Module 4 Lesson 1
Welcome to Module 4 Lesson 1!
Building Materials and Assemblies:
Appropriate Selection of Interior and Exterior Construction
Materials, Finishes, Products and Components
Introduction to the Topic
The Philippine Green Building Code (“GB Code”) was signed by DPWH Secretary
Rogelio L. Singson on June 25, 2015 and became effective within 15 days after its
complete publication in a newspaper of general circulation, as required by law. The GB
Code focuses on six aspects and some 25 measures to promote resource efficiency in
Energy and Water, Solid Waste Management, Indoor Environmental Quality, Material
Sustainability, and Site Sustainability. The GB Code is a referral code of the National
Building Code (PD 1096).
The Green Building Code aims to improve the efficiency of building performance
through environmental design and resource management standards that will save
operational costs and result in healthier buildings. This approach is expected to reduce
GHG emissions responsible for climate change, without a significant increase in
capital cost. The GB Code provides a set of regulations setting minimum standards for
compliance and is not intended to rate buildings.
Intended Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the session, students will be able to:
1. Understand the appropriate selection of interior and exterior construction
materials, finishes, and components using the Philippine Green Code.
Discussions:
The GB Code is applicable to buildings of certain typology and total gross floor area,
as shown in Table 1 below.
Appropriate Selection of Interior and Exterior Construction Materials
Glass Properties (GB Code: 10.1.2)
Window-to-wall ratio (WWR) shall be balanced with solar heat gain
coefficient (SHGC) of the glass to maintain flexibility in design. To describe,
the higher the designed building WWR, the lower the required SHGC of
glass windows shall be, and vise-versa. The building owner has the option to
apply windows with low SHGC for a building with low WWR.
[Link]. The size of the opening (with or without glass) shall be in
accordance with the National Building Code
For each WWR value, the SHGC and visible light transmittance (VLT) shall
be in accordance with Table 2.
The SHGC requirement in Table 2 can be adjusted if sun breakers are
provided in the windows:
A sun breaker, or any shading device, plays a very important role in
reducing solar heat gain;
Prevents solar radiation before it enters the building; and
Reduces the cooling loads inside buildings.
External shading has the additional positive effect of improving the internal
comfort on occupants. This must be applied only to windows to be shaded.
SHGC limits can be adjusted by multiplying it with the correction factors
summarized in the following tables, using the formula:
Required Measures
[Link]. For intermediate values of D/H or D/W the lower figure of correction
factor should be used as stated in Tables 3 and 4.
[Link]. D is the depth of the shading device as projected from the building
exterior wall. H or W is the height or distance of the bottom sill of the window
from the bottom of the shading device.
[Link]. Shading that is not attached to windows or placed on a wall with
no window should not be counted.
Applicability Exemptions
This requirement is applied to all building occupancies as indicated in Table
1. There are no exemptions from this requirement.
Rationale
Compared to wall assemblies, window glazing transfers more heat and
hence, it is ideal for reducing the amount of glazing with respect to the wall in
order to reduce internal heat gains.
The requirement of WWR needs to be balanced with the amount of daylight
coming through the glazed area.
SHGC is used to determine the amount of solar heat admitted through the
glass divided by the total solar radiation incident on the glass.
Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) is used to determine the amount of light
transmitted through the glass.
Completed building showing the application of sun breakers over the windows
Design Application
1. WINDOW-TO-WALL RATIO (WWR) – determine the proposed WWR.
Building sketch showing relationship between window area and wall area
The WWR is the ratio of vertical fenestration area to the gross exterior or
wall area. The fenestration area is the rough opening, i.e., it includes the
frame, sash, and other non-glazed window components. The gross exterior
wall is measured horizontally from the exterior surface; it is measured
vertically from the ground floor to the bottom of the roof.
For curtain wall systems, components that are opaque (e.g. aluminum
composite panels, glass components with opaque finish or back pans), are
not to be considered glazed components and therefore, not part of the “net
glazing area”.
