In was common practice in the inter-war years of the twentieth century, for special large cross- section ducts to be included in residential buildings, in addition to the common ventilation and plumbing shafts, as well as, in the chimneys. In residential houses, such shafts were fitted with small windows that could be opened for inspection and access. These technical features provide identical physical and thermal dynamics and effects to the core principles of a high-tech ground heat exchanger, as used in today’s modern passive houses. Ventilation shaft windows located in the individual apartments in these earlier buildings were designed to provide cool air flow in the hot summer season and warm air throughout the winter months.

This paper shows the results of impact that polymer additives with different chemical composition have on physical and mechanical properties of solidified mortar. During the research, modern polymer redispersed admixtures were used. An analysis of the changes was carried out using statistical methods and linear regression. It was found that the analyzed polymer admixtures affect the analyzed parameters with varying degrees of intensity.

In the paper the influence of colloidal silica addition with different amounts of organic resin in facade paints formulations on the change of water vapour permeability of hardened coatings was researched. The results were obtained by means of experiments. To quantify the ability of paint to diffuse water vapour, Sdfactor, defined as equivalent to the thickness of non-rotating air layer, was used. For the quantitative determination of the relationship between water vapour permeability and the share of analyzed components in the formulation of paint a statistical model based on multiple regression was applied. Statistical analysis of the results showed that the effect of changes in the amount of colloidal silica in the formulation of paint on Sd value is small, compared to organic resin share changes.

The paper presents the problem of degradation of the former industrial complex PKWK “Jawiszowice” in Brzeszcze with its buildings and technical infrastructure, and examines the possibility of its re-use. It emphasizes the benefits of the area revitalization in the broad sense that seems to be the most sensible decision which may be made after the termination of extraction of the raw material. The main aspect is the implementation of innovative and creative solutions which consequently enable the creation of the development not only for the city of Brzeszcze but for the entire region. This example – which is the subject of the present discussion – was also the subject of author’s previous studies conducted in the framework of the masters’ thesis.

The project concerns windows and their properties. Four windows were considered to provide computations. Two of them were common windows and the other two – passive windows. The analysis focuses on a role of a fitting in heat losses, explains important aspects of choosing a window and shows main types of methods of mounting a window. The paper proves how big the influence of fitting a window is on a heat transfer coefficient value and shows what the losses steming from inproper fitting are. The project submits that fitting factor should be considered while calculating the heat transfer coefficient value and that windows ought to be mounted in an insulation to minimize heat losses.

The article addresses – based on an existing section of a tram line – the evaluation of the capability to substitute an existing train substation (as a civil structure) with several smaller ones. Taking into consideration the real estate prices and the shortage of available plots in the centers of larger cities, the localization of a substation building poses a significant location and budget challenge, when it comes to new tram lines. Additionally, such objects (substations) often spark concern and protests among the tenants of the nearby houses, as they are considered to be the source of a dangerous electromagnetic radiation and, sometimes, noise. The possibility to significantly reduce the size of those objects would mitigate the aforementioned challenges – both environmental and budget-related.

Facing the climate change and scarcity of natural resources, it is essential to treat architecture and the whole urbanized environment as a part of one complex system creating nature. A building takes construction materials from nature and has an influence on water and soil conditions, biodiversity, air pollution, microclimate. Consequently, an existing building becomes a part of ecosystem having both beneficial and/or negative impact on nature. In order to construct an architectural object in compliance with current requirements, it is necessary to demonstrate a holistic knowledge of environmental conditions and foresee how they will be affected by a performing building.

Breeding laboratory chambers require a wide range of indoor air parameters, which implies the need to use special equipment for air treatment and very accurate and fast automatic adjustment. The article presents the results of an experimental study conducted in the existing breeding chamber. The work is based on numerous observations as well as on-site measurement series of indoor climate parameters. The conclusions seem to be important for future design projects.

Mining industry is a key sector of many national economies, thus even a small crack in a mining site echoes nationwide. This strategic sector is subjected to special safety care in every aspect, including operational safety of engineering structures. The newest technologies are employed to diagnose and monitor the working structures and buildings. In this article we propose an innovative idea of combining GPS monitoring system with artificial neural network prognosing to build a prediction tool for displacement of mining shafts in operational conditions. The paper describes a training of a neural network system whose task is to prognose the displacements of the top of a mine shaft tower in direction in a selected period of time. The data used for the training come from the GPS monitoring of displacements of the top of the S 1.2 mining shaft tower. The tower is located in the mining works LW “Bogdanka”.

