Chapter 2 - The Design Process

Abstract

This chapter addresses the basic issues that are addressed during the design phases of a building project and discusses a number of factors that influence building designs such as codes and economic considerations. There are numerous variations of the design process, perhaps as many as there are designers. The design phase is often broken into conceptual design, schematic design, and design development subphases. Each phase should have input from the HVAC&R design team. The HVAC&R design team should strive to provide input during the earliest phases since these are the most critical to project success, as they set the stage for all subsequent work. Design validation involves the use of a wide range of estimates, calculations, simulations, and related techniques to confirm that a chosen design option will meet the appropriate design criteria. Design validation is essential to successful design. The first step in design is to map out the general boundaries within which solutions are to be found, it may be hard to know where and how to start because there is no background from which to make initial assumptions. To overcome this obstacle, initial assumption should be informed and improved through subsequent analysis.