Unit- 5

Built environment

5.1 Built environment – Facilities management

The term ‘built environment’ refers to aspects of our surroundings that are built by humans, that is, distinguished from the natural environment. It includes not only buildings, but the human-made spaces between buildings, such as parks, and the infrastructure that supports human activity such as transportation networks, utilities networks, flood defences, telecommunications and so on. The built environment includes all of the physical parts of where we live and work (e.g., homes, buildings, streets, open spaces, and infrastructure). The built environment influences a person's level of physical activity.

Facilities management

Definition of Facilities Management by IFMA (International Facilities Management Association): “Facility management is a profession that encompasses multiple disciplines to ensure functionality of the built environment by integrating people, place, process and technology.”

After the completion of a construction project, the building(s) are typically handed over to the owner or developer.

The facilities management team, on behalf of the owner, will perform the taking over task during the defects liability period, inspecting the building for any signs of defects or design flaws before signing the taking over documents.

The FM will then take over the operations of the building proper, ensuring that it functions as it has been built and designed to throughout the majority of its life cycle through various maintenance and planned regimes.

The FM thus plays a very significant role in the life cycle of the built environment: The ability of the built environment to thrive and maximize its usage depends on the operational strategy of the FM department.

There are two main types of facilities management teams:

• Managing Agents (MA): Managing agents are usually facilities management companies who are engaged by other companies to take care of the facilities function on their behalf;

• In-house crew: In house facilities teams are hired directly under the parent company.

TYPE OF MAINTENANCE

a) Planned Maintenance (PM): Also known as scheduled maintenance or preventive maintenance Comprises of drafting a maintenance schedule to ensure that maintenance is carried out on a regular basis.

Salient Aim of Planned Maintenance: To minimize breakdowns of equipment and M & E services through regular servicing and checks. E.gs includes:

• Performing maintenance checks, overhaul and oiling of lift sheave, ropes and lift hoist;

• Regular servicing of the cooling tower in a centralized air con system.

b) Corrective Maintenance (CM): Also known as reactive or unplanned maintenance. CM is only carried out when an equipment or service fails unexpectedly.  In maintenance regimes, CM should be minimized, if not eliminated, as it represents a downtime which will have an impact on the operations within a building. Examples include: Sudden breakdown of a factory line due to a faulty belt motor, causing production to stop for an hour. If PM is properly planned and executed, Corrective Maintenance can be kept at a minimum, unless the equipment and services in question are old, or in a very bad condition due to high usage and abuse.

c) Conditioned Based Maintenance (CBM): Diagnostic maintenance strategy using the actual condition of the asset to decide what the type of maintenance works is required. CBM dictates that maintenance should only be performed when certain indicators show signs of decreasing performance or upcoming failure. CBM is a half way point between preventive maintenance and corrective maintenance. It is usually used in factories and plants, where planned maintenance schedule for certain equipment becomes either too unpractical or too time consuming and costly.

ASSET TRACKING

Asset tracking is one of the most important roles of the FM team.  Asset tracking is carried out using an asset register. The asset register can be linked into a database to form an asset management database.

Assets in the asset register can be broadly classified into categories so that the FM can better plan and organize the maintenance of its assets.

a) Operational Assets:

• Assets which are either directly in use, or generate income for the user;

• Requires high maintenance due to constant usage. (CM, CBM and PM applies).

b) Non-Operational Assets: Assets which are not directly in use by user for income generating or for other direct uses, e.g Fire alarm systems.

• These assets require the constant supervision of FM team, particularly if they are mandated by law, such as fire sprinklers, fire alarm systems, etc.

• May need routine scheduled maintenance program.

c) Infrastructure Assets:

• These assets do not require routine maintenance. Examples are entire building proper, or roads and car parks.

• Minimal attention to maintenance, especially if they fall under the auspices of external government agencies, e.g roads.