In this paper, the classification of thermal conditions within a passive school building in Budzów in a narrow time spectrum, in accordance with PN- EN 15251 standard requirements is presented. Results of the short-term initial measurements made within the school building are shown. On their basis, a preliminary evaluation of the environment category was performed.

In the last three decades, the issues of energy use and consumption have become one of the most important problems of the European market of real-estate development. The UE regulates it through legislation, standards and guidelines for both design and use of buildings. This paper lists the types of low-energy buildings, in the context of the requirements necessary for their design and construction. It also describes the initial experience with the use of these objects in terms of their advantages and disadvantages. Particular effort was made to compare the obtained parameters and comfort in active and passive objects. This paper provides an overview of low energy buildings, in order to introduce a series of articles presenting researches of individual authors.

The paper is devoted to issues related to creation of subsoil models. At the beginning of the paper, the model of the building chosen for the analysis was described. The procedures for calculation of different models of the subsoil were also described. The final part of this paper presents results of the analysis of natural frequencies of reinforced concrete building with regard to the different models of the interaction between subsoil and the structure, and the conclusions drawn from this analysis are also presented.

This paper is an attempt to briefly present the problem of light pollution, concerning the illumination of both historical and architectural objects and its influence on environment. According to the measurements conducted in Kraków and Frankfurt am Main, the comparison and the analysis of the problem will be provided.

Today, the architectural design process is based on developing digital technologies, and the interest in „fitting” buildings into a local microclimate is increasing. The article brings up the subject of modeling skyscrapers’ facades to present the tendency of the generative design methods in the design process of bioclimatic building. As a result, each individual element is adapted to the local microclimate. The results of the design integrated with modeling based on generative methods are mostly unconventional shaped structural forms.

Comparative analysis of multi-criteria Pareto and SPBT optimization, for a single-family, detached residential building used as an example. Main elements of interest include minimum power and minimum cost of investment.

The paper industry products are materials formed as a result of a complex series of consecutive processes, which makes this industry branch a very specific and professional. In order to reduce the consumption of excessive amounts of water in papermaking processes, closed circuit water systems are used. An example of a vibrant paper mill is a Paper and Cardboard Factory BESKIDY. The paper factory is supplied with tap and well water, which covers the largest part of water demand. Excess water called as post-production circulation water, is directed to the Factory Sewage Treatment Plant. The process of purification of industrial sewage in Factory of Paper and Cardboard BESKIDY meets the requirements of the Polish Regulation of the Minister of Construction (Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland of 2006 No.136 item 964), which means waste water – sewage management is properly carried out.

Nowadays, there is a growing interest in using of renewable energy sources, especially solar energy which can be converted into electricity by photovoltaic panels. In addition to traditional stand-alone photovoltaic systems, more and more new or modernized buildings are equipped with integrated photovoltaic systems (BIPV). The main aim of this paper is to compare two models used to calculate amount of electric power generated by photovoltaic panel. Analysed models were implemented into well-known simulation programs, ESP-r and TRNSYS.

As a response to the growing need for cheaper and more energy-efficient buildings, this paper presents a building system based on a heavy timber frame. The cost analysis to build a wall which meets the requirements for a passive building concludes that a prefabricated heavy timber frame is at the forefront of cost minimization. The recognized advantages of prefabrication can prove that this method of constructing single-family homes, with a positive impact on temperature and humidity, may become an alternative to existing technologies.

The assessment of interior daylight conditions, under the current Slovak standards, is based on the Daylight Factor concept. It means that the worst exterior daylight conditions are reflected in calculations, represented by the CIE overcast sky. Since this evaluation criterion was adopted, several decades have passed. Because the overcast sky is not the only sky type observable in nature, the development of a new criterion, based on photometric variables, e.g. illuminance in lux, became necessary. This article presents a study which investigates the relation between relative and absolute illuminance, in specified points on the working plane illuminated by the standard overcast and clear sky.

