Lesson Structure:  Healthy Buildings I - Building Construction & Health BSS200

There are 10 lessons:

1  Introduction To Building Biology

• Scope and Nature of Building Biology
• Building Diseases -Chemical, Electrical, Cage, Location
• Environmental Law
• Biological Damage to Buildings
• Environmental Considerations
• Clean Interiors

2  Building Materials

• Introduction
• Dangerous Building Materials
• Chemical Effects on the Human Body
• Timber
• Formaldahyde Adhesives
• Plastics
• Masonary and Concrete
• Insulation Materials
• Soft Furnishings
• Paints
• Timber Treatments, stains, polishes, etc

3  Construction

• Roofing Materials
• Roof Gardens
• Roof Construction
• Floors
• Reasons to Choose Different Floors or Floor Coverings
• Pests in Buildings
• Dust Mites
• Fleas
• Ants
• Termites, Flies, Mosqiutos, Wasps, Cockroaches, etc
• Spiders
• Rodents, Birds, Snakes, etc

4  Services

• Electricity
• Electrical Fields
• Circuits
• Measuring Electricity and Exposure limits
• Terminology
• Power Supply Systems
• General Waste Disposal
• Waste Water

5  Temperature

• Introduction to Heating and Cooling
• Principles of TemperatureControl
• Heat Loss
• Types of Heaters
• Cooling Effects
• Air Cleaners, Filtration, Circulation, Air Conditioning
• Energy Conservation
• Solar House Design
• Active and Passive Solar Heating Systems

6  The Internal Environment: Ventilation

• Scope and Nature
• Natural Ventilation
• Mechanical Ventilation
• Air Conditioning
• Humidity Management

7  Light

• Internal Light in Buildings
• Natural Light
• Artificial Light
• Electric Light

8  Acoustics

• Internal Acoustic Control
• Improving Internal acoustics
• Noise Insulation

9  Ergonomic Considerations

• Scope and Nature of Ergonomics
• Form, Shape and Spatial Dimensions
• Furniture Design
• Interior Layout

10 Psychological Considerations

• Scope and Nature
• Physical and Psychological Affects of Colour
• Stressful or Calming Environments
• General Principles for Interior Design

Learning Goals:  Healthy Buildings I - Building Construction & Health BSS200

• To explain the concept of healthy buildings, including its relevance to human health
• To select building materials which are safe to human health
• To evaluate the health impact of different building techniques, including construction and design
• To explain how the way in which services are installed can impact upon the health of people using a building
• To explain how building design can impact upon the temperature quality of the physical environment inside
• To explain how building design can impact upon the quality of the physical environment inside with respect to ventilation
• To explain how building design can impact upon the quality of the physical environment inside with respect to light
• To explain how building design can impact upon the quality of the physical environment inside with respect to noise
• To explain ergonomic considerations in building design
• To explain psychological considerations in building design

Practicals:

