Building Technology

Project Summaries

1978-1979

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Building Technology

Project Summaries

1979

NBS §P 446-3

Editors:

Michael Olmert

Noel Raufaste

Center for Building Technology

National Engineering Laboratory

National Bureau of Standards

U.S. Department of Commerce

Washington, D.C. 20234

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Philip M. Klutznick, Secretary

Luther H. Hodges, Jr., Deputy Secretary

Jordan J. Baruch, Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology

j NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Ernest Ambler, Director

Issued February 1980
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 79-600209

National Bureau of Standards Special Publication 446-3

Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Spec. Publ. 446-3, 82 pages (Feb. 1980) CODEN: XNBSAV

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON: 1980

For salp by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402-Priee $4.

stock Number 003-003-02150-1
Foreword The Center for Building Technology's (CBT) mission

is to increase the usefulness, safety, and economy of

buildings through the advancement of building

technology and its application to the improvement of

building practices. CBT's research activities support the

building technology programs of Federal, state, and local governments; assist design professions, building officials,

and the research community by developing improved

design criteria; and assist manufacturers of building

products by developing methods for evaluating

innovative materials, components and systems.

Ultimately, each project at the Center aims to provide

improved knowledge, in usable form, to the building

community. Typical CBT activities include:

investigations of failures, such as the Willow Island

cooling tower accident, to determine causes and needs

for improved practices; improvements of measurement

techniques such as development of accurate equipment to measure the performance of thick insulation; defining

characteristics of building performance such as human

response to time-varying noise; and developing consistent

methods for comparing benefits and costs such as life- cycle cost approaches for selecting optimal energy

retrofit measures. All these activities are conducted in cooperation with other organizations in the building

community that participate in the studies or are affected

by the results. NBS/CBT does not promulgate building codes or

standards. CBT provides an objective source of technical

information for national consensus standards and model

code organizations. Close cooperation with these groups

leads to standard practices that meet the needs of the

regulatory authorities of state and local governments.

Research providing the knowledge for these standard

practices is conducted in cooperation with university and

industry research laboratories. This report summarizes CBT's research for 1978-1979.

Each summary lists the project title, its progress, point of

contact within CBT, and sponsor. The reader is encouraged to review two companion

documents: 1) NBS Special Publication 439, The Center

for Building Technology: A Perspective, which presents the

Center's approach to building research and its facilities; and 2) Special Publication 457, Building Technology

Publications, and its supplements.

The summaries presented in this report are arranged

according to the programs and tasks that comprise the

scope of work at CBT. These categories were selected to group like projects—not to reflect the structure of the

Center, which is shown on page x

.

iii
Contents

Energy Conservation in Buildings 2 Building Infiltration Evaluation

2 Tracer Gas System

2 Mobile Blower Systems

3 Energy Analysis: Norris Cotton Building

3 User Acceptance: Norris Cotton Building

4 Part-Load Efficiency

4 Central Air Conditioner Test Procedures

4 Heat Pump Test Procedures

5 Innovative Heat Pumps—Modified Temperature Bin

Method

5 Innovative Heat Pumps—Test Method for Engine-Driven

Heat Pumps

6 Furnace Test Procedures

6 Computerized Climate Data

7 Technical Support of BECC

7 Building Energy Performance Criteria

8 Use of Daylighting in Electric Energy Conservation

8 Simplified Load Calculations for Project Home Audit

8 Building User Audits

9 Building Thermal Load Program

9 Energy Calculation Review

9 Second Law Efficiency Study

1 0 Thermal Encapsulation of Electrical Wiring

10 Energy Retrofit: Insulation and Wiring

1 0 Inspection of Wiring Under Insulation

1 1 Retrofit Guidelines

1 1 Ranking of Measures for Energy Retrofit

1 1 Performance of UF Foam Insulation

1 2 Weatherization Demonstration

1 2 Economic Analysis of Weatherization Program

1 3 Cost-Effectiveness of Infrared Heat-Loss Surveys

1 3 Federal LCC Guide for Energy Conservation

1 3 Economics of Residential HVAC Equipment Design

1 4 Economics of Masonry Wall Design

Performance of Insulated 1 6 Thermal Conductivity Apparatus for Thick Insulation

Building Envelope '6 Auxiliaries for the Line-Source Apparatus

1 6 Thermal Insulation Standard Reference Material

1 6 Permanency of Fire Retardants in Insulation

17 Corrosion and Cellulose Insulation

1 7 Thermal Resistance of Roof Systems

1 7 Thermally Efficient Roofing Systems

1 8 Large-Scale Test Apparatus

1 8 Thermal Performance of Major Building Elements

Building Solar Systems Technology 20 Development of a Solar Regulatory System

20 International Standards for Solar Energy

20 Standards for Solar Absorptive Coatings

20 Performance Standards for Solar Cover Plates

2 1 Standards for Rubber Hose and Connections

iv
22 Standards for Nonmetallic Containment Materials

22 Metal Containment Materials

22 Collector Durability and Reliability Test Program

23 Structural Performance of Solar Collectors

23 Evaluation of Corrosion Test Methodology

23 Dimensional Considerations in Solar Installations 24 Regulatory Impact Analysis of the Solar Demonstration

Program

24 Solar Commercial Handbook

24 Solar Evaluation of the Norris Cotton Building

25 Thermal Test Methods for Solar Collectors and Storage

Devices

25 Passive Solar Data Requirements

26 Solar Hot Water System Test Program

26 Standards for Solar Collector Insulation

26 Monitoring Methods for Low-Cost Residential Solar

Systems

27 Application of Solar Technologies in Cities 27 Economic Evaluation of Passive Solar Designs for Urban

Environments

27 Solar Energy Program for Housing Systems

28 Commercial Solar Energy Demonstration

28 Residential Solar Data Center

29 Energy Analysis for Passive Solar Techniques

Earthquake Hazard Reduction 32 Earthquake Hazard Reduction

32 Building Practices for Disaster Mitigation

32 Seismic Resistance of Reinforced Masonry

33 Review of LNG Facilities

Structures and Foundations

Performance

36 Performance Standards for Foundations and Excavations

36 In Situ Geotechnical Measurements

37 Anchoring Mechanics for Mobile Homes

37 Mobile Home Anchoring in Flood Plains

38 Progressive Collapse

38 Tornado Missile Probability Assessment

39 Development of Revisions to American National Standards

Institute A58

39 Probability Distributions of Extreme Winds

39 Criteria for Wind Tunnel Modeling

40 Criteria for Loads and General Design

40 Snow Loads on Nuclear Power Plant Structures

4 1 Modeling of the Cement/Concrete System

4 1 Thermal Loads on Concrete Slabs

41 Concrete Construction Technology

42 Fire Resistant Structural Design

Building Safety and Security 44 Study of Construction Scaffolding Systems

44 Measurement of Forces in Trench Bracing

44 Analysis of the Willow Island Cooling Tower Failure

v
45 Effectiveness of Safety Symbols in the Workplace

45 Symbols Criteria and Standardization

45 Criteria for Signs in Workplaces

46 Door and Window Security Demonstration

46 Building Security Technology: Symposium

46 Mobile Home Egress

47 Mobile Home Egress: Economic Analysis

47 Building Access/Egress Research Planning

47 Risk Assessment

48 Walkway Slip-Resistance Standard

48 Simulation of Human Behavior in Fires

Building Rehabilitation Technology 50 Rehabilitation Technology

50 Preservation of St. Louis Courthouse

50 Structural Preservation of National Historic Monuments

50 Assessment of Building Rehabilitation Regulations and

Processes

5 1 Cost Estimates and Cost Variability in Rehabilitation

51 HUD Studies

Building and Community Acoustics 54 Highway Noise Criteria

54 Building and Community Acoustics

5 5 Transmission Line Audible Noise Measurement

Building Materials and Composites

Performance

58 Modeling of Concrete Performance

58 Corrosion of Steel in Prestressed Concrete

59 Corrosion-Preventive Coatings

59 Effect of Temperature and Humidity on UF Foams

60 Properties of Elastomeric Roofing Membranes

60 NDE of Moisture in Roofs

6 1 Performance of Roofing

61 Durability of Coatings for Steel 62 Roofing and Coating Research for the Army

62 White House Painting Study

62 Organic Coatings

63 United States-Canada Project for Monitoring Exposure

Conditions

Building Service Systems

Performance

66 Electrical Distribution Systems Protection

66 Innovative Electrical Wiring

66 Air and Smoke Migration in Buildings

67 Plumbing Systems Measurement and Design Methods

67 Service Systems Demand Modeling

68 Performance of Water Conserving Devices

68 VA Hospital Plumbing Criteria

68 Underground Heat Distribution Systems

vi
Environmental Design Technology 70

70

70

7171

72

72

72

73

73

73

74

74

Task Lighting Criteria

Illumination Measurements and Criteria

Visual Environment

Visual Techniques in NDE

Color and Appearance

Site Development

Design Technology Development

Building Circulation

Interior Space Criteria

Post-Occupancy Evaluation Techniques

Design and Construction Technology Application Program

Federal Building Technology

Services to the Federal Construction Council

Building Economics 76

76

76

Techniques for Economic Evaluation

Solid Waste Cost-Allocation Methods

Estimating Area Cost Factors
Abbreviations Used in the Text

ACF Area Cost Factors AID Agency for International Development

ACI American Concrete Institute AIA American Institute of Architects

ANMC American National Metrication Council

ANSI American National Standards Institute ARI American Research Institute ASPE American Society of Plumbing Engineers

ASSE American Society of Sanitary Engineers

ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials

ASHRAE American Society for Heating, Refrigeration,

and Air-Conditioning Engineers

ASME American Society for Mechanical Engineers

BECC Building Energy Conservation Criteria

BLAST Building Loads Analysis and Systems Thermodynamics

BFIRES A Computer Program Dealing With Human

BOCA Building Officials and Code Administrators

International, Inc. CBT Center for Building Technology

CFR Center for Fire Research

CIB International Council for Building Research,

Studies, and Documentation

CSA Community Services Administration

CPSC Consumer Product Safety Commission

DoE Department of Energy

EDA Economic Development Administration

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

FAA Federal Aviation Administration

FCC Federal Construction Council

FERC Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

FHA Farmers Home Administration

FHWA Federal Highway Administration

FIRL Franklin Institute Research Laboratories

GSA General Services Administration

HUD Department of Housing and Urban Development

HVAC Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning

ICBO International Conference of Building Officials IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers

