CE 891 Spring 2021 Syllabus

CE 891 – Sustainable Building Envelope Systems

Spring 2021 Syllabus

Instructor: Dr. Kristen S. Cetin, 3553 Engineering Building

[email protected]

Class Meetings: Tuesday and Thursday at 1:00 – 2:20 pm on Zoom

Online: https://msu.zoom.us/j/99558118230 Passcode: 157523
Phone: 301.715.8592; ID: 99558118230; Passcode: 157523

Office Hours: TBD

Class Website: D2L https://D2L.msu.edu

using your MSU ID and password
______________________________________________________________________
Course Information

Description
Design of building exteriors, including the control of heat flow, air and moisture penetration,
building movements, and deterioration. Study of energy conserving designs. Analytical techniques
and building codes are discussed through case studies and design projects

Student Learning Outcomes/Objectives

To introduce students to the design of building enclosures, elements of which include walls, floors,
roofs, and intentional openings. By taking this course students will be able to:

1. Design and assess building enclosure elements for heat transfer, airflow, and moisture
control.
2. Be proficient in current building codes and standards as they pertain to building enclosure
design.
3. Critically analyze designs for advanced building enclosures for their impacts on energy use,
airflow, and potential moisture issues.
4. Be proficient with several software tools used in building enclosure design

Textbooks:
There are no required texts for this course. There will be extensive course material on PowerPoint
slides and other supplementary materials (which will be made available to students through
course web access, D2L). Students will also be required to find and use materials on the Internet
or provided during classes. If you are looking for a textbook as a good reference, I recommend
the following:

Straube, J. and Burnett, E. 2005. Building Science for Building Enclosures. Building Science
Press. ISBN: 0-9755127-4-9.

In addition to the required readings, we will use several types of software for a portion of this
course. This software requires a PC computer to download, install and use. Instructions on how

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to do this are included in the links below. If you encounter any issues with this, please email the
instructor. All programs we will use will be free (no cost)
Grading Policy: Grades will be calculated according to the following weights
Homework/In-Class Assignments 35%
Exams 35%
Semester Project 30%

Grading Scale: Final grades will be based on the following scale.

>90% =4.0;
>85 and <90% = 3.5;
>80 and <85% = 3.0;
>75 and <80% = 2.5;
>70 and <75% = 2.0;
>65 and <70% = 1.5;
>60 and <65% = 1.0;
<60% = 0.0

Note: The gradebook on D2L is the official grade book for the course. If the grade on the D2L gradebook does not
match the returned homework (or other assignment), the student is responsible for notifying the instructor of the
discrepancy. Graded homework and quizzes must be returned to the instructor for verification of the correct grade.

Course Requirements and Attendance

The student is responsible for all of the reading material, lecture material, discussions and other
associated content. Attendance is expected and class participation is part of the grade. In the case
of illness, it is the responsibility of the student to contact the instructor before class via phone or
e-mail. It is the student's responsibility to identify any assignments missed due to absence or
tardiness. Exam material will be based on lecture material and in-class activities. Exams that are
missed due to an unexcused absence cannot be made up. An excused absence is one which is
obtained ahead of time or due to extenuating circumstances acceptable to the instructor.

Homework Requirements
Homework assignments are generally 1-2 weeks in length, and are due online on D2L (or other
means as instructed) at the beginning of the indicated class period. Any homework received
after the start of the class period in which it is due, will be accepted with a 10% penalty for each
day it is late. Unless otherwise noted, assignments are due electronically in single PDF format.
Assignments shall be submitted in a neat, complete, readable, and understandable (to the
instructor) manner. No pictures of assignments written on paper will be accepted. If an
assignment is handwritten it must be neatly scanned for submission.

Please name each file as follows: lastname.HW#.mmddyy.pdf

Example: Cetin.HW1.011219.pdf

Semester Project:
Throughout the semester you will work on a semester-long project associated with the topics
that you are learning in this class. You will be provided with feedback on each portion and
expected to update each portion for the final submission. Please keep in mind ideas of what you

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may be interested in doing for this project as we go through the material in this course. If you
have an idea and would like feedback from the instructor please email to ask for this feedback.

Teamwork vs. Individual Work

In any engineering career you will be required to work in teams of others, potentially from
diverse background and levels of experience. You will also be asked to do things which you
cannot feasibly solve on your own. On the other hand, you will be expected to work and think
independently, not plagiarize, and provide an honest and appropriate end product. We seek to
accomplish the same atmosphere in this class.
Some assignments will be group assignments. Participate fully and carry your share of the load.
On individual work, you may collaborate with your classmates, in terms of discussing how to
solve a particular problem. However, the final product for an individual assignment, whether it
is a diagram, a set of calculations, a set of answers, or a written assignment, must be your own
work, and it may not be copied in whole or in part from another student or from prior semester
classes. No exceptions.

Exams
There will be two exams in this course. These exams will partially in-class and partially take-
home. Most portions of these exams will be open notes/open book. There is absolutely NO
sharing of answers for the exams, working together, or communicating about the exam. If any
student is caught doing this, this will receive an automatic F on the exam. Don’t do it!

