Building Services Research Articles

Influence of Spatially Varied Soil Property on Train-Induced Soil-to-Column Vibration Transmission

The proximity of residential areas to traffic corridors has raised concerns among researchers regarding train-induced vibrations. Experimental studies have consistently shown variations in train-induced vibrations, which can be attributed to uncertainties and randomness in both the vibration source and propagation path. This study aims to investigate the influence factors and quantify their contributions to train-induced vibration variations through a comprehensive field measurement campaign and numerical simulations using random finite element models. During the field measurements, vibrations were recorded at the ground surface and the column base for a total of 53 passbys of the same type of metro train on parallel rail lines. Variations in train-induced vibrations caused by the source-to-receiver distance and spatially varied soil properties were analyzed and compared. Specifically, the investigation focused on the spatial variation of soil properties including elastic modulus, density and damping ratio in the topsoil and the second layer of clay, while simultaneously considering the influence of spatial variations of all three soil properties on the transmission of train-induced vibrations from the surface soil to the structural columns. Understanding these variations is crucial for the probabilistic assessment of building serviceability during train passbys. The findings of this research provide valuable insights for probabilistic prediction and evaluation of building vibration comfort.

Seismic Response of Open Ground Story Reinforced Concrete Buildings, Considering with Soil-Structure Interaction

This study investigates the seismic behavior of open-ground story (OGS) reinforced concrete buildings with soil-structure interaction (SSI) using SAP2000. The study mainly focused on mid-rise (8-storey) and low-rise (4-storey) OGS buildings, incorporating different masonry infill materials such as brick, concrete blocks, and autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) blocks. Selected ground motions from the Bhuj, El Centro, and Chi-Chi earthquakes were utilized to simulate varying seismic intensities and frequency content. Critical parameters such as top-story displacement and inter-story drift are analyzed to assess the structural safety and serviceability of RC buildings. The results demonstrate that both OGS coupled with SSI and masonry infill type significantly affect the displacement and drift, with mid-rise buildings showing more pronounced impacts. Furthermore, ground motion characteristics are critical in producing different response patterns. The study highlights the importance of considering SSI, infill materials, and ground motion characteristics in the design of OGS buildings to enhance earthquake resilience and reduce seismic damage.

A Framework for Industry 4.0 Related Green Concept Integration of Services Component in Commercial Buildings

The effects of global warming are far-reaching and can affect and threaten every aspect of human existence. Human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation have mainly contributed to the emission of these greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Construction activities and practices are one such human activity. Building services are the aspects of a building that ensure the occupants are comfortable and secure within the building. However, building services use resources such as energy and water to create such comfort. The 4.0 era of industry has introduced dimensions to Green Building Concepts and practices of creating structures and processes that are environmentally friendly, responsible and resource efficient. This research, therefore, seeks to develop a framework for the integration of Industry 4.0-related green concepts into services in commercial buildings. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted in this research to provide information concerning integrating green concepts into building services in commercial buildings in Nigeria. Data were collected with questionnaires from 106 built environment professionals who also use commercial buildings in the study area of Abuja. Statistical tools for frequency, percentage, mean score, relative important index (RII), independent samples t test, Mann–Whitney U test and the factor reduction method based on eigen values were used to analyze the data. The results indicated that quality indoor air conditioning is the most critical satisfaction parameter for users within commercial buildings, with an average mean score of 3.81. The aesthetic effect of installed services on the building façade and high-quality building services components was ranked high, with an average mean score of 3.33 for each. The results also indicated that the lack of relevant technology and inadequate training of service personnel hindered the growth of green building concepts in Nigeria. These factors had a mean score of 4.35 each. Professionals ranked energy efficient/saving bulbs, e.g., CFLs, remote controlled, sensored lights, natural daylight, solar photovoltaic panels and building management systems, as the most effective green components that can be incorporated into commercial buildings. These factors and others were combined to create a framework for integrating green concepts for services into commercial buildings. When the construction industry and government in Nigeria adopt this framework, it can promote more integration of green concepts into commercial building services.

Dynamic Analysis of a 600-m-High Supertall Building Subjected to Long-Period Ground Motions, Ordinary Ground Motions and a Super Typhoon: A Comparative Study

Long-period ground motions pose potential risks to the safety and serviceability of supertall buildings, which was not paid sufficient attention in the past of structural seismic design. To address this issue, the comparative study presented in this paper systematically investigates the dynamic responses of a 600-m-high supertall building subjected to natural hazards including long-period ground motions, ordinary ground motions and a super typhoon with the same return periods of 50 years. The seismic responses and wind-induced responses of the supertall building are obtained based on the building’s finite element model under earthquake excitation records and structural health monitoring system installed in the skyscraper, respectively. The long-period ground motions cause larger dynamic responses of the supertall building than those resulted by the ordinary ground motions or the super typhoon. This combined study of numerical analysis and field measurement provides valuable insights into the dynamic responses of a supertall building under different natural hazards, especially the long-period ground motions. The findings are expected to be of interest and practical use to the design of supertall buildings.

