- 2071 Bhadra · 8 marks
Heat, ventilation, light, sound, orientation, moisture
Short answer
Design must control heat through insulation, shading, and orientation; ensure ventilation with cross openings or fans; provide daylight (window area at least 10% of floor, daylight factor 2-5%); and give sound insulation. Orient rooms by sun and wind, and prevent moisture with DPC, waterproof plaster, slopes, and drainage.
Explain the consideration of heat, ventilation, light, sound, orientation and moisture movement in a building with sketch where necessary.
Heat
Heat enters and leaves by conduction, convection and radiation. Control through orientation, insulation (low U-value), shading of windows, thermal mass, cavity walls, light-coloured roofs and cool roofs. The aim is thermal comfort of 21 to 27 °C.
Ventilation
Supply of fresh air and removal of stale air to supply oxygen, remove CO₂, odour and heat. Natural ventilation by cross openings (wind) and stack effect; mechanical by fans for kitchens, toilets, basements. Opening area is generally at least 10 % of floor area, as per the National Building Code.
Light
Daylight is preferred. Window area, orientation and shading give a daylight factor of 2 to 5 %. Artificial lighting is used at night and where daylight is inadequate.
Sound
Provide sound insulation (heavy walls, cavity, floating floors, double glazing) against outside noise and neighbours, and absorption to control echo and reverberation inside.
Orientation
Rooms are arranged by the sun path and wind direction: for example, kitchen in the east or north-east, living room and bedroom in the south, long side facing south.
Moisture movement
Rising damp, rain penetration, condensation and leaks cause damage. Prevent by DPC at plinth, waterproof plaster, roof slopes and flashing, cavity walls, drains and ventilation.
sun -> [S windows + chhajja]
wind -> [window]---room---[window] -> cross ventilation
======= DPC at plinth =======
A good design balances all these factors together.
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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