Multi-storey Apartment Research Articles

Ventilation System Design in Three European Geo Cluster

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate possible ventilation solutions for nZEB multi apartment buildings in three European geoclusters. Geo-cluster concept illustrates trans-national areas where strong similarities are found in terms of climate, culture, construction typologies and other factors. Paper presents comparison of ventilation needs for the same case study building located in Denmark, Estonia, Latvia and Portugal. The economic and technical comparison of different ventilation systems are presented as well. Special focus is attended to develop introduction of modular solutions and integration of ventilation ducts into external insulation as this can serve as a complex solution including both external constructions and engineering networks. Presented modular solution includes prefabricated insulation panels with integrated ventilation ducts. This paper is prepared in scope of work done within EU HORIZON2020 MORE-CONNECT project. Research methodology is based on data analysis provided by project partners as well as practical calculation. Compilation of ventilation air volume requirements according to the local regulations for Latvia, Estonia, Portugal and Denmark has shown significant difference in design air change rate in project countries. The financial analysis reveals the price difference between various ventilation strategies and provides discussion topic regarding ventilation strategies in nZEB buildings.

Heated atrium in multi-storey apartment buildings, a design with potential to enhance energy efficiency and to facilitate social interactions

The design concept of conditioned atria gains increasing popularity in commercial and service buildings all over the world, but is still not a common building design in the residential sector. This study investigates the potential of such design in residential buildings in Nordic climates as means to enhance both energy efficiency as well as social interaction among residents. Energy modelling was used to compare energy efficiency among designs of residential buildings with and without atrium and to identify important design parameters. Social interaction was analysed, based on a survey evaluating the perception of residents living in an existing multi-storey apartment building designed with a heated atrium in the north of Sweden.The results show that heated atrium in Nordic climates have a potential to reduce the total final energy demand while at the same time increase the conditioned space of the building. To positively impact energy efficiency, the atrium should fulfil three requirements: (i) it should be designed to reduce the shape factor for the whole building; (ii) it should have the minimum glazed area that comply with the building requirements concerning natural light and visual comfort; and (iii) adjustable solar shading should be installed in the atrium’s façades to avoid unwanted overheating. The survey results indicate that the additional space created by the atrium has a potential to facilitate and promote social interaction among residents and to increases a sense of neighbourliness and belongingness, which are often discussed as important parameters in relation to social sustainability.

Employing Battery Storage to Increase Photovoltaic Self-sufficiency in a Residential Building of Sweden

Photovoltaic (PV) or hybrid PV-battery systems are promising to supply power for residential buildings. In this study, the load profile of a multi apartment building in Gothenburg and the PV production profile under local weather conditions are compared and analyzed. Three different types of batteries, including lead acid, NaNiCl (Sodium-Nickel-Chloride) and Lithium ion, are studied in combination with the PV systems. It is found that Lithium ion battery system is superior in achieving higher Self-Sufficiency Ratio (SSR) with the same Life Cycle Cost (LCC). Achieving high SSR with the hybrid PV-battery system is unrealistic because of the seasonal mismatch between the load and electricity production profile. The capacity match between the PV and battery to maximize SSR was investigated, showing different trends under system LCC range of 0.1-40 Million SEK (1SEK≈0.12USD). The system LCC should be lower than 10.6 Million SEK (at the SSR of 36%) in order to keep the payback time positive.

Innovative Flexible Structural System Using Prefabricated Modules

Prefabricated modular structures are increasingly becoming popular as a strategy that can be used to achieve cost-effective and speedy construction. However, there is an absence of detailed engineering research and case studies dealing with the structural performance of this technology. Although such prefabricated modules are already used for some buildings, they cannot be categorized as exclusively modular structures because a core structure is used in most of them to carry the lateral loads. This paper gives a brief overview of prefabricated modular structures and an introductory preview into an innovative structural system that can be adopted to deliver a purely modular construction. The introduced structural system was assessed through a case study of a multistory apartment building that was constructed using prefabricated modules. The static and dynamic behavior of the structure was analyzed using finite-element analysis techniques with the aid of a three-dimensional (3D) computer model. Torsional or twisting effects are a major problem for the designers of buildings. Results show that with the introduced system, the elevator shafts can be flexibly shifted around the plan without causing adverse torsional effects to the structure. The introduced technology is discussed in detail along with the key points that make it a viable option to be used in medium- and high-rise buildings.