This paper describes the process of designing the passive residential buildings. The analysis is carried out on the basis of the Mannheim project, created as an entry for the Isover competition – Multi-Comfort House. Particular steps of the design process are analyzed for meeting the requirements of passive standard building. The specific solutions adopted in the Mannheim project are presented as an example.

Fifteen double-span reinforced concrete beams (RC) with the addition of dispersed reinforcement were examined to determine the effect of the reinforcement on the shear resistance at the support area. Asalt fibers, whose mechanical properties (especially high tensile strength) have a beneficial effect on the behavior of components under load were used. Beams were subjected to a constant load forces gathered in the middle of the span of each bay. The study aimed to determine the deflection of beams, measuring the crack width perpendicular and diagonal capacity and determination of shear and/or bending. Almost all the beams have reached a shear failure mode. The addition of basalt fiber in each of a series of research results in diverse growth destructive force beam and a corresponding increase in the lateral force on the supports. The maximum strength increase of at 54%, as compared to the reference beam without the fibers was observed for the beam A-III 50/50.

The paper is devoted to the strut-and-tie method (STM) which is used for analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures. The most important and valuable information about the STM has been gathered and the example that applies to the method has been presented.

In this paper, the influence of raw materials from renewable sources in the form of rapeseed oil-based polyols on thermal conductivity and the cell structure of rigid polyurethane- -polyisocyanurate foams was presented. Bio-polyols were prepared by the following methods: transesterification, transamidization and two-steps method of epoxidation and oxirane rings opening.

Revitalisation of degraded areas fits in perfectly within the strategy of sustainable development inm modern construction industry and architectural design. Basic principles of sustainable architectural design make all due allowances for, as well as address at some depth the overall need for respecting natural environment and natural resources. On the basis of the two select architectural developments sited within the ecologically degraded areas, i.e. Foshan Lingnan Tiandi Development estate, China and The Yard Redevelopment in Washington, DC, USA an evaluative study was undertaken, with a view to assessing the specific actions aimed at enhancing the prospective development sites. All three development projects were implemented within the framework of the LEED assessment programme for the sustainably built buildings, devised and developed by USGBC, a US non- profit organisation of global stature.

Due to latent heat storage potential, phase change materials can be implemented in building materials to improve energy performance and thermal comfort. Nevertheless, the phase change effect is quite a complex phenomenon for numerical modelling and different methods can be used to estimate the results of latent heat storage. This paper presents a brief overview of the existing numerical methods and a short description of two most frequently used ones. Authors also investigated the capabilities of phase change modelling by three simulation tools. This work is a part of a wider research project which aims to find optimal solution of façade construction with the implementation of PCM. The choice of a proper numerical method was considered the first step to achieve this goal.

The article describes the nature and the significance of research on working time of workers in the construction sector for the improvement of technology and organization of works. The author refers to the basic research methods and discusses the factors contributing to the performance of various works in the construction sector. Then, the research done on one of the construction sites in Warsaw, consisting of terrazzo tiling in stairways is discussed and the possible ways of interpreting the collected results is specified. The summary describes the benefits of proper observation and interpretation of research regarding working time of construction workers.

The principles of dynamic compaction of soils are presented in the paper, along with a short description of its usefulness for cohesive soils. The main topic of the article is the description of ways of modeling the phenomenon related to dynamic compaction. This is based on experimental data and on recently developed computer models using the Finite Element Method. Existing simplified ‘perfectly flexible plastic’ model is presented and used for computer modeling. The model does not capture the highly plastic and nonlinear behavior of cohesive soils under dynamic compaction. Additionally, a modified Cam-Clay constitutive model will be briefly described, which can address the above mentioned issues. Computer modeling method of the phenomenon will be discussed, together with a short description of the dynamic characteristics of the process.

In the performed research, the variability of sewage inflow to the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Bielany during dry and wet weather in different years and months in the period of 2008–2012 was analyzed. Particular attention was paid to the problem of accidental water which inflows to the sewage system in Bielany. Considering the period of observation, the hydraulic capacity of wastewater treatment plant was most frequently exceeded in 2010 (172 cases), least frequently in 2012 (54 cases). The probability of the appearance of daily sewage inflows, which exceed the hydraulic capacity of wastewater treatment plant in the period between 2008 and 2012 was 42%. The performed research has shown that, after eliminating the inflow of accidental water to the sewage system, the average-daily hydraulic load would not exceed 78.1% of the designed
hydraulic capacity.