Isolation to stabilization: A Housing First approach to address homelessness in Kingston, Ontario.

Homelessness is a significant and growing public health concern across Canada. In Kingston, Ontario, the number of people experiencing chronic homelessness has more than doubled from 136 people in 2020 to 296 in 2023. An emergency shelter-in-place hotel program was established in April 2020 to provide non-congregate shelter to people experiencing homelessness and vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infections. Beyond preventing COVID transmission, the unintentional consequence was that a population that experienced chronic homelessness reduced drug consumption and became stable. In 2022, with increased funding from the Ministry of Health and the City of Kingston, a new Housing First program was implemented to transition individuals from homelessness to long-term stable housing. Between November 2022 and June 2023, a total of 34 clients initiated the program. Of these clients, 10 completed the program and were successfully housed, 10 remained active participants, and 14 were discharged before completion. Strengths and challenges were identified. Diverse services provided to meet the population's needs and strong collaborations with various community partners were facilitating factors. Inadequate external resources, a lack of evening and prosocial activities, and outside peers (not part of the program) who influenced recovery plans were identified as challenges. This program illustrates that simultaneously integrating housing, community building, mental health, and addiction services is possible and provides an innovative way to stabilize this vulnerable population of people experiencing homelessness. Results from this program and the knowledge generated through implementation are being used to further scale up the program.

Efficient management and compliance check of HVAC information in the building design phase using Semantic Web technologies

Several OWL ontologies have been developed for the AEC industry to manage domain-specific information, yet they often overlook the domain of building services and HVAC components. The Flow Systems Ontology was recently proposed to address this need, but it does not include HVAC components’ size and capacity-related properties. Also, despite their strengths in representing domain-specific knowledge, ontologies cannot efficiently identify poor data quality in BIM models. A four-fold contribution is made in this research paper to define and improve the data quality of HVAC information by (1) extending the existing Flow Systems Ontology, (2) proposing the new Flow Properties Ontology, (3) proposing an HVAC rule set for compliance checking, and (4), moreover, we use Semantic Web technologies to demonstrate the benefits of efficient HVAC data management when sizing components. The demonstration case shows that we can represent the data model in a distributed way, validate it using 36 SHACL shapes and use SPARQL to determine the pressure and flow rate of fans and pumps.

Agile project management for sustainable residential construction: A study of critical success factors

Sustainability principles should be incorporated into all decision-making stages for residential construction projects to ensure maximum revenue while maintaining essential residential building services. This study identifies and analyzes the critical success factors (CSFs) necessary for implementing agile project management (APM) in residential construction projects. Data were collected from 120 professionals in the Nigerian construction industry through questionnaire surveys to understand the implementation of APM. The CSFs were obtained from previous research and analyzed within the specific context of the Nigerian construction industry through questionnaire surveys. The CSFs were grouped into two main categories using exploratory factor analysis: dynamic project optimization and agile project foundations. The model for the CSFs was developed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The study found that the dynamic project optimization element had the most significant impact on the model, highlighting its importance as a key CSF in APM implementation. These results support the adoption of APM within Nigeria’s construction industry as stakeholders and professionals seek effective strategies to reduce costs and improve sustainability.

Towards more circular building services: A social footprint of the sectors manufacturing and remanufacturing chillers for the European market

Towards more circular building services: A social footprint of the sectors manufacturing and remanufacturing chillers for the European market

Correction for reverberation time in acoustic measurements from service and equipment - Comparison between different methods

The measured values of the sound pressure level in ordinary rooms in dwellings vary depending on the combined effect of the absorption and the scattering of the furniture, or to the presence of absorbent surfaces on walls and ceilings. Regarding the measurement of noise from building services, ISO 16032 and ISO 10052 methods allow to normalize the sound pressure levels to a reference reverberation time of 0,5s. Several European countries incorporate this reverberation time correction into their regulations. However, Spanish regulations, specifically RD 1367/2007, and the majority of regional decrees and ordinances concerning the evaluation of noise from activities or equipment within buildings, do not incorporate this correction, even when measurements are performed in two scenarios: before the building's occupation when rooms are empty, or when the building is fully furnished, as may occur in the case of complaints. For that reason, this study compares the values of the reverberation time index obtained in 180 residential rooms using various methods while also evaluating the benefits and drawbacks of their application.

