Building Engineering and Systems Design

708 Pages·1989·23.28 MB·English

by  Frederick S. Merritt, James Ambrose (auth.)

Building
Engineering
and
Systems
Design
Building
Engineering
and
Systems
Design
Second Edition
Frederick S. Merritt
Consulting Engineer, West Palm Beach, Florida
and
James Ambrose
University of Southern California
InliI5l VAN NOSTRAND REINHOLD
~ _____ New York
Copyright © 1990 by Van Nostrand Reinhold
Softcover reprint ofthe hardcover 1st edition 1990
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 89-14641
ISBN 978-1-4757-0150-0 ISBN 978-1-4757-0148-7 (eBook)
DOl 10.1007/978-1-4757-0148-7
All rights reserved. Certain portions of this work © 1979 by
Van Nostrand Reinhold. No part of this work covered by the copyright
hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means-graphic,
electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping,
or information storage and retrieval systems-without written permission
of the publisher.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Merritt, Frederick S.
Building engineering and systems design / Frederick S. Merritt and
James Ambrose.-2nd ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographies and index.
ISBN 978-1-4757-0150-0
1. Building. 2. Systems engineering. I. Ambrose, James E.
ll. Title.
TH846.M47 1989
690-dc20 89-14641
CIP
Preface to Second Edition
This edition is based upon a firm conviction of the authors that the purpose of, and the need for
the book, as described in the Preface to the First Edition, are as critical today as they were when
the first edition was prepared. In fact, now, there is a greater need for applications of systems
design to buildings. This need occurs because of rising construction costs, greater demand for
more and improved building services, and better quality control of construction. In brief, this
book explains what needs to be designed, and the issues to be addressed in the design process.
Revisions of the first edition have been aimed at refining the text and developing new topics
which have emerged during the past decade. Increased attention is given to the involvement of
architects in systems design, and to the inclusion of architectural goals and objectives in the value
systems for optimized design. Traditionally, architects have been the only members of the build
ing team whose formal training has included some work in all the major areas of building design.
College courses in structures, plumbing, lighting, electrical power, mechanical systems, and
building services in general, have, in the past, been included in most architectural education
curricula. What is new is the tendency for architects to work directly and interactively with
engineers, contractors, and other specialists during design development. This is facilitated by the
use of shared computer-stored data and interactive computer-aided design processes.
While architects have traditionally been broadly educated for building design, engineers usually
have not been so rounded in their education. One of the most valuable uses for this book is as a
general education in the building design and construction process for those members of the build
ing design team who did not experience comprehensive architectural training. This education is
hard to obtain but of increasing importance as interactive design becomes more common.
To make the book more suitable for use in self study, the bibliographies and study materials
have been arranged by chapter section, rather than by chapter, as in the first edition. Thus, study
units are smaller and easier to handle for persons with limited study time. Chapter summaries
have also been provided.
Learning any technology requires familiarity with a large new vocabulary. Many technical
terms are defined and explained in this book, but a glossary would be too large for inclusion in
the book. However this edition contains compilations, at the ends of most chapter sections, of
terms used in those sections. The use of these lists will permit readers to develop a considerable
technical vocabulary, by using the book index to find the definitions and explanations in the text.
It would be advantageous, however, for readers to obtain at least one dictionary of building
terminology.
While both authors of this edition have diverse backgrounds in education, writing, and man
agement, our major focus in this work is on the needs of the building designer. That interest was
the principal guide in the development of the text and in the general selection and emphasis of
topics. In total, what we want to achieve are better buildings, and our major intention is to assist
those persons who work in this field to accomplish that end.
FREDERICK S. MERRITT
JA MES AMBROSE
v
Preface to First Edition
As a consequence of technological, economic and sociological changes throughout the civilized
world, new buildings are becoming ever more complex and costly; however, the public is de
manding better buildings at less cost. To meet this challenge, building designers and constructors
must improve their skills and develop better building methods. This book was written to help
them.