DESIGN OF A RESIDENTIAL BUILDING FOR 2BHK WITH 2 BLOCKS

Analyze and designing of a multistoried framed structure for G+4 floors. The analysisof multistoried residential apartment is designed by limited state method. The analysis of frame would be done by kani’s method then it is proposed to design the structural elements according to IS 456-2000. The analysis and design id done for one single block and hold for the rest. The height of the room is taken as 3mts and walls are provided with 230mm thickness and inner partition walls are constructed with bricks masonry of 70mm thick. The multistoried consists of 4 floors and each floor is having 2 blocks having total area of 105sq.mts each. The analysis and design is done for one single block which is identical for the rest.

Seasonal evaluation of adaptive use of controls in multi-storied apartments: A field study in composite climate of north India

Abstract A Class II level field survey is conducted in five naturally ventilated multi-storied apartments in the composite climatic zone of north India. A total of 984 data-sets were collected for the whole year, involving over 82 subjects and 55 apartment units. This paper highlighted the season-wise behavioral change in the usage pattern of controls and the resultant thermal response of the subjects. It is observed that at extreme weather conditions, subjects are switching to ‘seasonal controls’ (i.e. fans, A/C’s and heaters/hot blowers) as oppose to the ‘designed controls’ (i.e. windows, balcony doors and blinds) or personal controls (i.e. changing ‘clo’ and ‘met’ levels). The study concludes that if designed controls are efficiently incorporated in the building the thermal perception of the residents and the resultant energy consumption can be improved.

Measuring the performance of property management companies in high-rise flats

Purpose The complex nature of multi-ownership, multi-storey buildings requires the services of property management companies (PMCs). Naturally, homeowners favor PMCs with good performance. Yet, their performances vary. The purpose of this paper is to measure the performance of PMCs in managing high-rise flats using the logic model as the contextual framework with its indicators adapted from the building quality index (BQI) scheme. Design/methodology/approach For this pilot study, the research was based on visual inspection and interviews with building management staff for the information concerning the output and outcome indicators. The authors also tested the relationship between outcomes and outputs and other factors that affect the performance of PMCs. Findings Based on our pilot study of 41 high-rise residential buildings, the performance outcomes of the PMCs varied considerably. The same PMC was likely to yield different performance outcomes due to unique building characteristics. The outputs, building ages and rehabilitation statuses of the buildings were the contributing factors to the PMCs’ performance outcomes. Practical implications The performance outcomes of the logic model can help homeowners and PMCs understand current PMC performance, which can help trigger the development of a strategy to enhance the health and safety of residential buildings in the future. Originality/value Unlike traditional performance measurements that use financial figures or balanced scorecards to measure organizational performance, the authors used the logic model performance measurement system because the performance outcomes of the PMCs were explicitly reflected in the physical building conditions. This framework was relatively straightforward and could be applied to cities dominated by multi-ownership, multi-storey apartments.

New Introductions, Spread of Existing Matrilines, and High Rates of Pyrethroid Resistance Result in Chronic Infestations of Bed Bugs (Cimex lectularius L.) in Lower-Income Housing.

Infestations of the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.) have increased substantially in the United States in the past 10–15 years. The housing authority in Harrisonburg, Virginia, conducts heat-treatments after bed bugs are detected in a lower-income housing complex, by treating each infested unit at 60°C for 4–6 hours. However, a high frequency of recurrent infestations called into question the efficacy of this strategy. Genetic analysis using Bayesian clustering of polymorphic microsatellite loci from 123 bed bugs collected from 23 units from May 2012 to April 2013 in one building indicated that (a) 16/21 (73%) infestations were genetically similar, suggesting ineffective heat-treatments or reintroductions from within the building or from a common external source, followed by local spread of existing populations; and (b) up to 5 of the infestations represented new genotypes, indicating that 5 new populations were introduced into this building in one year, assuming they were not missed in earlier screens. There was little to no gene flow among the 8 genetic clusters identified in the building. Bed bugs in the U.S. often possess one or both point mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel, termed knockdown resistance (kdr), from valine to leucine (V419L) and leucine to isoleucine (L925I) that confer target-site resistance against pyrethroid insecticides. We found that 48/121 (40%) bed bugs were homozygous for both kdr mutations (L419/I925), and a further 59% possessed at least one of the kdr mutations. We conclude that ineffective heat treatments, new introductions, reintroductions and local spread, and an exceptionally high frequency of pyrethroid resistance are responsible for chronic infestations in lower-income housing. Because heat treatments fail to protect from reintroductions, and pesticide use has not decreased the frequency of infestations, preventing new introductions and early detection are the most effective strategies to avoid bed bug infestations in multistory apartment buildings.