COMPUTERIZED MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (CMMS)

A CMMS software package maintains a centralized computer database of information about an organization’s maintenance operations. It usually combined with CAFM (Computer Aided Facilities Management) program to increase functionality of FM software. It can be configured into a web-based database for ease of access, such as logging in of work request orders in a prescribed online work order format. It can be configured such that the system can send logged maintenance cases to respective technicians via SMS.

CAFM

CAFM evolved in the late 1980's by leveraging on the proliferation of the personal computer (PC) to automate the collection and maintenance of FM information. CAFM systems provided the facility manager with the tools to track, plan, manage, and report on facilities information. It is a combination of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and/or relational database software with specific abilities for Facilities Management (FM).

Main tasks of CMMS:

1) Address all resources involved,

2) Maintenance of asset register,

3) Record and maintain maintenance work history;

4) Include work tasks and frequencies,

5) Accommodate all methods of work accomplishment,

6) Effectively interface and communicate with related and supporting systems ranging from work generation through work performance and evaluation,

7) Support each customer's mission,

8) Ensure communication with each customer,

9) Provide feedback information for analysis;

10) Reduce costs through effective maintenance planning.

Features of CAFM:

1) CAFM systems consist of a variety of technologies and information sources that may include object-oriented database systems, CAD systems, Building Information Modelling (BIM) and interfaces to other systems such as a Computer Maintenance Management System (CMMS).

2) Most CAFM systems are web-based and provide a host of features including facilities related scheduling and analysis capabilities.

3) Data Management Tools: Data may be collected from a variety of sources through technology interfaces or human transfer processes. CAFM systems reuse existing data and are able to recognize and/or convert external data into useful information. These tools usually provide a robust user interface to enable a user-friendly environment for data input, editing and analysis.

4) Interactive Database: Since the data is crucial in FM practice, CAFM systems are based on fully developed relational databases that are designed around the functional requirements of the Facility or Space Management.

5) Interactive Graphics: CAFM systems facilitate an interactive graphics module for basic drafting and modification of facility layouts, plans and other visual documents.

6) Barcode Tagging System: Barcode tagging system may be integrated with CAFM system; Barcode IDs can be generated for specific assets, whose information is stored in the CAFM system. Scanning the barcode will reveal all the information in the database; Easy for asset tracking purposes.

MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS OF CAFM

1. Strategic planning

2. Space inventory and management

3. Operations management

4. Maintenance and repairs

5. Assessments

6. Space forecasting

5.2 Climate control

The term ‘climate control’ is used to refer to the way that we control the climate inside our homes. Those in the know commonly refer to it as ‘HVAC’ – which stands for ‘heating, ventilation and cooling’. These are the three main aspects of climate control.

Basic heating and cooling technologies

The most common ways to heat and cool a home are using heaters and either fans or air conditioners. There are many different options available for both heating and cooling purposes, as well as a number of choices in terms of the fuels you use. The technologies and the fuels you choose to use in your home will have a big impact on:

Insulation, materials and passive design

One way to keep heat in (or out) is using insulation. Thick layers of insulation materials in walls and ceilings do a great deal to help prevent heat from entering or leaving your home. The materials you use to build your home also affect this. Bricks and concrete, for example, absorb a lot of heat. This might be excellent during winter months, but might also make cooling your home harder in the middle of summer. Likewise, good glazing or window film can make a huge difference to your home’s overall insulation.

Another increasingly popular approach to heating and cooling is to use what’s known as ‘passive design’. Put simply, this involves cleverly designing your home using natural principles so that the temperature inside’s almost always comfortable, which in turn reduces the need for expensive artificial cooling or heating technologies.

Air quality and ventilation

The last thing you need to consider – and the reason that ventilation is included as a part of climate control – is air quality. Designing your home so that it’s air tight and well insulated is one thing, but if you don’t have a constant supply of fresh air to your home you can easily get very sick.

This is mostly what ‘good’ climate control boils down to – striking the right balances, and choosing effective and efficient ways to heat, cool and ventilate your home.

