Building Quality Research Articles

METHODS OF IMPLEMENTING GREEN ARCHITECTURE IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS

The article discusses the relevance of environmental pollution and the limited availability of natural resources, and shows the importance of studying aspects of architectural ecology in the education of architectural students. The article presents some of the techniques used by students during the course and diploma design and practical tasks of the Architectural Ecology course. Architectural movements, the main concept of which is unity with nature, emerged in the middle of the twentieth century, when environmental problems began to escalate. An interesting direction for architecture students is to master the peculiarities of creating green architecture, green roofs, living walls and vertical trusses to integrate architecture into the natural landscape with the involvement of natural components in forming, merging architecture with nature. The involvement of natural components in architectural form-making can vary depending on the volume, space, functionality, and constructive use. Examples include courtyards, roofs, building facades, balconies, terraces, galleries, loggias, separate buildings and constructions, small architectural forms, landscape theatres, etc. All of these methods of using natural elements improve the aesthetic, psychological, planning, functional, energy-efficient, and structural qualities of buildings and their grounds. They reduce noise levels, change temperature, refresh the space, have a positive effect on people, improve mood, and serve as natural insulation. The use of green technologies in construction can reduce the negative impact of human activity on the environment. Green roofs and living walls contribute to the preservation of biodiversity, improve air quality and reduce temperatures in cities. Vertical trusses open up new opportunities for efficiently growing food in urban environments, helping to reduce the distance between production and consumption, and minimizing the use of resources and chemicals. Green architecture is becoming not only a symbol of aesthetics, but also a key element of modern urban development, ensuring harmony between cities and nature. Such modern constructions and design approaches can be an important step towards creating the healthier, more environmentally friendly and liveable environment.

Examining Wind Flow's Impact on Multi-Storey Buildings: A Quest for Quality Improvement

Abstract This scientific article delves into the intricacies of wind flow's impact on multi-storey buildings, presenting results from a series of experimental investigations. The research encompasses an examination of wind interactions with buildings of varying heights and geometric profiles. Furthermore, it unveils the effects of tall structures on the natural ventilation and smoke evacuation systems of shorter edifices, considering different wind flow directions. The study leverages specialized wind tunnel and measurement techniques for a comprehensive analysis of wind-induced loads on buildings. The acquired insights furnish crucial input for the design of single-story temporary modular constructions within densely populated urban areas, subject to wind-induced stresses. Additionally, they hold potential applicability in the advancement of energy-efficient technologies and strategies within the realm of construction. The acquired dataset underscores the criticality of scrutinizing wind flow's impact on structures of varied typologies and dimensions and will allow to significantly improve the quality and efficiency of modern buildings in the future.

Indoor Environmental Quality In Preschool Buildings In an Andean City In Ecuador

ABSTRACT Indoor environmental quality has been associated with the health and wellbeing of building occupants; nevertheless, there is limited evidence in this regard for Latin American schools. This research aimed to characterize indoor environmental quality in public and private preschools in an Andean city in Ecuador. Data collection comprised onsite monitoring for the thermal-humidity microclimate of 90 classrooms in 30 preschools in Cuenca-Ecuador (March-August 2018). Infrared thermography and direct observation were applied to determine dampness. Classrooms seemed to be inadequate thermal-humidity microclimates; only a few maintained a comfortable temperature (6%) and relative humidity (11%) throughout the shift. When comparing public and private schools, in private schools, temperatures below the comfort range (61.3% in private schools vs 31.4% in public schools, p<0.001) and relative humidity measures above the comfort range were more frequent (74.3% in private schools vs. 58.6% in public schools, p<0.001). Hollow blocks were the primary construction material in private and public schools. Sixty-four per cent of private schools operated in adaptive, reused buildings, vs 19% in public schools (p<0.05). Infrared thermography confirmed dampness in 26% (n=23) of the classrooms in the covering structures indoors (15% in public vs 33% in private schools, p<0.05). This research reveals the urgent need to develop specific regulations and control mechanisms for building sustainable and healthy environments for preschools in Ecuador.

