Course detail

Building Physics 2

FAST-BHA045Acad. year: 2026/2027

Truly good architecture is not only about aesthetics and form, but above all about the interior atmosphere and comfort of the people who live or work in the building. Can a building concept be successful if it lacks natural light or is noisy?

This course teaches you how to control two essential immaterial elements of architecture: light and sound. How to get enough daylight and sun into the interior and how to shape and size spaces to ensure ideal acoustics - from quiet apartments to functional offices to public spaces or courtyards. The knowledge gained can be immediately applied in studio projects and in subsequent practice.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

2

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Ing. Miloš Kalousek, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Building Structures (PST)

Entry knowledge

Basic knowledge of mathematics and physical quantities, knowledge of building materials and principles of building structure composition, including solutions to building details.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

The method of teaching and supervision is determined by the teacher in agreement with the course guarantor. Students will always be informed in a timely manner about specific requirements, deadlines and any changes directly during the semester.

Aims

The aim of the course is to provide architecture students with practical tools for designing high-quality interior environments of buildings and preventing design errors in the areas of acoustics and daylighting.
After completing the course, you will be able to:
• Design with light and sun: Correctly dimension and position window openings for optimal daylighting and sunning of living and working spaces.
• Shape acoustic comfort: Understand the principles of spatial acoustics (reverberation time) and design spaces so that they provide a pleasant speech and music environment.
• Protect buildings from noise: Design partition and perimeter structures with the required air and impact sound insulation (connections between rooms and protection against noise from the exterior).
• Prevent defects: Identify critical points in architectural details and prevent sound propagation and defects in buildings even at the concept and study stages.

Study aids

Legal regulations:
1. Act No. 258/2000 Coll., on the protection of public health.
2. Government Regulation No. 272/2011 Coll., on the protection of health from the adverse effects of noise and vibration, as amended (amendments 217/2016 Coll., 241/2018 Coll., current version from 1 July 2023 – amendment No. 433/2022 Coll.).
Czech technical standards (ČSN):
1. ČSN 73 0532:2020 Acoustics – Noise protection in buildings and assessment of acoustic properties of construction products – Requirements.
2. ČSN EN ISO 717-1:2021 Acoustics – Assessment of sound insulation of building structures and in buildings – Part 1: Airborne sound insulation.
3. ČSN EN ISO 717-2:2021 Acoustics - Assessment of sound insulation of building structures and buildings - Part 2: Impact sound insulation.
4. ČSN EN ISO 12354-1:2018 Building acoustics - Calculation of acoustic properties of buildings from the properties of building elements - Part 1: Airborne sound insulation between rooms.
5. ČSN EN ISO 12354-2:2018 Building acoustics - Calculation of acoustic properties of buildings from the properties of building elements - Part 2: Impact sound insulation between rooms.
6. ČSN 73 0525:1998 Acoustics - Design in the field of room acoustics - General principles.
7. ČSN 73 0527:2023 Acoustics - Design in the field of room acoustics - Spaces for cultural purposes - Spaces in schools - Spaces for public purposes.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

ČSN 73 05 32 Akustika - Ochrana proti hluku – Požadavky ve znění změn. (CS)
ČSN 73 05 80 – 1 Denní osvětlení budov –Část 1: Základní požadavky. (CS)
ČSN 73 4101 Obytné budovy ve znění změn. (CS)
Čuprová, D., Mohelníková, J., Čupr, K.: Denní osvětlení budov. Návody pro cvičení. VUT Brno, 2002. (CS)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BPC-APS Bachelor's 3 year of study, summer semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

13 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Miloš Kalousek, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  • 1.-2. Daylighting and assessment of the daylighting factor
  • 3.-4. Daylighting of building-direct solar radiation
  • 5.-6. Physical fundamentals of acoustics, levels and calculations with levels. Propagation of sound in free space - sound field.
  • 7.-8. Noise and its assessment. Noise attenuation in the outdoor area. Defects and malfunctions in terms of stationary noise sources.
  • 9.-10. Room acoustics, sound absorption, room reverberation time.
  • 11.-12. Sound reduction of building structures. Assessment of air-borne sound insulation. Assessment of impact sound insulation. Methods of determining the sound reduction of building structures.
  • 13. Defects and malfunctions of buildings in terms of sound reduction properties - air-borne and impact sound reduction. Critical places in the newly designed building.

Exercise

13 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Miloš Kalousek, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  • 1.-2. Daylighting and assessment of the daylighting factor
  • 3.-4. Daylighting of building-direct solar radiation
  • 5.-6. Physical fundamentals of acoustics, levels and calculations with levels. Propagation of sound in free space - sound field.
  • 7.-8. Noise and its assessment. Noise attenuation in the outdoor area. Defects and malfunctions in terms of stationary noise sources.
  • 9.-10. Room acoustics, sound absorption, room reverberation time.
  • 11.-12. Sound reduction of building structures. Assessment of air-borne sound insulation. Assessment of impact sound insulation. Methods of determining the sound reduction of building structures.
  • 13. Defects and malfunctions of buildings in terms of sound reduction properties - air-borne and impact sound reduction. Critical places in the newly designed building.