HVAC SYSTEM

A Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system, also known as HVAC system, removes contaminants in the air and conditions indoor air either cooling it or heating it to provide comfort.

HVAC systems come in different sizes and designs. However, there are four basic features common to all HVAC system – air distribution system, air exhaust system, air handling unit and outside air intake. Some units contain a return system that helps return air conditioned air back to the air handling unit. The air-handling unit draws air from the outside. It filters the air to remove allergens, mold and dust. It then heats or once the air conditioned air comes back, it is re-filtered, reconditioned and re-circulated inside the room or building. This is done through ducts connected to the return system. The ducts connect to each room where air is drawn back to the air handling unit. Aside from ducted returns, plenary returns can also be used to draw air from rooms and into the negative pressure ceiling plenum. Air, however, is returned through ducts and structural conduits. Not all the air however is circulated back to the room or building. Some leave through the air exhaust system.

5.3 Energy efficient built environments and LEED ratings

Buildings consume 70 percent of generated electrical power in the developed world and are responsible for 40 percent of CO2 emissions. Radical improvement in the energy efficiency is thus crucial to global sustainability and to achieving several of the sustainable development goals. However a conceptual transformation in building energy efficiency is required. Until now building energy efficiency is designed and measured by the efficiency of the component parts of the building, and the focus of policy has been incremental component efficiency improvement. Building science suggests that the efficiencies to be gained by component improvements are reaching their physical limits, will come at substantial and escalating cost and will be difficult to maintain. Therefore a holistic approach to the design, construction, management and recycling over the entire life cycle of buildings is required.

A new holistic approach to building standards was proposed for consideration by the committee on sustainable energy, a concept of a principle based standard as guidance for policy makers and for stakeholders in the building delivery chain and over the building life cycle. Perspectives were provided in leading approaches to the built environment relevant to developed countries and countries with economies in transition. The experts noted that this will be a guidance document that should not be overly perspectives and is based on voluntary approach. Its implementation will require capacity building and dissemination of information, with data reporting and measurement, verification and evaluation (MV&E) a critical component. To develop a viable standard, collaboration between the scientific and academic community, manufacturers and policy makers is important. A human-centred approach taking into account improvements in quality of life was emphasized. Use of affordable technologies to take into account needs of less prosperous countries was also noted.

The committee supported the proposal to develop a principles based energy performance standard in buildings and mandated the joint task force on energy efficiency standards in buildings with the committee on housing and land management to develop the concept further.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

LEED is a green building certification program used worldwide developed by the non-profit U.S Green Building council (USGBC) it includes a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of green buildings, homes and neighbourhoods which aims to help building owners and operators be environmentally responsible and use resources efficiently.

Rating systems

LEED has evolved since 1998 to more accurately represent and incorporate emerging green building technologies. The pilot version, LEED New Construction (NC) v1.0, led to LEED NCv2.0, LEED NCv2.2 in 2005, and LEED 2009 (previously named LEEDv3) in 2009. LEED v4 was introduced in November 2013. Until October 31, 2016, new projects could choose between LEED 2009 and LEEDv4. New projects registering after October 31,2016 have been required to use LLED v4.

LEED 2009 encompasses ten rating systems for the design, construction and operation of building, homes and neighbourhoods. Five overarching categories correspond to the specialities available under the LEED professional program. The suite currently consists of:

Green building design and construction

Green interior design and construction

Green building operations and maintenance

Green neighbourhood development

Green home design and construction

5.4 Temperature/ Sound control in built environment

Noise is unwanted sound. It can cause hearing loss, disturbs communication or creates nuisance.

Noise control is a set of strategies to reduce noise pollution or to reduce impact whether outdoor or indoor.

Sound transmission class STC

A certain parameter has to be used in order to compare the performance of different construction materials. One such parameter is STC.