ISO International Standards Organization

LBL Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory

LCC Life-Cycle Costing

LNG Liquid Natural Gas

MIUS Modular Integrated Utility Systems

MPS Minimum Property Standards

NAHB National Association of Home Builders

NBS National Bureau of Standards

NBSLD National Bureau of Standards Load Determination

(A Computer Program)

NCSBCS National Conterence of States on Building Codes

and Standards

NDE Nondestructive Evaluation

viii
NEC National Electric Code

NEMA National Electrical Manufacturers Association

NFPA National Fire Protection Association

NIBS National Institute of Building Sciences

NIOSH National Institutes of Occupational Safety

and Health

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NPS National Park Service

NRC National Research Council (Canada)

NSF National Science Foundation

ORNL Oak Ridge National Laboratory

OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration

RIF Resource Impact Factors RILEM International Union of Testing and Research

Laboratories for Materials and Structures RSV Reduced-Size Venting

SAE Society of Automotive Engineers

SPT Standard Penetration Tests SRM Standard Reference Materials

UF Urea-Formaldehyde

USGS United States Geological Survey

USNC/ United States National Committee/International

CIB Council for Building Research, Studies, and

Documentation

VA Veterans Administration

ix
Center for Building Technology

Center Headquarters

Structures

and Materials

Division

Building

Thermal

and

Service

Systems

Division

Environmental

Design

Research

Division

Building

Economics

and

Regulatory

Technology

Division

Earthquake Hazard

Reduction

Construction Safety

Geotechnical

Engineering

Structural

Engineering

Building Materials

Building Composites

Thermal Analysis

Thermal Solar

Thermal Insulation

Performance

Mechanical Systems

Service Systems

Architectural

Research

Sensory

Environment

Building Safety

Building and

Community

Acoustics

Applied Economics

Rehabilitation

Technology

Solar Technology

Criteria and

Standards

Development
Energy

Conservation

in Buildings
Building Infiltration Evaluation

Charles M. Hunt

(301) 921-3560

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

Reduction of outside air is one of the strategies

proposed to save energy in the heating and cooling of

buildings. There is need for better information on natural

ventilation rates of buildings with outside air dampers

closed. High-rise buildings present special problems.

Such information is needed before we know where we

stand with respect to existing ventilation standards, as well as the possible revision of standards. Under this project, the NBS Administration Building is being instru- mented to measure air exchange by using SF6 tracer gas. Wind direction and velocity, as well as inside and outside

temperature data, are simultaneously taken. Provisions

are also being made to operate the building in its normal

mode as well as with all of its air intakes and exhausts

closed. Inside and outside pressure differences will be

measured in the different operating modes. Also fan pressurization measurements are planned to determine

the flow resistance of the building envelope. The data

will be used to measure the air-exchange behavior of

high-rise buildings. Measurements on at least one other

large building will then be made.

Tracer Gas System

Charles M. Hunt

(301) 921-3560

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Ventilation and air infiltration is an important area to be considered for energy savings. The improved

capability for measuring air flow that this project will provide, through new equipment for sensing tracer gases,

is a major component in understanding this phenomenon.

Sponsor: Department of Energy

Mobile Blower Systems

Charles M. Hunt

(301) 921-3560

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

Fan pressurization-evacuation procedures have come

into wide use for determining the comparative tightness

of single-family homes. Although it is much more

difficult to do this with large buildings, this information

is important in analyzing and reducing air leakage. The

systems designed and built under this project will consist

of a fan capable of delivering at least 15,000 cfm at 0.5 in. W.G. static pressure and a method of measuring fan flow

rate. The system will be temporarily sealed in outside

doorways, and inside-outside pressure difference will be

measured as the blower introduces or extracts air at measured flow rates. A single flow system will be

obtained first to develop testing techniques. This will make it possible to test larger buildings than we have

tested previously. Based on this experience, additional

systems will be obtained, depending on the size of future buildings to be tested.

2
Energy Analysis: Norris Cotton

Building

Thomas E. Richtmyer

(301) 921-3602

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

GSA's Norris Cotton Federal Office Building in Manchester, New Hampshire, has been designed to demonstrate a number of energy-saving concepts. For

this reason, it uses a variety of equipment, such as heat

pumps, modular boilers, and engine/generator with

waste heat recovery, solar collectors, liquid thermal

storage, and special lighting. Exterior walls are of heavy

masonry construction with an outer insulating layer to create a "thermal flywheel" thereby reducing peak

heating and cooling loads. The windows are doubleglazed and occupy a relatively small fraction of the

exterior facade. Fin-like granite panels surround the

windows and are fixed in a position that reflects in sunlight during winter, blocks out sunlight in summer,

and breaks up strong winds. Of the building's seven

floors, no two are the same. Each one has some variation

in its mechanical equipment, lighting, and/or window

arrangement. Employing several different energy saving

concepts will, of course, have value only if each is assessed individually for its effectiveness. A computer data-acquisition system has been installed on site that senses critical temperatures, fluid flows, and

electrical power throughout the building and records this information on magnetic tape. These tapes are then sent

to CBT where they are processed by a UNIVAC 1 108

computer. The output will be a breakdown of energy

usage within the building. Also, computer simulations

will be performed for the purpose of evaluating the

effectiveness of the equipment as it is currently operated.

This simulation program will also be used to study the

effects of system modifications.

User Acceptance:

Building

Norris Cotton

Jacqueline Elder

(301) 921-2246

Environmental Design Research Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

Under this project, selective interviewing was carried out with individuals in various agencies prior to their move to the Norris Cotton Building, Manchester, NH.

Two extensive questionnaires were administered in the

spring, about five months after occupancy. A second

similar questionnaire was administered in the late fall, about eight months after the first one. Response

percentages for specific questions have been calculated

and reported in two letter reports (February 1978 and

March 1978). Of greater importance than the response

percentages, however, are the floor-by-floor comparisons

to determine if there are significant differences in the responses of occupants on different floors (different floors have different design features). Chi-square analyses

will be performed to identify which differences are statis- tically significant. In addition, the results of two

questionnaires will be compared to determine changes in occupant opinion over time and responses to varying

weather conditions.

3
Part-Load Efficiency

David A. Didion

(301) 921-2994

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

Considerable energy waste is known to result from

mismatching and oversizing (safety-factor padding) for mechanical equipment in large HVAC systems.

This practice has come about, in part, because of

the lack of published data on the equipment's part-load or dynamic-load characteristics. In this project, CBT will be the central coordinator of

all major equipment part-load data. This entails determination of equipment priorities, the type of data

needed, and the method by which the data will be

gathered; designation of who should gather specific data; and development of the format in which the data should

be presented. It is anticipated the format will be a computer program subroutine. The methods of data

generation include searching and transcribing from

existing literature, theoretical modeling, laboratory or

factory experiment, and field evaluation.

To date, a listing of the major equipment items and a determination of the status of part-load performance data

has been developed for equipment now being considered.

Where the data are known, the best source of infor- mation has been identified. Where the data are unknown,

the best method of generating the data has been

recommended. This year the focus is on the completion

of the simulation codes for centrifugal-compressor and

reciprocating-compressor chilled water systems.

Central Air Conditioner Test

Procedures

George Kelly

(301) 921-3839

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

This year, CBT research on central air conditioners

will be aimed at determining whether the present test procedure can be simplified. Experimental laboratory

work will be carried out on the effect of different design

features (thermal expansion device, capillary tube, fixed

orifice, etc.) on the part-load and seasonal performance of

residential central air conditioning equipment. It is hoped

that research will lead to the development of degradation

coefficients (or "enhancement factors") that can be

assigned in accordance with the different design features possessed by a unit. Work will also begin on a central air conditioner computer "model" that could lead to a considerable reduction in the amount of testing required

by manufacturers and also make the job of verifying their compliance considerably easier. A draft report

summarizing our recommendations on minimum

performance standards for central air conditioners will be

sent to DoE.

Heat Pump Test Procedures

George Kelly

(301) 921-3839

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

4

During this year, the CBT work on heat pumps will involve verification of the proposed test procedure and

its extension to cover water-source units and units employing gas or oil-fired furnaces to supply supplemental heat. Verification will involve comparing

predicted seasonal performance results with data

collected by a leading electrical utility company in the

Chicago area. A laboratory study will be performed on a
water-source heat pump to evaluate its performance and

to determine the best method for testing and rating such

devices. The test procedure will be broadened to cover

"hybrid" systems that use gas or oil, instead of

electricity, as the source of supplemental heat. Work will begin on developing recommendations for the

Department of Energy on minimum performance

standards for electrical motor-driven residential heat

pumps. Draft test procedures for water-source heat

pumps and "hybrid" heat-pump systems will be

developed.

Innovative Heat Pumps—Modified

Temperature Bin Method

David A. Didion

(301) 921-2994

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

The present method of calculating the seasonal energy

efficiency ratio (SEER) and seasonal energy

consumption of residential heat pump equipment is based on a temperature bin method. A basic assumption in this method is that residential building cooling loads are

solely a function of the outdoor dry-bulb temperature. In

this project, the BLAST computer program will be used

to model and predict hourly residential heating and

cooling loads. Several residential buildings will be

modeled and hourly heating and cooling loads predicted

in several regions around the country using actual

weather data. From the hourly load data, a correlation

will be developed to predict the building heat and

cooling loads. The correlation will then be used to develop a modified temperature bin procedure that calculates the heating and cooling seasonal efficiency and

seasonal energy consumption. This manual calculation

procedure will be compared with more exact methods

using computerized hour-by-hour analysis.

The modified temperature bin calculation procedure

will predict the building heating and cooling load, as well as seasonal energy usage and seasonal efficiency, more accurately than the present method. The

calculation procedure will be kept simple, not requiring

the use of a computer.

Innovative Heat Pumps—Test Method With the sponsorship of DoE, a number of innovative

For Engine-Driven Heat Pumps heat pump systems are currently under development

around the country, including engine-driven heat pumps.

David A. Didion There is, however, no standardized test and evaluation

(301) 921-2994 procedure available for these innovative systems.

Building Thermal and Service Systems Industry and government are unable to evaluate and

Division compare these new heat pump systems and to make

sound decisions regarding which are worthy of further

Sponsor: Department of Energy development. A standardized test and rating procedure,

incorporating provisions specifically tailored to the nature of each innovative system, is required so the

published results of different research teams working on

different types of heat pump systems may be effectively

compared on the same technical basis. The objective of

5
this particular project is the development of a generic

test and rating procedure for engine-driven heat pumps.