2. DETERMINING SHGC AND VLT
Lower heat levels indoors are highly dependent on the Solar Heat Gain
Coefficient and Visible Light Transmittance, as seen below.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) and Visible Light Transmittance (VLT)
Window performance label showing results of SHGC and VLT
3. APPLICATION OF OVERHANGS OR SUN BREAKERS
This can also be done to comply with the required SHGC. Using sun
breakers such as horizontal louvers or baffles (multiple horizontal shading
devices), for example, computing the shading factor will sum up the depth
(D) and height (H) of each louver equivalent to a singular overhang. The
correction factor (f) can be computed through this, and the same formula
used in computing for the adjusted SHGC.
Natural Ventilation (GB Code: 10.2)
10.2.1. Operable window or balcony door shall be provided in regularly
occupied spaces. The size of the opening shall be equal to at least 10% of
the floor area of regularly occupied spaces.
10.2.2. All operable windows shall be provided with safety features for
protection against strong winds, water penetration, and protection for
building occupants including child safety and security.
Applicability and Exemptions
This requirement is applied to all building occupancies as indicated in Table
1. There are no exemptions from this requirement.
Rationale
This measure will give building occupants the flexibility and opportunity to
use natural ventilation for free cooling and fresh air in regularly occupied
spaces. This measure will limit the tendency to create glass sealed box type
buildings. Size of each room and space shall be consistent with the
occupancy load of the National Building Code.
The flow of air into, around, and out of indoor areas is important to ensure a
healthy living space for occupants.
Natural ventilation in a building.
Different types of windows with the allowed average amount of air into the building
Design Application
1. OPERABLE WINDOWS
operable windows equivalent to at least 10% of the room space floor
area.
2. REQUIRED AREA FOR OPERABLE WINDOW OPENINGS
computed through the use of Table 6.
3. SAFETY FEATURES
as necessary, provide safety features for operable windows and
balcony doors.
For each frequently occupied room space, compute for the floor area. The
10% of this floor area should be the minimum required operable window area
for the room space. Compare this value with the designed operable window
area. Designed operable window area should be equal to or more than 10%
of the GB Code minimum requirement.
Well-planned placement of windows and doors can maximize the natural
flow of air and sunlight.
Building room space sketch showing room measurements as basis for
operable window area computation
Operable windows give you the convenience of being able to adapt the
building environment depending on the weather.
Building elevation showing operable windows with window ID tag
Different types of operable windows
Building Envelope Color (GB Code: 10.3)
Required Measures
10.3.1. Metal roof surfaces shall either be colored white or have a minimum
SRI of 70.
Applicability and Exemptions
This requirement is applied to all building occupancies as indicated in Table
1.
There are no exemptions from this requirement.
Rationale
Light- colored building envelope, especially the roof areas which are the
most vulnerable, can reduce heat transfer from the outside to the inside of
the building by having surfaces with a high Solar Reflectance Index (SRI).
Design Application
1. BUILDING METAL ROOF SURFACE, COLORED OR WHITE, OR
2. BUILDING METAL ROOF SURFACE WITH A MINIMUM SRI OF 70
When it comes to absorbing heat, colors matter. Lighter colors are better for
buildings to remain cooler.
Roof with light color finish
Reflectance of solar radiation by roofing materials
Sample of Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) roofing thermal performance product
certification and labelling. CRRC is a third party certification and labelling
organization for roof products in North America.
Roof Insulation (GB Code: 10.4)
Required Measures
10.1.5. Buildings shall be provided with roof insulation so that the average
thermal resistance value (R-Value) of the roof is at least R-8.
Applicability and Exemptions
This requirement is applied to all building occupancies as indicated in Table
1.
There are no exemptions from this requirement.
Rationale
Insulation can help reduce heat gain in a building through the building
envelope. This improves thermal comfort and acoustic quality, and reduces
the load on the air conditioning system.
Design Application
1. INSULATED BUILDING ROOF
through the application of roof insulation or built-up roof system with
minimum R-8 thermal resistance value.
Proper and appropriate insulation keeps the heat indoors at a minimum level.
Detail of roof with insulation under the metal sheet
Mineral wool insulation installed under metal roof
Identify and tabulate the roofing materials (whether single roof or built-up
roof assembly). Per roof material, fill-in the specified R-value of the material
(1/C) or through the rated R-value per thickness. The R-value information
can be extracted from product technical brochures and specifications and
certifications. The ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook is also one reference
for this kind of information. After tabulating all the values, they can be
summed up to calculate the total R-value of the roof.
End of Discussion
Reference:
Philippine Green Building Code User Guide. (2016)