Performance-based Building Research Articles

Optimization-based design exploration of building massing typologies—EvoMass and a typology-oriented computational design optimization method for early-stage performance-based building massing design

In the past decade, there has been an increasing recognition of the role of computational design optimization in early-stage performance-based architectural design exploration. However, it remains challenging for designers to apply such optimization-based design explorations in practice. To address this issue, this paper introduces a design tool, called EvoMass, and an associated design method that facilitates design exploration for building massing typologies in performance-based design tasks. EvoMass is capable of offering architects design options reflecting performance-related building massing typologies for the design task, without necessitating advanced computational design skills. More importantly, it can provide architects with insights into the underlying performance implications, thereby enhancing early-stage performance-based design exploration. EvoMass and its associated design method overcome the limitation in the conventional typology-first-optimization-second design procedure adopted by most existing tools, and it promotes a typology-oriented design exploration method of using computational optimization in performance-based architectural design. To demonstrate the efficacy of EvoMass, case studies derived from architectural design studio tasks, incorporating daylighting, solar exposure, and subjective design intents, and the result of a user survey are presented, which highlights how EvoMass and the performance-based design optimization and exploration can enable architects to achieve a more performance-aware design.

Evaluating 900 Potentially Harming Fires in Germany: Is the Prescriptive Building Code Effective? German Fire Departments Assessed Fire Safety Measures in Buildings Through On-Site Inspections

Fire statistics mirror the outcome of fire prevention. Most fire statistics in Germany deal with the loss of life, value, and fire department actions (number of interventions, nozzles used, or alarm category like a false alarm). However, these results also represent the safety level the legislator has set through the prescriptive building regulations. The current statistics cannot evaluate the level of fire safety and the fulfillment or necessity of fire safety precautions. Today, expert judgment from firefighters is necessary to fill this gap. Here, we show the first evaluation of fire prevention and hazard protection measures by evaluating 900 potentially harming fires throughout Germany. In contrast to minor fires, these fires have advanced to the extent that they could potentially violate the protection objectives outlined in building regulations. The fire department association developed a questionnaire to evaluate the fire safety level and possibly reduce unnecessary fire safety regulations. One hundred twenty-three fire departments carried out the questionnaire, which are responsible for 25% of the German population. Fire prevention officers of the fire departments went to the scene after the fire was extinguished, and the fire safety concept of the building could be evaluated. We found a high rate of injuries, smoke spread, need for rescue by firefighters, and higher than expected firefighter response times after arrival at the scene. Surprisingly, smoke spread rates correlated with building height and not with building age. It was even possible to assess the risk of multiple casualties. Overall, the questionnaire results give insight into the current level of fire safety in existing buildings. Ways and rates for smoke and fire spread prove the importance of second escape routes and the influence of human misconduct. According to these results, current building code regulations are sufficient to prevent fire spread. On the other hand, smoke spreading is a severe threat to people’s safety. For example, the data shown can be applied in Bayes nets or other risk calculations to optimize individual building designs or even governmental building codes concerning fire safety engineering. Based on our observations, science, and building codes, authorities could in the future establish a performance-based building code instead of the current prescriptive code. This paper presents the first approach in Germany to quantify the expert judgment of fire departments and use it as a source of knowledge for fire prevention.

Performance-based building design: impact of emergency department layout on its functional performance efficiency - the case of Erbil hospitals

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the potential role of the Emergency Department (ED) layout in enhancing its functionality. It applies a performance-based building design (PBBD) approach to evaluate emergency department functionality and efficiency as the most important criterion behind the success of the hospital service.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative approach based on space syntax theory was adopted through four syntactic maps (isovist, axial, convex, and visibility graph analysis VGA), to depict three case studies in Erbil city hospitals by analyzing three different layout typologies of ED such as Podular, Ballroom and Linear through measuring wayfinding, accessibility, privacy, visibility, time spend-length of stay and corridor circulation as layout factors.FindingsThis paper provides empirical insights on how the ED layout typology factors significantly affect producing functionally efficient EDs, whereas the Ballroom ED layout typology is the most effective compared to others. Given the importance of ED in enhancing a healthy environment for patients and staff, study findings are valuable resource for health designers, who play a critical role in ensuring patients enjoy a healthy and safe environment.Originality/valueThis paper has attempted to identify the appropriate layout of ED for effective functional performance in hospitals. A syntactical analysis between three different ED layout typologies based on the layout variables has been analysed using the PBBD approach. There has been no attempt carried out so far to analyse the functional performance of the PBBD approach in different ED layouts using layout variables.

