---
title: "Building types and essentials of air conditioning"
subject: "Building Technology"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_6/building_technology:ac-essentials-building-types"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/ac-essentials-building-types
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Building types and essentials of air conditioning

Building Technology · Chapter 1: Functional Requirements of Buildings

- Asked in: 2079 Asoj, 5 marks
- Video: [HVAC Systems Explained: Components, Functionality & Benefits 🌍 | Ultimate Guide for Beginners #hvac](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRB9gyXitGk) — Mr. SMART Engineering
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/ac-essentials-building-types
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/building_technology/chapter-1

## Question

Define educational and residential building. What are the essentials of air conditioning? Explain.

## Short answer

Educational building: used for teaching/learning (schools, colleges, universities). Residential building: used for living/sleeping (houses, flats, hostels, hotels). Essentials of air conditioning: temperature control (22–26°C), humidity control (40–60% RH), air filtration, air circulation/distribution, fresh air supply, refrigeration plant, controls (thermostat/humidistat), insulated/sealed building, proper load calculation and equipment sizing.

## Answer

#### Educational building
A building used for teaching and learning: schools, colleges, universities, training centres, with classrooms, laboratories, libraries and offices.

#### Residential building
A building where people live and sleep: houses, flats, hostels, dormitories, hotels, and apartments. (NBC groups educational as one use class and residential as another.)

#### Essentials of air conditioning
1. **Temperature control**: Cooling in summer and heating in winter to hold about 22 to 26 °C.
2. **Humidity control**: Keep relative humidity about 40 to 60 % by humidifying or dehumidifying.
3. **Air filtration / cleaning**: Dust, pollen, smoke and bacteria are removed by filters.
4. **Air circulation and distribution**: A fan and ducts give uniform air movement, without draught.
5. **Fresh air supply**: A fraction of outside air is mixed with the recirculated air.
6. **Refrigeration plant**: compressor, condenser, expansion valve and evaporator for cooling.
7. **Controls**: thermostat and humidistat for automatic operation.
8. **Insulated building and sealed openings**: This reduces the load.
9. **Proper load calculation and equipment sizing**: considering occupants, lights, solar gain and fresh air.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. An educational building is used for
   A. Teaching and learning
   B. Living and sleeping
   C. Storing goods
   D. Manufacturing
   Answer: A. Schools, colleges and universities. (Key point: Educational building)

2. AC keeps RH about
   A. 10 to 20 %
   B. 40 to 60 %
   C. 80 to 100 %
   D. 0 %
   Answer: B. Humidifying or dehumidifying as needed. (Key point: Humidity range)

3. Fresh air in AC is
   A. Never used
   B. 100 % recirculated
   C. A fraction of outside air mixed with recirculated air
   D. Only exhaust
   Answer: C. A fraction of outside air is mixed. (Key point: Fresh air)

4. Which is residential?
   A. Schools
   B. Laboratories
   C. Colleges
   D. Houses, flats, hostels, hotels
   Answer: D. People live and sleep there. (Key point: Residential)

## Related in Building Technology

- [Short note: Air conditioning](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Ashort-air-conditioning) — Building Technology, chapter 1, asked 3×
- [Ventilation versus air-conditioning](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aventilation-vs-ac) — Building Technology, chapter 1
- [Expansion joint in a residential building](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aexpansion-joint-350wall) — Building Technology, chapter 10
- [Building types, mechanical ventilation, air flow](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aairflow-078c) — Building Technology, chapter 1
- [Air flow through openings numerical (0.3 m, 0.4 m)](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aairflow-079a) — Building Technology, chapter 1, asked 2×
- [Air flow through openings numerical (0.36 m, 0.4 m)](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aairflow-078p) — Building Technology, chapter 1, asked 2×

## Related in other subjects

- [Quantity sheet and abstract for residential building](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Aquantity-sheet-abstract-residential) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 2
- [Air-conditioning: definition and scope](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fapplied_thermodynamics%3Aair-conditioning-definition-scope) — Applied Thermodynamics, chapter 4
- [Preliminary estimate: residential, 500 m² carpet](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Aprelim-est-residential-500) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 3
- [True/false: air conditioner is closed loop](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcontrol_systems%3Atf-air-conditioning-closed) — Control Systems, chapter 1