A key to well performing building is to follow the model of building as a system.

1. Ayesha Sattar
2015-MS-AEI-10
BUILDING AS A SYSTEM

2. Abstract:
A key to well- performing building is to follow the
model of
‘Building as a System’

3. TABLE OF CONTENT
 OBJECTIVES
 METHODOLOGY
 INTRODUCTION
 UNDERSTANDING OF A SYSTEM, SYSTEM
THINKING & CREATING A SYSTEM
 ORIGIN OF THE CONCEPT OF BUILDING AS A
SYSTEM
 CONTEMPORARY & MODERN BUILDING
 RELATIONSHIP OF PHYSICS MATERIAL
COMPONENT AND SYSTEM

4.  PHYSICAL MECHANISM DRIVING THE
BUILDING AS A SYSTEM
 BUILDING SYSTEM TOWARDS THE RATIONAL
TAXONOMY IN ARCHITECTURE
 A CONCEPTUAL MODEL OF BUILDING
BEHAVIOUR
 BUILDING PERFORMANCE
 BUILDING SYSTEM INTEGRATION
 SUMMARY
 REFERENCES

5. OBJECTIVES
 How system thinking approach, components of
the building, climatic conditions, energy use
efficiency, durability,, and healthy living conditions
lead towards a well performing building.
 How entire system/structure interacts to produce
the overall effect/impact to expose the
effectiveness of design.

6. METHODOLOGY
The methodology of the work includes the literature
review regarding the understanding of system and
how system thinking enables to create a framework
and the integration of diverse disciplines. Research
sought to explain why the system approach towards
the building is key interest area in modern building
design. What is the relation between the materials,
components and system and how physical
mechanics derive the behavior of building as a
system?

7. INTRODUCTION
The key concepts involved in building design, is
the maximum collaboration and interaction to the
discipline of architecture, engineering and
construction (AEC) industry. Understanding the
physical behavior of the building as a system and
how this impacts energy efficiency, durability,
comfort and indoor air quality is essential to
innovating high-performance buildings.

8. A great deal of research and development toward
the advancement of the systems approach remains
to be accomplished.
The building as a system concept is a relatively new
development in building science. It resulted directly
from the introduction of a systems approach to
building science practice, starting in the 1960s.
The system models that have been adopted by
modern building science have delivered an
overwhelming improvement in the health, safety, and
durability of buildings.

9. As innovation increasingly became the means to
achieving new forms of architectural expression in
the 20th century, analysis and review of building
failures indicated that traditional approaches to
design were inadequate. This was due to
inappropriate adaptations of successful past
precedents, or an unknowingly narrow analysis at
the building component level for radical
departures from technical norms. Thus System
thinking concept was generated.

10. A building is a system which consists of materials,
components (assemblies, equipment), sub-systems,
and systems that interact with physical phenomena
in the process of providing an intended level of
performance to its immediate occupants and societal
stakeholders.
It focuses on physical phenomena from a building
science perspective, the relationship of the
constituent elements of a building system and these
physical phenomena.

11. UNDERSTANDING OF A SYSTEM,
SYSTEM THINKING & CREATING A
SYSTEM
 A system is an integrated network of interacting
elements, receiving certain inputs and producing
certain outputs, given certain constraints. [Chappelle
1966]
 System thinking is a framework for seeing
interrelationships rather than things, for seeing
patterns rather than static snapshots. It is a set of
general principles spanning fields as diverse as
physical and social sciences, engineering and
management. (Senge1990 5th Discipline)

12. Published by the Royal Academy of
Engineering (Elliot),
 Six principles for ‘Creating systems that work which
are as follows:
 Debate, define, revise and pursue the purpose
 Think holistically
 Follow a systematic procedure
 Be creative
 Take account of the people
 Manage the project and relationships.

13. ORIGN OF CONCEPT OF
‘BUILDING AS A SYSTEM’
 The idea of the building as a system springs from
modern systems theory and the application of
building science principles to building behavior
and performance.
 As innovation increasingly became the means to
achieving new forms of architectural expression in
the 20th century, analysis and review of building
failures indicated that traditional approaches to
design were inadequate. This was due to
inappropriate adaptations of successful past
precedents, or an unknowingly narrow analysis at
the building component level for radical
departures from technical norms. In both cases
the behavior of the whole system was not
considered.