Performance-based building design Evaluation of functional performance of the emergency department in erbil city hospitals using patient feedback

The emergency department (ED) is one of the most important departments in hospitals, which provides emergency care to patients who need rapid medical treatment. The configuration of the ED's interior spaces impacts their functioning and determines the hospital complex's performance. This study proposes a Performance-Based Building Design (PBBD) approach to ED layouts in Erbil city hospitals to determine which ED types achieve more functionality factors. The research objective is to inspect three different ED layout typologies and discusses the possibility of the spatial layout of each ED typology in creating a more functionally efficient ED. Eight ED were selected from eight hospitals in Erbil city. Quantitatively Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) questionnaire form was distributed to patients to investigate their opinion on the availability of ED spatial layout variables. Statistical analysis is used for analyzing patient feedback and proving the research hypotheses. As a result, according to patient feedback, the ballroom layout typology was found to be the most beneficial since it has the most functional efficiency factors while the podular and linear layout typology has the fewer. The research findings provide healthcare designers with a useful framework and resource for future designs, especially for treatment spaces within ED.

Integration Factors of Design Participants in Performance-Based Building Design of Commercial Property

Design practice has shifted towards a performance approach that is based on an awareness of sustainability goals. Achieving this goal requires the integration of all participants through communication, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing (CCKs), specifically at the design stage. The participants are from different stages of the project which are design management (DM), project management (PM), and facility/property management (FM). The current research has not been able to clearly describe the practice in achieving design performance, especially involving the main three stakeholders (DM, PM, and FM). Thus, this study aims to fill the research gap by focusing on the influence of factors CCKs on the design performance of the commercial property, especially retail property. This will form a design, construction, and operational integration model to achieve the performance of retail properties in forming an optimal space. This study uses a method of quantitative study using a questionnaire survey. It was collected from 111 practitioners of the project participants (DM, PM, FM) in retail property development in Indonesia. There are different results in the correlation that the higher the factor value, the lower the space value performance. This correlation occurs in collaboration for PM, communication for DM, and knowledge-sharing for FM. This interesting finding can be explained empirically according to the preferences of each participant. This study contributes to knowledge about the influence of CCKs, which focus on the design of performance-based retail buildings to get the highest space value.

Unintended Consequences of Performance-Based Building Code Amendment in New Zealand

Unintended Consequences of Performance-Based Building Code Amendment in New Zealand

Using a calibrated multi-zone building model to analyse the impact of occupant behaviour on building performance

Building performance simulation has been commonly used for performance-based building design. However, the simulation accuracy is closely related to the model and input parameters regarding the building physics and occupant behaviour. To check and improve the accuracy of the simulation, the model usually needs to be calibrated using measured data. Uncertain parameters are adjusted in this process to reduce the discrepancy between simulation and measurement results. Although occupant behaviour has a significant impact on building performance, it has not been considered a key component of model calibration in previous studies. Model calibration using only indoor environmental and energy consumption data without considering occupant behaviour is unreliable. In this context, a step-by-step model calibration approach is proposed in this study to optimise the estimated parameters in typical operational scenarios where occupant behaviour can be conveniently determined. A case study shows that although the simulation results for apartment energy use are similar before and after model calibration, differences can be observed in the evaluation of indoor air quality and thermal environment. Simulation results using occupant behaviour based on design standards are significantly deviated from the measured values, compared to that using actual occupant behaviour.