Fundamentally, the book is a compendium of the best of the current building-engineering prac
tices. It describes building materials, building components, types of construction, design proce
dures and construction methods that have been recommended by experts, and it covers nearly all
disciplines. It presents the basics of building planning, structural engineering, fire safety, plumb
ing, air conditioning, lighting, acoustics, electrical engineering, escalator and elevator installa
tion and many other technical skills needed in building design.
But if the challenge of constructing better buildings at less cost is to be met, future designers
and builders will need more than just technical information. They will have to be more creative
and ingenious in applying this information. In addition, they will have to organize more effi
ciently for design and construction and manage the design and construction processes in a more
expert manner. The book also is intended to help meet these goals.
For the reasons cited above, a new concept of building design and construction is needed. Such
a concept is the main theme of the book.
The concept requires that designers treat buildings as systems and apply techniques of opera
tions research (more commonly known as systems design) to their design. Systems design em
ploys the scientific method to obtain an optimum, or best, system and calls for an interdisciplinary
approach to design. The techniques involved have been successfully used in machine design, but
it was necessary, here, to adapt them to building design. However, the adaptation is accomplished
in a way that will enable professionals accustomed to traditional procedures to convert easily to
the new techniques and will also permit students who learn systems design from this book to fit
readily into traditional organizations, if necessary for their employment.
The interdisciplinary approach to design advocated in the book requires that design be executed
by a team, the building team. It consists of consultants specializing in various aspects of design
and construction and also should include future users of the proposed building along with expe
rienced building operators or managers.
For the team to function effectively, i.e. for intelligent participation in decision making, each
member of the team, in addition to contributing his or her own special knowledge, skills and
experience to the team effort, should also be acquainted with the duties, responsibilities and
output of the other members of the team. In particular, the team leader should be more knowl
edgeable on all aspects of building design and construction, to lead, guide and coordinate the
team. An important objective of this book, therefore, is to educate potential members of the
building team for the roles they will have to play and to prepare professionals for leadership of
the team.
For practical reasons, the book is restricted to presentation only of pertinent topics that the
vii
viii Preface to First Edition
author considers basic and important. The treatment should be sufficient to provide a foundation
on which the reader can build by additional reading and on-the-job experience. To assist toward
this end, each chapter in the book concludes with a list of books for supplementary reading.
The book has been designed for use in either of two ways:
1. as a textbook in an introductory course for architecture, building engineering or construction
management;
2. as a home-study book for professional building designers and builders who wish to learn
how to use systems design in their work.
The book assumes that, at the outset, the reader has a knowledge of buildings, physics and
mathematics comparable to that of a high-school graduate. Based on this assumption, the book
describes building components, explains their functions and indicates how they are assembled to
form a building. While these introductory discussions will be familiar to building professionals,
they should find the review worthwhile as an introduction to the new design concept.
In preparation of this book, the author drew information and illustrative material from sources
too numerous to list. He is indeed grateful to all who contributed and, where feasible, has given
credit elsewhere in this book.