Improving the Indoor Air Quality of Office Buildings in the Post-Pandemic Era—Impact on Energy Consumption and Costs

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, ventilation in buildings was not always given its due importance. The World Health Organization has highlighted the important role of air exchange with the outdoors in improving the air quality in buildings; buildings should, therefore, be equipped with mechanical ventilation or adequate air conditioning systems. This paper aims to investigate different retrofit solutions for air conditioning, evaluating them in terms of energy consumption and cost and the impact of increased outdoor air exchange rates on countering the propagation of COVID-19; the latter is the main novelty of the paper. As a case study, we take an existing office building located in Central Italy that was previously not equipped with a mechanical ventilation system (a system with primary air was introduced during the study). The energy analysis was conducted using dynamic simulation software after validation through energy bills; energy and economic analyses were conducted considering different external-air exchange rates. An optimal number of outdoor air changes was found to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 infection, a finding in line with the international literature. The increase in air changes with outdoor air leads to a rise in energy consumption and costs. These values were evaluated for different air conditioning systems and operational schedules. These drawbacks can be made less significant by combining interventions in the system with energy-efficiency measures applied to the building envelope.

Factors affecting residential land market value: a case study of Injibara Town, Ethiopia

The objective of this study was to identify factors that affect the residential land market value in Injibara town. This study follows a quantitative research approach. The number of participants was 384, and structured questionnaires were used to gather the data. Descriptive statistics and regression were used to analyse the data. The finding indicates that access to infrastructure affects the residential land market value highly; the location of the land also affects the residential land market value next to the infrastructure; and population growth affects the residential land market value next to the location of the land and the access to infrastructure. The hypothesis proposed in this study; the urban population of the town significantly affects the residential land market value, the residential land location of the residential land significantly affects the residential land’s market value and infrastructures significantly affect the residential land market value are supported by the study regression output. In the future, the mayor of the town, the administrative unit and other stakeholders better consider the city’s population growth, and building quality infrastructures will have significant importance for the market value of the residential land and to enhance the quality of life for the residences.

An empirical study of indoor air quality in badminton stadiums in hot summer and cold winter regions of China during spring and fall seasons

The indoor air quality has a direct impact on human health. In order to obtain the current status of indoor air quality in typical sports buildings in hot summer and cold winter climate zones in China, indoor badminton courts in 10 cities in Hubei Province in this climate zone were selected as research objects for field testing of indoor environmental parameters in spring and autumn, and predict air quality parameters for non-testing times. All the tested stadiums are naturally ventilated in non-event conditions, and the average daily indoor CO2 concentration was 526.78 ppm in spring and 527.63 ppm in autumn, and the average daily PM2.5 concentration was 0.035 mg/m3 in spring and 0.024 mg/m3 in autumn, all of which met the requirements of GB/T 18883-2022, the average concentration of CO2 ≤ 1000 ppm and PM2.5 ≤ 0.05 mg/m3. The indoor CO2 concentration and PM2.5 concentration of the tested badminton halls under natural ventilation gradually increased with the accumulation of exercise time, making the indoor air quality of the badminton halls decrease, which would negatively affect the health of the people exercising in this environment.

Game evolution analysis of BIM application willingness of prefabricated construction parties

PurposeTo further promote application of BIM technology in construction of prefabricated buildings, influencing factors and evolution laws of willingness to apply BIM technology are explored from the perspective of willingness of participants.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, a tripartite game model involving the design firm, component manufacturer and construction firm is constructed and a system dynamics method is used to explore the influencing factors and game evolution path of three parties' application of BIM technology, from three perspectives, cost, benefit and risk.FindingsThe government should formulate measures for promoting the application of BIM according to different BIM application willingness of the parties. When pursuing deeper BIM application, the design firm should pay attention to reducing the speculative benefits of the component manufacturer and the construction firm. The design firm and the component manufacturer should pay attention to balancing the cost and benefit of the design firm while enhancing collaborative efforts. When the component manufacturer and the construction firm cooperate closely, it is necessary to pay attention to balanced distribution of interests of both parties and lower the risk of BIM application.Originality/valueThis study fills a research gap by comprehensively investigating the influencing factors and game evolution paths of willingness of the three parties to apply BIM technology to prefabricated buildings. The research helps to effectively improve the building quality and construction efficiency, and is expected to contribute to the sustainability of built environment in the context of circular economy in China.

Learning the harmony of indoor air quality from traditional housing. Case Study Batak Karo, Indonesia.