Downcycling and Upcycling in Rehabilitation and Adaptive Reuse of Pre-Existing Buildings: Re-Designing Technological Performances in an Environmental Perspective

The abandonment of the built heritage, as a result of functional or technological obsolescence or as a consequence of cultural, social, and economic trends, is steadily increasing. This great number of buildings, worldwide spread, offers a huge opportunity to reduce the environmental impacts related to the construction industry. Nonetheless, the recovery and reuse interventions that require the implementation of residual technological performance, to accommodate new uses, are not always environmentally neutral. Therefore, a new design approach needs to be developed so as to improve the buildings’ technological performance and enhance resources and energy already incorporated in buildings. The circular economy principles in the building sector, performance-based building design together with downcycling and upcycling theories are applied to develop a methodology aiming to reduce the environmental impacts within the rehabilitation and refurbishment design process. Starting from the building analysis phase (historical, material, construction) residual performance is evaluated; then the design phase demonstrates that, according to downcycling and upcycling design strategies applied on building components and materials, it is possible improving the building to the required new uses while minimizing transformations and effectively reducing related environmental impacts. The reduction of environmental impacts depends on a careful assessment of the residual technological and structural performance that the building still provides, by involving limited performance implementations to balance rehabilitation needs and environmental protection goals.

Performance-Based Building System Manufacturer Selection Decision Framework for Integration into Total Cost of Ownership Evaluations

Facility managers are often faced with building system procurement or replacement decisions, requiring them to select a system from among competitive manufacturers. Total cost of ownership (TCO) criteria, informed by built assets in operation in the manager’s portfolio, provides some information to select the right asset manufacturer. However, managers must also consider technical performance to complete a more comprehensive analysis. Performance can be calculated using asset parameters like condition, age, and variation in condition to aid in TCO assessments. Leveraging past research and approaches, performance is calculated using an additive model that scales each parameter using a standard normalization technique and employs weighting factors to account for decision-maker input. Data from 20 Air Force installations across the US and two asset types are analyzed, showing the utility of a performance metric. This analysis shows that as manufacturer diversity in portfolios decreases, performance increases for most of the asset types modeled. This paper presents a new performance metric that can be used as an additional criterion in TCO models to build a more robust decision framework.

An evidence-based framework validation for building code improvement in New Zealand

PurposeNew Zealand building code may be serving its purpose to an extent, there is still a need to develop a framework to improve the use and application of building code for better building performance and services. This study aims to validate the identified parameters in the developed framework to improve building code practice in New Zealand.Design/methodology/approachSubject matter experts interview was conducted with key stakeholders that use building code, standards and other associated compliance documents.FindingsThe findings from this study establish the importance of improving the building code, and the efficacy of validated framework helps to identify the areas with the most pressing needs within the building regulatory system. All the subject matter experts unanimously agreed on educating and training the building code users. Besides, the validated framework will enable the policy decision-makers in the building regulatory system to promote the use of building code and the utilisation of its potentials in reducing disaster while increasing the built environment resilience. The study concludes that the designed framework will create more robust strategy implementations to enhance innovative solutions embedded in performance-based building code.Originality/valueThis study originality centres on the practical application of an evidence-based framework for performance-based building code, standards and other related compliance documents.

Promoting Performance-Based Building Code Compliance in New Zealand

AbstractBuilding codes are mandatory documents that should be followed in all building constructions and related works. However, building code compliance requires encouraging building code users an...

Development of a Performance Concept in the Construction Field: A Critical Review

The performance concept in the construction field is very broad, can occur within the project scope and building, suggesting effective ways to evaluate according to the activities involved. Although a large number of studies on construction project performance (CPP) and performance-based building (PBB) have been conducted in the last decade, there remains a lack of consensus among researchers and professionals regarding how to integrate PBB-related activities into the construction project phases (design, planning, construction and operation). After an in-depth analysis of hundreds of journal articles published between 2008 and 2018, this study provides a holistic understanding and critical reflection on the nexus between CPP and PBB, systematically illustrated by a “Performance information mapping” and a “Performance Taxonomy Framework” at each project phase in the strategic decision-making process. The results can help future researchers and professionals to conduct searches that are more relevant and to design, aiming at steps to ensure project success and building efficiency. A systematic review contributes to a better understanding of the performance concept in the construction field because it covers an unprecedented performance study of both stages, process management and product performance requirements in the construction industry. The review concludes by suggesting, as further work, a search for an integration tool.

