Building Services Engineering Course

Lesson 1 • Regulatory and Standards Framework

Introduces the regulatory environment governing building services design and installation. Students apply compliance thinking to system selection and documentation.

Lesson 2 • Scope and Role of Building Services

Defines building services engineering and its position within the construction industry. Connects the discipline to occupant comfort, safety, and energy performance.

Lesson 3 • Building Physics Fundamentals

Covers heat transfer, air movement, and moisture behaviour as they apply to buildings. Provides the physical basis for designing all major services systems.

Lesson 1 • Heating System Controls

Introduces thermostatic, time-based, and weather-compensated control strategies. Proper controls reduce energy waste and are required by energy performance standards.

Lesson 2 • Heat Distribution Systems

Covers wet pipework, underfloor heating, and warm-air distribution design. Connects distribution choice to building type, control strategy, and energy efficiency.

Lesson 3 • Heat Loss Calculation Methods

Teaches systematic calculation of fabric and ventilation heat losses for any building type. Results directly inform boiler and emitter sizing in later sections.

Lesson 4 • Boilers and Heat Generators

Compares gas, oil, heat pump, and biomass heat generators by efficiency and application. Students match generator type to building load and fuel availability.

Lesson 1 • Mechanical Ventilation Systems

Covers supply-only, extract-only, and balanced mechanical ventilation configurations. Students size fans, select ductwork, and calculate system resistance.

Lesson 2 • Natural Ventilation Strategies

Explains stack effect, cross-ventilation, and wind-driven airflow for passive systems. Students assess building form and orientation to maximise natural ventilation potential.

Lesson 3 • Demand-Controlled Ventilation

Teaches sensor-driven ventilation that adjusts airflow to actual occupancy and pollutant levels. Students integrate CO2 and VOC sensors into control sequences.

Lesson 4 • Indoor Air Quality Principles

Identifies pollutants, CO2 levels, and moisture as drivers of ventilation demand. Establishes the health and regulatory basis for fresh-air provision.

Lesson 1 • Cooling Load Analysis

Teaches solar, internal, and fabric gain calculations to determine peak cooling demand. Accurate load analysis prevents oversizing and reduces capital and operating costs.

Lesson 2 • Free Cooling and Passive Strategies

Introduces economiser cycles, night purge, and thermal mass as alternatives to mechanical cooling. Reduces energy consumption and refrigerant use in suitable climates.

Lesson 3 • Split and VRF System Design

Covers split, multi-split, and variable refrigerant flow systems for commercial applications. Students size refrigerant pipework and select indoor unit configurations.

Lesson 4 • Refrigeration Cycle Fundamentals

Explains the vapour-compression cycle, refrigerants, and coefficient of performance. Provides the thermodynamic basis for evaluating all mechanical cooling equipment.

Lesson 1 • Cold Water Supply Systems

Covers direct and indirect cold water supply configurations, storage, and pressure management. Students size pipework and storage vessels to meet peak demand.

Lesson 2 • Sanitary Drainage Systems

Covers above-ground drainage design including trap seals, branch gradients, and stack sizing. Students apply self-cleansing velocity principles to prevent blockages.

Lesson 3 • Hot Water Generation and Storage

Examines direct and indirect cylinders, combination boilers, and instantaneous heaters. Students select and size hot water systems based on occupancy and demand profiles.

Lesson 4 • Water Quality and Treatment

Addresses scale, corrosion, and microbial risks in building water systems. Students specify treatment devices and maintenance regimes to protect system integrity.

Lesson 1 • Energy-Efficient Lighting Systems

Examines LED technology, daylight linking, and occupancy-based controls to minimise lighting energy. Students calculate lighting energy density and compare system options.

Lesson 2 • Earthing and Bonding Systems

Covers earthing arrangements, protective bonding, and fault loop impedance testing. Students design earthing systems that protect occupants from electric shock.

Lesson 3 • Cable Sizing and Circuit Protection

Teaches current-carrying capacity, voltage drop, and protective device coordination. Correct sizing ensures safety and compliance with wiring regulations.

Lesson 4 • Electrical Supply and Distribution

Explains utility supply intake, switchgear, and distribution board layout for buildings. Students trace power from the supply point to final circuits.

Lesson 1 • Whole-Building Carbon Assessment

Teaches operational and embodied carbon calculation methods for building services systems. Students identify high-impact components and propose reduction measures.

Lesson 2 • Energy Auditing and Retrofit Strategy

Covers site measurement, benchmarking, and prioritisation of retrofit interventions. Students produce an energy audit report with costed improvement recommendations.

Lesson 3 • Energy Storage and Grid Interaction

Introduces battery storage, thermal storage, and demand-side response for buildings. Students evaluate storage sizing and grid export strategies.

Lesson 4 • Building Energy Modeling

Covers dynamic simulation principles, input data requirements, and output interpretation. Students use energy models to compare design options and predict annual consumption.

Lesson 1 • Commissioning Principles and Process

Defines commissioning stages from pre-commissioning checks to functional performance testing. Establishes why commissioning is critical to achieving design intent.

Lesson 2 • Air and Water Balancing

Teaches measurement and adjustment of airflow and water flow to design values. Correct balancing ensures comfort, energy efficiency, and system longevity.

Lesson 3 • Handover Documentation and Training

Examines operation and maintenance manuals, as-built drawings, and occupant training. Complete handover documentation protects building owners and supports future maintenance.

Lesson 4 • Controls Commissioning and BMS

Covers building management system setup, control loop tuning, and alarm configuration. Students verify that control sequences match the design specification.