14.  Innovation is not a trial and error process that relies
on gradually refining past precedents. It is usually a
significant departure from normative practices and
relies on the scientific method to advance its
agenda.
 Modern building science, as it is known today, was
born of innovation - more correctly, because of the
large number of failures encountered when building
designers attempted to innovate without applying
building system approach and building science
principles.
 There was no need for system approach when only
successful precedents were copied and handed
down from one generation to the next, but there was
also no advancement toward high-performance
buildings within traditional building practices.

15. CONTEMPORARY AND MODERN
BUILDING
The importance of contemporary building
design often fully appreciated after the
occurrence of building performance
problems, or worse, after failures, rather
than at the planning and design stage of
building projects. For this reason,
contemporary building science has taken
on greater importance in response to an
increasing trend of innovative departures
from traditional building practices based on
successful past precedents

16. More specifically, contemporary building
science is a broad discipline that is concerned
with the full life cycle of buildings, including:
 policy (codes and standards);
 planning;
 design;
 construction;
 restoration and retrofit
 preservation and conservation
 demolition (deconstruction) and recycling

17.  The innovative or Modern design of building relies
less on successful past precedents than the
application of building science. This is not because
there is little to be learned from existing buildings,
but is due to the changes in materials and methods
that result from building technology innovation.
 Combined with growing expectations for high
performance, building enclosure design is now
required to satisfy a large number of performance
parameters that were not given a great deal of
consideration in the past.

18. BUILDING AS A SYSTEM
 The idea of the building as a system springs from modern
systems theory and the application of building science principles
to building behavior and performance.
 The building as a system approach requires designers to
explicitly and consciously consider the interactions between the
primary elements comprising the system:

 Building enclosure (building envelope system)
 Inhabitants (humans, animals, and/or plants, etc.)
 Building services (electrical/mechanical systems)
 Site, with its landscape and services infrastructure; and
 External environment (weather and micro-climate)
 Harmonization of these elements is the key to well-performing
buildings.

19. BUILDING AS A SYSTEM
MODEL

20.  It is recognized that a large number of materials,
components, equipment, and assemblies must be
properly integrated to achieve a high-
performance building.
 At the same time, it must be appreciated that
most performance problems involve the building
enclosure, which also represents the primary
passive environmental control system. In view of
these considerations a large focused on the
building science underlying building enclosures
and how they are influenced by climate and
weather.

21. RELATIONSHIP OF PHYSICS
MATERIAL COMPONENTS &
SYSTEM
 Performance concepts in building codes and standards
have existed largely as constraints guiding the prescriptive
codes and standards development process. One of the
major challenges in developing an effective building
performance objectives framework has been the
establishment of explicit parameters supported by building
science knowledge, and specialized knowledge from allied
disciplines. These are premised on the relationship
between physical phenomena and building system
behavior.
 A building is a system which consists of materials,
components (assemblies, equipment), sub-systems, and
systems that interact with physical phenomena in the
process of providing an intended level of performance to
its immediate occupants and societal stakeholders.

23. The key points to appreciate from this relationship
are as follows:
The fundamental physical phenomena imposed
on a material, component, or system drive its
response (behavior).
The suitability of a material, component, or
system must, as a minimum, adequately address
the imposed physical phenomena.
The complexity of problems increases
dramatically as the design process proceeds from
selecting materials, to arranging components, to
integrating systems.

24.  Due to the multi-functional nature of components and
sub-systems (e.g., a wall may provide structural
support, fire safety, and moderation of the
environment), it is important to relate constituent
elements of the building to a coherent hierarchy of
objectives.
 The hierarchy of physics, materials, components, and
systems is a practical means of dealing with
performance objectives at the conceptual level.
 Research in the fields of artificial intelligence and
expert systems has demonstrated that the linkages
between knowledge representation and its application
require sophisticated interpretation.

25. PHYSICAL MECHANISMS DRIVING
THE BUILDING AS A SYSTEM
 Physical forces affecting structural integrity must
always be adequately resolved, there remain four
primary physical mechanisms associated with
climate and weather that drive the behavior of
the building as a system in terms of its role as a
moderator of the indoor environment.

26.  Heat Flow - the conductive, convective, and
radioactive flow of heat;
 Air Flow - the air flow across and within the
building enclosure due to air leakage and
ventilation;
 Moisture Flow - the flow of water and vapor
across and within the building enclosure; and
 Solar Radiation - the influence of insulation on
the opaque and transparent enclosure
components.

