HOME DESIGN TO-DO ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEDULE

By Before The Architect  Copyright 2003-2010

Do your own work.  Don’t beg, borrow, or steal.  The working world isn’t as forgiving and forgetting as the milieu of your so-called higher education.  Mooch, filch, cadge, sponge, schnorr, wheedle, freeload, panhandle, bum, and scrounge signal only weakness in all aspects of behavior, capacity, and competence.  Avoid or be avoided.   Before The Architect

Environmental SCHEDULE

Comment:  The home design to-do Environmental Schedule has grown like Topsy in Before The Architect’s House Plans, probably to grow some more.  Only one source is referenced by-entry; whereas, more than one source often exists for nearly any of ‘em.  Please note well that same-subject sources need not agree; these data are indicative – more than suggestive, less than definitive.  Finally, this litany is not exhaustive, and may needs be adapted. 

 Environmental Schedule

1)     Where does it all come from and who cares?

2)     Let’s start again, for the rest of the story
 

3)     Latitude and longitude

a)     Source

i)       http://www.epodunk.com et al.

b)     Use

i)       Google Earth for direct observation

ii)    Soffit and overhang depth gauge

4)     Elevation

a)     Source

i)       http://www.city-data.com et al.

b)     Use

i)       Wide variation inspires more specific jobsite locale

ii)    Rain, snow, and temperature metrics can be elevation-dependent versus county averages

5)     Seismic zone

a)     Source

i)       International Residential Code map, if it’s an easy siting, noting the seismic zone maps in the code book are tough to discern

ii)    Often, local building departments in Zones 2B and up

iii)  Occasionally, clients’ knowledge

iv)   Scrounging around, otherwise

b)     Use

i)       At Zone 2B, this designer begins turning over some building design elements to engineering latitude, including but not limited to shearwalls, reentrant corner foundation structure, larger roof overhangs, as above porches, taller site walls, etc.

ii)    At Zone 3 and up, all structure from this shop must be reviewed with engineering latitude

6)    Exposure category

a)     Source

i)       International Residential Code

b)     Use

i)       To determine the extent to which natural elements, especially wind, shall be factored into design

ii)    To a lesser extent, at Exposure A and even B, natural home light intrusion may be limited

7)     Wind

a)     Basic wind speed (3-second gust, 50-year mean recurrence) in MPH

i)       Source

(1)   http://www.buildings.chiefind.com/design/MBMA2002.pdf

ii)    Use

(1)   Wide-ranging application to methods and materials of construction

Comment:  AG regards this metric as sourced in an absolute minimum frame of reference.

b)     Wind speed - monthly range

i)       Source

(1)   http://www.city-data.com

ii)    Use

(1)   Sense of wind variability, again to methods and materials for marginal judgments

c)      Historic wind storm activity

i)       Source

(1)   http://www.city-data.com

(2)  Local weather history news reports

(3)  Clients’ knowledge

ii)    Use

(1)   Always spurs further investigation as to the generalized statement’s relevance – geographical relationship or topographical similarities to jobsite

(2)  Tends to shade other wind metrics

(3)  Can affect wall and roof structure, fenestration, roofing, etc.

8) Precipitation

a)     Rainfall rate (I2 = 5-minute, 25-year recurrence) in inches per hour (IPH)

i)       Source

(1)   http://www.buildings.chiefind.com/design/MBMA2002.pdf

ii)    Use

(1)   Watershed Schedule

(2)  Footing drainage pipe sizing

b)     Rainfall - monthly range

i)       Source

(1)   http://www.city-data.com  & http://www.worldclimate.com

ii)    Use

(1)   To gauge watershed variability, e.g., tighter range indicates steadier wetness

(2)  Shading IPH

Comment:  AG also refers to average rainfall statistics, noting that there can be implications for drainage of one sort or another taken out of average volume context.

c)      Ground snow load (50-year mean recurrence)

i)       Source

(1)   http://www.buildings.chiefind.com/design/MBMA2002.pdf

(2)  Except in some higher altitudes where data must be sourced from the local building authority having jurisdiction

ii)    Use

(1)   Primarily roof and deck structure

(2)  Secondarily, certain design matters of functionality, particularly exterior mobility

d)     Snow - monthly range

i)       Source

(1)   http://www.city-data.com

ii)    Use

(1)   Shade ground snow load metric, especially if not highly concentrated temporally

e)     Average annual, including rain snow, and hail

i)       Source

(1)   http://www.city-data.com

ii)    Use

(1)   Perspective

9)  Temperature (in lieu of the grossly generalized “Design Temperature”)

a)     Average hi

b)     Average lo

c)      24-hour range

i)       Source

ii)    http://www.worldclimate.com

d)     Comparison to national averages

i)       Source

(1)   http://www.city-data.com

ii)    Use

(1)   Perspective on controlling daylight

(2)  Appropriate materials and methods for convenience of ventilation and heat transfer

(3)  Materials durability, notably concrete – amendments, finishing

10) Humidity - morning and afternoon

a)     Source

i)       http://www.city-data.com

b)     Use

i)       Appropriate materials and methods for convenience of ventilation

ii)    Materials durability, principally a ventilation matter

11) Sunshine

a)     Source

i)       http://www.city-data.com

b)     Use

i)       Jointly with Temperature and Humidity, assessing extents of both in general and specific design aspects

ii)    Impacts nature and character of fenestration

iii)  Designing for daylight and nightlight

12) Degree Days

a)     Source

i)       http://www.ornl.gov/~roofs/Zip/ZipHome.html 

ii)    http://www.worldwideclimate.com  

b)     Use

i)       HVAC prescription, including SEER (not less than 13 from this shop)

Comment: These data can get rangy.  AG prefers whichever is higher in either category generally as form of design conservatism and specifically to offset older data’s potential foreshortening of trend perspective

Comment: AG also refers to average highs, lows, and 24-hour data to gain perspective on local conditions most of the time.

13)  Insulation

a)     Source

i)       http://www.ornl.gov/~roofs/Zip/ZipHome.html

b)     Use

i)       Definitive minimum R-values for ceiling, wall, floor, band, etc. based on zip code, structure, etc., developed by DOE, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN

ii)    Heating and cooling equipment design

14) Weathering Probability for Concrete

a)     Source

i)       International Residential Code

b)     Use

i)       To assess sufficiency of surface hardening, other amendments, etc.

15)  Termite Infestation Probability

a)     Source

i)       International Residential Code

b)     Use

i)       To assess need for termite shield design specifications

16) Decay probability

a)     Source

i)       International Residential Code

b)     Use

i)       To assess finish exterior clad durability, ventilating the building envelope, foundation height over finish grade, etc.