In the paper, a detailed analysis of the dynamic response of the pedestrian and cyclist footbridge to traffic loads typical for trucks, trains, metro and trams was presented. The representative time histories registered in the further cases were used as ground motion data in calculations of then dynamic response of the footbridge. The results of numerical analysis were checked with the criteria of vibration comfort for footbridges. The ABAQUS software was used for the dynamic calculations.

It is estimated that about 4 million flats in Poland are made of prefabricated elements in different systems. Moreover, at present more than 10 million Poles live in system buildings. Despite the commonness of those buildings the analyses of the microclimate of the interior space are very rare. The paper presents the results of the thermal comfort measurements conducted in different flats of multi-family panel building made in W70 system. It appears there is a problem with the overheating effect during the summer months in all parts of the building.

The paper presents the results of the annual computational simulations conducted for the W70 panel building. The calculations were carried out in the Design Builder program which allows preparing the simulation of the building envelope as well as the separate parts of the building interior. It is very rare to considerate the requirements connected to the overheating effect in the panel buildings. This issue is closely related to the thermal comfort in the building, especially during the summer months. Based on the conducted simulations, authors indicated the influence of building orientation, individual flat location and thermal insulation on the thermal comfort in the different flats of prefabricated panel building.

This paper presents the results of experimental tests of a wall barrier containing a layer with the addition of phase-change material. The study was performed in a climatic chamber for a light frame wall in two versions: with inner lining made of plaster-cardboard panel and of panel containing PCM. Temperature measurements were made on the surface of panels for non- stationary conditions in a climatic chamber. Research stand was prepared, in which heating of coat layers was effecting from an increase of the room’s air temperature rather than from direct heating of the layers. The influence of the PCM was analyzed for faster and slower pace of air heating.

The paper presents a project of a building heating system thermomodernization. Currently, the building is not insulated which results in great heat losses and, consequently, high maintenance costs. The essential calculations performed by the Audytor OZC 4.8 Pro programme enable to estimate the range of a thermomodernization and payback period of thermomodernization. The report contains ecological analysis showing the annual reduction of the pollutants released into the atmosphere.

The influence of acoustic parameters of lecture halls is essential for the quality of reception and the understanding of the content. One of the basic acoustic parameters is the reverberation time in the room. The study demonstrates that the room which is not properly designed for acoustics, causes difficulty in understanding the delivered text. Selected acoustic parameters were analyzed, such as reverberation time, acoustic background, and delivered text intelligibility. A possible solution was proposed, using reflecting and absorbing surfaces appropriately positioned in the room.

Polyurethane was discovered in 1937. It is a common name for material which can be hidden under many forms, such as, rigid foam, flexible foam, coatings, sealants, adhesives and elastomers. The main constituents are isocyanate and polyol. Depending on the components and proportions it can have different properties. Polyurethane is widely used in industry and has a variety of uses in everyday life. Rigid foam is used in building construction as a thermal insulation. It is produced by the so-called polyurethane system. This material is light and durable. Besides, it has closed-cell structure and a low thermal conductivity.

This paper describes the results of simulation and calculation of heat loss through a slab on grade to the ground. Calculations are performed for a single-family house. The effect of using foam glass as insulating material is analyzed.

The aim of this paper is to show the unfavourable influence of simplifications we adopt in modelling real structures numerically. The simplest way to model joints is to treat them as either rigid or flexible. However, there are structures whose stability strongly depends on joints’ stiffness, an example of which is  the structure of a dome whose joints have been designed as semi-rigid. It has been shown that even minor underestimation of the real rigidity of supports or joints has a negative impact on the static inner forces distribution.

The analysis, which has been conducted for four households in France, has shown that the use of photovoltaic panels for electric energy production has been economically effective. The analysis has been conducted using RETScreen® International software and compared with real data form system owners. The calculations were based on daily solar radiation and have been demonstrated using a simple payback period and internal rate of return. The majority of the photovoltaic system’s necessary cost has been taken into account. The calculations have demonstrated that a simple payback time for systems set before 2012 is below 10 years, which is a half time of panels’ life span. Moreover, the ecological effect on producing electric energy using analyzed systems has been calculated.

