 2015.
5. Steffy, Gary. Architectural lighting design. John Wiley & Sons, 2002.
6. Livingston, Jason. Designing with light: The art, science, and practice of architectural lighting design. John
Wiley & Sons, 2021.
7. M. P. H. G. Smeenk, Internet of Things for Smart Buildings. Packt Publishing, 2023.
 AP2024E BUILDING ACOUSTICS

Total hours: 39 Hours

L T P O C
Course Outcomes: 3 0 0 6 3

CO1: Comprehend the fundamentals of sound propagation and their implications in acoustical design
CO2: Identify the acoustical defects and propose techniques for better acoustical design for enclosed spaces
CO3: Propose strategies for noise control in designed spaces
CO4: Distinguish and select appropriate acoustical materials and treatments to meet the required acoustical criteria

Fundamentals of Acoustics
Introduction to architectural Acoustics - Characteristics and measurements of sound; frequency, intensity, temporal
variation - decibel scale - auditory range - effect of sound on man - design criteria of sound for various architectural
spaces - Free propagation of sound - geometrical spreading - air absorption - effect of landscape elements - effect of
barriers - reflection of sound and sound enhancement - effect of thermal and wind gradient - application of these
principles in the design of open air theatre and planning of buildings.

Auditorium and Studio Acoustics

Behaviour of sound in enclosed spaces - principles of geometrical acoustics - sound built up and decay - reverberation
and reverberation time calculation - dead and live rooms - sound field of classrooms, offices and studios - Noise
criteria curves - acoustical problems - Auditorium acoustics - design criteria for speech and music - common defects
of auditoria - importance of reflective and absorptive treatment - Acoustic design for reverberation control - sound
amplification.

Noise Control
Principles of noise control - noise sources - sound field determination - airborne and structure borne sound - Noise
from impacts and mechanical operations - sound transmission through walls and partitions - impact noise insulation
- Vibration isolation - damping of noise - noise barriers - noise transmission through ducts - Design criteria for
industrial noise control in specific types of buildings like – auditoriums, residential buildings, hotels, school,
hospitals, offices, libraries.

Acoustical Materials and Construction

General description on the manufacture and properties of acoustical materials, acoustic tile and acoustic boards of
vegetable and mineral fibers, granular materials, acoustic carpets, resonator absorbers, unit absorbers, composite
materials and acoustic plaster panel absorbers - selective behaviour of acoustic materials resilient packing -
Construction details of acoustic treatment on walls, ceiling and floors maintenance of acoustic treatment.

Note: In addition to classroom teaching, students should be provided additional input through special lectures by
experts from the industry. Projects should be assigned to students for hands-on experience of real-world situations.

References:

1. David M Egan, Architectural Acoustics, McGraw Hill, New York, 2007.

2. Knudsen and Harris, Acoustical designing in Architecture, John Wiley and Sons, 1978.
3. Harris C. M, Handbook of Noise Control, McGraw Hill. 1979.
4. M. Barron, Auditorium Acoustics and architectural design, Taylor & Francis, 2009.
5. C. Hopkins, Sound Insulation: Theory into Practice, Butterworth Heinemann, 2008.
6. T. E. Vigran, Building Acoustics, Taylor & Francis, 2008.
7. Orlowski, Raf, Acoustics in Architectural Design, Crowood Press, 2021.
 AP3021E BUILDING ENERGY CONSERVATION

L T P O C

Total hours: 39 Hours 3 0 0 6 3

Course Outcomes:
CO1: Estimate energy consumption in buildings
CO2: Compare various Building Rating Systems
CO3: Propose suitable energy simulation tools
CO4: Propose suitable energy retrofit strategies

Energy Consumption and Energy Conservation in Buildings

Types of energy use in buildings, energy for lighting, energy for HVAC, energy for services and utilities, energy for
equipment – Energy conservation measures and techniques, Daylighting, Passive Cooling – Unifying building systems-
Alternate energy sources – Net-zero energy buildings - intelligent automation, smart technology, fault detection and
diagnostics, preventive maintenance.

Building Rating Systems

Study of rating systems – LEED, WELL, Green Globes, DGNB, BEAM Plus, GORD, Green Star, IGBC, GRIHA –
Comparative analysis of rating systems – ECBC and tips for energy conservation.

