BES700 - Building Systems: Overview
Semester | |
School | |
Last revision date | 2024-09-23 01:46:41.986 |
Last review date | 2024-10-07 00:15:07.122 |
Subject Title
Building Systems: Overview
Subject Description
This subject provides an introduction to, and an overview of building systems, enabling students to relate to the operation of a building in a safe, energy efficient and environmentally conscious manner.
Credit Status
One subject credit.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject the student will be able to:
- Describe the characteristics making a building sustainable to optimize energy performance and occupant comfort to standards.
- Identify hazards associated with building systems to promote a safe building environment.
- Describe the the various building systems (i.e. Building Envelope, Heating, Cooling, Air Handling, Controls, Water, Electrical, Fire Protection) to optimize building performance, sustainably, while maintaining occupant comfort to standards.
- Review operation and maintence procedures of building systems to promote sustainability while optimizing energy performance and occupant comfort to standards.
- Identify various career sectors in the building systems industry to provide employment paths.
Essential Employability Skills
• Communicate clearly, concisely and correctly in the written, spoken and visual form that fulfils the purpose and meets the needs of the audience.
• Respond to written, spoken, or visual messages in a manner that ensures effective communication.
• Execute mathematical operations accurately.
• Apply a systematic approach to solve problems.
• Use a variety of thinking skills to anticipate and solve problems.
• Locate, select, organize, and document information using appropriate technology and information systems.
• Analyze, evaluate, and apply relevant information from a variety of sources.
• Show respect for diverse opinions, values, belief systems, and contributions of others.
• Interact with others in groups or teams in ways that contribute to effective working relationships and the achievement of goals.
• Manage the use of time and other resources to complete projects.
• Take responsibility for one's own actions, decisions, and consequences.
Academic Integrity
Seneca upholds a learning community that values academic integrity, honesty, fairness, trust, respect, responsibility and courage. These values enhance Seneca's commitment to deliver high-quality education and teaching excellence, while supporting a positive learning environment. Ensure that you are aware of Seneca's Academic Integrity Policy which can be found at: http://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/about/policies/academic-integrity-policy.html Review section 2 of the policy for details regarding approaches to supporting integrity. Section 2.3 and Appendix B of the policy describe various sanctions that can be applied, if there is suspected academic misconduct (e.g., contract cheating, cheating, falsification, impersonation or plagiarism).
Please visit the Academic Integrity website http://open2.senecac.on.ca/sites/academic-integrity/for-students to understand and learn more about how to prepare and submit work so that it supports academic integrity, and to avoid academic misconduct.
Discrimination/Harassment
All students and employees have the right to study and work in an environment that is free from discrimination and/or harassment. Language or activities that defeat this objective violate the College Policy on Discrimination/Harassment and shall not be tolerated. Information and assistance are available from the Student Conduct Office at student.conduct@senecapolytechnic.ca.
Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
The College will provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities in order to promote academic success. If you require accommodation, contact the Counselling and Accessibility Services Office at ext. 22900 to initiate the process for documenting, assessing and implementing your individual accommodation needs.
Camera Use and Recordings - Synchronous (Live) Classes
Synchronous (live) classes may be delivered in person, in a Flexible Learning space, or online through a Seneca web conferencing platform such as MS Teams or Zoom. Flexible Learning spaces are equipped with cameras, microphones, monitors and speakers that capture and stream instructor and student interactions, providing an in-person experience for students choosing to study online.
Students joining a live class online may be required to have a working camera in order to participate, or for certain activities (e.g. group work, assessments), and high-speed broadband access (e.g. Cable, DSL) is highly recommended. In the event students encounter circumstances that impact their ability to join the platform with their camera on, they should reach out to the professor to discuss. Live classes may be recorded and made available to students to support access to course content and promote student learning and success.
By attending live classes, students are consenting to the collection and use of their personal information for the purposes of administering the class and associated coursework. To learn more about Seneca's privacy practices, visit Privacy Notice.
Prerequisite(s)
None
Topic Outline
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
- Sustainability in the Urban Environment
- How Can Buildings be "Sustainable"
- Sustainable Design Criteria
- LEED Certification of Buildings
- Health, Safety and Indoor Air Quality
BUILDING AS A SYSTEM
- Introduction to "Systems"
- An Inventory of Building (Sub) Systems
- The Building Envelope
- The HVAC System
- Electrical Systems
- Building Control Systems
- Water Systems
- Fire Protection Systems
BUILDING ENVELOPE
- Heat Transmission through the Building Envelope
- Air Flow into and out of the Building
- Insulation
- Air Sealing
SPACE HEATING
- Introduction to Heating Systems
- Burners
- Furnaces
- Boilers
- Distribution Systems
- Heating Terminals
- Alternative Heating Systems
AIR CONDITIONING AND REFRIGERATION
- Introduction to Refrigeration
- Refrigerants
- Mechanical Refrigeration Systems
- Chillers
AIR HANDLING SYSTEMS
- Introduction to Air Handling Systems
- System Layouts
- System Components
- System Maintenance and Efficiency Issues
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
- The Building Electrical Distribution System
- Lighting Systems
- Electric Motors
- Other Building Electrical Systems
BUILDING CONTROL SYSTEMS
- Introduction to Control Systems
- The Components of Control Systems
- Computerized Control Systems
WATER SYSTEMS
- Overview of Building Water Systems
- Domestic Water Systems
- Water Treatment
- Water Efficiency
FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
- Introduction to Fire Protection Systems
- Fire Alarm and Sprinkler Systems
- Smoke Exhaust Systems
Mode of Instruction
Traditional Classroom
Lectures, discussions in the classroom, video
Online
Online learning with instructor support; interaction with your instructor via email.
Prescribed Texts
BES700 Building Systems: A Practical Overview , Seneca College
Available from the Seneca Bookstore.
Hard copy ISBN: 978-1-77429-092-7
Digital ISBN: 978-1-77429-153-5
Online students: textbooks can be purchased from the Seneca College bookstore online.
To find out the cost of books and learning material go here.
Any courses not listed on the bookstore webpage do not require any resources for purchase. All resources will be provided by your instructor.
Reference Material
None
Required Supplies
None
Student Progression and Promotion Policy
http://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/about/policies/student-progression-and-promotion-policy.html
Grading Policyhttp://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/about/policies/grading-policy.html
A+ | 90% to 100% |
A | 80% to 89% |
B+ | 75% to 79% |
B | 70% to 74% |
C+ | 65% to 69% |
C | 60% to 64% |
D+ | 55% to 59% |
D | 50% to 54% |
F | 0% to 49% (Not a Pass) |
OR | |
EXC | Excellent |
SAT | Satisfactory |
UNSAT | Unsatisfactory |
For further information, see a copy of the Academic Policy, available online (http://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/about/policies/academics-and-student-services.html) or at Seneca's Registrar's Offices. (https://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/registrar.html).
Modes of Evaluation
Since this is a professional credit subject, marking standards reinforce professional practice by demanding legible, tidy work. Written projects should be well organized and grammatically correct, with proper spelling and punctuation. Late projects are penalized. Please obtain standards, dates and additional information from your instructor.
While attendance is not a formal part of the evaluation process, absenteeism will almost guarantee your inability to achieve a satisfactory grade, as there is no formal provision for make-up tests or projects you may miss.
For the summer semester all assessments will be completed online.
Grading is based on the following marking scheme:
Classroom and Online:
Project: 20%
Midterm exam: 40%
Final exam: 40%