Transformation of Shophouses in Phnom Penh, Cambodia: In the Aspect of Spatial Organization

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the rationale behind the transformation process of unique shophouse spatial organization in Phnom Penh. We selected 20 representative shophouses located in the Chinese district of Phnom Penh according to construction period. A qualitative study methodology was applied and field surveys were conducted that included interviews with residents, photographs, sketches, measurements, collecting historic photos, and cataloging maps. Selected cases were analyzed in terms of: basic house data, urban block analysis, and unit analysis. Cases were then classified into two types: private courtyard shophouse (PCS) and shared courtyard shophouse (SCS). PCS refers to shophouse typology that maintains most of the characteristics of early shophouses while being transformed into a modern multi-story apartment within a limited one bay plot. However, SCS refers to shophouses adapted from the indigenous forms of PCS that evolved into a multi-storey and multi-family housing typology that includes features that might have been adapted from Western apartment buildings such as sharing a big courtyard, staircase and corridors. We conclude that shophouses in Phnom Penh have positively adopted a Western building typology, adapted it to local traditions, and finally formulated a new building type that represent indicators of a modernization process gradually accepted by society.

Specifics of Building Envelope Air Leakage Problems and Airtightness Measurements

In addition to transmission heat loses the infiltration of outdoor air can cause significant heat losses. The external building envelope should be airtight in order to prevent uncontrolled cold air infiltration. The article analysis modern building materials and structures influence on airtightness. The practical measurements of renovated buildings' airtightness are presented and compared to non-renovated buildings. In addition paper presents data on airtightness measurements of whole multi apartment building and single apartment in analyzed building taking inco accout properties of building materials. The airtightness of single apartment was evaluated with support pressure in neighbor apartments. The results show that the airtightness measurements of multi apartment building can be evaluated by measuring single apartment on last floor with support pressure in neighbor apartments. The practical measurement of renovated buildings had shown the air leakage rate q50 of typical Latvian construction after renovation is between 2.5 and 2.9 m 3 /(m 2 ·h). Since the building envelope has to minimize the heat loses (transmission and infiltration) and ventilation system either mechanical or natural has to provide necessary air exchange, the building envelope airtightness shouldn't be dependent on type of ventilation systems.

Search for the Synthesis of Urban Space and Forest Areas

On the basis of the “canvas” of the spatial structure of urban and rural populated areas one can trace the character of the cultural historical building layering, which in the context of natural base elements, forms a higher or lower aesthetic quality level of the society's living space. This comparison is particularly attributed to the cities of post-socialism countries where due to the impact of the economic and political situation the inner developments of multi-storey apartment building are not dealt with as aesthetically high-quality green recreation areas. The 21st century living space quality requirements make urban planners think intensively about the revitalization of post-war period residential building, which is associated with searching for solutions with regard to visual and functional organisation and arranging of open space. The study focuses on the existing forest areas as well as urban building structure, which is affected by anthropogenic load intensity. Over the last ten-year period there has been a new direction in the tendencies of urban planning which pertains to both - regaining historical building and well thought-out development of green spaces.