STC can be defined as the numerical value equal to the number of decibels in terms of the reduction of sound when it passes through a material, which is intended to have some insulating property.

STC is rating which is put forward by American society of testing and measurement. This acts as a parameter to guide an architect to know which material would suit the most to have an essential acoustic feature by the reduction of noise.

NOISE CONTROL

Noise control in a building can be archived by following construction techniques while constructing a building.

Construction of walls for noise control in buildings

Walls are an important structural element in all kind of buildings. The usage of different wall materials or the usage of different designs for the wall would bring variation in the insulating properties of element.

1. Wall mass and thickness are increased

The massiveness of a material is an efficient parameter that resists noise. Hence concrete walls are more insulating than wooden walls. Another way of increasing the insulating property is to add more thickness of the walls. The increase in thickness of the walls would result in more mass which in turn increases insulation.

2. Use of cavity partition in buildings

The sound transmission can be resisted by the usage of airspace between the two partition walls. This concept is more effective than a single wall of equal weight, which is found to be more economical.

3. Increase airspace width of walls

The increase in airspace will obviously increase the noise insulation property but the huge increase in the width of airspace is difficult to design and consumes more space.

4. Increase the stud spacing

It is found by a study that the spacing between the studs would increase the sound transmission capacity of the room.

5. Usage of studs in staggered manner

Studs placed alternatively would help in noise absorption.

6. Using different panels

Using different thickness and materials for panels would help in reduction of noise, thus increasing the insultion property of building.

7. Use of sound absorbing blankets in airspace

The sound absorbing blankets are also called isolation blankets, which are placed in the airspace arrangement that are provided between the panels. This blanket enables an increase in sound attenuation.

8. Studs and panels held together by resilient materials

Making use of inexpensive resilient layers like glass or fibre board or semi resilient attachments which are inert in nature, will help in reducing the STC rate by 2 to 5 decibels.

9. The cracks and edges are sealed

The full advantage of a high performance can be brought out only when it is properly sealed and crack free.

Atmospheric absorption and dispersion is a complicated function of relative humidity or precipitation, air density (temperature) and frequency, higher frequencies being most affected. The terrain over which the sound travels also influences the intensity loss with distance with respect to a surface source and receiver.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL

Heat transfer in and out of a building occurs in only three ways:

The physical laws and ways to control each form of are different. Heat enters through the roof, external walls, windows, and floor.

How can you reduce Radiation heat transfer

It is from both reflecting direct sunlight and indirect (sky) light:

Conduction is the pathways the heat travels though.

Thermal Convection is improved by airflow controls:

5.5 Security systems

In the context of building automation, security systems are composed of two constituent elements. The first is a monitoring system that oversees what is going on in and around the building by means of cameras and sensors of various types.

Elements of safety systems

There are many technological solutions which keep people and assets safe. Here is a long list of potential solutions, which all benefit from being connected to building management system for monitoring and control.

5.6 Intelligent/ Smart Buildings

A smart building is one that is using technology to share information about what goes on in the building between systems so as to optimise the building's performance. This information is then used to automate various processes, from heating and ventilation to air conditioning and security.

Smart buildings tend to provide a healthier, productive and comfortable space for the people staying in. Be it a workspace or residence, with advanced climatic and lighting controls, smart buildings improve the indoor air quality and lighting in a significant way.

BENEFITS OF SMART BUILDING

1. Benefiting from smart data

2. Efficient consumption of energy

3. Increase in the asset value

4. Decreased consumption

5. Real-time action

6. Anticipating well in advance

7. Smart maintenance of equipments

8. Following green norms

9. Increase in work efficiency.

10. Saving operational cost

AESTHETICS

The aesthetics of a building is one of the principal aspects considered in architecture. The appeal of a building covers the combined effects of a building's shape, size, texture, colour, balance, unity, movement, emphasis, contrast, symmetry, proportion, space, alignment, pattern, decoration, culture and context.

