EXAC - FRANCIS D. K. CHING- BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION ILLUSTRATED
principles of sustainable design - Answer -reduce resource consumption
reuse resources
recycle resources
protect nature
eliminate toxins
life-cycle cost
focus on quality
reduce a building's consumption: passive - Answer -work with the climate in designing,
siting, and orienting a building to employ passive cooling and heating techniques
reduce a building's consumption: active - Answer -increase the ability of a building to
capture or generate its own energy from renewable sources (solar, wind, geothermal,
low impact hydro, biomass, biogas)
soil classes - Answer -course
fine
course grained soils - Answer -permeable, drain better, less susceptible to frost action
(gravel and sand)
fine grained soils - Answer -silt and clay
subsurface investigation - Answer -10' test pit to understand the structure of soil, shear
resistance, compressive strength, water content, permeability, expected extent / rate of
consolidation under loading
shear strength of soil - Answer -measures the ability to resist displacement when an
external force is applied, due largely to the combined effects of cohesion and internal
friction
cohesive soil - Answer -retains strength when unconfined (clay)
granular soil - Answer -requires confining force for shear resistance and has a shallow
angle of repose (gravel, sand, sometimes silt)
water table - Answer -level beneath which the soil is saturated with groundwater
ridge - Answer -contour lines point toward lower elevations
, valley - Answer -contour lines point toward higher elevations
slopes > 25% - Answer -subject to erosion, difficult to build on
slopes > 10% - Answer -challenging to use for outdoor activities, built on without
difficulty
slopes 5-10% - Answer -suitable for informal outdoor activities, easy to build on
slopes < 5% - Answer -usable for outdoor activities, easy to build on
azimuth - Answer -angle of horizontal deviation, measured clockwise, of a bearing from
a standard south direction
recommended forms and orientations: cool - Answer -minimize surface area (less
exposure to low temps)
maximize solar radiation absorption
reduce heat loss
provide wind protection
recommended forms and orientations: temperate - Answer -elongate building along
east-west axis
maximize southern exposure
minimize east-west exposures
balance solar heat gain with shade protection
encourage air movement in hot weather
protect against wind in cold weather
recommended forms and orientations: hot-arid - Answer -building forms should enclose
courtyards
reduce solar and conductive heat gain
promote cooling by evaporation
provide solar shading for windows / outdoor spaces
recommended forms and orientations: hot-humid - Answer -elongate building along
east-west axis
minimize east-west exposure
reduce solar heat gain
promote cooling by evaporation and wind
provide solar shading for windows / outdoor spaces
passive solar heating - Answer -uses solar energy to heat interior spaces without
relying on mechanical devices; rely on natural heat transfer processes of conduction,
convection, and radiation for the collection, storage, distribution, and control of solar
energy
CONSTRUCTION ILLUSTRATED
principles of sustainable design - Answer -reduce resource consumption
reuse resources
recycle resources
protect nature
eliminate toxins
life-cycle cost
focus on quality
reduce a building's consumption: passive - Answer -work with the climate in designing,
siting, and orienting a building to employ passive cooling and heating techniques
reduce a building's consumption: active - Answer -increase the ability of a building to
capture or generate its own energy from renewable sources (solar, wind, geothermal,
low impact hydro, biomass, biogas)
soil classes - Answer -course
fine
course grained soils - Answer -permeable, drain better, less susceptible to frost action
(gravel and sand)
fine grained soils - Answer -silt and clay
subsurface investigation - Answer -10' test pit to understand the structure of soil, shear
resistance, compressive strength, water content, permeability, expected extent / rate of
consolidation under loading
shear strength of soil - Answer -measures the ability to resist displacement when an
external force is applied, due largely to the combined effects of cohesion and internal
friction
cohesive soil - Answer -retains strength when unconfined (clay)
granular soil - Answer -requires confining force for shear resistance and has a shallow
angle of repose (gravel, sand, sometimes silt)
water table - Answer -level beneath which the soil is saturated with groundwater
ridge - Answer -contour lines point toward lower elevations
, valley - Answer -contour lines point toward higher elevations
slopes > 25% - Answer -subject to erosion, difficult to build on
slopes > 10% - Answer -challenging to use for outdoor activities, built on without
difficulty
slopes 5-10% - Answer -suitable for informal outdoor activities, easy to build on
slopes < 5% - Answer -usable for outdoor activities, easy to build on
azimuth - Answer -angle of horizontal deviation, measured clockwise, of a bearing from
a standard south direction
recommended forms and orientations: cool - Answer -minimize surface area (less
exposure to low temps)
maximize solar radiation absorption
reduce heat loss
provide wind protection
recommended forms and orientations: temperate - Answer -elongate building along
east-west axis
maximize southern exposure
minimize east-west exposures
balance solar heat gain with shade protection
encourage air movement in hot weather
protect against wind in cold weather
recommended forms and orientations: hot-arid - Answer -building forms should enclose
courtyards
reduce solar and conductive heat gain
promote cooling by evaporation
provide solar shading for windows / outdoor spaces
recommended forms and orientations: hot-humid - Answer -elongate building along
east-west axis
minimize east-west exposure
reduce solar heat gain
promote cooling by evaporation and wind
provide solar shading for windows / outdoor spaces
passive solar heating - Answer -uses solar energy to heat interior spaces without
relying on mechanical devices; rely on natural heat transfer processes of conduction,
convection, and radiation for the collection, storage, distribution, and control of solar
energy