Venturing deep into high right-bank slide of river Ganges near Chandernagore Strand, in Hooghly, India

Two multi-storied occupied apartment buildings and a clinic of ‘ Red-Cross Society’ in Chandernagore-a former French colony, located very close to the banks of tidal river ‘ Hooghly’ (-the southernmost part of River Ganges- the major hydrodynamic system that formed the world's largest delta) are standing precariously, following some recurrent slides of high river-bank during the last year’s monsoons. The area where the ground caved in, is on the end of the famous Strand Bank Road (in Hooghly district of West Bengal in India); which is supposed to be the best decorated bank of the river ‘ Ganges’ along its entire length of 2500 km. The opposite river bank is an official sand mining site. The river over considerable stretch at both upstream and downstream apparently seemed stable when analyzed over an extensive temporal domain from old Survey of India toposheets, recent satellite imagery, digital elevation model, field hydrographical survey synthesized in Geographical Information System (GIS) platform. A closer look into the geotechnical aspects supported by subsurface exploration, post failure on-site exposures and stability analysis revealed certain startling facts when considered in association with the hydro-meteorological factors and fluvial dynamics. An in-depth study of the factors responsible for the localized erosion is presented based on site observations and evidences, analyzed in association with real time hydrological and meteorological data.

FEATURES MULTISTORY NEARLY ZERO ENERGY BUILDINGS (NZEB) FOR A COLD CLIMATE

To determine the possibility of building in the climatic conditions of the city of Yekaterinburg multistory apartment houses with zero energy consumption has been selected for typical methodology (for building density, number of storeys, constructive and shape) that designates the characteristic values of specific consumption of heat, electricity and hot water to perform calculations in a typical house. Using packet PHPP (Passive House Planning Package) for a typical home computer developed two computer models: the standard design (base case) and a house with energy-passive building technologies (improved version). The study determined that the most significant factor limiting the increase in the thermal protection of the building are energy consumption for the production of building materials, which by increasing the thickness of the insulation over the base model home magnitude of more than 500 mm, lead to an increase in energy consumption over the life cycle (including energy costs in the production of construction materials. The study proved the possibility of building a multi-storey apartment building with a zero energy consumption (as an annual balance sheet).

Residents’ Experiences of Privacy and Comfort in Multi-Storey Apartment Dwellings in Subtropical Brisbane

Dwellings in multi-storey apartment buildings (MSAB) are predicted to increase dramatically as a proportion of housing stock in subtropical cities over coming decades. The problem of designing comfortable and healthy high-density residential environments and minimising energy consumption must be addressed urgently in subtropical cities globally. This paper explores private residents’ experiences of privacy and comfort and their perceptions of how well their apartment dwelling modulated the external environment in subtropical conditions through analysis of 636 survey responses and 24 interviews with residents of MSAB in inner urban neighbourhoods of Brisbane, Australia. The findings show that the availability of natural ventilation and outdoor private living spaces play important roles in resident perceptions of liveability in the subtropics where the climate is conducive to year round “outdoor living”. Residents valued choice with regard to climate control methods in their apartments. They overwhelmingly preferred natural ventilation to manage thermal comfort, and turned to the air-conditioner for limited periods, particularly when external conditions were too noisy. These findings provide a unique evidence base for reducing the environmental impact of MSAB and increasing the acceptability of apartment living, through incorporating residential attributes positioned around climate-responsive architecture.

Climatic exterior walls in residential buildings of Yazd

This paper deals with evaluating the thermal behavior of exterior walls in dwellings of a particular place. Today, there is a huge increase in constructing multi-storey apartment buildings and single-family houses in the city of Yazd, a city with hot dry climate and a rich historical architecture in Iran. Unfortunately, the new methods that are used nowadays to make the envelopes of these dwellings are not suitable for the climate of the city, so they are not sustainable. The aim of this study is to evaluate the thermal properties of all types of applicable walls and recommend suitable exterior walls that are constructed of common materials in the region to improve comfort and energy conservation. The procedure of the research includes two parts: at first the climatic characteristics of Yazd is Studied. At the second part, to define the most suitable wall, effective thermal properties of the walls are calculated in none steady-state conditions. These properties are calculated for the walls with different types and thicknesses of common material layers in various positions. At last, a comprehensive compare between thermal properties of the different walls is done and sustainable envelopes ─exterior walls that are suitable for both cold and hot seasons in Yazd─ are defined. In the result section, the types, thicknesses, and positions of the layers of the recommended walls in four directions of acceptable building orientation (that is +15 degree towards east-south) are defined, and the needed amount of mass and insulation as well as their relative positions is discussed. Furthermore, sun porch as a suitable passive heating system for cold seasons is suggested in some directions.