Mechanical noise for architectural students

Noise control of mechanical equipment is one of the requirements established in energy certificates (LEED, BREEAM, WELL, etc.) as well as in different design standards or national codes. At the Higher Technical School of Architecture of Madrid, Technical University of Madrid (UPM), several courses are offered to students on the design of mechanical systems, from the selection of the equipment, its location, distribution, and its integration with the architecture. Its acoustic implications are not explained in any course. During the last year of the degree, in the course "Proyecto de instalaciones", (Technical Equipment Design) students are asked to fully integrate the building services (heating, cooling, ventilation, fire safety, emergency signals...) in one building designed by their own, and for the first time a 2-hour masterclass on mechanical noise for architects has been organized. In it, the main noise sources, design recommendations and the most common ways to attenuate and control it are addressed. The aim of this work is to share the learned experiences and discuss the next steps to be taken.

Implementation Of Life Cycle Cost in The Bus Station Building

With the increase in existing development, of course, there must be consideration of careful cost planning to support planning, use, and the end of the building service period, particularly in the building industry. The use of the LCC method in estimation is one part of estimating the service life. Both qualitative and quantitative methodologies were used in this investigation.. The research refers to the terminal development project, and takes a sample of the building which is the focus of the research. The Budget Plan, containing each of its elements, is also the foundation of the research. The building's service life is then estimated and considered to be 25 years of operation., the resulting life cycle cost is Rp. 20,499,410,364, - The largest cost during the service life of the building is 25 years, which is found in operational costs Rp. 9,302,325,418 (40.86%), the initial cost is Rp. .7,769,441,715 (34.12%), maintenance costs Rp. 2,312,949,413 (10.16%), replacement cost Rp.2,249,032,308 (9.88%) and salvage value Rp.1,134,338,490 (4.98%).

An experimental study on web-bearing resistance of cold-formed steel sigma-shaped sections with web holes under interior-two-flange loading case

Cold-formed steel (CFS) sigma-shaped sections used as flooring joists and bearers are commonly fabricated with web holes to accommodate building services. These sections featuring web stiffeners and curved lips exhibit lower web-bearing resistance than traditional lipped channel sections. However, the web-bearing resistance of CFS sigma-shaped sections with web holes has not been thoroughly investigated. To address this gap, a detailed experimental investigation was conducted, testing 29 CFS sigma-shaped sections with web holes under an interior-two-flange (ITF) loading case. For comparison, specimens without web holes were also tested. Variables such as hole diameter ratio, hole location, bearing length, and flange condition were examined. A finite element (FE) model was developed and validated against the test results. The results indicated that the web-bearing resistance for specimens with web holes was reduced by 24.0% on average. To assess the accuracy of existing design specifications, the test results were compared against the design strengths predicted by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) (2016), Australian and New Zealand Standards (AS/NZS) (2018), European Standard (EC3) (2006), and Uzzaman et al. (2012). The comparison revealed that the design strength predicted by Uzzaman et al. (2012) agreed well with the test results.

Circular Economy in Heat Supply Systems for Buildings: An Overview of the End of Life of System Components and Existing Evaluation Systems and Products

Abstract In order to achieve climate protection targets, many heating systems must be converted to renewable energies and more efficient systems. Most of residential buildings in Germany are heated with natural gas (50 %), 25 % with an oil. Around 45 % of the heating systems are older than 15 years, 20,5 % are even older than 25 years. Therefore, a high replacement rate is to be expected in the next few years. In the context of circular economy, the accumulating materials should remain in the material cycle. Some materials, such as metals, can be recycled easily. However, building services engineering, in particular heat supply, has become increasingly complex. This paper focuses on the state of the circular economy of heat supply systems for buildings. Firstly, a detailed examination of products utilized in heat supply systems is undertaken. Secondly, an assessment of the end-of-life scenarios for these components was conducted, considering disposal routes and recycling rates. Lastly, an evaluation of assessment systems fostering a circular economy regarding heat supply systems is performed. The aim of the work is to provide an overview of the state of the art with regard to circular economy in heat supply and thereby draw conclusions as to where potentials and obstacles exist.