DELHI URBAN ART COMMISSION (DUAC)

The Delhi Urban Art Commission was set up by an Act of Parliament in 1973 to "advise the Government of India in the matter of preserving, developing and maintaining the aesthetic quality of urban and environmental design within Delhi and to provide advice and guidance to any local body in respect of any project of building operations or engineering operations or any development proposal which affects or is like to affect the skyline or the aesthetic quality of the surroundings or any public amenity provided therein"

The area of urban Delhi has expanded and it has become more densely built in the years since the DUAC was constituted. This gives even greater relevance to the injunctions in the original mandate. Ecology and heritage are more pressing concerns now, the difficulties of seeing the city as a whole in a situation where there are many decision- making bodies is more evident than before, and there is urgent need to have a vision for the future of the city's constituent elements.

Functions of DUAC are stipulated in Section 11 of the DUAC Act, 1973 which is as follows:-

Explanation- For the purposes of this sub-section,-

5.7 Conservation, Repairs & Rehabilitation of Structures & Heritage structures

Heritage structures: According to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958, “Ancient Monument means any structure, erection or monument, or any tumulus or place of interment, or any cave, rock-sculpture, inscription or monolith, which is of historical, archaeological or artistic interest and which has been in existence for not less than 100 years and includes – remains of an ancient monument, site of an ancient monument, such portion of a land adjoining the ancient monument as may be required for fencing or covering in or otherwise preserving the monument and the means of access to, and convenient inspection or, an ancient monument.”

The conservation of heritage monuments is done by the Archaeological Survey of India under the Ministry of Culture.

There are two main techniques which are used to restore monuments to their aesthetic, cultural and historic value. These techniques include Structural Conservation and Chemical Preservation.

1. Structural Conservation: Although the ancient monuments have stood the test of time, not all of them are as strong as they were. Over the course of decades or centuries, the monuments incur significant loss in their structural integrity. Many monuments are often rendered in a weakened state. This may be due to the weakening of the foundation pillars, weakening of columns, ceilings, etc. Vegetation, mostly weed is also found growing over older buildings. Water seepage is another problem which renders older buildings weak. Structural conservation involves making the foundation of the building strong again. Reinforcement work is carried out on foundations to restore the core part of the building. This also helps the monuments to become resistant to natural disaster such as floods and quakes. Repairs are also done on other parts of the building which includes ceilings, walls etc. Removing unnecessary vegetation from the premises also helps to contribute to the aesthetic value of the monument.

2. Chemical Preservation: Chemical preservation helps to protect the monuments from agents such as organic and inorganic gases like sulphuric acid, nitric acid and carbon monoxide. Chemical preservation also helps to eliminate moss, algae and lichens which grow on the monuments. Wood is cleaned with the help of some pesticides like Xylophene and DDT amongst others. The cleaning of terracotta objects and stone is done with the help of mixtures of mortar, slaked lime and brick dust.

3. Awareness Programs: The government has understood the criticality of spreading awareness regarding conservation of the different heritage sites in the country, and for this purpose, many events, seminars and workshops are organized pan India, where the knowledge about the ancient monuments, their historical and archaeological importance is shared with the participants to supplement the monuments conservation drive. Some of the actions which are encouraged include preventing the sites from being vandalized. Since the conservation process requires major efforts from experts, government agencies, monetary aid and significant time.

5.8 Innovations and methodologies for ensuring Sustainability Sustainable innovation has been defined as covering the spectrum of levels of innovation from incremental to radical. Whilst there are no absolute or quantifiable definitions and boundaries, four main level of innovation can be defined in the context of environmental improvement:

Top sustainable technologies in green construction

Green technology makes building more energy efficient and sustainable. They thus have a lower carbon footprint and a reduced impact on the environment. In new buildings, green building construction plays a role in every phase of development. Every aspect of the structure, including siting, design, construction materials and the systems used to run and maintain operations are chosen to be as sustainable and energy efficient as possible.

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