• Explain the concept of building biology, in accordance with the international building biology institute.
• Explain the history of building biology institutes, in Germany, America, and New Zealand; with relevance to Australia.
• Explain the current status of bio-harmonic architectural practices in Australia.
  • Assess problems with different dangerous building materials including:
  • Asbestos
  • Plastics
  • Insulation materials
  • Treated pine.
• Compare characteristics of different commonly used building materials, including:
  • Rate of deterioration
  • Thermal qualities
  • Chemical properties
  • Acoustic qualities
  • Dust collection/repellence
  • Light reflection.
• Develop a checklist, for evaluating the health impact of different building materials.
• Evaluate the impact of different building materials on health, in a building inspected by you.
• Develop a checklist of building design factors, to assess the affect of design on human health.
• Develop a checklist of building construction factors (other than materials) which may impact upon human health.
• Explain how design can impact upon different aspects of the internal environment, including:
  • Thermal comfort
  • Light intensity
  • Humidity
  • Condensation
  • Acoustics
  • Control of pests
  • Noise insulation.
• Study two specific buildings and compare the impact of building techniques, including construction and design, upon human health.
• Explain the impact of electric fields on human health in a building you inspect.
• Explain how electrical fields can be minimised by the way in which electric wires are laid in a specific house plan.
• Compare differences upon the impact on health from different power supplies including:
  • Mains power
  • Self generated systems
  • Different voltages.
• Compare the potential impact on health, of different waste disposal systems including:
  • Chemical treatments
  • Reed beds
  • Settling ponds
  • Combustion systems
  • Land fill.
• Explain potential impact of different water supply systems on human health, including:
  • Mains water
  • Ground water
  • Different types of rain water tanks.
• Explain possible impacts of gas supply systems on human health including:
  • Mains gas
  • Bottle gas
  • Self generated bio gas.
• Compare the impact of different types of artificial light sources on human health, including:
  • Electric light
  • Combustion systems.
• Compare the impact of different types of heating systems on human health.
• List ways temperature can be controlled inside a building by design.
• Explain health impacts of air conditioning in a building you select and study.
• List ways acoustics can be controlled, by building design.
• List ways light can be controlled, through building design.
• List ways ventilation can be controlled, by building design.
• Explain solar energy applications in a specified building.
• Evaluate the impact of the design of a building you select and study on the interior environment.
• Redesign a building from a specified building plan, to improve the quality of the physical environment inside.
• Evaluate the heights of three different kitchen benches for ergonomic suitability to the people who are primary users of those benches.
• Explain the importance of clear and easy access into and through the building for all users, including the disabled.
• Explain health aspects of the relationship between the human body and the interior of a specific building.
• Explain the affect that four different colours may have on human health.
• Explain the affect of space perceptions may have on human health, in a visited interior workplace.
• Evaluate the psychological impact of the interior environment in two distinctly different offices, upon the people who work in each of those offices.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Due to our years of experience and wide range of online courses, here are a list of our FAQs and Answers asked by Students.

General

Q. Do I need to buy text books?
A. No, you are not required to purchase expensive text books for any of our courses, since each module has been written by highly qualified tutors and writers, and our courses are updated on a regular basis, adding new information, methods and knowledge. You are supplied with all “essential” references. Extra books are always useful though, especially for special projects. Tutors will advise you what to buy if you decide you would like to have extra reading material, but it is not essential. Check out our eBookstore if you’re looking for a starting point.

Q. What sets the Academy apart from other institutions?
A.  A unique feature of our courses is that we combine knowledge of the subject matter with practical tasks (set tasks, found at the end of each lesson).  So you get to do practical components in each lesson. The benefits of this approach are immense: – your skills and knowledge are developed to a much higher level not normally found at other distance learning institutions.

Q. How do the practical exercises (set tasks) work?
A. The practical component of each lesson can be in the form of : Field Research, Networking and Analysis, Conducting Surveys, Growing, Collecting, Photographing and Processes.

Q. If I do a shorter course first, can I get credits towards a certificate or diploma later?
A. Yes. We will assess previous studies to give you appropriate credits.

Q. Can I pay by instalments?
A. Yes, you can view all available payment options here.

Q. Do I get a discount if two of us enrol together?
A. Yes. You may claim a 5% discount on fees if you both enrol in courses at the same time.

Q. Do I get a discount if I enrol in a second course?
A. Yes. You will be offered a 10% discount on subsequent courses you enrol for.

Q. Can I use more than one discount code when enrolling for my course?
A. No. You can only use one discount code chosen by yourself per course, when more than one is available.

Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (eg. become sick, go on holidays, have a baby)
A. It’s OK to take a break and start up your study at a later point in time. Just let us know.

Q. Is there an age limit?
A. There is no maximum age limit. We do however; have a minimum age limit of 18 years. Below that age parental consent would be required.

Q. Are there any hidden costs?
A. There are no hidden extras – the tuition fee covers all course material, unlimited tutor support, assignment marking/feedback and any text books where specified and exams. The only extras are for the public examinations fees for the ICB Bookkeeping course and the RHS (Royal Horticulture Society) exams.

Q. Are your courses up-to date?
A. Our courses are continually updated. The course content is rapidly updated and improved without the red tape and bureaucracy experienced at other educational institutions.

Q. Do you have a Cancellation policy?
A. We have a cancellation policy that is fair and equitable. For further details please click here.

Q. What Recognition do you have?
A. The Academy for Distance Learning has various forms of recognition:
These include TQUK (Training Qualifications UK) – an Ofqual Awarding Organisation – ADL is an approved TQUK Centre.
IARC – International Approval Registration Centre, approved member.  Accredited Training Provider for ICB (Institute of Certified Bookkeepers) and Approved Distance Learning Provider for the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) and many more. Our graduates come from many parts of the world and have used our qualifications for successful employment and progression onto higher education. To view our full list  of recognition and memberships please click here,

Q. Will I have any opportunity to engage with other students?
A. We have a Student Community group based on facebook! If you don’t have a facebook account already, you could make one just for talking with fellow students on the group.