Air quality in buildings is an important principle for a sustainable building to create comfort and health for living things and the environment. This study wants to explore how the air quality in traditional housing can be feel comfortable. How the building was designed for passive cooling in harmony with environment surrounding. The combination of qualitative and quantitative descriptive approach was used to analyse the traditional Batak Karo house (Mecu Houses, The Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) was used to know how the air movement inside the house. The Mecu house as a vertical building design proposal. This study focuses on elements of air quality in buildings by using the theory from Iwamura Sustainability of Housing, Embedded in the Local Context. The results of this study showed that the traditional Batak Karo House has the pleasant indoor air quality that achieved from the unique type of roof and openings inside the roof.

Analisis Faktor-Faktor Yang Mempengaruhi Permukiman Kumuh Ditinjau Dari Kriteria Kekumuhan Drainase (Studi Kasus: Desa Tanjung, Kecamatan Hamparan Rawang)

Based on the Regulation of the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing of the Republic of Indonesia Number 14/PRT/M/2018 concerning Quality Improvement of Slum Housing and Slum Settlements. It is stated that slum housing is housing that has decreased the quality of its function as a dwelling, while slums are settlements that are not habitable due to building irregularity, high building density, and unqualified building quality and facilities and infrastructure. Conditions in Tanjung Village, Hamparan Rawang District, Sungai Full City. The condition of Tanjung village, Hamparan Rawang District, Sungai Full City, is classified as a slum, judging from environmental drainage, there are collapses in drainage channels, a lot of garbage is thrown and accumulates in drainage channels, reducing the effectiveness of drainage channels, the amount of development in the area, and other bad conditions. The purpose of this study is to find out what factors affect drainage slums in Tanjung Village, Hamparan Rawang District, Sungai Full City, look for dominant factors and find strategies to prevent or minimize the occurrence of drainage slums in Tanjung Village, Hamparan Rawang District, Sungai Full City for the present and the future. This study used quantitative methods by distributing questionnaires to respondents. The results of the research conducted there are 5 factors that affect drainage slums, namely the inability of drainage to drain water runoff, unavailability of drainage, disconnection with urban drainage systems, lack of maintenance of drainage, collapse of drainage.

A Study on Factors Affecting the Evaluation of the Quality of Party Building of General Party Branches in Higher Vocational Colleges and Universities

Based on the questionnaire data from nine higher vocational colleges and universities in Sichuan Province, this paper conducted correlation and stepwise regression analyses using SPSS25, and found that 12 factors, such as selecting and employing people and the political life of the Party, had a significant positive correlation with the quality of party building of the Party branch, and that the Party members' efforts to strive for the achievements of the landmarks of vocational education, the tasks of cooperation between enterprises and universities, and integration of production and education had significant impact on the quality of party building of the Party branch, The nine factors of cultural inheritance and innovation tasks, talent cultivation tasks, internal political life of the party, party system construction, education and practice activities, selection and employment, and scientific research tasks have a significant effect on the quality of party building in the general party branch. 756392940

FAKTOR FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI AKSEPTOR DALAM MEMILIH ALAT KOTRASEPSI DI PMB DINCE SAFRINA

Contraception is an attempt to prevent pregnancy. These efforts can be temporary, can also be permanent. Contraceptive use is one of the variables that affect fertility. The main objective of the family planning program is to fulfill people's demand for quality family planning and reproductive health services, reduce maternal mortality (MMR) and infant mortality (IMR), as well as address reproductive health problems in the framework of building quality small families. The purpo se of this study was to determine the factors that influence family planning acceptors in choosing contraception. This research is a quantitative analysis research with a cross sectional approach. Withdrawal of the number of samples with the accidental sam pling technique with a total of 40 respondents. From the results of the multivariate test, it was found that there was no effect on the level of education, knowledge, age and husband's support on the choice of contraception with a value (P > 0.1) which was not significant due to the lack of a sample in this study. It is recommended for further research to examine samples with a larger number and use a multivariate test .

