SEDL / STP / STP901-EB / STP23009S

The Concept of Total Building Performance and Building Diagnostics

Hartkopf, VH
Associate professor and adjunct associate professor, Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

Loftness, VE
Associate professor and adjunct associate professor, Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

Mill, PAD
Director, Architectural and Building Sciences, Public Works Canada, Ottawa,

Pages: 18    Published: Jan 1986

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Abstract

This paper introduces the concept of total building performance and the diagnostic tools for measuring and assessing this performance. It emphasizes the need: (1) to fully address the fundamental building performance mandates of thermal comfort, acoustic comfort, air quality, lighting comfort, spatial comfort, and building integrity; (2) to define their physiological, psychological, sociological, and economic limits of acceptability; and (3) to clarify their relationships with each other. Integrated within the building delivery process, these performance mandates and the associated diagnostic measurement and assessment tools suggest new quality assurance procedures for providing suitable and reliable conditions for occupancy comfort in new as well as in existing buildings.