Q. Why should I enrol with the Academy for Distance Learning?
A. Here at the Academy our students are our priority – we treat every student as a unique individual. This philosophy allows us to nurture those who are “slow and steady” learners rather than letting them fall through the cracks, while catering for those who are in a hurry to complete.

Enrolment

Q. When can I enrol/start?
A. You may enrol and start at any time of the year – it’s all self- paced.

Q. Can I study from anywhere in the world?
A. Our courses are available to anyone, anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. The course content is relevant to any country, culture or economy.

Q. How long do I have to complete the course?
A. You complete the course at any time that is convenient for you. You’re under no pressure to finish by a certain deadline.

Q. Completing the course- how long will it take?
A. Completion of  modules varies from student to student.  Many factors come into play  such as work commitments and family life- there are always distractions.  Some students work quicker than others.  For a 100 hour module many students will take up to 3- 6 months,  others take less time and some are even longer. It’s all up to you.  There is no pressure to complete or deadline to finish. Naturally, longer courses will take more time.

Q. What learning formats are there?
A.  Your enrollment comes with the Online Classroom study option by default. For a small additional cost you also have the options of USB or Correspondence.
USB: Your course is sent to you on a USB stick, so that you can carry it in your pocket. Ideal for those with unreliable internet connections. This option is an additional £5/module

Correspondence:  You download the course content and then print your own copy to your requirements. You can then bind the lessons to suit your needs.

Assessments

Q. Assessment – how does it work?
A. For each 100 hour module you are assessed by assignments (at the end of each lesson) and a final one and a half hour exam (or you may elect to complete a project instead of sitting the exam) – the choice is yours – you sit for the exam in your own location, or you can visit us in Canterbury, England to sit the exam if want to.  Exam fees are included in the tuition fee you paid. You can read more about the examination process here. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment. You submit it to the academy who then submits it to the tutor for marking, comments and feedback. Our policy is to have a grade for you within 5 to 7 days.

Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work?
A. Yes – If you’re not happy with your work submitted you may re-submit the assignment again.

Q. How many assignments do I need to complete for each module?
A. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment – so if a course has say, 10 lessons there would be 10 assignments. The number of lessons per module varies from module to module. See the course content from our website for further details.

Q. When do I have to hand in my first assignment?
A. There is no deadline for handing in the first assignment. Submit when you are ready. There are some students who hand in assignments within the first couple of weeks of enrolment – while there are others who submit their work 6 months later. It’s all at your own convenience to suit you. Everyone has different work and home commitments and we cater to these needs.

Q. I am having difficulty attending workshops/industry meetings, what can be done?
A. If your course requires attendance at workshops, conferences, or industry meetings; alternative arrangements can be made in your country; however, there may be an additional expense. We can appoint an appropriately qualified person anywhere to work through curriculum documentation supplied by us, to satisfy the requirements set down in a course.

Qualifications

Q. What qualification will I receive?
A. For individual modules, you would receive a Certificate (providing you complete all assignments and the exam). If you just want to complete the assignments only, then a Letter of Achievement would be awarded. For more details on qualifications awarded please click here.

Q. Is there a next level to progress to?
A. Yes – you can progress from one module to a combination of many modules and to higher qualifications i.e. Advanced Certificates, Diplomas and Higher Advanced Diplomas. Read more about course levels here.

Q. Can I customize my diploma/higher qualification?
A. Not all educational institution’s certificates /diplomas meet everyone’s needs. The opportunity to design your own diploma at the Academy (subject to our approval) is an added bonus, not found at other colleges. It’s a very popular option and widely used by many students. You quite simply choose the appropriate number of related modules needed to complete the qualification and submit them to us for approval as a custom diploma.

Q.  What do I get when I complete the course? Will I receive a transcript?
A. At the completion of a 100-hour Certificate course and providing all assignments and exam have been completed, you will receive a Certificate and Transcript.  The Transcript will list your GPA.  Each 100-hour module is worth 3 credit hours.