The initial phase of the study will be a survey and

review of experimental analytical results obtained on

engine-driven Rankine cycle heat pumps by other

research agencies. The survey will not be restricted to a

particular type of engine, but rather will include a range

of heat engines (Stirling cycle, Diesel cycle, Rankine

cycle, Brayton cycle, etc.) that are potentially suitable for heat-pump applications. This information will then be

integrated with: CBT experience and test results on

Stirling cycle engine and diesel-engine-driven heat

pumps; CBT test and rating procedures on electric-driven

Rankine-cycle heat pumps and other heating and cooling

devices; and appropriate ASME-SAE-ASHRAE test and

rating codes. It is expected that this approach will result

in the draft of a comprehensive test and rating procedure

sufficiently general that it may be used for most of the

engine-driven systems likely to be employed in building

in the near future. The test procedure will be available

for industrial review by the end of this fiscal year.

Furnace Test Procedures

George Kelly

(301) 921-3839

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

CBT is in the process of developing its recommendations to DoE on minimum furnace

performance standards. In addition, NBS will work with

DoE-supported contractors to develop technical and

economic information relating to minimum standards for furnaces and boilers. The NBS-developed computer

programs DEPAF and DEPAB will be used to carry out much of the technical evaluation required as part of this task. In the area of test procedure refinement, a computer

model will be developed to describe the performance of

a furnace or boiler located in either an "unheated"

basement, a heated space, and "indoor closet" or outside. Recommendations will also be made to DoE on how to expand the present test procedure to cover dampers that open and close by thermal expansion and contraction. A

draft computer code covering installation of furnaces and

boilers in various applications will be developed. A

report summarizing how thermal vent dampers should be

tested will be produced. A draft report will be sent to DoE covering recommendations on minimum

furnace/boiler performance standards.

Computerized Climate Data

Edward A. Arens

(301) 921-3595

Environmental Design Research Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

Building energy-load programs such as NBSLD and

DoE-1 compute on an hour-by-hour basis using weather

data tapes containing observations that are typically

collected at major airports, and are available for a limited

number of locations in the U.S. Since meso- and microclimates may differ widely within a region that contains

only one hourly collection station, the current practice of

using that station's weather data to predict the energy

6
consumption of a building may cause substantial error. The magnitude of this error exceeds the error inherent in existing load programs, and has an adverse effect on

energy efficient building designs.

This program will develop an algorithm compatible

with DoE-1 to mathematically transform hourly weather

data from meteorological stations to the microclimate of

the building site. The climate variable—temperature,

humidity, wind velocity, and solar radiation—will be

considered. The influences of topography, surface

features, surrounding buildings, and vegetation will be

included in the transform. The algorithm will take

standard NOAA-format weather tapes as input, and with

a minimum of description of the topography and

surroundings of the building site, perform the conversion.

Technical Support of BECC

Jim L. Heldenbrand

(301) 921-3293

Building Thermal and Services Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

Significant reductions in energy conservation in buildings can be achieved through improved practices.

However, the technical and institutional aspects of these

practices (design, construction, and operation) are many

and require comprehensive analysis. The approach to this activity is to provide technical services in support of

DoE, which has overall responsibility for the research,

development, and demonstration of energy efficiency in buildings. This effort is integrated with the researchbased DoE/NBS Building Energy Conservation Criteria

(BECC) program.

The products of this activity frequently take the form

of written recommendations and comments on draft documents prepared by others. While primarily directed

to the sponsor, comments and recommendations are also shared with others toward the objective of helping to shape a consensus for constructive support of overall national objectives. As DoE requirements become

defined, this effort will support state energy development

plans under P.L. 94-163, and development of improved

energy performance criteria.

Building Energy Performance Criteria

Jim L. Heldenbrand

(301) 921-3293

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

Recent Federal programs to regulate energy use at the

design stage of new buildings have pushed toward the

elevation of performance standards to the whole building

level. Preliminary research for the development of such

building energy performance standards has been based

largely on statistical analysis of calculated building

design energy requirements without specific regard to the performance of the building components themselves.

However, it appears that component energy performance

standards will continue to play an active role in the

regulation of building designs as an alternative path to building energy conservation. As a result, this project

will provide a methodology for the whole building

level. A side benefit of such a method is the assurance

that the two paths to building design are consistent and

complementary.

7
Use of Daylighting in Electric Energy

Conservation

Tamami Kusuda

(301) 921-3501

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy and Tri- Services Committee

Since lighting constitutes 5 percent of the total U.S. energy demand, the use of daylight rather than electricity for lighting is an important step in energy independence.

This project will develop energy conservation guidelines

with respect to the use of daylighting by conducting

several laboratory experiments to study lighting and to evaluate various daylight control devices. Window

management techniques will also be studied for their contribution to energy conservation. Since existing

daylight calculation methods are very complex, often

involving large computer programs, this project will also concentrate on more simplified procedures, suit- able for making annual energy trade-offs.

Simplified Load Calculation for Project

Home Audit

Tamami Kusuda

(301) 921-3501

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

The objective of this effort is the documentation and

validation of a simplified heating and cooling load

program for Project Home Audit, a program to assist homeowners in evaluating the effectiveness of energy

conservation options. NBSLD will be modified to use average monthly temperature and average daily total solar radiation for calculating the energy requirements of

single-family detached homes based upon twelve mean

days, each representing a month of the year. CBT has

developed a simplified version of NBSLD that can fit into the cpu time requirement of 3 seconds (UNIVAC

1 108) instead of the 3 minutes usually required by

NBSLD. The results of this simplified program will be

validated for accuracy by metered energy consumption

values of actual houses for a few selected locations in the

country.

Building User Audits

Jacqueline Elder

(301) 921-2246

Environmental Design Research Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

Many audits of energy use in buildings are now under

way, and more are being planned. These activities are designed to provide baseline data describing energy use

associated with selected building parameters. The

usefulness of these data depend upon a number of

assumptions about the comparability of the data and

usage patterns. These assumptions are questionable. As to the comparability of data, standardized data collection

techniques are not available for developing energy audits. The present research activity will focus on a better understanding of usage patterns as they affect the validity

of energy audit information. Once the relevant usage

data are identified and quantified, they can be factored

into an audit procedure, by removing this "error" term. Moreover, as we learn more about how operations and

user actions influence energy use, owners, operators, and

users can begin to take steps to influence energy savings.

8
Building Thermal Load Program

Tamami Kusuda

(301) 921-3501

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

This project will update the NBSLD computer

program by improving existing subroutines and adding a few new ones. Routines to be added are the thermal

comfort index, daylighting, whole house-fan, and simple

heating/ cooling equipment simulation. The user manual

will also be improved to minimize input interpretation

errors.

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

Energy Calculation Review

Tamami Kusuda

(301) 921-3501

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

National emphasis on improved building designs for energy conservation has resulted in numerous energy

consumption analysis procedures, both manual and

computer-based. The increased proliferation of these

energy analysis procedures and programs is resulting in confusion among public officials, architect-engineer

firms, and private citizens, who rely on energy

calculations to select energy saving features for their buildings.

The objective of this effort is a compilation of the

technical details of existing energy calculation

procedures to assist DoE in disseminating the

information, and the establishment of guidelines for manual energy calculation procedures suitable for use by

small A/E consulting firms.

Second Law Efficiency Study

David A. Didion

(301) 921-2994

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

The 1978 National Energy Conservation Policy Act

(Section 683) states: "The Secretary of Energy in consultation with the Director of the National Bureau of

Standards . . . shall conduct a study of relevance to energy conservation programs of the use of the concept

of energy efficiency as being the ratio of the minimum

available work necessary for accomplishing a given task

to the available work in the actual fuel used to accomplish that task." This definition for efficiency is arrived at by applying the second law of

thermodynamics to a thermal system rather than the

usual first law. It has the effect of "normalizing" the

various energy sources to the same baseline for evaluation. It also tends to identify exactly where the

inefficiencies of a process exist. It is Congress' intent to see where it might be beneficial and practical to apply

this second law efficiency as a measure for energy

conservation rather than the traditional first law

efficiency. Under this project, a study of the second law

will be carried out by a private contractor. Its results will be transmitted to Congress after analysis by CBT.

9
Thermal Encapsulation of Electrical

Wiring

Robert W. Beausoliel

(301) 921-3454

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

When ceiling and cavity walls of residential buildings

are retrofitted with thermal insulation, electrical branch

wiring circuits become surrounded with thermal

insulation. When these branch wiring circuits carry rated

current, the wiring temperature exceeds the maximum

service temperature specified in the National Electrical

Code. The problem becomes particularly serious in attics when several branch wiring circuits run adjacent to each

other and are covered with a thick covering of thermal

insulation. Temperatures may reach as high as 150 °C,

which significantly exceeds the maximum service

temperature for residential branch wire. This study will focus on solutions to eliminate overheating of residential branch wiring circuits due to the addition of retrofit insulation. Solutions examined will include derating the

ampacity of branch circuits, raising branch wiring above

thermal insulation, and placing wiring in contact with

wood structural members which may reduce wire

temperature through a heat-sinking effect.

Energy Retrofit: Insulation and Wiring

Lawrence S. Galowin

(301) 921-3293

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

This project will conduct laboratory tests to establish

tables of allowable thermal blanketing over wiring of

various sizes at their peak ampacity ratings with several

insulation materials. Acceptable installation practices to provide thermal release paths for thermal insulation will be determined. CBT will also study the ability of studs,

joists, and gypsum to reduce wire temperatures. The

outcome of this work will be safety criteria for use by

DoE.

Inspection of Wiring Under Insulation

Lawrence S. Galowin

(301) 921-3293

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

Under this project, the electrical wiring of some 400

low-income homes (in the CSA weatherization

demonstration) will be inspected. CBT is developing

inspection procedures for this activity for three levels of

inspection: the layman CSA local program person; a

licensed electrician or electrical inspector; and an in- depth evaluation by CBT personnel. Based on the

experience with the three inspection levels in the CSA

demonstration, CBT will develop inspection procedures

and checklists for use in the program. The final procedures will be coordinated with national

organizations such as NFPA.

10
Retrofit Guidelines

Heinz Trechsel

(301) 921-3195

Environmental Design Research Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

This project will support DoE in the residential conservation area of the National Energy Act. The

purpose is to assure that the selection, quality, and

insulation of various retrofit measures is cost-effective,

safe, and energy saving. The work will center on five

tasks: development of a method for setting priorities for

retrofit measures; development of standards for

installation practices; assistance to DoE in identifying,

revising, and establishing criteria for retrofit materials

and products; investigation of electrical hazards resulting

from placing thermal insulation around and over existing

electrical wiring; and preparation of procedures and

checklists for the inspection of electrical wiring in conjunction with the installation of thermal insulation.