Energy Simulation Tools

Study of simulation techniques – study of energy simulation tools – EnergyPlus, eQUEST, IESVE, Auodesk Insight,
DesignBuilder – Comparative analysis of simulation tools.

Energy Retrofit Strategies

Energy retrofit techniques in buildings – envelope related, system related and renewable energy related retrofit technologies
– retrofit of building envelope, retrofit of lighting system, upgrading HVAC system, improving mechanical transportation.

Note: In addition to classroom teaching, students should be provided additional input through special lectures by experts
from the industry. Projects should be assigned to students for hands-on experience of real-world situations.

References:

1. J. R. Waters, Energy Conservation in Buildings: A Guide to Part L of the Building Regulations,

Wiley-Blackwell, 2008.
2. David C. Green, Home Energy Information: Measuring and Managing Energy Consumption in Residential
Buildings, Springer, 2014.
3. John Littler and Randall Thomas, Design with Energy: The Conservation and Use of Energy in Buildings,
Cambridge University Press, 1984.
4. Alberto Jesus Moreno (Editor), Renewable Energy and Energy Saving: Worldwide Research Trends,
Mdpi AG, 2022.
5. A Athienitis (Author), Modeling, Design, and Optimization of Net-Zero Energy Buildings (Solar Heating and
Cooling), Wilhelm Ernst & Sohn Verlag fur Architektur und te, 2015.
6. Linda Reeder, Guide to Green Building Rating Systems: Understanding LEED, Green Globes, Energy Star, the
National Green Building Standard, and More, John Wiley & Sons, 2010
7. Joseph Clarke, Energy Simulation in Building Design, Routledge, 2001
8. Mili Majumdar, Energy Efficient Buildings in India, The Energy and Resources Institute, TERI, 2009.
9. Vítor Leal, Buildings Energy Efficiency and Innovative Energy Systems, Mdpi AG, 2021.
10. A Athienitis, Modeling, Design, and Optimization of Net-Zero Energy Buildings (Solar Heating and Cooling),
Wilhelm Ernst & Sohn Verlag fur Architektur und te, 2015.
11. U Eicker, Low Energy Cooling for Sustainable Buildings, John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2009.
12. United States Congress Senate Committee, Energy Efficient Building Retrofits, Bibliogov, 2010.
 AP3022E BUILDING ENCLOSURE DESIGN

Pre-requisite: Knowledge of Building Climatology

Total hours: 39 Hours

L T P O C

Course Outcomes: 3 0 0 6 3
CO1: Understand principles of building envelope analysis
CO2: Appreciate enclosure design requirements related to thermal comfort and ventilation
CO3: Select appropriate provisions from relevant standards for design of enclosure
CO4: Understand serviceability issues related to building deterioration and vibration
CO5: Design building elements such as floor, wall, roof and openings

Fundamentals of Climate and Building Enclosure Design

Review of Climate Characteristics and Global and Site Climate - Purpose and importance of building enclosure design
- Review of environmental conditions, review of heat, air, and moisture fundamentals, typical building enclosure
components and materials -

Heat transfer, Ventilation and Moisture transfer

Heat transfer in building enclosures, Solar orientation, Review of conduction, and convection – rate of heat transfer, heat
resistance of enclosures – Enclosure airflow fundamentals, enclosure airflow fundamentals, estimating and measuring air
infiltration, designing for natural ventilation - Water vapour transport fundamentals, moisture transfer rates, Moisture
storage in porous materials, water vapour diffusion – Moisture problems and prevention, mold growth, corrosion, material
decay, freeze-thaw, controlling condensation and rainwater.

Application of Principles in Design and Software Techniques

Design requirements for energy efficiency – physics and basic requirements – application in walls, floor, roof and
openings – Introduction to enclosure analysis and design software like OpenStudio, DesignBuilder, EnergyPlus,
eQUEST, IESVE, Auodesk Insight.

Advanced and High Performance Building Enclosure Design

Green roofs, double-skin façades, alternative insulation materials, PV integration, phase change materials, advanced
windows, etc.

