Health and Building Construction

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND HEALTH

A Distance Education Course (Healthy Buildings I BBS200)

Learn to describe and explain the impact of building construction characteristics upon human health; and to recommend innovations in building design to improve the habitability of the building.

Duration  100 hours

COURSE AIMS
Upon completing this course you will be able to:
-Explain the concept of healthy buildings including its relevance to human health.
-Select building materials which are safe to human health.
-Evaluate the health impact of different building techniques, including
construction and design.
-Explain how the way in which services are installed, can impact upon the
health of people using a building
-Explain how building design can impact upon the quality of the physical
environment inside.
-Explain ergonomic considerations in building design.
-Explain psychological considerations in building design.

COURSE STRUCTURE
The following topics are addressed, with reference to health:
* building materials* construction techniques
* electrical wiring* temperature control
* acoustics and noise control* light control
* ventilation* ergonomic and psychological Aspects
* plumbing
There are ten lessons as follows:
1.Introduction To Building Biology
2.Building Materials
3.Construction
4.Services
5.Temperature: Heating & Cooling
6.The Internal Environment: Ventilation
7.Light
8.Acoustics
9.Ergonomic Considerations
10.Psychological Considerations

WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THIS COURSE
Amongst other things; you will do all of the following throughout this course:
*Explain the concept of building biology, in accordance with the international building biology institute.
*Explain the history of building biology institutes, in Germany, America, and New Zealand; with relevance to Australia.
*Explain the current status of bio-harmonic architectural practices in Australia.
*Assess in a summary for each, problems with different dangerous building materials including:
*Asbestos*Plastics*Insulation materials *Treated pine.
-Compare characteristics of different commonly used building materials, including:
*Rate of deterioration *Thermal qualities*Chemical properties
*Acoustic qualities*Dust collection/repellence*Light reflection.
-Develop a checklist, for evaluating the health impact of different building materials.
-Evaluate the impact of different building materials on health, in a building you inspect.
-Develop a checklist of building design factors, to assess the affect of design on human health.
-Develop a checklist of building construction factors (other than materials) which may affect health.
-Explain how design can impact upon different aspects of the internal environment including:
*Thermal comfort*Light intensity*Humidity*Condensation*Acoustics
*Control of pests*Noise insulation.
 
-Compare the impact of building techniques, including construction and design, upon human health, in two different specific buildings.
 
-Explain the impact of electric fields on human health in a building you inspect.
 
-Explain how electrical fields can be minimised by the way in which electric wires are laid in a specific house plan.
 
-Compare differences upon the impact on health from different power supplies including:
*Mains power*Self generated systems*Different voltages.
 
-Compare the potential impact on health, of different waste disposal systems including:
*Chemical treatments*Reed beds*Settling ponds*Combustion systems*Land fill.
 
-Explain potential impact of different water supply systems on human health, including:
*Mains water*Ground water*Different types of rain water tanks.
 
-Explain possible impacts of gas supply systems on human health including:
*Mains gas*Bottle gas*Self generated bio gas.
 
-Compare the impact of different types of artificial light sources on human health, including:*Electric light*Combustion systems.
 
-Compare the impact of different types of heating systems on human health, including:
*Electric*Gas*Slow combustion*Solar*Standard combustion.
 
-List ways temperature can be controlled inside a building by design.
 
-Explain health impacts of air conditioning in a building you inspect.
 
-List ways acoustics can be controlled, by building design.
 
-List ways light can be controlled, through building design.
 
-List ways ventilation can be controlled, by building design.
 
-Explain solar energy applications in a specified building.
 
-Evaluate the impact of the design on the interior environment.
 
-Redesign a building, to improve the quality of the physical environment inside.
 
-Evaluate the heights of three different kitchen benches for ergonomic suitability to people who are primary users of those benches.
 
-Explain the importance of clear and easy access into and through the building for all users, including the disabled.
 
-Explain health aspects of the relationship between the human body and the interior of a specific building.
 
-Explain the affect that four different colours may have on human health.
 
-Explain the affect of space perceptions may have on human health, in a visitedinterior workplace.
 
-Evaluate the psychological impact of the interior environment in two distinctly different offices,
upon the people who work in each of those offices.

To enrol, click here

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