Moment capacity of cold-formed steel channel beams with edge-stiffened and unstiffened elongated web holes

Cold-formed steel channel beams (CFSCB) often incorporate web holes to accommodate building services, but this reduces their moment capacity due to decreased web area. Recent studies have shown that a new type of edge-stiffened web holes can enhance moment capacity, especially for circular ones, and can now be extended to elongated web holes. However, there hasn't been research on the moment capacity of such CFSCB with elongated web holes. This paper uses finite element analysis (FEA) to examine the moment capacity and flexural behaviour of such beams with both elongated edge-stiffened web holes (EEH) and elongated unstiffened web holes (EUH). After validating the FEA models against experimental results available in the literature, a comprehensive parametric study involving 2160 FEA models was conducted. Results showed that CFSCB with EEH exhibited, on average, a 9% increase in moment capacity compared to those with EUH. Additionally, the parametric results were compared with the design capacities calculated from existing standards for CFSCB with unstiffened web holes. It was found that the current design equations for CFSCB with EUH were overly conservative by 9% and 66%, on average, for distortional or local buckling failure and lateral-torsional buckling failure, respectively. Consequently, modified Direct Strength Method (DSM) design equations were proposed to calculate the moment capacity of CFSCB with both EEH and EUH. Finally, a reliability analysis was conducted to assess the accuracy of the proposed design equations.

Application of Blockchain in Procurement and Management of Building Services: A Critical and Systematic Review

Building services systems are essential for creating a comfortable and safe living environment in buildings. These are complex systems with high stakeholder involvement, a lengthy lifecycle, and high financial costs. This leads to building services systems having complex procurement and management (P&M) requirements which create a multitude of challenges. Blockchain technology has emerged as a revolutionary digital technology under “Procurement 4.0”. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the applicability of blockchain technology for systematic procurement and management of building services. The science mapping method was used to systematically and quantitatively analyse 102 publications related to bibliographic records retrieved from Scopus and the Web of Science databases. This includes content analysis of the existing issues, current trends of technologies, and applicability of blockchain in the P&M of building services. The results of the bibliometric analysis indicate that publications had grown significantly faster in 2021 related to the P&M of building services with new technologies while there is a minimal collaboration of countries, organisations and authors in publishing research in this area. Further, it is observed that Building Information Modelling (BIM) is the main technology utilised in general P&M. As a result of content analysis, a total of 28 issues that affect the performance of procurement and management of building services are identified. The paper critically evaluates blockchain technology in terms of peer-to-peer networks, hashing algorithms, public key cryptography, consensus mechanisms, smart contracts, and distributed ledger. It indicates that blockchain provides a perfect match for resolving these issues. The findings of the research will open a path to apply blockchain technology in building services. The study offers a readily available point of reference for practitioners, policymakers and research and development bodies.

A framework for post-windstorm functional recovery of non-residential buildings applied to hospitals

This study introduces a framework for recovery-based design in wind engineering. Currently, research is well advanced to implement this approach in earthquake engineering, with the scope of improving the resilience of structures and critical infrastructure, to achieve a durable and re-occupiable built environment after the occurrence of a disaster, and estimating downtimes and quantifying service disruption. The concept of interdependencies between the nonstructural components (building envelope) and a building’s functions is realized using Fault-Tree Analysis (FTA). Using this method allows the construction of fragility curves of systems of components and services using information as weights to reduce epistemic uncertainties, and a hypothetical recovery curve for the functionality of building services based on exposure to the hazard’s impact on the building envelope. The recovery process established here highlights the fundamental importance of accurate estimation of service losses. The methodology is applied to 4 hospitals located in different climatic regions in the United States surveyed using the database of EYP Architecture & Engineering. The analysis showed the importance of building design factors; such as the location of services relative to the envelope, number of stories, and the Window-to-Wall Ratio as significant influences on the risk of service disruption and recovery.

Risk factor profile for non-communicable diseases: findings of a STEPS survey among the support staff at the University of Pretoria, South Africa

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are an important problem in South Africa; they account for 60% of all deaths. Early screening could help lower NCD incidences and long-term consequences. Objective: The study aimed to profile NCD risk factors among insourced support staff at the University of Pretoria in 2018. Design: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted at the University of Pretoria, Hatfield Campus. The World Health Organization (WHO) STEPwise approach to chronic disease risk factor surveillance (STEPS) questionnaire was administered to collect data in three steps. The participants’ behavioural risk profiles were gathered using the face-to-face interview technique (STEP I), followed by their physical risk profile using anthropometric and blood pressure measurements (STEP II). Last was the biochemical risk profile, including finger-prick blood glucose and cholesterol measurement (STEP III). Data were analysed using Epi-Info, version 3.54. Subjects: A convenient sample of participants aged 18–64 years from the Departments of Industrial Hygiene and Building Services, Landscape Services, Sports Fields Management, and Security Services (n = 146, 60% were females) took part in the study. Results: Most participants (97.8%) had low daily fruit and vegetable intake. Some 80% of the study population always or often added salt to their food when cooking. Daily alcohol consumption was reported by a quarter of the sample. More than two-thirds of all the participants were overweight or obese and 61% had central obesity. Conclusion: The study identified a high prevalence of several NCD risk factors. Tailored nutrition education and monitoring are needed to lower the elevated risk.