FREDERICK S. MERRITT
Contents
Preface to Second Edition v
Preface to First Edition VII
CHAPTER 1. New Directions in Building Design
1.1. Change from Master Builders to Managers 2
1.2. Basic Traditional Building Procedure 8
1.3. Systems Design Approach to Building 14
1.4. Design by Building Team 19
CHAPTER 2. Basic Building Elements and Their Representation 24
2. 1. Main Parts of Buildings 24
2.2. Floors and Ceilings 26
2.3. Roofs 28
2.4. Exterior Walls and Openings 29
2.5. Partitions, Doors, and Interior-Wall Finishes 32
2.6. Structural Framing and Foundations 34
2.7. Plumbing 37
2.8. Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HV AC) Systems 38
2.9. Lighting 39
2.10. Acoustics 40
2.11. Electric Supply 40
2.12. Vertical-Circulation Elements 41
2.13. Why Drawings Are Necessary 43
2.14. Drawing Conventions 43
2.15. Types of Drawings 44
2.16. Specifications 45
2.17. Scales and Dimensions on Drawings 45
2.18. Elevation Views 46
2.19. Plan Views 47
2.20. Lines 48
2.21. Sections 49
2.22. Details 50
2.23. Survey and Plot Plans 52
CHAPTER 3. Systems Design Method 58
3.1. Models 58
3.2. Value Measures for Comparisons 64
ix
x Contents
3.3. Comparisons of Systems 66
3.4. Return on Investment 67
3.5. Constraints Imposed by Building Codes 70
3.6. Zoning Codes 74
3.7. Other Constraining Regulations 76
3.8. Systems Design Steps 77
3.9. System Goals 83
3.10. System Objectives 85
3.11. System Constraints 86
3.12. Value Analysis 87
3.13. Optimum Design of Complex Systems 89
CHAPTER 4. Application of Systems Design to Buildings 97
4.1. Considerations in Adaptation of Systems Design 98
4.2. Role of Owner 101
4.3. Conceptual Phase of Systems Design 103
4.4. Design Development Phase of Systems Design 110
CHAPTER 5. Contract Documents and Construction Methods 115
5.1. Responsibilities Assigned by the Construction Contract 115
5.2. Components of the Contract Documents 118
5.3. Contract Drawings 121
5.4. Specifications 123
5.5. Bidding Requirements 128
5.6. Contractors Drawings 130
5.7. Construction and Occupancy Permits 130
5.8. Construction Procedures 131
CHAPTER 6. Life Safety Concerns 137
6.1. Windstorms 138
6.2. Earthquakes 145
6.3. Fire 148
6.4. Fire Extinguishment 150
6.5. Emergency Egress 152
6.6. Fire Protection 156
6.7. Security 160
6.8. Barrier-Free Environments 160
6.9. Toxic Materials 161
6.10. Construction Safety 162
CHAPTER 7. Building Sites and Foundations 165
7.1. Site Considerations 165
7.2. Site Surveys 168
7.3. Soil Considerations for Site and Foundation Design 169
7.4. Shallow Bearing Foundations 178
7.5. Deep Foundations 181
7.6. Lateral and Uplift Forces on Structures 186
7.7. Site Development Considerations 191
Contents xi
7.8. Cofferdams and Foundation Walls 193
7.9. Dewatering of Excavations 195
7.10. Investigation and Testing 196
7. 11. Systems-Design Approach to Site Adaptation 200
CHAPTER 8. Structural Systems 205
8. 1. Building Loads 205
8.2. Deformations of Structural Members 209
8.3. Unit Stresses and Strains 211
8.4. Idealization of Structural Materials 214
8.5. Structural Materials 217
8.6. Typical Major Constraints on Structural Systems 253
8.7. Tension Members 255
8.8. Columns 257
8.9. Trusses 261
8.10. Beams 265
8.11. Arches and Rigid Frames 285
8.12. Shells and Folded Plates 292
8.13. Cable-Supported Roofs 297
8.14. Pneumatic Structures 302
8.15. Horizontal Framing Systems 305
8.16. Vertical Structural Systems 313
8.17. Systems-Design Approach to Structural Systems 320
CHAPTER 9. Plumbing 331
9. 1. Water Supply 331
9.2. Wastewater Disposal 336
9.3. Basic Principles of Plumbing 337
9.4. Water-Supply Systems 339
9.5. Sizing of Water-Supply Pipes 349
9.6. Wastewater-Removal Systems 354
9.7. Sizing of Wastewater and Vent Pipes 363
9.8. Piping for Heating Gas 368
9.9. Systems Design of Plumbing 370
CHAPTER 10. Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning 379
10.1. Design Considerations 379
10.2. Measurement of Heat 382
10.3. Heat Flow and Human Comfort 388
10.4. Thermal Insulation 395
10.5. Prevention of Damage from Condensation 400
10.6. Ventilation 402
10.7. Heat Losses 412
10.8. Heat Gains 413
10.9. Methods of Heating Buildings 416
10.10. Methods of Cooling and Air Conditioning Buildings 426
10.11. Passive Design 435
10.12. Systems-Design Approach to HVAC 436