27.  In the building as a system, all of these physical
mechanisms are occurring in various
combinations at various times. During cold
periods, heat and warm moist air escape through
leaks in the building enclosure. To compensate,
the heating system must supply the amount of
heat being lost, and to replace the lost moisture,
the indoor air must be humidified for occupant
health and comfort.
 During hot periods, heat and warm moist air are
driven into the building and the HVAC
system must cool and dehumidify. Under all
conditions, the building enclosure must manage
the heat, air, and moisture flows. The occupants
can exert as great an influence as the climate

28.  This explains why a building may be very fit for
one occupancy (e.g., warehouse or factory), but
then experience problems when the occupancy
changes (e.g., residential or institutional).
Problems occur when the balance of moisture,
heat, and air flows is disturbed beyond the
performance thresholds of the building as a
system.
The key to the fitness of a building is the
balanced control of these physical mechanisms,
so that durability, comfort, energy efficiency,
indoor air quality, health, and safety are not
compromised.

29. BUILDING SYSTEMS: TOWARD A
RATIONAL TAXONOMY IN
ARCHITECTURE
 Taxonomies are systems too. Taxonomy is the
practice and science of classification. Taxonomies
can be thought of as generalized models as well,
and they can be exceedingly helpful in assisting an
understanding of complex arrays of elements and in
performing complex analyses.
 It is simply an orderly way of addressing the work at
hand from the project management perspective.
 It should be self-evident what each of these systems
is to the related discipline practitioners.

30. BUILDING SYSTEMS THAT
EMERGED FROM A SYSTEMS

31. A CONCPTUAL MODEL OF
BUILDING BEHAVIOR
Building behavior (performance) is a highly
complex, resultant phenomenon. It involves
numerous simultaneous and sequential physical
phenomena, and the response of the building as
a system will vary depending on the nature and
arrangement of the constituent elements.

32.  The advancement of scientific knowledge has led to
great advances in the analysis and rational design of
the purely structural functions of a building.
 There has also been a great deal of development in
individual materials and components. As yet, there
have been relatively small advances in dealing
adequately with all of the combinations of elements
and with the complex interrelationships of
phenomena involved in the performance of an entire
building.
 The reasons are not hard to find. It is sufficient to
note that, even now, contemporary building science
draws on the knowledge and experience of almost
every branch of engineering science.

33. In addition, our standards of performance are
continually being raised. As we reduce our major
difficulties in turn, minor ones assume greater
relative proportions, and we clamor for their
reduction or elimination also, in the name of
progress. The increasing state of knowledge
appears less and less adequate as the demands
upon it increase.

34. HUTCHEON'S OBSERVATION
 A stronger need for a whole system model of building
performance has been recognized within the building
science discipline. While a broadly accepted model
continues to elude building science researchers and
practitioners, some advances have been made in various
aspects of performance, such as potential of enclosures,
window performance, etc.
 At the conceptual level, approaches such as the general
limit states design model have been applied to structural
design, however, this approach is not well suited to many
areas of building performance (e.g., access and egress,
room dimensions, etc.) and the gathering of data may not
always be possible even where the model is applicable
(e.g., statistics for water leakage in basements).
 At this point, a comprehensive application of the
schema to whole building system performance remains
to be completed.

35. SCHEME DESCRIBING BUILDING
BEHAVIOR

36. BUILDING PERFORMANCE
 The term "performance" may be defined as the level of
service provided by a building material, component, or
system, in relation to an intended, or expected, threshold
or quality.
 For example, the structural performance of a building may
be judged in terms of its resistance to dead, live, soil, wind,
hydrostatic, and seismic loads as prescribed by applicable
codes. Within the established thresholds for these loads,
the structure would be required to behave adequately
according to expectations in terms of strength, durability,
deflections, and vibrations.
 When the intended or expected level of performance is not
achieved, the resultant behavior is termed a "failure" which
must not be confused with the term "defect", a minor
damage or blemish which has no immediate or significant
impact on performance, and which may be suitably
repaired.

37. HEIRARCHY OF PERFORMANCE
REQUIREMENT

38. The concept of a building performance framework is
intended to explicitly represent:
 External and internal conditions affecting a building
system (e.g., climate, weather, site, soils, occupancy,
and indoor climate class);
 Parts and inter-relationships comprising a building
system (e.g., the behavior of materials, components,
equipment and sub-systems);
 Parameters or indicators defining acceptable
performance (e.g., aesthetics, health and safety,
economy, sustainability, etc.)
 Methods, tools, and techniques for designing and
analyzing performance according to the parameters,

39. BUILDING SYSTEM
INTEGRATION
A common purpose of system approach is to achieve
building system integration, not by-trial-and-error
over many generations of building precedents, but
each and every time a building is being designed
and built. This implies defining a level of
performance and a means of assuring compliance

40. Building system integration involves the building structure, its enclosure
(envelope), the interior elements, and the building services (i.e.,
mechanical, electrical, etc.