Exams

Q. Do I have to sit for an exam?
A. Exams are optional but need to be undertaken in order to receive the Certificate or higher qualification.  Exams are one and a half hours long. You appoint an adjudicator (subject to our approval) to supervise the exam. You sit for the exam in your own location. Its that simple.

Q. I don’t cope well with exams – what can I do?
A. If you feel you don’t cope well with exams you may elect to undertake a Project (set by the tutor) instead of sitting the exam.  Many students prefer this option as they find researching the material for the project sharpens their research skills.

Q. If I don’t sit for the Exam do I still get a qualification?
A. If you don’t sit for the exam but complete the project alternative, you will still receive your endorsed qualification. If you don’t sit for an exam or complete a final project, providing you have completed all the assignments you will be awarded a Certificate of Achievement.

Q. Do I have to sit for the exam at the Academy? 
A. No – whilst you are more than welcome to come to our location in Canterbury, U.K. and sit the exam in our classroom; the more popular option is to sit for the exam in your own location. You appoint an adjudicator to supervise the exam. Click here for more information on that process.

Q. Are there any exam fees?
A. There are no exam fees.  However, for some public examinations such as the ICB (Bookkeeping) and RHS courses exam fees do apply.  See course content for details.

Tutors

Q. Our tutors – who are they?
A.  We only employ tutors who have are currently active in their industry with at least 5 years of real-world experience.  Not only are they highly qualified but also experienced, knowledgeable, and professional- experts in their chosen fields from all parts of the world.

Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time?
A. Yes- you have unlimited access to tutors. We strongly encourage students to develop a dialogue with their Tutor. This is why we encourage students to submit their first assignment fairly quickly at the beginning of the course.
Every Academy student is assigned a tutor who supports you throughout your course and beyond. Your tutor is there to guide and facilitate your learning and provides as much or as little individual contact as you would like. When you submit your coursework the tutor will give you feedback that helps you develop your ideas and provides motivation. For those who do like to have interaction with other students, the ADL discussion forum connects you to students from all over the world.

Q. How do I contact my tutor?
A. You have direct contact with your tutor by email through the Online Classroom. Alternatively, you can write, fax, email, or phone the academy. Leave a message if your tutor isn’t available and they will phone, write or fax back; whatever suits you.

Q. If I don’t agree with / like my tutor can I request a change?
A. Yes – we try to accommodate and meet student’s needs and a change of tutor may be arranged.

Q. If I don’t understand a question or a lesson may I contact the tutor?
A. You may contact a tutor as often as you like. There is no additional charge or restriction on this service.  Contact can be made via the Student Zone, email, or by phone.

Q. Practical work – How is this done?
A. To find out more about this part of the course please visit the section on How Our Courses Work here.

Excerpt From The Course

HEATING AND COOLING

People are more comfortable and less physically stressed in an environment where the temperature is neither too hot nor too cold. Temperature regulation is in fact one of the main reasons why we create and inhabit buildings.

There are two obvious ways to control temperature in a building:

• One is to seal it off from the outside world
• The other is to heat up or cool down the inside as required.

Sealing the inside of a building however can have serious negative side effects: oxygen levels drop and the quality of air we breathe is not as good.

If a building is to remain a healthy environment, and temperature regulated at the same time; you should try to avoid sealing the building. Always try to maintain ventilation. This is covered in more detail in the following lesson.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL

Principles of Temperature Control

• Supply heat at the same rate it is lost to maintain temperature (To minimise heat loss, reduces need for heating). Heat is lost by conduction (through walls & roof), infiltration (warm air being lost from house) and radiation (heat radiating from warm objects inside the house)
• Central heating system is more efficient than localised heaters
• Localised heaters are cheap to purchase but more expensive to run
• Emergency heaters (back ups) are desirable
• Air circulation and distribution of heat source points is critical to even temperature control
• Air fans to distribute hot air are sometimes used.
• Thermostat should be at height & approx positioning to reflect the temperature where the occupants of the building are to be found
• Heat requirement is reduced by installing sound insulating principles during the design process.
• Cooling is affected by: opening doors & vents; exhaust fans; evaporative coolers
• Exhaust fan placement is important when walls are less than 15ft apart, fans in adjacent walls should alternate should not be opposite.

