Overview
APST 455: Mechanical Equipment of Buildings provides an overview of the fundamentals of the design of mechanical systems for buildings. This discussion will include the relationships between building envelope design and mechanical system design, particularly with regard to sustainability, energy use and human comfort. Basic components and equipment involved in mechanical systems will be discussed, as well as their place and integration in the development of design concepts. An understanding of mechanical system terminology and an elementary knowledge of sizing procedures and system controls will be developed.
Outline
Part One: Environmental Basics for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
- Unit 1: Climate, Thermal Comfort & Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
- Unit 2: Heat Transfer & Heat Loss Calculation – A Quantitative Approach
- Unit 3: Fenestration and Heat Gain
Part Two: HVAC Systems for Buildings
- Unit 4: Small Building HVAC Systems
- Unit 5: Large Building HVAC Systems I
- Unit 6: Large Building HVAC Systems II
Part Three: Concept Sizing and Sustainable Design
- Unit 7: HVAC System Concept Sizing
- Unit 8: Integrated Building Control Systems
- Unit 9: Sustainable Design & Energy Conservation in Mechanical Systems
Part Four: Other Mechanical Systems
- Unit 10: Fire Protection and Life Safety
- Unit 11: Water Use and Conservation
- Unit 12: Technological Convergence
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, you should be able to
- describe the function, characteristics, and operation of mechanical systems in buildings, including heating, ventilation and cooling systems, water supply, drainage systems and fire protection systems.
- relate the function, characteristics, and operation of mechanical systems in buildings to the overall design concept, sustainable design principles, building construction and operational strategies.
- relate the physiological processes of human temperature regulation to the body’s perceptions of comfort, the external environment and the building envelope.
- perform basic heat transfer calculations.
- estimate approximate sizing of ducts and other mechanical system components in the early stages of a project to ensure that the design concept is viable.
- evaluate the interrelationships between building mechanical systems and other systems, such as envelope, structure and comfort.
Evaluation
Your final grade in this course is based on the grades you achieve on five assignments. The assignments consist of long-answer questions that must be submitted at specified periods during the course of study. To receive credit for APST 455 you must achieve a minimum overall grade of C+ (67%) for the entire course.
The table below summarizes the course activities and the credit weight associated with each.
| Activity | Weight | Complete by |
| Assignment 1 | 20% | Following Unit 3 |
| Assignment 2 | 20% | Following Unit 6 |
| Assignment 3 | 20% | Following Unit 8 |
| Assignment 4 | 20% | Following Unit 12 |
| Assignment 5 (Final Project) | 20% | Following the completion of all other course work and assignments |
| Total | 100% | |
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Grondzik, W. T., & Kwok, A. G. (2019). Mechanical and electrical equipment for buildings (13th ed.) [eText]. John Wiley & Sons.