Note: In addition to classroom teaching, students should be provided additional input through special lectures by experts
from the industry. Projects should be assigned to students for hands-on experience of real-world problems.
References:

1. Straube, J. and Bernett, E., Building Science for Building Enclosure, Building Science Press, 2005.
2. Kuehn, T.H., Ramsey, J.W., and Threlkeld, J.L, Thermal Environmental Engineering, Prentice Hall, 1970
3. Kreider, J.F., Curtiss, P.S., and Rabl, A. Heating and Cooling of Buildings: Design for Efficiency,
CRC Press, 2010.
4. Jan F. Kreider, Ari Rabl, Heating and Cooling of Buildings: Design for Efficiency (McGraw-Hill
International Editions: Mechanical Engineering Series), McGraw-Hill Education, 1994.
5. Moss, K.J., Heat and Mass Transfer in Buildings, Taylor & Francis, New York, 2007.
6. SP41- Hand Book on Functional Requirements of Building, Bureau of Indian standards, 1987.
7. ASHRAE, Handbook of Fundamentals. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-
Conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, GA, 2009.
8. ASHRAE, 90.1 Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, American
Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, GA, 2010.
 ME3233E HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING

Pre-requisites: Nil

L T P O C
3 0 0 6 3
Total Lecture Sessions: 39

Course Outcomes:
CO1: Apply principles refrigeration and air conditioning processes to real systems
CO2: Estimate the cooling load/heating load and ventilation requirements
CO3: Design the air distribution system air conditioning and ventilating

Thermal comfort, effective temperature, standard effective temperature, comfort conditions, ventilation
standards, comfort chart, psychrometric processes, applied psychrometry, summer air conditioning
processes, winter air conditioning processes, year-round air conditioning processes.

Principles of refrigeration, Carnot refrigeration cycle, unit of refrigeration, capacity, coefficient of

performance. Refrigeration systems – vapour compression refrigeration system (VCRS), vapour
absorption refrigeration system (VARS), air cycle refrigeration system, steam jet refrigeration system,
thermoelectric system, solar refrigeration system etc. Components of refrigeration systems and
refrigerants. Installation and charging of refrigeration unit; testing for leakage; cause for faults and
rectification.

Estimation of air conditioning loads, heating and cooling loads, heat gain/loss through glass, heat
gain/loss through structures, internal load, ventilation load, and infiltration load, insulation. Air
distribution systems, friction losses and dynamic loss in ducts, duct design. Heating systems: warm air
systems, hot water systems, steam heating systems, panel and central heating systems, heat pump
circuit, heat sources for heat pump. Air conditioning systems and control systems, air filters,
humidifiers, fans, blowers, control systems for temperature and humidity, noise control.

References:
1. Arora, C.P., Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning, 4th ed., McGraw Hill, 2021.
2. Kell, J.R., and Martin, P.L., Air conditioning & Heating of buildings, 6th ed., Architectural Press,
2007.
3. Stoecker, W.F., Principles of Air conditioning, 2nd ed., Industrial press, 1983.
4. Stoecker, W.F., and Jones, J. W., Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, 2nd ed., McGraw Hill, 2014.
5. N. C. Harris, Modern Air Conditioning Practice, 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill, 1974.
6. Obrzut, J., Whitman B., Silberstein E., Tomczyk J. and Johnson B., Refrigeration and Air
Conditioning Technology, 6th ed., Delmar Cengage Learning, 2020.
7. Kreith F., Wang S.K. and Norton P., Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering, 1st ed., CRC
Press, 2019.
 ME4226E NET ZERO ENERGY BUILDINGS

L T P O C
3 0 0 6 3
Total Lecture Sessions: 39

Course Outcomes:
CO1: Evaluate comfort conditions for a given zone
CO2: Selection of energy efficient technologies for the buildings.
CO3: Modelling and simulation of building performance
CO4: Impart knowledge on recent advancements in this field

Thermal comfort, different climate zones, thermal comfort based on climatic zones, evaluation
of thermal comfort standards, principles of net zero energy building, design guidelines, site
planning, solar architecture, day lighting. Energy retrofit of existing buildings, energy
efficiency in new buildings, concept of net-zero & green buildings.

Energy requirement in the built environment, energy reduction using passive measures, energy
reduction using active measures, energy recovery and reuse in buildings, energy production in
buildings, an integrated net zero energy strategies. Building energy performance modelling and
simulation tools: software packages and coding, net zero energy building standards: national
and international codes.

Case studies: historic and modern buildings, residential and commercial buildings, schools and
hospitals etc. Design of net zero energy building by considering aspects of architectural design,
engineering and operations, energy performance, health and wellbeing, water performance,
embodied carbon, resilience, affordability, value proposition, innovation etc.

