Environmental Science

in Buildinq
Fifth Edition
RANDALL MCMULLAN
MSc CPhys MCIOB MinstP
palgrave .
. '
Acknowledgements
The Aut hor and publishers thank the following organisations for permission to quote
from t hei r material. as indicated here and in the text .
Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers for data in chapter 3. Building
Research Establishment for daylight data in chapter 8.
R. McMullan 1983, 1989, 1992, 1998,2002
AI rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of
;this publication may be made without written permission.
(f)' paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or
itra smitted save with written permission or in accordance with
tt he' provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988,
'Or I Ader the terms of any licence permitting limited copying
issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, 90 Tottenham Court
Road, London W1 T 4LP.
Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this
m8Y to criminol prmccution ond
claims fo r damages.
The ,author has asserted his right to be identified as the author
of this wo k in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988.
First edi tion 1983
Second edition 1989
Third edition 1992
Fourth edition 1998
Reprinted three times
Fifth edition 2002
Published by
PALGRAVE
Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS
and 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010
Companies and representatives throughout the world
PALGRAVE is the new global academic imprint of
St. Martine's Press LLC Scholarly and Reference Division and
Palgrave Publishers Ltd (formerly Macmillan Press Ltd).
ISBN 0-333-94771- 1
This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and
made from fully managed and sustained forest sources.
Editorial and layout by Hart McLeod, Cambridge
A catalogue record for this book is available
from the British Library.
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Printed and bound in Great' Britain by
Antony Row.e Wiltshire
Contents
How to use this book VIZ
I The Environment 1
The built environment 2
Climate 4
Environmental comfort 9
2 Principles of Heat 10
Nature of heat 11
Heat transfer 22
Gases and vapours 25 -
Refrigerators and heat pumps 28
3 Thermal Insulation in Buildings ' 36
Thermal insulation 37
U-values 43
Thermal bridging 52
Structural temperatures 57
4 Energy use in Buildings 62
Energy use 63
Thermal comfort 65
Heat losses
70 ",
Heat gains 78
Energy balance 81
Energy regulations 86
5 Air Control in Buildings 9)
Ventilation 94
Humidity 98
Condensation in buildings 107
Condensation conditions 112
iii
iv Environmental Science in Building
6 Principles of Light 122
Nature of light 123
Nature of vision 125
Measurement of lighting 128
Colour 139
. .. . . . - .
. , ..... , . OJ
' 0
Lamps 145
Luminaires 153
Lighting design 156
8 Natural Lighting 165
Natural light sources 166
Daylight factors 167
Combined lighting 175
9 Principles of Sound ' 177 '
Nature of sound 178
Jound lcvcb liB
Attenuation of sound 190
Nature of hearing 194
10 Noise and Sound Insulation 200
Measurement of noise 201
Noise control 211
Noise transfer 213
Sound insulation 215
11 Room Acoustics 234
Acoustic principles 235
Reflection 236
Absorption 240
Reverberation 244
.f
12 Electricity Supplies 252
, ' , Current electricity 253
:''' .. ~ . .
, ,Magnetism 265
Induction 271
Power supplies '- '280 '
Electrical installations ,-286
.. '
.
13 Principles of Water Technology 290
J:.'lUlds at r ~ ~ t 2Yl
Fluid flow 296
Fluid energy 2
Contents v
14 Water 308
Natural 309
,
Hardness of water> 312
Sources of water 313
Water treatment 315
Water installations 321
15 Waste. Water 324
.
