Acoustic Classification of Buildings: Impact of Acoustic Performances of a High Energy-Efficient Building on Quality and Sustainability Indicators
According to similar experiences of other countries, also Italian standards are defining procedures about acoustic classification of buildings, aiming at the determination of indoor acoustic comfort. Acoustic parameters influence building quality in different ways and amounts: the aim of the paper is to attest acoustic performances of buildings, taking into account different noise sources and people expectations. A voluntary certification model was proposed to assess indoor overall quality, which includes a specific Acoustic Performance index (AP) concerning human protection against noise into buildings. According to existing standards, noise measurements were carried out in order to assess acoustic performances of walls, facades, floors and systems in a high energy-efficient multifamily building as a case study. The paper shows a feasible approach to perform indoor acoustic comfort and to support sustainable buildings: a comparison was carried out between impact of acoustic performances on proposed assessment of building quality and on certification of building environmental sustainability introduced by law at regional level.
BGP index: an approach to the certification of building global performance
SUMMARY In order to improve life quality into buildings, the present paper proposes a certification model for indoor total comfort. The first part of the paper concerns energy certification of buildings, with attention to energy efficiency, renewable sources, heating and air-conditioning. In the second part of the paper certificate concept is extended to factors which contribute to ideal requirements into buildings: acoustics and lighting, use of water, safety and technology are studied according to standards. Finally, an overall building quality certificate is proposed, based on indexes concerning specific performances. Every index is assigned a weight to characterize different contributions to Building Global Performance (BGP) index, which expresses total indoor quality. Weights are estimated according to objective criteria. Measurements and provisional models allow to analyse and classify a private flat as a case study. A reliable approach is shown to improve indoor environments and to support comfortable and sustainable buildings.
Accurate measurements of output characteristics and detonations of motorbike high-speed racing engine and their optimization at actual atmospheric conditions and combusted mixture composition
Abstract At a motorbike high speed racing engine there is very important an output engine characteristics which depends significantly on a detonation combustion rate, atmospheric conditions and a combusted mixture composition. The combustion process has got a relevant influence on a wear degree of main engine parts or on their damage eventually. The detonation combustion rate is very important because this kind of burning can be not only destructive but a useful phenomenon, as well. If the process of detonation burning is kept on a certain level, it can help significantly to the next increasing of an engine power output. In this article there is described the measurements of output characteristics of a high-speed racing engine which were performed by means of a data-recording system and the detonation combustion was evaluated using a quantitative method. The actual values of atmospheric conditions and the mixture composition were added to the measured values. Then the obtained values are compared visually with a damage degree of an engine piston caused by the detonation burning. The result is a limit value expressed in a number of detonation units related to a run distance interval of the vehicle driven by the high-speed racing engine. In framework of this run distance interval there is the process of detonation burning profitable. As well as it increases an engine power output and together it is not destructive with regard to engine design parts.