References:
1. Nayak, J.K., and Prajapati J.A., Handbook on Energy Conscious Buildings, MNES, 2006.
2. Givoni, B., Passive and Low Energy Cooling of Buildings, Van Nostrand Reinhold, 2004.
3. Bradshaw., V, Building Environment: Active and Passive Control Systems, John Wiley,
2006,
4. Clarke, J.A., Energy Simulation in Building Design, 2nd ed., Butterworth, 2001.
5. Krishnan, A., Climate Responsive Architecture: A Design Handbook for Energy Efficient
Buildings, Tata Mcgraw-Hill, 2004.
6. User’s Manual for The Energy Conservation Building Code, Bureau of Energy
Efficiency, 2017.
7. Sustainable Building Design Manual, The Energy and Resource Institute, 2004.
 AP4021E BUILDING SYSTEM SIMULATION LAB

Prerequisite: Knowledge on Building Enclosure Design

L T P O C
1 0 3 7 3

CO1: Able to navigate and utilize simulation tools effectively to create accurate representations of building systems.
CO2: Able to analyze HVAC systems, including heating and cooling loads, operational strategies, and energy
consumption, using simulation.
CO3: Able to simulate the daylight and artificial light distribution within buildings.
CO4: Use simulation tools to optimize energy efficiency, sustainability, and overall system performance in
architectural designs.

Introduction to Building System Simulation

Overview of the software and hardware resources available for simulations. Review of commonly used software,
including EnergyPlus, IESVE, DesignBuilder, Autodesk Insight, OpenStudio, and Radiance for lighting simulation,
Basic commands, modeling a simple building system e.g. a simple room. Simulation tools like Fire Dynamics
Simulator (FDS) and Smokeview (SMV) etc. for Firefighting and evacuation, simulation tools like I-Simpa, Odeon
etc. for acoustics of buildings.
Simulating HVAC systems
HVAC systems and their components, including heating, cooling, ventilation, and control systems. Discussion of the
impact of HVAC design choices on building energy consumption. Understanding the factors that influence thermal
comfort and load calculations, Hands-on exercises in modeling heating and cooling loads for a building. Use of
simulation software to assess the impact of different HVAC systems on load profiles. Analysis of HVAC operational
strategies, such as temperature setpoints, scheduling, and zoning. Simulation of HVAC system performance under
various control scenarios. Automation of HVAC and its implications.
Simulating Lighting Systems
Quantitative analysis of daylighting performance using simulation tools. Evaluation of daylighting metrics like
Daylight Autonomy (DA) and Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI). Comparison of different lighting design strategies
and their impact on energy use and visual comfort. Hands-on exercises in modeling natural lighting and daylighting
strategies. Simulation of shading devices and their influence on daylight availability. Use of simulation software to
assess the quality of natural lighting in spaces. Simulation of artificial lighting within buildings, generation of light
contours, simulation with light fixtures available in the market. detection and correction of light defects through
simulation. Simulating to assess the aesthetic quality of artificial lighting. Lighting automation and the energy
efficiency.
Recommended Software: DiaLux, Radiance
Sustainability Assessment and Life Cycle Analysis
Overview of various sustainability assessment framework like LEED, GRIHA etc.
Discussion of the triple bottom line approach: economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Introduction to
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and its significance in sustainable design. Phases of LCA: goal and scope definition, life
cycle inventory, impact assessment, and interpretation. Hands-on exercises in conducting a simplified LCA for
building materials. Simulation methods for LCA. Assessment methods for energy efficiency, water conservation,
indoor air quality, and materials.
Note: In addition to classroom teaching, students should be provided additional input through special lectures by
experts from the industry. Projects should be assigned to students for hands-on experience of real-world problems.

References:

1. V. Garg, J. Mathur, and A. Bhatia, Building Energy Simulation: A Workbook Using DesignBuilder, Boca
Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2020.
2. D. J. Stine, Commercial Design Using Autodesk Revit 2023, 1st Ed, Vol. 1, 1 Vol. Mission, Kansas: SDC
Publications, 2022.
3. A. Davoodi, Lighting simulation for a more value-driven building design process, Licentiate Dissertation,
Miljöpsykologiska enheten, Institutionen för arkitektur, Lunds tekniska högskola, Lund, 2016.
4. Manual of Software used for Hands-on sessions.