Communication & Schedule Changes

Instruction changes, schedule changes, comments, and grading information will be announced
on D2L and/or via email. The most up to date course schedule will always be posted on D2L.
Faculty reserves the right to make changes in the course schedule and syllabus as necessary to
facilitate learning.

Academic Honesty
Article 2.3.3 of the Academic Freedom Report states that "The student shares with the faculty
the responsibility for maintaining the integrity of scholarship, grades, and professional
standards." In addition, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering adheres to the
policies on academic honesty as specified in General Student Regulations 1.0, Protection of
Scholarship and Grades; the all-University Policy on Integrity of Scholarship and Grades; and
Ordinance 17.00, Examinations. (See Spartan Life: Student Handbook and Resource Guide
and/or the MSU Website: www.msu.edu.)
Therefore, unless authorized by your instructor, you are expected to complete course
assignments, including homework, quizzes, and exams, without assistance from others. You are
expected to develop original work for this course; therefore, you may not submit course work
you completed for another course to satisfy the requirements for this course. Also, you are not
authorized to use the www.allmsu.com or other similar sites to complete any course work in this
course. Students who violate MSU academic integrity rules may receive a penalty grade,
including a failing grade on the assignment or in the course. Contact your instructor if you are
unsure about the appropriateness of your coursework. (See also the Academic Integrity
webpage).

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Inform Your Instructor of Any Accommodations Needed

Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all
programs, services and activities. If you have a documented disability and verification from the
Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD), and wish to discuss academic
accommodations, please contact your instructor as soon as possible. It is the student’s
responsibility to provide documentation of disability to RCPD and meet with an RCPD specialist
to request special accommodation before classes start. Once your eligibility for an
accommodation has been determined, you will be issued a verified individual services
accommodation (“VISA”) form. Please present this form to the instructor at the start of the term
and/or two weeks prior to the accommodation date (test, project, etc). Requests received after
this date may not be honored. RCPD is located in 120 Bessey Hall, near the center of the
Michigan State University campus, on the southwest corner of Farm Lane and Auditorium Road.
RCPD may be contacted by phone at (517) 8847273 (884-RCPD), or via their website
www.rcpd.msu.edu.

Observing a Major Religious Holiday

A student may make up course work missed to observe a major religious holiday only if
arrangements are made in advance with the instructor.

Participation in a Required Activity

To make up course work missed to participate in a required activity for another course or a
university-sanctioned event, a student must provide the instructor with adequate advanced notice
and a written authorization from the faculty member of the other course or from a university
administrator.

Disruptive Behavior
Article 2.3.5 of the Academic Freedom Report (AFR) for students at Michigan State University
states that "The student's behavior in the classroom shall be conducive to the teaching and
learning process for all concerned." Article 2.3.10 of the AFR states that "The student has a right
to scholarly relationships with faculty based on mutual trust and civility." General Student
Regulation 5.02 states that "no student shall interfere with the functions and services of the
University (for example, but not limited to, classes . . .) such that the function or service is
obstructed or disrupted. Students whose conduct adversely affects the learning environment in
this classroom may be subject to disciplinary action through the Student Faculty Judiciary
process.

The Fundamentals of Engineering Exam

The Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE) is a 6-hour, 110-question computerized multiple
choice exam that is typically taken by engineering students during the final year of undergraduate
study. Passing the FE is a required step towards becoming a licensed professional engineer and
will also make for a more attractive resume when searching for a job.
Students may choose from one of seven discipline-specific tests, including FE-Civil and FE-
Environmental. The exam can be taken at any Pearson Vue testing center
(http://ncees.org/exams/test-center-locations/), with the nearest center located at 3390 Pine Tree
Road in Lansing. There are also testing centers in Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and Detroit.
Additional information about the FE may be found at: http://ncees.org/engineering/fe/ .

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Course Schedule (follows on next page)

The course schedule is subject to change during the semester. The instructor(s) will notify the
class by email when the class schedule has been updated and revised. A current revision of the
class schedule will be available on the course website on D2L as soon as possible.

DRAFT COURSE SCHEDULE (Subject to change):

Date Topic
Jan 11 - 15 No class
Jan 18 - 22 Introduction to building envelope systems, types of building
Jan 25 - 29 envelopes, building science and building systems review
Feb 1 - 5 Thermal management (solar impacts, fenestrations/opaque
Feb 8 - 12 components, thermal bridging, etc…)
Feb 15 - 19
Moisture management (water and vapor)
Feb 22 - 26
Mar 1 - 5
Air flow management (air barriers, infiltration, blower door tests)
Mar 8 – 12
Mar 15 - 19
Building Efficiency & Codes (as they relate to envelope systems)
Mar 22 - 26
Mar 29 - 27
Software: WUFI & THERM
Apr 5 – 9
Apr 12 - 16
High performance buildings
Apr 19 - 23
Apr 26 – 30 Project class presentations
May 2020 Final exam: TBD

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