Architectural Technology II (week 1)

Regulatory framework

System of rules that govern building design for public safety

Purpose of building codes

To protect life health and property

National codes in Canada

Fire plumbing building and energy codes

Codes are written in blood

Rules created after accidents and loss of life

Fire codes

First codes developed due to major fires

Great Fire of London 1666

Event that led to fire resistant construction and urban planning

Fire code outcomes

Exit signs outward doors sprinklers occupancy limits non combustible materials firewalls fire department readiness

Code of Hammurabi 1755 to 1751 BCE

Early building law based on responsibility

Plumbing codes

Developed in nineteenth century due to disease in dense cities

Purpose of plumbing codes

Public health and sanitation

Flint water crisis

Example of water safety failure

Building codes

Developed from building collapses and disasters

Energy codes

Rules that guide energy efficiency in buildings

Ancient energy design

Early solar oriented building practices

Macedonia fourth century BC

First city planning rules for solar gain

Nineteen seventies energy crisis

Event that pushed modern energy codes

Lo Cal House 1976

Low energy house initiative

Saskatchewan Conservation House 1977

Early Canadian low energy project

R 2000 NRCAN 1981

National energy efficient housing program

Embodied carbon

Total carbon emitted to produce a material

Life cycle stages

Product construction use end of life and beyond

One year of driving in Canada

About one tonne of carbon emissions

Most impactful climate action

Build less and renovate instead of overbuilding

Energy efficient

Uses less energy to perform the same task

High performance

Performs better than standard buildings

Sustainability

Ability to maintain over time

Mitigation

Reducing harm or severity

Adaptation

Changing to suit the environment

Resilience

Ability to recover quickly

Regenerate

To create again

The perfect wall

Environmental separator that keeps outside out and inside in

Four things a wall must control

Rain air vapor heat

Rain control layer

Stops bulk water entry

Air control layer

Stops air leakage and moisture movement

Vapor control layer

Slows water vapor diffusion

Thermal control layer

Controls heat flow and insulates

Key control layer rule

If rain fails air fails if air fails vapor fails

Location of control layers

On the outside of the structure

Reason for exterior layers

Protects structure from weather and temperature damage

Ideal wall layer order

Structure then control layers then cladding

Purpose of cladding

UV protection physical protection aesthetics

Why insulation goes outside

Protects structure from temperature swings

Importance of airtightness

Allows control of air temperature and humidity

Perfect roof

Waterproofing and air layers under insulation

Perfect slab

Stone layer for drainage and capillary break

Roof wall connection

Where many failures occur

Importance of layer continuity

Prevents leaks mold and rot

Institutional wall Five hundred year wall

Used in museums courthouses libraries historic buildings

Institutional wall feature

Extremely durable with massive insulation

Commercial wall

Used in offices and stores

Commercial wall rule

All insulation must be outside metal studs

Thermal bridge

Pathway where heat flows easily

Residential wall

Used in homes

Residential wall structure

Wood studs with low conductivity

Residential wall insulation

Inside cavity and outside sheathing split fifty fifty

Residential wall vapor rule

No vapor barrier on inside

Reason for no interior vapor barrier

Allows wall to dry inward and outward

Metals and minerals

Foundation of modern architecture

All buildings are earthen buildings

All materials come from the Earth

Biggest carbon sources in buildings

Steel and concrete

Reason to renovate instead of rebuild

New structure means new emissions

Definition of minerals

Abiotic materials that are mined

Why metals are hard to decarbonize

They must be mined or recycled

Declining ore quality

Requires more energy and land

Metal production

Requires extreme heat and heavy industry

Why metals are irreplaceable

Carry loads conduct electricity resist weather

Metal recycling

Often cheaper than mining

Circular economy

Old products become new products

Near zero carbon metals

Possible but not carbon negative

Hydrogen based steelmaking

Promising path to low carbon steel

Stranded assets problem

Coal plants may become obsolete

Everything else materials

Glass aluminum plastics sealants coatings insulation

Carbon versus performance tradeoff

Upfront emissions may outweigh long term gains

EPDs

Environmental Product Declarations

Design responsibility

Choose lowest carbon options and use less steel

Be thrifty in the use of steel

Do not overbuild or waste materia