The Influence of Performance-Based Building Design on the Strategy of Retail Property in Indonesia

Management of retail property is important in accommodating tenants who occupy retail space and consumers as a retail property business activity. Performance-based Building Design (PBBD) is a concept that can be used in planning and designing so that retail buildings can operate as expected. In this regard, the strategy of retail space contains three indicators of performance that are effectiveness, profitability, and efficiency. This study finds gaps in retail property management design research. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the effect of PBBD application on the strategy for retail property space in Indonesia. A total of 96 respondents were involved in this study. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey to stakeholders who play a role in the development and management of the retail property in Surabaya. The data were then analyzed using multiple regression. From the analysis, it was found that the application of PBBD, namely user/occupant interest, building management, the process of design collaboration had a positive effect, while the risk of loss had a negative effect. This means that the increased application of PBBD, namely occupant interest, building management, the process of design collaboration and reduced risk of loss in retail buildings, can improve the strategy for managing retail property space in Surabaya, Indonesia. A more detailed analysis of each indicator of the retail space strategy shows different results. The result show that the application of PBBD influence to the effectiveness contributes 44.6%, the influence of PBBD application to the profitability contributes 49.4%, the application of PBBD has an influence for the efficiency by 61.5%, and overall, the influence of PBBD application to the management retail property space contributes 68.9%. The results of this research are very important and have implications for retail space planning strategies. What will happen to retail property management at the operational stage, it can be seen through the implementation of PBBD in the briefing and planning stages.

Performance-Based Building Design of High-Rise Residential Buildings in Indonesia

The complexity of the design and completion of buildings poses a challenge for the construction industry in terms of meeting user needs. Performance-based building design (PBBD) is a design concept that describes these needs as performance requirements, designing buildings according to an iterative process of translating and evaluating the performance requirements of the buildings. PBBD is a concept that is used to produce buildings with high performance. This study aims to identify which PBBD factors are applied by architect and engineers in the planning and design of high-rise residential building in Surabaya, Indonesia. Primary data were collected by a survey using observation. A questionnaire was distributed to designers who were involved in design processes. A total of 68 respondents responded to the questionnaire. A descriptive analysis through a scatter plot was used to rank the application of PBBD. Factor analysis was used for the application of the PBBD concept. Four factors were identified: the interests of occupants, building management, process of design collaboration and risk of loss. Future research is needed to measure the success model of PBBD and to integrate PBBD into BIM (building information modeling) to allow interoperability.

Evaluating Patterns of Building Envelope Air Leakage with Infrared Thermography

The next-generation performance-based building energy codes are focusing on minimizing building envelope air leakage. The quantification of air leakage in buildings is typically performed with a blower door test. However, this test does not provide information about the locations of air leakage. The aim of this study is to demonstrate a method involving qualitative and quantitative components that can be used to characterize locations of air leakage with infrared thermography. Since air leakage can have a significant impact on building energy consumption in cold climates, like in Canada, this approach can quickly inform where air barrier discontinuities occurred during construction or where to selectively target air sealing efforts in existing buildings. The observations from this study are presented, based on a thermographic image analysis during a depressurized blower door test at various pressures, in an attempt to quantify the relative rates of air leakage. The results from the investigation showed that infrared thermography (IRT) was able to discern locations and infer relative ratios of air leakage. The qualitative analysis showed that areas of air leakage are more evident under higher pressure difference. The quantitative approach showed that a minimum of 25 Pa pressure difference was required to detect the air leakage in the vicinity of the window frame, as the surface temperature decreased rapidly (almost 60% of the indoor surface/outdoor air temperature difference) at this pressure. A temperature index was defined to prioritize the areas of air leakage for retrofitting purposes. Furthermore, a thermal image subtraction method was used to determine the characteristics of the cracks based on thermal patterns. Finally, the practical implication of this study, for building developers, home inspectors, property mangers, and homeowners, is the early detection of air leakage for both existing and newly constructed buildings which could result in energy and cost savings.