Ranking of Measures for Energy

Retrofit

Stephen R. Petersen

(301) 921-3126

Building Economics and Regulatory

Technology Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

A computerized methodology for estimating the dollar energy savings from a number of retrofit measures has

been developed. This methodology ranks the measures in terms of life-cycle cost-effectiveness. Energy savings were based on a Project Conserve analysis of a 1 500

square-foot wood-frame residence. Costs were collected

from industry sources. Energy prices were based on DoE

regional projections. Climate zones will be based on the

ARI Research Corporation Building Energy

Performance Standards recommendations. Resulting data

will be differentiated by climate, heating fuel type, and

the use or non-use of central air conditioning.

Performance of UF Foam Insulation In this project, a field survey will be conducted to open the walls of homes that have been retrofitted with

Walter J. Rossiter, Jr. loose-fill cellulose, loose-fill mineral fiber, or urea- (301) 921-3109 formaldehyde foam insulations. The insulations will be at Structures and Materials Division ieast 2 years old and the homes will be located in various

climatic areas including cold regions, and hot and humid

Sponsor: Department of Energy locations. Observations will be made on performance

parameters such as the condition of the paint on siding,

corrosion of metal wall objects, moisture accumulation,

odor, wood rot, fungus or mold growth, vermin, and

workmanship during application. Settling of loose-fill materials and shrinkage of foam insulations will be

measured. Insulation samples will be removed from the

walls and measured in the laboratory to determine

density, thermal conductivity, and moisture content.

11
Weatherization Demonstration

Richard Crenshaw

(301) 921-2019

Environmental Design Research Division

Sponsor: Community Services

Administration

The objectives of this project are to develop a field method for evaluating combinations of energy

conserving options, to measure the energy and cost savings associated with these options, and to develop

installation standards to assure consistent performance of

the options when installed. A sample of 300 frame, masonry and masonry veneer, one-and two-story houses have been selected in 16 cities across the United States. More than 200 of these houses

are being weatherized with both architectural and

mechanical energy-conserving options based on life-cycle cost principles. The effectiveness of the package of

options selected for each site is evaluated by comparing

actual installation costs with savings determined from

pre-and post-retrofit utility bills. Individual houses are more intensively evaluated using newly developed

diagnostic test procedures to determine the relative importance of infiltration, conduction, heating system

efficiency, and water heater efficiency. This provides more detailed information on the energy conserving

options, and leads to weatherization installation standards

to assure that performance meets predicted values. The results provide CSA with a quantified basis for

their weatherization program. The results will also provide a field check on the accuracy of ASHRAE and

other current energy calculation procedures for residences, leading to suggestions for improving

calculations used in predicting energy performance in residences.

Economic Analysis of Weatherization To determine an economically optimum weatheriProgram zation package, the cost and energy savings of the

individual retrofit features must be known accurately.

Stephen F. Weber The packages installed in the demonstration houses were

(301) 921-2308 originally selected on the basis of predicted costs and

Building Economics and Regulatory savings.

Technology Division Cost data on each retrofit feature are being collected

for each house in every participating city. The basic cost Sponsor: Community Services components are labor, materials, prep-cost, and "other."

Administration For eacn city the averaSe cost of trie typical retrofit features installed are being calculated so that they can be

compared with the value of the energy savings. The

optimum weatherization package is being re-evaluated on

the basis of these post-retrofit comparisons. For each

house the net present value is being calculated for the

entire weatherization package as well as for the four

major types of options: (1) infiltration; (2) conduction;

(3) mechanical; and (4) hot water.

12
Cost-Effectiveness of Infrared HeatLoss Surveys

Richard A. Grot

(301) 921-3470

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

Although thermal surveys of buildings are considered

to be highly efficient from a technical viewpoint, they

are much more expensive than traditional inspection

methods. The traditional methods, however, are less reliable. This project will correlate the energy savings,

costs, and techniques of infrared scanning to calculate the

most effective way of doing such surveys in urban

residential areas. The surveys will be carried out by

contractors in ten cities. The results will be submitted to the ASHRAE committee on standards for thermographic

inspections.

Federal LCC Guide for Energy

Conservation

Rosalie T. Ruegg

(301) 921-2330

Building Economics and Regulatory

Technology Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

NBS Building Science Series 113, Life-Cycle Costing

for Selecting Energy Conservation Projects for Public

Buildings, provides a step-by-step guide for conducting

life-cycle cost evaluations of energy conservation

projects for public buildings. It explains the use of life- cycle costing analysis to evaluate and rank the cost

effectiveness of alternative energy conservation retrofit projects to existing public buildings, and to select the

most cost-effective design for new buildings. Worksheets,

illustrated with a realistic example, and a computer

program are provided.

This guide is compatible with a life-cycle costing guide

prepared for the Department of Energy for use in the

Federal Energy Management Program by Federal

Agencies. The purpose of this report is to provide a guide to state and local governments for use in their energy conservation programs.

The purpose of this project is to refine this guide and

to add tables for estimating energy and non-energy life- cycle costs. This material was published in the Federal

Register in February and will be the subject of Public

Hearings in April and is expected to be issued as Final

Rules in June 1979.

Economics of Residential HVAC

Equipment Design

Stephen R. Petersen

(301) 921-3126

Building Economics and Regulatory

Technology Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

This project is in direct support of a larger CBT

program, Building Energy Performance Criteria, which

is intended to provide sample energy budgets for singlefamily dwelling prototypes. The purpose of this support

project is to apply life-cycle-cost-minimization techniques

to the selection of domestic heating and cooling

equipment and to calculate the corresponding energy

requirements of a prototype dwelling unit with known

heating and cooling requirements. These heating and

cooling requirements are based on NBSLD analysis of a

typical detached single-family dwelling in a wide range

of climates and for several levels of overall envelope

integrity.

Under this project, modifications to HVAC equipment

used in residences have been selected for analysis.

Changes in the seasonal performance of the heating and

13
cooling equipment have been analyzed to determine the

incremental effects of alternative designs. Cost data and

energy price data were collected for use in the economic

analysis. An algorithm for integrating the equipment

design selection with the shell design was developed.

This algorithm was computerized for the analysis of the

equipment design selection. A final report on the results of this analysis will be prepared this year.

Economics of Masonry Wall Design Thermal insulation in exterior walls of buildings can

significantly reduce heating and cooling requirements

Stephen R. Petersen with net savings in life-cycle costs. While considerable

(301) 921-3126 data are available on the savings and costs attributable to Building Economics and Regulatory insulation in wood-frame walls, these data are not Technology Division directly applicable to masonry wall construction.

As part of this project, the typical masonry wall types

Sponsor: Department of Energy and methods appropriate for insulating those walls have

been identified. A model residence, compatible with the

various wall construction methods to be examined, has

been selected. The NBSLD load determination program

has been used to calculate the effect of different insulation levels in walls constructed of concrete blocks

in a variety of climates. Sensitivity analysis with respect

to surface absorptivity and operational characteristics of

the house has been performed. An economic analysis of

the various insulation levels has been made to determine

which level provides the greatest net benefits for given

climate conditions, operational conditions, and energy

costs. Additional computer analysis of brick veneer walls

and heavy-weight concrete block walls, together with

economic analysis, will be completed this year, leading to the publication of an NBS report.

14
Performance of

Insulated Building

Envelope

15
Thermal Conductivity Apparatus

for Thick Insulation

Robert R. Jones

(301) 921-3637

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Divison

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

The objective of this project is to design and construct a 1-m diameter thermal conductivity apparatus capable of

precisely measuring the insulating value of building

insulation up to 0.4-m thick. The line-source apparatus

will be put into service and calibrated to establish a

reference base for industry and private testing

laboratories. The performance of the apparatus will be

described in publications and in technical committees of

ASTM and ASHRAE. Subsequent research results on

the study of combined heat transfer by conduction and

radiation in thick layers of low-density insulation will also be published.

Auxiliaries for the Line-Source

Apparatus

Chock I. Siu

(301) 921-3536

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

The increased use of thermal insulation, because of the

national effort to reduce building energy requirements,

mandates the development of an accurate measurement

capability to provide accurate thermal conductivity data,

especially for thick, low-density specimens. This project

will be used to procure electronic instruments, hydraulic

equipment, and a conditioning chamber where thermal

conductivity of thick specimens can be measured.

Thermal Insulation Standard

Reference Material

Chock I. Siu

(301) 921-3536

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Divison

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

Thermal conductivity and resistance Standard

Reference Materials (SRMs) for use in the calibration of

thermal measurement systems in laboratories are needed.

Although candidate materials are available from

commercial sources under special order, data need to be

analyzed to support their certification as SRMs. Under

this project, a stock of high-density fibrous glass boards

have been certified as SRM 1450. A new lot of material

has been ordered to replenish the present stock. After

selected pieces of material are measured, statistical analyses are then made, as are recommendations as to

certification of the new lot as an SRM.

Many low-density fibrous glass materials have also been ordered. Measurements and analyses to support

characterization as an SRM are to be made. However,

work needs to be done to develop an equation

representing the complex heat-transmission phenomena in low-density fibrous insulation. This analysis will be done

as a future task.

Permanency of Fire Retardants

in Insulation

Robert G. Mathey

(301) 921-2629

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

For fire retardants to be effective in insulations, they

must remain as an integral part of the insulation. Any

settling, sublimation, or dissolution of the fire retardant

additive due to vibration, temperature, or moisture may

reduce its effectiveness. Research is needed to determine

the permanency of fire retardants in cellulosic insulations. A current study, Effects of Moisture in Retrofit

Insulations, will continue to develop data to determine

the effects of moisture on the permanency of fire

16
retardants in cellulosic insulations. In cooperation with

the Center for Fire Research, flame spread and

smoldering properties of cellulosic insulations will be

determined both before and after exposure to water

vapor. Fire retardants in cellulosic insulations will be

determined for specific conditions of exposure to moisture.

Corrosion and Cellulose

Insulation

James R. Clifton

(301) 921-2630

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: Consumer Product Safety

Commission

Reports on home insulation have indicated that some

chemical additives, e.g., aluminum or ammonium

sulphate, when present in sufficiently large concentrations, can cause the corrosion of metal products in residences. The reports include cases of corrosion of

metal support members and copper piping. It is possible that these flame retardants may also cause

corrosion of electrical connectors at junction boxes and

fixtures with a resultant loss of system ground, corrosion

of gas piping with resultant gas leaks, and corrosion of

metal vent piping with resultant leakage of carbon

monoxide. Therefore, excessive corrosiveness associated

with the use of chemical additives could present a safety

hazard. The overall result of this project will be a new

corrosion test for insulation.

