Building Engineering Course

Lesson 1 • Reading and Interpreting Construction Documents

Teaches drawing types, notation conventions, and specification formats used throughout a project. Prepares students to extract engineering data from contract documents.

Lesson 2 • The Building Engineering Profession

Defines building engineering scope, distinguishing it from architecture and construction management. Connects professional identity to project delivery roles.

Lesson 3 • Building Classification and Occupancy Types

Categorises buildings by use, height, and construction type. Provides the regulatory framework context for all subsequent design decisions.

Lesson 4 • Overview of Major Building Systems

Surveys structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems as integrated components. Establishes system interdependencies explored in later chapters.

Lesson 1 • Load Types and Load Combinations

Identifies dead, live, wind, seismic, snow, and thermal loads and their combination rules. Establishes the demand side of structural design.

Lesson 2 • Principles of Structural Behaviour

Covers equilibrium, stress, strain, and deformation as the physical basis for structural design. Links material behaviour to member selection.

Lesson 3 • Structural Systems for Buildings

Compares bearing wall, frame, shear wall, and braced frame systems. Students select appropriate systems based on building type and load demands.

Lesson 4 • Foundation Systems and Soil Interaction

Covers shallow and deep foundation types and their relationship to soil bearing capacity. Connects geotechnical data to foundation selection.

Lesson 1 • Roof Systems and Waterproofing

Covers low-slope and steep-slope roof assemblies, drainage, and waterproofing membranes. Connects roof design to structural and mechanical system coordination.

Lesson 2 • Envelope Functions and Performance Criteria

Defines the envelope's roles in controlling heat, air, moisture, and sound. Establishes performance metrics used to evaluate assembly options.

Lesson 3 • Fenestration and Glazing Systems

Evaluates window and curtain wall glazing for thermal, solar, and daylighting performance. Links fenestration selection to energy and occupant comfort outcomes.

Lesson 4 • Moisture Management and Durability

Applies hygrothermal analysis to predict and prevent moisture damage in assemblies. Ensures long-term envelope durability through detailing strategies.

Lesson 1 • Thermodynamic Principles for HVAC

Reviews heat transfer modes, psychrometrics, and the refrigeration cycle as the physical basis for HVAC design. Prepares students for load calculation methods.

Lesson 2 • Ductwork and Air Distribution Design

Covers duct sizing, pressure loss calculation, and diffuser selection for balanced airflow. Connects distribution design to occupant comfort and energy use.

Lesson 3 • Heating and Cooling Load Calculations

Applies envelope data and occupancy schedules to calculate peak heating and cooling loads. Outputs sizing parameters for equipment selection.

Lesson 4 • HVAC System Types and Selection

Compares all-air, air-water, and refrigerant-based systems for efficiency and application fit. Students select systems based on building type and occupancy.

Lesson 1 • Lighting Design Principles

Applies photometric concepts to design efficient, comfortable lighting for various occupancies. Links luminaire selection to energy targets and occupant needs.

Lesson 2 • Low-Voltage and Specialty Systems

Introduces fire alarm, communications, security, and audiovisual systems as integrated building infrastructure. Covers coordination with power and structural systems.

Lesson 3 • Electrical Fundamentals for Engineers

Reviews voltage, current, power, and power factor as applied to building electrical systems. Establishes the quantitative basis for distribution design.

Lesson 4 • Power Distribution System Design

Covers service entrance, switchgear, panelboards, and branch circuit design. Students size conductors and protective devices for code-compliant installations.

Lesson 1 • Stormwater and Site Drainage

Designs roof drain, area drain, and site stormwater systems for peak flow management. Connects building drainage to site civil engineering requirements.

Lesson 2 • Domestic Water System Design

Sizes cold and hot water distribution piping for pressure and flow adequacy. Addresses water heating equipment selection and energy efficiency.

Lesson 3 • Fire Suppression System Design

Covers wet-pipe, dry-pipe, and special hazard suppression systems and their hydraulic design. Links system selection to occupancy hazard classification.

Lesson 4 • Sanitary Drainage and Venting Design

Applies drainage fixture unit method to size drain, waste, and vent piping. Ensures proper venting to maintain trap seals and prevent sewer gas entry.

Lesson 1 • Passive Design Strategies

Applies solar orientation, natural ventilation, and daylighting to reduce mechanical system loads. Prioritises passive measures before active system sizing.

Lesson 2 • Sustainability Rating Systems

Evaluates major green building certification frameworks for credits applicable to engineering systems. Students develop a credit strategy for a target certification level.

Lesson 3 • Renewable Energy Integration

Sizes photovoltaic, solar thermal, and geothermal systems for building energy offset. Evaluates grid interconnection and storage options.

Lesson 4 • Energy Code Compliance Strategies

Applies prescriptive and performance compliance paths to meet energy efficiency requirements. Students select the most cost-effective compliance strategy.

Lesson 1 • Commissioning and System Verification

Applies commissioning process to verify that all building systems perform as designed. Links commissioning findings to occupant handover and operations.

Lesson 2 • Project Closeout and Facilities Handover

Manages record drawings, O&M manuals, and training to ensure a successful owner handover. Prepares students for post-occupancy evaluation and warranty management.

Lesson 3 • Multidisciplinary Systems Coordination

Resolves spatial conflicts among structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems in congested zones. Develops coordination drawings and RFI management skills.

Lesson 4 • Construction Phase Engineering Services

Defines engineer responsibilities during construction for submittals, site visits, and change orders. Ensures design intent is maintained through construction completion.