41. Optimizing performance goes beyond compatibility
between the structure, enclosure, interior, and services. It
involves the assessment of economic, social, and
environmental parameters so that performance targets
are attained affordably within the skill capacity of the
industry. This effectively means innovation may be
defined as achieving better performance and higher
quality at less cost over the life cycle of a building or
facility.

42. ELEMENTS OF INTEGRATED
DESIGN

43.  The building enclosure, or envelope, is the
primary environmental separator/moderator. It
performs a passive role, unlike mechanical and
electrical systems, that actively supplement the
amount of heat, air, moisture, and daylight the
enclosure is unable to provide.
 When all active systems fail, the building
enclosure is the last line of defense between the
indoors and the outdoors.
 High-performance building enclosures provide
passive sustainability during extreme weather
phenomena and natural disasters, and safely
shelter their inhabitants

44. BUILDING PERFORMANCE
OBJECTIVE FRAMEWORK
 An interesting aspect of any objective-based
framework is that the intent remains constant
while the means of achieving the intent or
objective continue to evolve with advances in
technology.
 It appears humans will always expect buildings
to provide firmness, commodity, and delight, and
that architects will always have to find appropriate
means of responding to their clients' demands.

45. PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK

46.  The physical constraints which are imposed by site
conditions and the limits or thresholds of the global
environment and local ecosystem
 The functional requirements of buildings that encompass
occupant requirements, compatibility requirements, and
physical requirements.
 Contemporary building science supports the societal
objective of sustainable architecture by balancing the
physical constraints and the functional requirements,
ideally without compromising architectural aesthetics and
high performance.
 The predominant area of interest for building science is
under functional requirements, and within this area
further and more specific objectives are identified that
constitute the basis for designing and/or assessing

47. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
 Buildings are systems that must be appropriately
integrated by designers to achieve defined levels of
performance.
 Building enclosures are expected to be durable and
provide a degree of environmental separation, but
now they must address issues like energy efficiency,
day lighting, indoor air quality, fire safety, thermal
comfort, carbon footprint and sustainability. There is
now a need to explicitly ensure these performance
objectives are fully satisfied at the design stage

48.  Building science provides a disciplined means of
dealing with the physical requirements of
buildings that is completely compatible with the
architectural design and building construction
processes
 This report focuses on the systems approach to
building technology and the utility of building
science to advance the high-performance building
agenda

49. CONCLUSIONS
 Buildings are systems that must be appropriately integrated by
designers to achieve defined levels of performance.
 Innovation in modern architecture relies on building science and
the systems approach to ensure that building performance meets the
expectations of building owners, inhabitants, and society.
 The context for building performance has more recently evolved to
include issues of ecology and sustainable development. This
expansion of performance parameters, coupled with increasing
consumer expectations, has dramatically increased the complexity of
buildings.
 Performance objectives frameworks and conceptual models have
become necessary methodologies to assure all aspects of the
integration of well performing building systems have been carefully
addressed.
 High-performance building enclosures provide passive sustainability

50.  An important contribution of building science is
the quantification of performance parameters
such that many of these can be predicted at the
design stage, and assessed / confirmed after the
building is occupied and operational. This
preoccupation with prediction and validation has
led to the appreciation of the need for a systems
approach, as building engineers grapple with
issues such as indoor air quality
and sustainable buildings.

51. REFERENCES
 1. Elliot, C. 2007. Creating systems that
work [online] Royal Academy of Engineering. Available
from:http://www.raeng.org.uk/education/vps/pdf/RAE_Syst
ems_Report.pdf [Accessed 1 June 2010]
 2. European 7th Framework Programme, Rethinking
Globalization in the light of Contraction and
CONVERGEnce [online]. Available
from: http://convergeproject.blogspot.com/ [Accessed 1
June 2010]
 3.Towards Integration of Service Life and Asset
Management Tools for Building Envelope Systems
Proceedings of the Seventh Conference on Building
Science and Technology, pp. 153-163 by Lacasse, M.A.,
D.J. Vanier, B.R. Kyle. Toronto: 1997.

52.  5.The Building Systems Integration Handbook,
edited by Richard D. Rush. The American
Institute of Architects, 1986.
 6.Building Science for Building Enclosures by
John Straube and Eric Burnett. Building Science
Press, December 2005.
 7.Integrated Buildings: The Systems Basis of
Architecture by Leonard R. Bachman. John Wiley
and Sons, 2003.