Thermal Resistance of Roof

Systems

Stephen J. Treado

(301) 921-3602

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

Under this project, a literature survey on built-up roof

systems will be performed to identify factors that affect their thermal performance. A field measurement

technique and procedure, using infrared thermographic

imaging and local heat-flow and temperature-difference

measurements, will be developed for assessing the

thermal resistance of built-up roofs. The measurement

system will be obtained, assembled, and measurements

will be made on laboratory samples. The system will be

available next year to measure the thermal resistance of

actual roofing systems.

Thermally Efficient Roofing

Systems

Robert G. Mathey

(301) 921-2629

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

There have been serious problems associated with

roofing containing increased amounts of insulation (lower

U-values). Small amounts of moisture in some insulations

will significantly reduce thermal efficiency. Moisture in roof systems has led to premature membrane failures such as blistering, splitting, ridging, and wrinkling.

Increased amounts of insulation necessary to obtain

lower U-values in roofing systems have been asserted by

the National Roofing Contractors Association to

drastically shorten the life of built-up membranes.

Under this project, laboratory tests will be conducted

to determine the effect of the amount and distribution of

moisture on the thermal conductivity of roofing

insulations and systems. The information derived

17
regarding the thermal performance of roofing systems

containing various amounts of moisture is an important

step in providing the necessary technical basis for

guidelines and criteria increasing the thermal efficiency

of the nation's low-slope roofing systems.

Large-Scale Test Apparatus

Paul R. Achenbach

(301) 921-3106

Center for Building Technology

Headquarters

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

Under this project, a large-scale test apparatus capable

of measuring air, moisture, and heat transfer

characteristics of walls, roofs, floors, and joints between

the roof and wall, and floor and wall will be designed

and constructed. Our large environmental chamber and

one other environmentally controlled laboratory, if needed, will be dedicated to the program. Under a

technical contract with an A/ E firm, a laboratory wall

tester, one or two laboratory floor/ ceiling testers, a mobile laboratory, a laboratory solar simulator (if needed), and a slab-on-grade apparatus will be designed

and constructed for developing test procedures,

performance criteria, and standards in this field.

Thermal Performance of Major

Building Elements

Paul R. Achenbach

(301) 921-3106

Center for Building Technology

Headquarters

Sponsor: Department of Energy

Under this project, new technical data and test equipment and procedures will be developed for design

purposes and for standards on the building elements

(walls, floors, and ceiling/ roofs) to reduce energy

requirements of buildings while retaining acceptable

levels of functional effectiveness, durability, safety, and

cost. The project will be carried out as a part of a comprehensive plan developed in cooperation with the Department of Energy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, and the building

industry. The results from this activity will be greater

and more predictable energy conservation, a sound basis for competition in the building industry, and greater assurance of building durability, habitability, and

economy to the consumer.

18
I

Building Solar

Systems

Technology

19
Development of a Solar Regulatory

System

Joseph Greenberg

(301) 921-2758

Building Economics and Regulatory

Technology

Sponsor: Department of Energy

To make solar energy a viable and maturing energy

source for the Nation, the regulatory system must not impede technical development. Under NBS leadership, a

solar regulatory survey was conducted throughout the

industry.

Using the NBS study as a base, this project is developing model solar building regulatory provisions in a consensus mode under the sponsorship of the Council

of American Building Officials, using the ANSIaccredited organization approach. In addition, CBT,

DoE, and HUD are collaborating in the overall planning

for this program and, from time to time, are providing

oversight assessments regarding the progress of the

program.

International Standards for Solar

Energy

Elmer R. Streed

(301) 921-3871

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

CBT has a major role in the preparation of

performance criteria and test methods for the use of solar energy in the United States. DoE has requested that this expertise be used to contribute to the formulation and

evaluation of international standards. This project will foster the development of such standards by participating

in international critiques of U.S. and foreign interim

standards and by taking part in round-robin thermal

performance and durability tests of thermal collectors.

Standards for Solar Absorptive

Coatings

Larry W. Masters

(301) 921-3458

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

While numerous standard tests have been developed

for coatings in building construction, the performance

requirements involved in solar systems are quite

different. For example, temperatures on the absorptive

surface may reach 250 °C or greater, but standard test methods for coatings seldom involve temperatures as high as 100 °C. The purpose of this project is to prepare such draft standards. These standards will be based upon results of

laboratory and field studies and will be submitted to the

ASTM for consideration as consensus standards. ASTM acceptance is expected by the end of this fiscal year. The research findings will ensure improved

absorptive coatings performance, provide a basis for selecting proper materials, and enhance acceptance of

solar systems by making the systems more reliable.

Performance Standards for Solar Cover Many solar collector designs incorporate a cover plate

Plates whose purpose is to transmit solar energy while

protecting the inner areas of the collector from the

Elizabeth J. Clark exterior environment and reducing the heat loss. Any

(301) 921-2635 l oss j n the transmittance of solar energy through the Structures and Materials Division cover plate results in a decrease in the efficiency of the

entire solar heating and cooling system. The

Sponsor: Department of Energy transmittance and other important properties of some

cover plate materials are frequently deteriorated by

20
sunlight and the temperatures encountered in solar

collectors. Many standard test methods are available to evaluate

materials such as glass and plastic. However, the

performance requirements for cover plates of solar collectors are not entirely covered by the existing test methods. The purpose of this project is to prepare draft performance standards for cover plate materials used in

flat-plate solar collectors.

Initially, performance criteria, performance attributes,

degradation factors and currently available tests were

identified. Tests were assessed to determine if modifications were necessary to reflect in-use solar conditions. Laboratory studies and outdoor weathering

exposures are being performed to obtain data for

definitive test standards. Draft standards have been

prepared in conjunction with ASTM committees and are being submitted to ASTM for consideration as consensus

standards.

Standards for Rubber Hose and

Connections

Robert D. Stiehler

(301) 921-3180

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

Rubber hose is an economical and efficient connector

between the solar collectors and manifolds on the supply

and return lines of solar energy systems. Rubber hose is sometimes also used at the inlet and outlet of pumps,

storage tanks, and other components in the system. At

present, however, there is no standard for hose used in solar systems.

The environment and other conditions surrounding

solar energy systems necessitate a high-quality hose

having a long life, good resistance to ozone and other

atmospheric pollutants, and good performance at high

and low temperatures. Standard methods of testing hose

for most of these characteristics are given in ASTM

D380-77. The principal task here is to establish minimum

requirements for the hose, based on these tests, to assure

satisfactory performance in solar energy systems.

The approach will consist of identifying performance

requirements, important properties related to performance, factors that could affect the performance,

and existing tests to measure performance of rubber hoses

and connections. Laboratory studies will be performed to determine if materials meet the requirements and to develop procedures, as needed, to measure performance.

Based on the laboratory studies, draft standards will be

submitted to ASTM for consideration as consensus

standards.

21
Standards for Nonmetallic

Containment Materials

Elizabeth J. Clark

(301) 921-2635

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

Materials used to contain, transport, or store fluids in solar energy systems are called containment materials.

Plastic containment materials are being used increasingly

in solar collectors, solar ponds, tanks containing heated

storage liquids, and piping. Numerous field problems

have been reported with plastics. These problems stem

primarily from the poor thermal and UV stability of some plastic materials. Many standard methods are available to evaluate

plastic materials. However, the performance

requirements for containment materials in solar systems

are not entirely covered by the existing test methods.

The purpose of this project is to prepare draft standards

for nonmetallic containment materials used in solar systems.

Initially, performance criteria, performance attributes,

degradation factors, and currently available tests were

identified. Tests were then assessed to determine if modifications were necessary to reflect solar conditions

in use. Laboratory and field studies are being performed

to obtain data needed to prepare testing standards. Draft

standards will be submitted to ASTM as possible consensus standards.

Metal Containment Materials There are no standard tests for selecting containment

metals for solar heating and cooling applications. CBT is Paul W. Brown helping to fill this gap by undertaking cooperative

(301) 921-2993 laboratory research to determine the applicability of tests Structures and Materials Division proposed by ASTM E-44. The findings have resulted in an ASTM-recommended practice for metallic containSponsor: Department of Energy ment. This recommended practice describes a series of

tests to evaluate the compatibility of metal-liquid pairs

under a variety of environmental conditions.

Collector Durability and Reliability

Test Program

David Waksman

(301) 921-3285

Building Economics and Regulatory

Technology Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

The reliability and long-term performance of solar collectors has not generally been demonstrated. Recent

studies have indicated that significant changes in collector performance (greater than 10 percent) can occur as a result of exposure to "no-flow" conditions for three to nine weeks. A number of component and

materials tests have been proposed as a means to evaluate

the reliability/durability of solar collectors. However,

these testing procedures have yet to be proved. This

project is intended to provide a coordinated testing

program that will result in establishing validated testing

procedures to relate laboratory, accelerated field, simulated operational exposure, and actual field demonstration data for solar collectors used in building heating

and cooling applications.

A review of existing and planned testing procedures

useful in evaluating the reliability/durability of collector

units and their materials will be conducted. Laboratory

and outdoor field exposure tests will be performed on

22
solar collectors and their materials. The result of these

tests will be correlated and compared with actual in-use performance. Long-term field exposures will be

conducted at a number of different sites to evaluate

climatic effects. Test specimens representative of various

collector types will be used.

Structural Performance of Solar

Collectors

Emil Simiu

(301) 921-2346

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

In designing solar collectors and their supports, the

effects of the aerodynamic loads induced by wind, the snow loads caused by drifiting and accumulation around the

collectors, the loads induced by seismic events, the

resistance of collector systems or elements to the action

of hail, and the induced loads associated with movement

of collector arrays and their structural supports must be

considered. For certain collector systems the technical

information required for safe and economical structural design is not available. The purpose of this project is to develop structural performance criteria and guidelines,

especially for collector supports and fasteners. The

results of the research will be used by designers and code

writers.

Evaluation of Corrosion Test

Methodology

Paul W. Brown

(301) 921-2993

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

Under this project, a laboratory test that simulates the

in-service operation of a solar collector system is being

developed. The intent of this effort is to provide a test methodology as a basis for selecting metal-fluid pairs to be used in solar collector systems, for accelerated testing,

and for evaluating buffers and corrosion inhibitors. Design of a test loop allows consideration of the

effects of elevated temperature, temperature cycling, rate of fluid flow, and aeration or de-aeration on the rate of

corrosion. The test loop is also designed to allow the use of either tubular samples or sections removed from actual

collectors to be evaluated.