Drainage systems 325
Nature of waste \.Vater 327
Waste; water treatment 329
Options for se,wage treatment 334
16 Green Buildings 337
Climate around buildings 338
Resources for buildings 344
Energy conservation 345
Pollution 348
Sick and healthy buildings 350
Future 353
Resource 1
Science information 356
Units 356
Chemical processes 359
Resource 2
References 364
General built environment 364
Energy, insulation and services 365
Noise and acoustics 365
Water and general environmental 366
General government: UK 366
Professional Bodies: UK and Ireland 366
Standards Organisations 367
vi Environmental Science in Building
Preface
This book studies the science, technology and services that relate to the comfort
of humans and the environmental performance of buildings. The major topic
areas include climate, energy supplies and conservation, human comfort,
heating, ventilation, lighting, sound insulation, acoustics, electrical supplies,
water supplies, water treatment, sick buildings and green buildings.
The book is intended for students studying architecture, building,
engineering, environmental science and surveying at a variety of levels. The
contents of the book satisfy the principal requirements of courses for degrees,
national diplomas and certificates, and for examinations of professional
institutes. Tvvo decades of publication have confirmed the usefulness of the text
at all levels, from introductory student text to professional reference.
The book assumes minimum previous knowledge of science or mathematics
and makes facts and formulas accessible for reference and for use. Definitions
and units are expressed in forms appropriate for their context and enable access
.to the pr.actical technical literature of the various topics. Where a numerical
approach is required, worked examples are displayed step-by-step and
supported by exercises for practice.
The style of writing has been kept simple but, at the same time, it has a
technical content and accuracy appropriate- to these topics of study. The text is
illustrated by labelled drawings which are intended to help explain the text and
to act as models for student sketches.
The term environmental was not in common use when this book was first
developed. Since that time the need and interest for understanding our
environment has been reflected by new courses and their supporting materials,
including this book. This edition is a significant revision and expansion of the
hCH3k W kh places some of the topics into the broader framework of
elJJ.vioolllmernal concerns and the needs of current users. There was widespread
Sllllppomn f ( i ) ~ :leaving the title of the book Environmental Science in Building
undlanged as the central content of the book still aims to encourage knowledge
ctllU JJJl1-'lU YL II1LI1L;) aUUUL IlVVY VVL UL.:)J5.11, \....Vl..l J llU\...l U1IU UJ\.. VUJ. LlLU J.U.1.1J. bJ.
Randall McMullan
How to use this book vii
How to use this book
You can use this book in different ways, depending upon your needs. For
example, the wpics don't have to be studied in a particular order as their use
depends upon your course or professional purpose. All of the subjects in the
book are worthy of further study and it is hoped that this book will be a starting
point for further investigations. To help you get the most from the book its
features are summarised below.
Text
Tihe chapters assume very little previous knowledge of a topic and lead you to
a good wOTking knowledge. If you have forgotten your school science you will
find it useful to read the introductory chapters on the: basic uf heaL,
light and sound before studying the other chapters on these topics.
The content of the text itself gives an indication of the depth of knowledge
normally expected at this level of study. The style of writing has been kept
simple but it uses correct terminology and units. It can therefore act as an
example for the type of response expected when you need to display
knowledge of a topic, such as in a project.
Diagrams
The diagrams are intended to help explain the subjects in the book. The
drawings have also been kept relatively simple so that they can form the
for drawings of your own. Remember that accurate labels are as important
the drawings.
Calculations
Calculations can giv greater understanding of some topics, and you may also
need them in your course. The text emphasises those formulas that are
especially useful and may be also helpful to memorise. Important types of
calculation are explained by carefully worked examples, using relatively simple
calculations. Where further practice is relevant there are exercises at the end of
the chapter.
Margins
Look in the margin for rapid reminders of key terms and ideas and for
references to other places in the book where there is related information.
viii Environmental Science in Building
- ~ : .
Resource sections
~ ..
At the end of the book there is extra information presented in forms that make
it eas'Yto look up information such as scientific terms, units and symbols. The
references section also has signposts to many external organisations whose
publications and internet sites give more information on a topic.
Big picture
In addition to the specialist information about each subject, you should aim to
place your knowledge in the context of wider environmental studies and
concerns. Use the first chapter and the last chapter of the book to help you see
the bigger picture.