The research progress and Hotspot analysis of polymer cement mortar based on bibliometrics

Ordinary cement mortar is commonly used in building engineering due to its high strength, affordability, and easy access to raw materials. However, it suffers from high shrinkage and poor impermeability, which result in reduced building service life and significant carbon dioxide emissions during production. Polymer additives have been found to enhance the mechanical properties of cement mortar, leading to increased interest in polymer cement mortar by researchers. This study collected and analyzed 420 papers published between 1995 and 2023 in the field of polymer cement mortar. The analysis included publication trends, author cooperation networks, national cooperation networks, published journals, co-citation of references, and keywords. The findings reveal a rapid publication growth from 2018 to 2023, with China making the most significant contribution in this field. Among the scholars, Ru Wang has published the highest number of articles in the field of polymer cement mortar, while Ohama’s papers have been cited the most. The journal with the most articles is Construction and Building Materials. Research in polymer cement mortar focuses on mechanical properties, performance, hydration process, microstructure, and other related aspects. The reinforcement effect of polymer-modified cement mortar on reinforced concrete and applying superabsorbent polymer-modified cement mortar and polymer fiber in cement mortar have emerged as recent research frontiers. This study can help scholars quickly identify high-quality references and research frontiers in the field of polymer cement mortar while also providing research directions and ideas.

Revolutionizing semantic integration of maintenance cost prediction for building systems using artificial neural networks

The maintenance cost management for building services has significantly advanced with the advent of computational techniques and semantic web technologies. Building services, including HVAC, plumbing, firefighting, and electrical systems, ensure building safety and efficiency. However, predicting maintenance costs is challenging due to the complexity and variability in usage patterns and environmental conditions. To address this challenge, this study introduces a Semantically Integrated Knowledge-based Artificial Neural Network (SIKB-ANN) framework. The SIKB-ANN framework integrates Semantic Web Technology (SWT) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) to improve the accuracy of maintenance cost predictions. SWT enhances data interoperability and standardization, while ANN manages complex non-linear data relationships. The model was trained with historical maintenance data from a firm (2017–2022) and validated using metrics such as Coefficient of Determination (R2), Mean Squared Error (MSE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), and Mean Absolute Error (MAE). The model achieved high predictive accuracy, with R2 values of 0.986 for the test set and 0.944 for the training set, indicating its robustness and reliability. An essential contribution of this research is the innovative integration of semantic ontologies with ANN, significantly enhancing predictive capabilities and providing a structured data management framework. This approach improves prediction accuracy and supports better decision-making and resource allocation in building management. The study highlights the potential of combining semantic technologies with machine learning to address complex predictive challenges in the built environment. Future research should consider integrating real-time data streams, advanced machine learning techniques, and broader applications in facility management.

Inverse problem method application in building physics numerical optimization: new insight into ideal envelope properties determination

ABSTRACT Building thermal design optimization is pivotal for energy efficiency and built environment improvement. The optimal thermophysical properties for building walls remain ambiguous. This ambiguity stems from the constraints of traditional building physics, which: (1) disjoins the enhancement of wall thermal performance from the building service system management; and (2) relies on the forward method that fails to identify the ideal variable thermophysical property, the solution to which is inherently a function. This study elucidates the optimal temperature-dependent volumetric specific heat ( ρ c p ( t ) ) and thermal conductivity ( k ( t ) ) through the inverse problem and variation method. Illustrative example indicates that the optimal ρ c p ( t ) closely resembles a combination of two ‘ δ ’ functions, while the optimal k ( t ) mirrors a square wave function. Utilizing these ideal thermophysical properties, the building energy consumption can be significantly reduced by 77.1% with the optimized ρ c p ( t ) and 79.9% with the optimized k ( t ) . The ideal thermophysical properties for active buildings differ significantly from those recommended for passive buildings, underscoring that minimal energy consumption does not necessarily imply minimal discomfort. Therefore, the thermophysical properties of active and passive buildings should be optimized distinctly. This research offers valuable insights for defining ideal thermophysical properties of active building walls and construction materials.