Dimensional Considerations in Solar

Installations

Hans J. Milton

(301) 921-2720

Building Economics and Regulatory

Technology Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

In active solar systems, using collectors, storage units and reticulation networks, the change to metric

measurement is likely to affect most components and

their dimensional relationships, including joints and

tolerances. An awareness of the implications of

metrication, dimensional coordination, and the

dimensional options for solar systems should assist the U.S. community to make cost-effective decisions in the

hardware context. It should also make it possible to avoid misfit problems. The identification of preferred

sizes for system components will allow greater

interchangeability, standardization, and direct

performance comparison of dimensionally similar units. The major thrust of this project is to assess dimensional

considerations and to illustrate compatible solutions.

23
Regulatory Impact Analysis of the Solar

Demonstration Program

Joseph Greenberg

(301) 921-2758

Building Economics and Regulatory

Technology Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy and

Department of Housing and Urban

Development

DoE and HUD are installing a significant number of

solar devices around the nation in a demonstration

program to collect data on the actual performance of

solar devices in the field and to stimulate the

commercialization of the solar industry. As an adjunct to

this effort, a great deal of data is being gathered on the

various technical and institutional aspects of this program. The thrust of this project is to gather and

analyze the data collected on the building regulatory

factors of this demonstration program and to identify

barriers that will prevent the installation and use of solar systems. Information abstracted from the overall CBT

solar data base is being compiled and analyzed to provide an insight into regulatory issues related to the application

of solar energy. Organizations involved in the

demonstration program that have not provided

regulatory information to the CBT data base have also been contacted to capture any regulatory data they may

have compiled. Significant problems and trends are being

identified.

Solar Commercial Handbook

Rosalie T. Ruegg

(301) 921-2330

Building Economics and Regulatory

Technology Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

Building owners, builders, architects, engineers,

lenders, manufacturers of solar energy equipment,

government agencies and research analysts all need a convenient, inexpensive method for determining if solar energy is an economically viable approach to space

heating and domestic water heating in commercial

buildings. The purpose of this project is to provide

information on the economic feasibility of solar energy

systems. This will be accomplished through the

publication and distribution of a technical report

containing the methodology and details of the thermal

and economic analyses of well-defined solar heating and

hot water systems in selected types of office buildings in different regions of the U.S. A simplified handbook for the building community that will promote interest in the use of solar energy and reduce the uncertainty

concerning the economic feasibility of solar energy for selected types of commercial buildings will be prepared.

Solar Evaluation of the Norris Cotton

Building

William B. May

(301) 921-3754

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

A solar energy system has been integrated into the

heating and cooling systems of a federal office building in Manchester, New Hampshire. This building was

specifically constructed to demonstrate energy

conservation features for commercial buildings. Under

this project, tests of individual solar panels of the four

types in this system will be made to compare collector performance with the requirements in the original contract specifications. Performance data will be

gathered on a long- and short-term basis by an automated

data system. The contribution of the solar system toward

reducing fossil fuel requirements will be determined.

Quarterly reports on the performance of the system as

24
measured at the building will be produced. A report on

the performance of the solar panels tested in accordance

with ASHRAE Standard 93-77 will also be written.

Thermal Test Methods for Solar

Collectors and Storage Devices

John P. Jenkins

(301) 921-3633

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

Standardized testing and rating procedures for solar collectors in a form similar to those published for fuel- burning equipment, air conditioners, and heat pumps are needed. Many different kinds of solar collectors are now

being developed at various universities and research

laboratories and there is an urgent need to be able to compare their performance on some common basis. In

addition, commercial models of various collectors are now available and the procedures provide an equitable

basis for competition among manufacturers and an

essential basis for design and selection of equipment.

So far, under this project, standardized testing

procedures for solar collectors have been proposed and

adopted. Test facilities incorporating three test stands for conducting indoor and outdoor tests of solar collectors have been constructed at CBT. The procedures will be

investigated, verified, and modified.

Passive Solar Data Requirements

William Ducas

(301) 921-3620

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

Although passive systems exist and are growing in number, quantitative thermal performance data are

lacking, and a quantitative comparison with another

passive or actively heated and cooled building is difficult. The expanding research and development efforts and the

fact that passive and hybrid installations now exist in both the residential and commercial portions of the

National Solar Heating and Cooling Demonstration

Program require that consistent methods of evaluating

their thermal performance be established. Under this project, a survey will be made of all the types of passive

systems in an attempt to classify them. For each

category, a list of pertinent performance factors will be

established. Based on the established performance factors and a review of previously used experimental techniques

for these systems, all necessary measurements will be

identified along with the required accuracy. Following

this, recommendations will be made for specific

instrumentation as well as for data analysis techniques.

A small test building will be built at CBT and will provide flexibility in studying passive systems and

evaluation procedures. The building will be used to investigate various levels of instrumentation and data

acquisition for determining heat flow, natural convective

air flow, comfort, and materials performance. The data

from the building will be compared with the per- formance of passive systems in other climatic regions.

25
Solar Hot Water System Test Program

Arthur H. Fanney

(301) 921-3754

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

Under this project, two simultaneous experiments are being conducted. In the first, six representative double

tank, water-heating and air-heating collectors, with

pumped and thermosyphon flow, are being subjected to controlled field tests for twelve months. In the second

experiment, controlled laboratory tests are being run on

selected components with simulated solar input to examine the effects of stratification and heat exchangers on system performance as well as to examine alternate methods of testing complete systems in the laboratory.

A letter report comparing experimental data with the

performance predicted by the computer simulation codes

for the six field-installed systems for July, August, and

September 1978 has been written. A final report

containing 12 months of experimental data and

comparisons between the codes and actual data for the same period of time will be published. In addition, drafts of the recommended test procedure for testing solar domestic-hot-water systems will be prepared with

substantiating data for consideration by ASHRAE.

Standards for Solar Collector Insulation

McClure Godette

(301) 921-3120

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

Any loss of heat, other than that through the transfer

fluid, reduces the efficiency of a solar collector. For this reason, the ability of thermal insulation to provide

resistance to the flow of heat from the back of the

absorber plate or side of the collector is of primary

importance. For the user, proper insulation results in an

increase in the heating or cooling efficiency; for the

nation, it promotes our energy independence. This

project is being performed to develop draft standards for evaluating the performance of insulation used in solar

collectors. Environmental conditions within the solar

collectors, and properties of the insulation material that contribute to the performance and durability of insulation

have been identified and evaluated. The results of the

study have led to the development of draft performance

standards that are being submitted to the ASTM for consideration as consensus standards.

Monitoring Methods for Low-Cost

Residential Solar Systems

Elmer R. Streed

(301) 921-3871

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Housing and

Urban Development

The successful large-scale use of solar energy for

residential space or domestic hot water heating is predicated on proper operation of the system, without

the use of sophisticated monitoring apparatus. Experience

obtained by HUD in the Solar Demonstration Program

and by others has indicated the performance of non- instrumented installations can vary significantly from one

unit to another because of undetected operational

problems. One method of minimizing the effect of these

problems is to provide the operator with a set of systems

capable of detecting and displaying improper operation.

Under this project, three levels of instrumentation,

ranging from meters to onsite minicomputers, will be

installed in the CBT solar townhouse. This

26
instrumentation will be evaluated for ease of installation,

operation, range, accuracy, cost, and appropriateness.

Application of Solar Technologies in Heating buildings accounts for about one-sixth of the

Cities nation's energy consumption. Solar energy is acknowledged as a logical source for this heat and its use

S. Robert Hastings is increasingly common in rural and suburban areas. (301) 921-2107 More widespread use of solar energy in urban settings

Environmental Design Research Division has not occurred because of physical, social, political,

and economic barriers. This project will analyze these

Sponsor: Department of Energy barriers and recommend technical options for enlarging

the use of solar energy in cities. CBT is providing the technical research support to a DoE program to promote solar technology in cities. The

research findings will provide physically sound design

and evaluation procedures for use in selecting sites and

designing cost-optimized systems for the sites. They will be used both for specific prototype sites targeted for the

demonstration and for broader dissemination to professional design associations, governmental agencies,

and trade groups and business associations to encourage

opportunities where solar applications can be integrated

into ongoing rehabilitation grants programs.

Economic Evaluation of Passive Solar

Designs for Urban Environments

Rosalie T. Ruegg

(301) 921-2330

Building Economics and Regulatory

Technology Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

This project is aimed at increasing the application of

solar designs in cities by developing evaluation methods,

cataloging systems and materials, conceptualizing

prototype solar applications, developing guidelines for

their use, and estimating the energy benefits and life- cycle costs of the prototypes. The cost-effectiveness of

solar designs is a critical factor to their widespread

adoption. Developing a framework for performing

economic evaluations of passive solar designs and

applying this framework to the evaluation of the

prototype are key areas of work to be performed this year.

Solar Energy Program for Housing

Systems

Robert D. Dikkers

(301) 921-3285

Building Economics and Regulatory

Technology Division

Sponsor: Department of Housing and

Urban Development

This project will help to ensure that solar-powered

equipment will not adversely affect public health and

safety. It will also develop regulations and testing

methods to bring reliability and performance standards to the solar marketplace. Experience gained from the evaluation of system performance will be fed back into the

development of improved criteria. The first revision of

the residential performance criteria document has been

published as NBSIR 78-1562, Interim Performance

Criteria for Solar Heating and Cooling Systems in Residential Buildings—Second Edition, and has been distributed

to HUD, DoE, the building community and the public

sector. Revisions are also being prepared for the HUD

intermediate minimum property standards for solar heating and domestic hot water systems which was

27
issued in July 1977. The evaluation process during the Residential

Demonstration Program involves studies of actual predicted systems and component thermal performance,

the evaluation of operational problems (equipment

failures, installation inadequacies, accidents, etc.) and the

examination of institutional constraints (e.g., code

problems). Three letter reports have been prepared to date and sent to HUD on problem identification of the

solar systems used in the Residential Demonstration

Program.

Commercial Solar Energy

Demonstration

Robert D. Dikkers

(301) 921-3285

Building Economics and Regulatory

Technology Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

In view of the energy crisis and the increasing rise in the cost of fossil fuel, DoE began a cooperative program,

with NBS in 1975 to determine the feasibility, use, and

required performance characteristics of commercial solar energy systems in buildings using solar energy. The interdisciplinary team, organized from CBT staff members, has continued to participate in the preparation

of draft standards and performance criteria, and in the

evaluation of demonstration systems performance.