Analysis of Mechanical Ventilation System with Heat Recovery in Renovated Apartment Buildings

During the study two buildings have been analysed, both belong to 103 series buildings. The main objective of the work is to assess the efficiency of mechanical ventilation systems with heat recovery in renovated multi-family residential buildings. A comparison with natural ventilation systems is included. The paper focuses on data collection and analysis in two newly renovated buildings; both for energy efficiency and indoor air quality. It also shows one of the ways to solve space and low ceiling problems in existing multi-story apartment buildings by integrating supply air ducts in the insulation layer of the building facade.

Suitability of Current Assessment Techniques to Retrodict the Seismic Damage of Buildings: A Case Study in Van, Turkey

Two strong earthquakes hit the region of Van (Turkey) in 2012, generating major losses. A large part of the building stock was damaged causing the evacuation of the residents. A post-earthquake investigation team dispatched by the UNESCO through the IPRED platform, six month after the earthquakes, observed the damage state in some still standing buildings. Ten buildings having different structural characteristics were observed. Slight structural damage and severe non-structural damage were observed in three multi-storey apartment buildings, being evacuated at the time of the investigation. Despite the slight structural damage, two multi-storey reinforced concrete shear wall buildings were listed for demolition based on the results of the post-earthquake rapid assessment. These two buildings were recently built based on modern seismic design regulations. The design blueprints were available to the investigation team with the support of the local community of Van. Various rapid post-earthquake investigation techniques applied by the investigation team generated contradictory results. A comprehensive seismic assessment was carried out to retrodict the observed seismic damage. Various methods were applied starting from simple rapid assessment techniques to more elaborated structural analysis based on nonlinear dynamic procedure. In the latter case, strength and stiffness degrading hysteretic models were applied and the non-structural masonry walls were considered in the analytical model. This paper presents the results of these structural analyses in comparison with the observed damage on site. Conclusions regarding the suitability of the applied seismic assessment techniques to retrodict the damage level of the investigated structures are drawn. Some findings of the post-earthquake investigation team are presented as well.

Computer Modelling of Precast Large-panel Buildings with Degraded Horizontal Joints

The paper presents results of computer modelling and analysis of typical precast large-panel multi-storey apartment buildings. Two- and three-dimensional FEM models of an exemplary building as well as ideal and degraded models of horizontal joints are defined. Results of numerical analyses are discussed for different types of loads.

Coevolution of urban form and built form: a new typomorphological model for Tehran

The paper brings analytical and typological models to the study of the coevolution of urban form and built form in Tehran. It follows the transformation of housing at both urban and architectural scales. At the urban scale, residential areas in Tehran have evolved from small irregular blocks to larger regular grids. At the architectural scale, residential units have evolved from courtyard houses, to terraced houses with south-facing courts, to multistorey apartment units. How do these two processes of evolution relate to each other? Are they entangled in a coevolutionary pattern, or do they remain independent evolutionary developments circumstantially brought together? The paper answers this question by looking at a series of stereotypical built forms for housing in Tehran over time, and by developing a model that brings together parameters of urban structure including block and plot size, and ground coverage ratio, with parameters of built form including access frontage, day-lit depth, and plan shape. In order to build the model and quantify its parameters, three areas of Tehran, representative of its three key stages of growth, are analysed using GIS. The model is found to be capable of approximating reality. During a process of design experiments with blocks of the same dimensions, it is found that alternative built forms are possible, all conforming to similar ratios of ground coverage, floor space index, day lighting, and road access.

Increase the Energy Efficiency of the Multi-Story Apartment Building

The article presents a structural analysis of the energy consumption of multi-story residential building, which based on analysis of the actual data flow and heat consumption data and energy audit for assessing the condition of the heating system. Methods been proposed to improve energy efficiency. The calculation shows the need and economic feasibility of the implementation of organizational and technical measures proposed in the article.