Human-centered Approach for Proper Functioning of LEED Criteria; A Case Study in Tehran

Buildings are rated in five main categories according to the LEED standard to receive an environment-friendly design certificate. Sustainability, water efficiency, material properties, energy consumption, and the quality of indoor spaces are main criteria which confirm the proper function of a building in terms of optimal energy consumption. However, the role of residents and behavioral aspects in the consumption of energy and the decent application of energy standards are neglected. It is beyond doubt that the residents’ behavior is one of the most important factors in performance-based building design. Moreover, the individual mistakes, which most of the times cause energy dissipation, cannot be ignored. This research proposes "Integrated Interactive System" as a human-centered approach with the aim of minimizing energy consumption. A survey is conducted, and this system is evaluated as a case study in Tehran.

A practical approach to performance-based building design in architectural project

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study is to develop an approach that can enhance and contribute to the practical applicability of performance-based building design in architectural projects. The need for such an approach is based on the current lack of a practical application for performance-based design in architectural projects, despite the numerous studies conducted in this regard to date. The approach has been applied in a commercial building project designed by an architectural firm in Konya. The performance evaluation of the design developed in accordance with the requirements of the client/builder and the restrictions of regulations was carried out using IES VE 2014 software at a specific phase of the design process. Through this building performance simulation tool; the thermal protection of the envelope/heat loss and solar gain, thermal comfort (temperature, humidity), air quality (freshness), daylight and glare levels were evaluated for the selected spaces in the building, and following the evaluation, new design proposals were put forward to improve the design so as to meet the performance goal.

A novel inverse data driven modelling approach to performance-based building design during early stages

Energy analysis at the early stage of building design is a critical, yet difficult task in performance-based design. The difficulty arises from the complex, iterative, and uncertain nature of building design and the challenges of integration with well-posed energy assessment tools. The purpose of this article is to first review characteristics of performance-based design and establish requirements for a methodology that includes generating promising design alternatives, assessing the energy performance in tandem with the generation of alternatives, and choosing an alternative design solution with confidence. The study then proposes a novel systematic data-driven method, based on linear inverse modeling that generates plausible ranges for design parameters given a preferred energy target. The energy performance in this method is described as a linear function of the design parameters for a particular scenario of design. The application of the proposed method in a case study shows that it is capable of helping designers make informed decisions regarding energy performance iteratively and confidently at the early stages of building design.

Analysis on Factors Affecting the Solar Irradiation of High-rise Buildings Form

This paper aims to explore the relationship between solar irradiation and high-rise building form through parametric design process and simulation, and proposes performance-based building form design recommendations. In this paper, based on the High-rise building form design data, the parametric model of building form is modeled by Grasshopper and Rhino platform, integrating Ladybug and Honeybee to evaluate the building envelope solar heat gains in summer and winter respectively. Finally, correlation and influence trend analysis show that the P-parameter has the least influence on the heat gain of solar irradiation, and the B-parameter has the most significant effect on the heat gain of solar irradiation, what’s, they relationship are inversely proportional.

A new approach to performance-based building design exploration using linear inverse modeling

Despite the development of a large number of building performance simulation tools, designers still need a systematic framework appropriate for energy-oriented decision-making in the early stages of design. While the current workflow follows a “forward” modelling procedure in which simulation tools predict the performance of a design, this study proposes an “inverse” procedure that entails a performance objective that estimates design parameters. Using linear inverse modelling, this approach generates plausible ranges for design parameters given a preferred thermal performance. The paper begins by demonstrating that thermal demand in a particular building operation-and-climate condition can be expressed as a linear regression model and then, in two case-studies, uses the regression model to develop an inverse algorithm. After defining energy performance targets as input, users obtain a probabilistic estimate of design parameters as output that represents a large “menu” of feasible design solutions, provides confidence, and embodies the iterative nature of design.