Experience gained from this evaluation has been fed back

into the development of improved criteria which were

published as an Addendum to Interim Performance

Criteria for Solar Heating and Cooling Systems in Commercial Buildings (NBSIR 76-1 187). The tables presented in the standards plan (NBSIR 76-

1 134A) have been used by the ANSI Steering Committee

on Solar Standards. Another report (NBSIR 78- 1305A)

containing provisional collector testing procedures is being used as the basis for a collector testing program

being conducted for DoE. In addition, these testing

procedures have been adopted in part for use in various

collector certification programs (Florida, California,

ARI) and are being considered for adoption as consensus

standards by ASTM. The criteria developed for the

evaluation of solar collector test labs (NBSIR 78-1535)

have been used to identify laboratories qualified to participate in the DoE collector testing program.

Residential Solar Data Center

Patricia M. Christopher

(301) 321-3285

Building Economics and Regulatory

Technology Division

Sponsor: Department of Housing and

Urban Development

This project is concerned with the storage, processing,

and transmittal of the technical and non-technical data

collected by various HUD contractors from the

Residential Solar Heating and Cooling Demonstration

Projects. The outcome of this effort is an operational

data center, transmitting computer reports on solar data

to a variety of users and contractors for additional study,

evaluation, and dissemination. The users on this project

are HUD and their contractors: Real Estate Research

Corporation, Boeing Aerospace Company, DubinBloome and Associates, AIA Research Corporation,

Franklin Research Center, and CBT. Technical reports

28
produced by these contractors will be disseminated to

interested public groups, trade associations, and

professional societies. Raw data reports are also analyzed

by CBT for use in residential and commercial

performance criteria.

Energy Analysis for Passive Solar

Techniques

Bradley A. Peavy

(301) 921-3532

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

This project will develop a method for calculating heat

flow in buildings having passive solar characteristics

(such as heavy weight construction) and to provide heat

flow mathematical modeling elements for incorporation

into existing energy analysis computer programs such as DoE-I and BLAST. The project will be broken down

into four specific problem areas: response factors,

conduction transfer functions and their application to

thick, massive building constructions (concrete, masonry,

or earth); multi-dimensional heat flow in various

combinations of building constructions; radiation and

convection conditions for heat balance equations at surface of building; and the optimal method for building

heat transfer calculations employing multi-spaces (rooms

or zones).

29

Earthquake

Hazard

Reduction

31
Earthquake Hazard Reduction

E. V. Leyendecker

(301) 921-3471

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

Property losses from natural disasters such as floods,

earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes exceed $1 billion annually. Disaster assistance legislation (PL 93-288) and

the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (PL 95- 124) emphasize the need for hazard mitigation activities. Under the Presidential Implementation Plan for the

Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program, CBT has been

assigned the responsibility for the development of seismic

design and construction standards for state and local building codes. Additionally, CBT is to conduct research on performance criteria and supporting measurement

technology for earthquake resistant construction. Work

will include providing technical support to the Inter- agency Committee on Seismic Safety in Construction so

that the Committee can develop uniform Federal

standards by 1980.

Building Practices for Disaster

Mitigation

E. V. Leyendecker

(301) 921-3471

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

Disaster assistance legislation (PL 93-288) and the

Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (PL 93-124)

emphasize the need for hazard mitigation activities. This

continuing research program is directed toward

developing improved building practices for structures subjected to extreme environments through interactions

with professional practitioners and post-disaster

investigations. Such investigations have demonstrated

that the application of improved building practices can

significantly reduce losses due to natural hazards and

have provided information on needed research. Particular attention will be given to interactions with

the newly formed Federal Emergency Management

Agency and development of their role in coordinating

the President's Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program

and serving on the Interagency Committee on Seismic

Safety and Construction. This will also include

participation in the NSF Interagency Discussion Group

on Disaster Mitigation, serving as CBT Liaison member

to the USGS Advisory Committee, and representing

CBT in an NSF project to develop a joint large-scale

testing program with Japan. Products will include

reports for improvement of building performance during

disasters. One such report will be on the June 1978

Japanese earthquake.

Seismic Resistance of Reinforced

Masonry

E. V. Leyendecker

(301) 921-3471

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

During the recent development of tentative design

provisions for buildings, information of strength-based

design criteria for reinforced masonry was found to be

inadequate. Development of improved criteria for the

design of lightly reinforced masonry shear walls, which

might be used in moderately seismic areas, is particularly

needed.

An experimental program of research will be

conducted on lightly reinforced masonry shear walls in order to determine behavior. Parameters will include

32
reinforcing quantity and distribution as well as gravity

load. These and other research data will then be used to develop recommendations for design.

Review of LNG Facilities CBT is reviewing the seismic design criteria associated

with LNG storage facilities for a series of such facilities E. V. Leyendecker proposed for construction in a highly active seismic

(301) 921-3471 region. The project's technical approach will cover an

Structures and Materials Division assessment of the proposed seismic criteria by

comparison with the seismic design requirements of the

Sponsor: Federal Energy Regulatory Nuclear Regulatory Commission for nuclear plants.

Commission

33

Structures and

Foundations

Performance
Performance Standards for

Foundations and Excavations

Felix Y. Yokel

(301) 921-2457

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: Department of Housing and

Urban Development

Damage to structures and improvements directly

attributable to failure or distress associated with

foundation problems exceeds $3 billion annually. In

addition, many major engineering projects, such as mass

transportation systems, sewerage, water supply, and

other utilities, require large-scale excavation in urban

areas. These are expensive to construct and can cause

extensive damage to adjacent structures. Major

difficulties, costly failures, and much litigation result from the fact that provisions for foundations and

excavations in existing codes are inadequate and in some

instances ambiguous, conflicting, overly rigid, and

prescriptive. There is a need for national standards that can be adopted by the building codes and uniformly

applied throughout the U.S. A working group led by CBT has prepared initial drafts of standards on exploration, excavations, pier

foundations, pile foundations, and shallow foundations.

These draft standards are in various stages of revision. The American Society of Civil Engineers formed the

Committee for Foundations and Excavation Standards,

which is using the draft standards as a basis for a National Consensus Standard.

In Situ Geotechnical Measurements

Felix Y. Yokel

(301) 921-2457

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

The first phase of this project deals with the Standard

Penetration Test (SPT). A portable field instrument has

been built to measure fall height, hammer velocity, and

force in a drill stem and present these quantities in the

form of energy immediately following a test. To ensure

reliability of measurement, the instrument uses two

systems: an optical system, measuring hammer velocity

and energy above the striker plate; and a mechanical

system measuring the stress wave traveling through the

rod to measure the energy in the rod below the striker

plate. Field tests and calibration of a first generation

system have been completed and a study is in progress to evaluate the delivered energy, both above and below the

striker plate, and show the variation of energy, some of

which may be due to hammer configuration. Since the

SPT blow count is inversely proportional to delivered

energy and delivered energy varies with equipment

characteristics, the blow counts will vary for different types of drilling rigs used to perform the SPT within the same soil conditions. This study will measure energy

delivered by as many types of U.S. drilling rigs as

possible. The average and standard deviation of delivered

kinetic energy for existing (and historical) U.S. practice

will thus be determined. A decision will then be made

whether to propose a new standard U.S. practice or to require energy delivery equivalent to that obtained in current Japanese and European practice. In the latter case it will be necessary to reinterpret and revise existing U.S. design guides that reflect the cumulative standard

that then will be proposed for adoption by the

36
appropriate standards committee. The focus of the

project will then shift to other areas. The area now being

considered is measurement of soil parameters by

electrical potential.

Next to fire, wind is the leading cause of deaths and

injuries to mobile home occupants and damage to mobile

home property. Approximately 5,000 units are heavily

damaged or destroyed by wind storms each year. This

project involves the collection of existing test data and

information on theories and design procedures related to

soil anchors. Available data from geotechnical field and

laboratory investigations, including direct pull-out tests, standard penetration, cone penetration, and "Soil Test Probe" studies, will be assessed. Recommendations will address interim provisions for possible incorporation in the Federal Mobile Home Construction and Safety

Standards as well as research needs for relating pull-out

resistance to basic soil properties, installation torque or

resistance, and simple penetration tests. Subsequently, the

pull-out resistance of various commercially available

ground anchors will be determined experimentally for several loading and soil conditions. The field test data

will be correlated with the basic properties of the soils

as determined by standard field and laboratory

techniques—to provide a basis for establishing an

analytical model for predicting pull-out resistance. Performance criteria and a performance test method for structural links (i.e., tie-downs, connectors, etc.) and for anchor systems will be developed. The criteria and test methods will incorporate existing wind force

information, along with anchor-resistance information

obtained from the field tests.

Mobile Home Anchoring in Flood Plains HUD's Flood Insurance Administration is faced with

the problem of providing temporary housing to residents

Felix Y. Yokel of flood-prone areas whose houses have been destroyed

(301) 921-2457 by major floods. This is accomplished by placing mobile

Structures and Materials Division homes in the immediate vicinity of the damaged

residences. After major flooding, the soils on many sites Sponsor: Department of Housing and in the flood plain remain saturated for a considerable

Urban Development time. This not only increases the probability of another

major flood, but also leads to adverse foundation

conditions. Mobile homes in all areas need to be

anchored to the ground or otherwise secured to resist the

sliding and overturning effects of high winds. In addition,

mobile homes in flood plains need to be secured against

the hydrostatic and hydrodynamic forces associated with

floods. The objective is not only to prevent injury to resi- dents and attenuate damage to the mobile home itself, but

also to prevent the secondary effects associated with the

flotation and dislocation of mobile homes, such as jamming of bridges and other obstructions and clogging

Anchoring Mechanics for Mobile Homes

Felix Y. Yokel

(301) 921-2457

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: Department of Housing and

Urban Development

37
of waterways. At present, there are no data on the

capacity of soil anchors in submerged soil.

Progressive Collapse With changing building technology, certain types of

modern construction have become susceptible to the E. V. Leyendecker phenomenon known as progressive collapse. This is a (301) 921-3471 sequential type of failure leading to structural failure in a Structures and Materials Division major portion of a building. In spite of the potential for such failure, current codes and standards do not include

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards design requirements against progressive collapse. Under

this project, CBT will participate with the Progressive

Collapse Subcommittee in the preparation of a criterion

for inclusion in the 1980 revision of ANSI A58.1

(Minimum Design Loads). Using results of CBT research on post-tensioned flat-slab construction, reports will be

prepared examining the progressive collapse resistance of

that type of construction.