The paper addresses the results of a numerical – based on experimental data – study of air distribution in the manifold responsible for air supply into a combustion chamber of a biomass boiler. An analysis of the possibilities of optimizing the air distribution system using a ommercial CFD program by changing the diameter of the feeding ducts was performed and described.

The paper addresses the possibility to utilize alternative-decision networks to model and analyze technological and organizational variants of building processes [1]. The undetermined structure of such networks makes it possible to simultaneously model any given number of variants of the scrutinized project and, as a result of the network’s analysis, to select the solution (variant) which is optimal within the set criterion. The paper attempts to broaden thevertex set of the subject network by adding two logical formulas on the side of the peak entrance: namely „and” and „or” to make the modeling of certain technological and organizational relationships of a construction enterprise easier. Introducing new vertices into the network required extending the mathematical model used to determine the optimal technological and organizational variant of the analyzed enterprise.

The article is about the concept of a housing estate in Germany. The project was created as a part of a competition. The contest was organized by the ISOVER Company. The name of the contest is ISOVER Multi-Comfort House Students Contest Edition 2013 Vision & Reality – Glückstein Quartier. With reference to a historical place which belongs to our place, the development has been called “diamond apartments” Houses have a shape like the crystal of a diamond. The way of creation, location, and building shape assure the maximum usage of solar energy, so that there will by optimal thermal comfort inside. The project also includes a large scale service and entertainment building complex, located in the immediate vicinity planned residential development.

The paper concerns an attempt to collate qualitative research with quantitative FEM research in terms of two dimensional heat flow. It shows the accuracy of both methods, according to in situ researches with a thermal camera and models – done with software Therm 5, Therm.

This paper outlines the innovative concept of unconventional railway track on longitudinal sleepers and asphalt track bed. The authors presented a method for LONGASF numerical modeling. This paper describes the creation of the numerical model at the macro scale according to the behavior and interaction of analyzed laboratory sample in a micro scale.

Large artificial water reservoirs are one of the most valuable assets in flood protection. However, the overall volume of a reservoir can decrease over time. This happens mainly because of sediment accumulation, and that alluvia is “eating-up” an otherwise useful volume of water. It is therefore important to know the current volume of sediments accumulated in the reservoir. This way one is able to calculate the useful volume of the reservoir storage capacity, secondly, for assessment of future reservoir operation. The process of obtaining relevant data for this is normally partially automated but nevertheless, it is arduous, extremely time-consuming, and may be dangerous. To overcome those problems we have developed an unmanned vessel, which is able to perform the work much faster and easier. The vessel is a fully unmanned, integrated, nonetheless it is still under development (working prototype 1E), but it can be still easily used in its current state, albeit with some minor limitations.

The paper presents the results of a computer simulation of a building under the assumption of the presence of a phase change material in wall elements. The influence on the cooling energy requirements and, also, the risk of overheating of the low-energy building (without HVAC systems) have been analyzed. The obtained results were compared with the ones of a low-energy building without a phase change material in walls. The comparison calculations were performed for a model of a service building located in Silesia, which is built according to an energy-efficient standard. It has a light-frame construction with light covering (external panels, heat-insulation, interior plasterboard). In the study, the presence of a 1 cm thick PCM board placed under the inner surface of plasterboard is assumed. Tests were conducted for organic materials that undergo phase transition in different temperatures, such as: 23°C, 25°C and 27°C. Based on the results of operative temperature measurements, it is possible to determine the influence of PCM on the risk of building’s overheating.

This article describes a novel photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) water heating system. Through in- corporating a loop-heat-pipe (LHP) and a heat pump, the system can essentially maximise the electrical return of PV panel, and simultaneously produce a reasonable amount of heat. This system can therefore harvest larger amount of solar energy and enable enhanced system perfor- mance. It is expected that such dedicated technology could become the next generation of solar driven heating system and enable a significant reduction of building’s carbon footprint.

Window frame profile modeling methodology is varied. Simplified and detailed models were considered and results from transient calculation of surface temperature were compared. As is shown, the detailed window frame profile modelling has the influence and whether it is useful or not depends on purpose of modelling.