Temperature can be controlled in buildings in several ways:

• The sun will warm the building during the day. This effect varies according to the time of year, time of day and the weather conditions that day. The way the building is built and the materials used in construction will also influence the building's ability to catch heat from the sun, and hold that heat.
• Heaters can be used to add to the heat in a building. The heater must have the ability to replace heat at the same rate at which it is being lost to the outside.
• Vents and Doors can be opened to let cool air into the building, or closed to stop warm air from escaping.
• Insulation can be installed to give greater control over temperature loss and retention.
• Coolers (blowers etc) can be used to lower temperature.
• Exhaust fans can be used to lower temperature.

PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN

The use of passive solar design is maximised by efficient engineering and architectural design practices. By the use of orientation, ventilation, thermal mass, insulation and glazing/shading we can design for heating, cooling, storing and control of temperature.  Not only does this make our houses more comfortable, but it can dramatically reduce our power requirements.  In fact it is recommended that before installing any alternative energy systems it is best to first consider what use can be made of passive solar energy and design principles to minimise our energy needs.

When considering passive solar design for a house or any particular building, it must be taken in context with the immediate surrounds and the general climate of the location.  For example, features installed for a house in Canada would differ greatly that for one in Asia.

Solar Design Principles

• Orient the building with the longest side running east to west.
• In cold climates there should be as much window as possible on the north facing wall (in the southern hemisphere) /south facing wall (northern hemisphere) so as to catch the sunlight. There should be minimum windows on the other three sides.  Obviously in hot climates this would be inappropriate.
• Insulation in the walls and roof will prevent heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer.
• To gain the best affect cover windows with either close woven curtains or close fitting blinds enclosed at the top by pelmets.
• Use deciduous trees to shade north facing (southern hemisphere)/ south facing (northern hemisphere) windows in summer.
• Eves and outside blinds can aid shading of windows in summer when the sun is higher in the sky.
• Drafts should be minimised by weather stripping. Heat loss through outside doors can be minimised by using air lock/ entry rooms.

Solar Space Heating and Cooling

Whether a building needs heating or cooling will depend upon its location and use.  In cool climates heating can be achieved by:

• solar heating combined with thermal mass to prevent overheating and to store heat for release in the evenings. For example, glass that faces north, well sized eaves and slab floors to act as thermal mass can all be incorporated.

• trombe walls utilise a system of having a glass window on the outside of a solid masonry wall the sun heats the wall during the day from which heat is released during the evening, and warmed air (from the cavity between glass and masonry) is circulated into the building.

In warm climates cooling can be achieved by:

• a raised and vented section of the roof can act as a chimney for heated air to rise and escape.
• solar powered fans
• shutters
• insulation
• wide verandas shade windows and walls

Passive Solar Design

Passive solar heating can be achieved first in the design process of a building by consideration of the latitude, the sun’s elevation and the site.

Building orientation: dependent upon hemisphere, building orientation is best aligned in a north/south alignment to maximise the incoming solar energy as required.  Rooms that are most frequently used/heated should be aligned on the sun side (south in northern hemisphere, north in southern hemisphere.

Awnings/Windows/Skylights:  By careful placement of awnings, it is possible to allow winter sunlight to enter the rooms thus providing free heating and to then block the summer room to prevent unwanted heating.  This also applies to window and skylight placement.  Appropriate placement of deciduous trees which lose their leaves in winter but provide summer shade is also highly recommended and can reduce up to approximately 20% of heating and cooling costs.  Glazing can also greatly affect heat loss through windows, as will window shape, placement and control over windows.

Thermal Mass:  Thermal mass assists in maintaining a constant temperature inside a building by the ability of certain materials to absorb, store and then release heat.  This ability generally increases with material weight.  For example: mud brick, rock and bricks have a high thermal mass than timber cladding. Note that poor use of thermal mass can exaggerate the worst temperature fluctuations in the building, it must be used with care and in combination with other features.  It can work very effectively in locations with a large variation between day and night temperatures.  Basically for thermal mass to work well it needs to be exposed to solar radiation during winter where it will absorb the heat and later release it keeping the building warm, during summer it needs to be shaded from incoming solar energy thus keeping the mass cool, this can be achieved by use of awnings, overhanging roof and shade trees.

Water has the highest thermal mass followed by concrete, sandstone, compresses earth blocks and rammed earth.

Heating using Fuel Sources

Once consideration to minimising heat loss and maximising use of solar heating opportunities, attention can also be given to the best fuel source for heating.

Options include gas, coal, oil, grid electricity, wood and bio-fuels.