Study on the Whole Process Supervision Technology of Digital Intelligent Enabling for Building Safety and Quality Appraisal Institutions

In order to fully implement the "Notice of The General Office of the State Council on Printing and Printing the Special Rectification Work Plan for the Safety of Self-built Houses", in view of the endless collapse of houses such as self-built houses, the traditional supervision methods of housing safety appraisal agencies are dishonest and the agency appraisal reports are distorted. Based on the principle of "the whole process of Internet + digital intelligence", this paper develops a set of digital and intelligent regulatory software system suitable for regulatory departments. It mainly introduces the basic application functions of this system, and takes the whole-area appraisal project of Taizhou City as an example to show that this regulatory system manages in all aspects such as human, machine, material, law and environment. The system has the advantages of thoughtful use steps, simple steps, scientific and accurate. At the end of this paper, the benefits and promotion value of the whole process of intelligent enabling supervision system are summarized and analyzed.

Optimising Mechanical Ventilation for Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort in a Mediterranean School Building

The growing concern over indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort in classrooms, especially post-COVID-19, underscores the critical need for optimal ventilation systems to bolster students’ health and academic performance. This study explores the potential for improving indoor air quality and thermal comfort in the most energy- and cost-optimal manner using a demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) system coupled with a carbon dioxide control sensor. This is achieved through precooling via night purging in summer and by introducing warmer corridor air into the classroom in winter. The methodology employs both computer simulation and a real-world case study. The findings reveal that while natural ventilation in winter can achieve IAQ standard (EN 16798-1) thresholds for classrooms under favourable outdoor conditions, it results in uncontrolled and excessive energy loss. The retrofitted DCV system, however, maintained CO2 levels below the recommended thresholds for at least 76% of the year depending on classroom orientation and only exceeded 1000 ppm for a maximum of 6% of the year. This study also indicates that utilising the external corridor as a sunspace can further enhance the system’s efficiency by preheating incoming air. This comprehensive study highlights the significant potential for integrating mechanical and passive solutions in school ventilation systems. This contributes to the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11 and ensures healthier and more energy-efficient learning environments that benefit both students and the environment.

The general context of educational institutions "an indicator of quality and effectiveness "

The general context of the educational institution is an indicator of schooling conditions, given the role played by the school environment in its physical and academic aspects, according to international studies and reports. The report of the American Association of Education Managers stressed the importance of improving the quality of school buildings, which can only be achieved by providing a safe and comfortable environment for the student. It should be mentioned that many governments and states have taken care of school buildings as an important axis of the educational process in all its elements. The interaction between these elements and school buildings in all their physical and moral domains such as: halls, ventilation, lighting, toilets, benches, blackboards, course and other equipment affects the quality of education and its quantitative and qualitative results There are indications that the quality of school buildings has a significant impact on school outcomes and overall school performance. There are also references to the importance of the building’s design and shape in academic success as well as its importance for teacher performance, integration and appropriate interaction with their students.

Toward Sustainable Indoor Environments: Assessing the Impact of Thermal Insulation Measures on Air Quality in Buildings—A Case Study in Temuco, Chile

In Chile, an Atmospheric Decontamination Plan (PDA) has been developed to reduce concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) in cities deemed “saturated” with these particles. The plan includes various measures, such as the thermal insulation of homes and the replacement of heaters. This study presents an analysis of the indices of four indoor air quality variables (temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, and PM 2.5) in different types of homes with varying levels of PDA implementation in the city of Temuco, Chile. Regarding the temperature variable, only one type of home was found to be within comfort limits, with an average of 20.6 °C and a variation of ±3.52 °C (SD). Concerning humidity, independently owned homes with complete and moderate ADP implementation had average humidity levels between 64.82% ± 7.19% and 55.6% ± 6.11%, respectively. For CO2, only homes with moderate implementation showed averages slightly below (average 991 ppm) the maximum allowed (1000 ppm). As for PM 2.5, all homes exceeded the standard, ranging from 44.4 µg/m3 to 130 µg/m3, with very high variations. This demonstrates that PM 2.5 concentrations consistently exceeded the limits established by the World Health Organization (15 µg/m3).

