Building Design and Construction Handbook - Merritt - Ventech!

1.20 SECTION ONE
Daylight is the source of natural illumination. It enters a building through a
fenestration, such as windows in the exterior walls or monitors or skylights on the
roof.
Artificial illumination can be obtained through consumption of electrical energy
in incandescent, fluorescent, electroluminescent, or other electric lamps. The light
source is housed in a luminaire, or lighting fixture. More details are given in Sec.
15.
Acoustics. The science of sound, its production, transmission, and effects are applied
in the building design for sound and vibration control.
A major objective of acoustics is provision of an environment that enhances
communication in the building interior, whether the sound is created by speech or
music. This is accomplished by installation of enclosures with appropriate acoustic
properties around sound sources and receivers. Another important objective is reduction
or elimination of noise—unwanted sound—from building interiors. This
may be accomplished by elimination of the noise at the source, by installation of
sound barriers, or by placing sound-absorbing materials on the surfaces of enclosures.
Still another objective is reduction or elimination of vibrations that can annoy
occupants, produce noise by rattling loose objects, or crack or break parts or contents
of a building. The most effective means of preventing undesirable vibrations
is correction of the source. Otherwise, the source should be isolated from the building
structure and potential transmission paths should be interrupted with carefully
designed discontinuities.
Electric Power and Communication Systems. Electric power is generally bought
from nearby utility and often supplemented for emergency purposes by power from
batteries or a generating plant on the site. Purchased power is brought from the
power lines connected to the generating source to an entrance control point and a
meter in the building. From there, conductors distribute the electricity throughout
the building to outlets where the power can be tapped for lighting, heating, and
operating electric devices.
Two interrelated types of electrical systems are usually provided within a building.
One type is used for communications, including data, telephone, television,
background music, paging, signal and alarm systems. The second type serves the
other electrical needs of the building and its occupants. For more details, see Sec.
15 and 18.
In addition to conductors and outlets, an electrical system also incorporates devices
and apparatus for controlling electric voltage and current. Because electricity
can be hazardous, the system must be designed and installed to prevent injury to
occupants and damage to building components.
For more details, see Sec. 15.
Vertical-Circulation Elements. In multistory buildings, provision must be made
for movement of people, supplies, and equipment between the various levels. This
may be accomplished with ramps, stairs, escalators, elevators, dumbwaiters, vertical
conveyors, pneumatic tubes, mail chutes, or belt conveyors. Some of the mechanical
equipment, however, may not be used for conveyance of people.
A ramp, or sloping floor, is often used for movement of people and vehicles in
such buildings as stadiums and garages. In most buildings, however, stairs are installed
because they can be placed on a steeper slope and therefore occupy less
space than ramps. Nevertheless, federal rules require at least one handicap accessible
entrance for all new buildings.