This is a reference book. Although it might conceivably be read in the order in which the subjects appear it was designed to be consulted subject to subject as one uses a dictionary or encyclopedia. To facilitate quick identification and location of building materials, characteristics and problems they are first listed in the table of contents, repeated in the chapter headings and listed in the index. In addition to describing how building materials respond to environmental stresses in terms of their mechanical, electrical, chemical and thermal properties, brief references to their normal behavior and a comparison of various material characteristics has been included. Most of the information gathered and presented here represents the contemporary developments of ancient building lore. The increasing importance of renewal, rehabilitation, retrofit and restoration is placing added importance on material behavior. A separate and distinct field of building science is emerging as increasingly sophisticated instruments are linked to the growing ability and decreasing costs of computer analysis. This book describes one segment of a new building science-that of building diagnosis.

Dieser umfassende Leitfaden zur Evaluierung, Auswahl und zum Einsatz nachhaltiger Materialien im Landschaftsbau bietet einen Überblick über Strategien, mit denen sich die Auswirkungen herkömmlicher Baumaterialien auf die Umwelt und die menschliche Gesundheit minimieren lassen, und stellt ökologische Alternativen vor. Neben detaillierten und aktuellen Informationen zu Baumaterialien für eine "grüne Bebauung" erhält der Leser eine Einführung in Werkzeuge, Techniken, Vorstellungen und Quellen für die Evaluierung, Beschaffung und Spezifikation nachhaltiger Baustoffe. In den jeweiligen Kapiteln werden sowohl herkömmliche als auch neue ökologische Materialien, Auswirkungen der einzelnen Baustoffe auf die Umwelt und die menschliche Gesundheit sowie Strategien zur Minimierung derartiger Belastungen beschrieben. Fallstudien geben Auskunft über Kosten und Leistungsmerkmale und dokumentieren die gesammelten praktischen Erfahrungen.

Evaluating building materials for environmental sustainability is a complex prospect. How do governmental agencies and the design industry actually measure sustainable initiatives and environmental impacts? This book breaks down the technical vocabulary and principles that define environmentally sustainable choices across interior and exterior architectural products to help the reader understand: Material ingredient selection Energy and water use Emissions, including greenhouse gases Human health and toxicity Social accountability assessment This guide explains the structure of green certifications, standards and ecolabels, life cycle assessment, environmental regulations, and more. It presents a historic timeline for context and a snapshot of current trends and future objectives. It is a comprehensive reference for interior designers, architects, building owners, contractors, and students enrolled in interior design and architecture.

The Second Edition of Building Evaluation Capacity provides 89 highly structured activities which require minimal instructor preparation and encourage application-based learning of how to design and conduct evaluation studies. Ideal for use in program evaluation courses, professional development workshops, and organization stakeholder trainings, authors Hallie Preskill and Darlene Russ-Eft cover the entire process of evaluation, including: understanding what evaluation is; the politics and ethics; the influence of culture; various models, approaches and designs; data collection and analysis methods; communicating and reporting progress and findings; and building and sustaining support. Each activity includes an overview, instructional objectives, minimum and maximum number of participants, range of time required, materials needed, primary instructional method, and procedures for facilitators to help learners in the most common evaluation practices.

"This book is designed for architects and engineers who need to evaluate existing buildings for a new use or for continuing a current use. It details each step of the evaluation process using an easy-to-follow and easy-to-implement approach that greatly reduces the possibility of unexpected costs and setbacks. Moreover, the book covers every part of the building itself, from interior and exterior structures to systems and materials." "Illustrations throughout the book will help you visualize and perform key procedures. In addition, the authors examine building evaluation issues for structures of different scales, such as medium and small commercial structures and residential buildings." "Most important, the authors help you assess the financial viability of a proposed adaptive reuse or preservation project, helping you and potential investors decide whether the proposed project offers a desired return on investment."--Jacket.

Successful Training in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Teaches trainee gastroenterologists the endoscopic skills needed to meet the medical training requirements to practice gastroenterology and helps clinical specialists refresh their skills to pass their recertification This book provides all gastroenterologists with the exact set of skills required to perform endoscopy at the highest level. Featuring contributions from internationally recognized leaders in endoscopy education and an endorsement by the World Organization of Digestive Endoscopy, it examines the specific skill sets and procedure-related tasks that must be mastered when learning a particular technique, including: specific descriptions of accessories required; standard training methods for the procedure; optimal utilization of novel learning modalities such as simulators; quality measures and objective parameters for competency; and available tools for assessing competency once training has been completed. Successful Training in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Second Edition features 400 high-quality, outstanding color photos to assist with comprehension. It is also complemented by a website containing over 130 annotated teaching videos of both actual procedures and ex-vivo animal model simulations. These videos illustrate, step by step, the proper techniques to be followed, highlighting clinical pearls of wisdom from the experts and the most common mistakes to avoid. Offers comprehensive and practical training guidelines in all the endoscopy procedures and techniques trainee gastroenterologists are required to learn Provides trainees with the skills required to perform endoscopy to the level required by the ACGME in order to practice gastroenterology Presents seasoned gastroenterologists with an outstanding tool to brush up their endoscopy skills and to familiarize them with new trends in safety and competence Includes website with video clips visually demonstrating all the endoscopic procedures step-by-step highlighting common mistakes Endorsed by the World Organization of Digestive Endoscopy Successful Training in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Second Edition is an excellent book for all trainee gastroenterologists (particularly endoscopists and colonoscopists) training for board exams. It will also greatly benefit gastroenterology specialists (especially those training for re-certification), as well as internal medicine physicians and trainees.

Plan, design, execute, and manage building construction projects This hands-on engineering textbook shows, step-by-step, how to work through the many stages of a building construction project―from planning and material selection through compliance, safety, and quality assurance. Written by a pair of highly respected experts in the industry, Handbook for Building Construction: Administration, Materials, Design, and Safety contains best practices, real-world examples, and practical applications. You will discover how to develop design specifications, understand complex codes and regulations, and apply the best methods for building construction jobs of all sizes. Coverage includes: The construction industry The project team Contract administration Construction Accounting Project Estimating Scheduling projects Risk management Building materials and construction methods Foundations Electrical construction Mechanical piping systems HVAC Energy efficient building systems Software support Productivity and quality management Equipment for building construction Safety

The aim of each volume of this series Guides to Information Sources is to reduce the time which needs to be spent on patient searching and to recommend the best starting point and sources most likely to yield the desired information. The criteria for selection provide a way into a subject to those new to the field and assists in identifying major new or possibly unexplored sources to those who already have some acquaintance with it. The series attempts to achieve evaluation through a careful selection of sources and through the comments provided on those sources.