Overview
APST 480: 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 One: Climate, Thermal Comfort & Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
- Unit Two: Heat Transfer & Heat Loss Calculation – A Quantitative Approach
- Unit Three: Fenestration and Heat Gain
Part Two: HVAC Systems for Buildings
- Unit Four: Small Building HVAC Systems
- Unit Five: Large Building HVAC Systems I
- Unit Six: Large Building HVAC Systems II
Part Three: Concept Sizing and Sustainable Design
- Unit Seven: HVAC System Concept Sizing
- Unit Eight: Integrated Building Control Systems
- Unit Nine: Sustainable Design & Energy Conservation in Mechanical Systems
Part Four: Other Mechanical Systems
- Unit Ten: Fire Protection and Life Safety
- Unit Eleven: Water Use and Conservation
- Unit Twelve: 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 APST 480 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 480 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.
Online Materials
The course website contains the items listed immediately below.
Course Orientation
The Course Orientation contains important information about APST 480 and the procedures you must follow to successfully complete it. The suggested study schedule is of particular importance, although you may want to modify it to suit your own schedule. Discuss modifications with your academic expert to ensure that you complete the course in a timely fashion. We recommend you read the Course Orientation entirely before you begin the course because there are many useful sections to help you complete this course successfully.
Study Guide
The Study Guide for APST 480 in many ways plays the role that lectures play in a conventional classroom setting. The guide contains twelve units that are designed to share the course author’s expertise and elaborate on key concepts. Each unit contains commentary, learning objectives, study questions, and the list of readings assigned for that unit. The course also contains twelve lectures that are associated with each unit. These are accessible within each unit.
Student Manual
The Student Manual provides essential information about studying at Athabasca University and outlines the procedures you should follow to complete this course successfully. Please read it through carefully before beginning your studies.
Digital Reading Room
The (DRR) contains a compiled list of the required online materials for this course. You will be directed to these readings at the appropriate points in the Study Guide. You may also access the DRR directly through either the course home page or the 星空影视Library home page.
Required Readings
You will be directed to the required readings at the appropriate points.
Resources
Other useful resources, including Supplementary Resources (recommended, but not required),are available on your course home page.
Forms
The forms you will need to apply to write examinations, request extensions, and so on, are available through your my星空影视Portal.