Tuning hatch distance to optimize microstructure and mechanical properties of 2205 duplex stainless steel produced by laser powder bed fusion

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) of duplex stainless steel is a promising route to fabricate intricate parts with excellent mechanical properties. However, further understanding of build mechanisms is required to improve the process. This paper aims to better understand the influence of hatch distance on the densification behavior and figure out the correlation with microstructure and mechanical properties in LPBF of 2205 stainless steel. With the optimized laser power and scanning speed, the significant influence of hatch distance on the build quality is revealed. A hatch distance of 0.07 mm is selected for an even surface and dense part with a relative density of up to 99.13 %. The hatch distance has a crucial impact on the heat and mass transfer between tracks; hence, poor surface morphologies such as inter-track voids or swelling surfaces occur if an improper hatch distance is adopted. The optimal mechanical properties are also achieved. Specifically, the yield strength (0.2 YS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS), and elongation (EL) values are 896.8 MPa, 1035.13 MPa, and 15.34 %, respectively. The improvement in mechanical properties can be ascribed to the coordination between high dislocation density, fine grain size, high CSL boundaries and LAGBs, and high relative density with few pores. This work can help improve the build quality and expand the application horizon of duplex stainless steel for manufacturing intricate components.

Assessment of indoor environmental comfort in a recently renovated office building in Messina city

In recent decades, the construction industry has made significant progress in promoting sustainable buildings, with a particular emphasis on reducing environ-mental impact and energy efficiency. However, human well-being and occupant health have become increasingly central themes in this field. Awareness of the fact that the quality of buildings can significantly influence people’s health and psychophysical well-being has grown, leading to the adoption of a new approach in building design and evaluation. The main objective of this work is to explore the foundations for defining a “Healthy Building,” present a measurement model that takes into account various key aspects - thermal comfort, acoustic comfort, biophilia, functional efficiency of the workspace, perception of air quality, lighting quality, light colour and rendering, cleanliness, personal control of systems, privacy, emergency situations, and occupational safety prevention measures, among others that contribute to the well-being of building occupants, and propose design rules/hypotheses through a case study office building located in the city of Messina. This approach is based on sustainability principles, but it goes beyond, focusing on the comfort, health, and well-being of people living and working in these spaces, examining the various aspects of a “Healthy Building” and how they can be measured and properly certified.

An Examination of Site Meetings: Essential Factors and Implications on Building Quality in Construction Projects within Higher Institutions in Ekiti State

The building and construction industry (BCI) is made of diverse professionals and despite its emphasis on quality project delivery, the essentials of site meetings have not been adequately explored. The study examined the fundamental aspects of Site Meetings and their impact on the execution of construction projects in the building sector, specifically focusing on higher education institutions in Ekiti State, Nigeria. An online survey questionnaire was used and administered to the Consultants and Contractors, within Higher Institutions in Ekiti State, and only seventy-four (74) Respondents filled out the questionnaire and submitted it. The results indicated that 67.6% and 31.1% strongly agreed and agreed respectively that site minutes are important to project implementation. 50% each strongly agreed and agreed that the agenda is a critical tool for project implementation. 37.7% of respondent do not have a definite time for sending notice of a meeting while 10.8% do not have an agenda for their site meetings, also, 52.7% make the minutes of site meetings available before the meeting and 47.3% during the meeting. The study recommended that all stakeholders should take the essentials seriously. Notice of meetings, agendas, and Minutes should be prepared and sent ahead of site meeting dates.

Dynamic analysis of air quality and air flow control mode in residential buildings

Dynamic analysis of air quality and air flow control mode in residential buildings

Enhancing indoor air quality in office buildings: Insight from a field study

Building tight for minimizing building energy consumption and related carbon emissions might negatively affect indoor air quality (IAQ) if this is not correctly designed and evaluated during operation. To address this concern, a post occupancy evaluation study was conducted in a recent large office building in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano (Italy). The aim of the study was to collect evidence from a relevant case study and use it as a basis to define a standardized strategy for continuous monitoring of a larger portfolio of office buildings. Additionally, carbon dioxide (CO2), particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), air temperature, and relative humidity were recorded 24/7 for a 5-week period in winter 2023. Detailed spot measurements of VOCs and aldehydes were also carried out. Perceived air quality (PAQ) was evaluated through satisfaction surveys which covered various factors influencing PAQ including 14 potential sources of dissatisfaction. A cross-modal approach allowed for a comprehensive examination of the different domains (thermal, visual, acoustic, and IAQ) on PAQ. Measured contaminants’ levels were below recommended limits. Overall, participants were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with PAQ, and possible related sources of dissatisfaction were elements such as the relative humidity. Sick building syndrome (SBS) selfreported symptoms such as dry skin and itchy eyes confirmed potentially too low relative humidity levels.