Tornado Missile Probability Assessment

Emil Simiu

(301) 921-2346

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: Nuclear Regulatory Commission

To ensure the safety of nuclear power plants, the

designer must consider the possibility that the structure

will be hit by tornado-borne missiles. Current

specifications of tornado-borne missile speeds are based on a set of simplifying assumptions regarding the tornado

wind flow and the aerodynamic behavior of the missile,

and on a set of conditions chosen to yield generally

conservative results.

It appears that the probability that a structure will be

hit by a missile with speeds previously specified is considerably less than the probability of occurrence of

the "design basis tornado." If this were indeed the case, then the missile speeds specified for design purposes

could be reduced so that their values would be

consistent, from the point of view of risk, with the

"design basis tornado."

The proposed research will estimate missile impact

velocities corresponding to various probabilities of occurrence of the impact. Probability levels to be

considered tentatively include 10"5

, 10'6

, and 10"7 occurrences in any one year. Available software will be used to generate missile velocity matrices providing information on maximum

missile velocity within a volume for a sufficiently large

set of initial conditions. Probabilistic information on

missile impact will then be generated through

multiplication of these matrices by initial-condition matrices obtained via random simulation.

38
Development of Revisions to American

National Standards Institute A58

Bruce Ellingwood

(301) 921-2170

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: National Science Foundation

ANSI mandates that its standards be reaffirmed or

revised periodically to assure that they reflect the latest in engineering knowledge. The state of knowledge

regarding loads on buildings has evolved and improved

considerably since the current standard was issued in 1973, making its revision necessary. This work will

satisfy the clear need on the part of code authorities and

design professionals for a reference standard for design

loads which incorporates the latest information on

building technology and loads research.

Probability Distributions of Extreme

Winds

Emil Simiu

(301) 921-2346

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: National Science Foundation

The NBS serves as the Secretariat for a consensus

standard (ANSI A58.1—Building Code Requirements for Minimum Design Loads in Buildings and Other

Structures) that contains provisions for the design of

buildings to resist extreme winds. Current provisions are based on annual extreme speeds obtained prior to 1968

and do not reflect recent advances in extreme values

analysis. The project will make possible the development

of improved probability distributions and the eventual

updating of wind load requirements contained in the

model building codes. The project will be coordinated

with another federal agency, the National Climatic

Center, which will supply the basic wind speed data.

Criteria for Wind Tunnel Modeling

Richard D. Marshall

(301) 921-3471

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

The testing of structural models in a wind tunnel is a very effective method, and often the only available

method, for establishing pressure, lift, and drag

coefficients for the design of full-scale structures to resist the effects of wind. When properly conducted, these tests can result in designs based entirely on the minimum load

requirements specified in codes and standards. In

recognition of this, the next edition of American National

Standards Institute A58.1 (Minimum Design Loads) will quite likely allow wind tunnel test data to be substituted

for the usual wind load provisions. Therefore, it is essential to establish a set of requirements that will ensure

the validity of wind tunnel test results. Existing information on wind tunnel simulation of

atmospheric surface flows will be reviewed. Results of a round-robin test sponsored by the Commonwealth

Advisory Aeronautical Research Council will be of

considerable value in determining the sensitivity of load

and response measurements to the various dimensionless

scaling parameters in wind-tunnel modeling. The

development of minimum requirements for wind tunnel

modeling will substantially increase the range of

structures covered by the A58.1 Standard and will lead

to better load definition and, therefore, improved

reliability and economy.

39
Criteria for Loads and General Design Current design standards rely on different philosophies

and criteria for design, depending on the material or Bruce R. Ellingwood construction technology used. This tends to complicate

(301) 921-2170 design when different technologies are employed in the Structures and Materials Division same structure. Differences in philosophy (e.g., ultimate

strength to consider uncertainties) cause a lack of consis- Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards tency in the reliability levels of different buildings. In

recognition of these problems, the trend in Europe and

Canada has been directed toward development of a common basis for design that would be applicable to all buildings regardless of their material or construction

technology. To ensure adequate performance, the

unifying concept of limit states has been used, along with

a probabilistic treatment of the uncertainties invariably

found in engineering design. However, while general

methodologies should be helpful, the specific criteria and

numerical values cannot be assumed to be applicable to building standards in the U.S. Moreover, there is a need

to clearly relate the proposed criteria to existing

standards in the U.S. to gain professional acceptance. In

the U.S., ANSI A58 has appointed a committee to investigate the feasibility of developing probability-based

criteria for limit states design. This research will assist in developing criteria for the design of building structures

that would ensure adequate reliability against structural

failure and unserviceability and would be appropriate for

all materials and construction technologies.

The development of technology-independent design

criteria for all limit states would reduce building costs by

simplifying the design process and stimulating market

competition between construction technologies.

Improved serviceability requirements would also result in

less maintenance and increased occupant satisfaction.

Snow Loads on Nuclear Power Plant

Structures

Bruce R. Ellingwood

(301) 921-2170

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Current design standards specify snow loads on roofs

by multiplying the ground snow load by a snow load

coefficient Cs. In ANSI Standard A58. 1-1972, Cs

depends on roof exposure and geometry. Except in valleys of sloped roofs and locations of elevation change,

the load is assumed to be uniformly distributed. However, snow seldom accumulates evenly because of

drifting and sliding and the loads may not actually be

uniform, even on flat roofs. Thermal effects are not included in Cs, despite the evidence that the roof load

may be significantly higher for unheated buildings or where the roof is heavily insulated. Finally, the

coefficients in A58. 1-1972 are based on Canadian studies

of ordinary structures: the extent to which these data can be used to represent the different roof geometries in nuclear power plant structures is not clear. Under this project, technical assistance to NRC to identify roof snow loads and develop loading criteria will proceed in two phases: (1) snow loads on power plant

structures will be measured and correlated to ground

40
snow loads for several facilities in the NE quadrant of

the U.S., and (2) data gathered in phase 1 will be

integrated with existing data from similar studies for the

purpose of recommending tentative snow load

coefficients for design. A report will be prepared for the

NRC giving the survey results and recommending snow

load coefficients.

Modeling of the Cement/Concrete

System

James R. Clifton

(301) 921-2630

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

About one percent of the nation's energy goes into the

manufacturer of the cement used in concrete. Possibilities for more efficient use of energy by the cement and

concrete industries largely lie in improvements in cement

manufacture and in the effective use of concrete. The

conversion of raw materials into concrete involves many

processes. Although each process can have a significant

impact upon the energy used in another process, relation- ships describing interprocess effects have not been

developed. One purpose of the present project is to recommend how a macro-model showing energy and

performance relationships in the manufacture and use of

cement and concrete might be developed.

The limitations of available models will be assessed. Their suitability for incorporation into a macro-model

giving energy use in relation to the composition,

manufacture, and performance of cement and concrete

will be evaluated. A methodology for establishing a data

base that can be coupled to the modeling effort will be

developed. Specific cases where the modeling approach

has been used will be analyzed to determine their effectiveness.

Thermal Loads on Concrete Slabs

Bruce R. Ellingwood

(301) 921-2170

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: Federal Highway

Administration

Thermally induced stresses or strains may significantly

affect the performance of structures. Heat has been

known to open joints and cause concrete to crack. In this project, a computer program will be developed to predict the magnitude of stresses and strains generated by

heating concrete bridge slabs. The program will be

generally applicable to slabs with various support

conditions and boundary constraints. Output from the

program will be strain or stress levels at various points on a bridge deck (both heated and unheated areas) at various times during heating and subsequent cooling. The

location of any areas of predicted cracking will also be

defined. The computer analysis will be checked by

analyzing two bridge decks that have been heated in order to achieve internally sealed concrete and by

comparing the computer predictions with cracking

actually observed.

Concrete Construction Technology Existing standards for concrete construction are nonuniform and ambiguous and are often the underlying

cause of needless increases in construction costs. This is

41
H. S. Lew due primarily to a lack of research data and information

(301) 921-2647 on concrete construction technology. Traditionally, Structures and Materials Division design and erection of formwork and other constructionrelated work have been based more on rule-of-thumb

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards procedures rather than on sound engineering principles.

Significant reduction of concrete building cost can be

achieved through increased rate of construction cycle

and repetitive use of formwork, as the cost of formwork

can be as much as 60 percent of the total concrete

construction. The rate at which concrete construction can progress is dependent largely on the rate of strength

and stiffness gain of concrete, and an accurate determination of construction load distribution between

the structure and the formwork.

The near-term objective of this project is to develop an

analytical model for predicting the capacity of single-post

shores representing typical field conditions. The model

will take into account out-of-plain, out-of-plumb, and

various load-eccentricity end-condition relationships. A

sensitivity study for each of these parameters will be

investigated. The results will help identify variables to be

considered for an experimental program to verify the

model. Using the results of the parameter studies,

laboratory tests will be planned and carried out to verify

the model. Technical information developed in this study

will be made available to both the ANSI A10.9 Standards Committee and ACI 347 Standards Committee

on Concrete Construction.

Fire Resistant Structural Design Fire resistance of structural components is currently

measured in terms of endurance time or temperature rise James R. Shaver in certain members or on unexposed surfaces by a

(301) 921-2186 standard ASTM El 19 fire test of the component. In Structures and Materials Division addition to being costly, these tests do not provide a basis for extrapolating to situations not covered by the limited

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards test data. Moreover, while the ASTM test is useful as a standard comparison tool, it only provides an indication

of how a component may perform in one particular kind

of fire. The use of one fire exposure curve fails to account for variations caused by the amount of

combustible materials, their composition, and

compartment ventilation. Under this project, CBT will develop computerized

analytical procedures that predict the behavior and fire endurance for reinforced concrete members and frames

subjected not only to the standard ASTM fire exposure

but also the exposures which are more representative of

fires that actually occur in buildings. The effect of

continuity and constraints imposed by unexposed

members on the fire endurance of reinforced concrete frames will be studied to determine which parameters are important in designing for a fire-resistant limit state and

to make tentative recommendations for improvements in

fire resistant design.

42
Building Safety

And

Security

43
Study of Construction Scaffolding

Systems

H. S. Lew

(301) 921-2647

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: National Institutes of

Occupational Safety and Health

Accidents on scaffolds and other elevated surfaces

result in a major portion of the construction injury losses. Many of these accidents occur on elevated surfaces involving scaffolding. Under this project, survey and

follow-up field investigations will identify critical scaffolding systems and their characteristics that are highly related to accidents. These critical systems will be

studied closely. Emphasis will be on establishing a profile

of typical scaffolding usage characteristics. The range of

loads acting on scaffolding will be established by

determining typical trends in loading from materials,

equipment, workers, etc. Then, analytical techniques will be developed to describe scaffolding behavior, including

failure modes. Safety criteria will be developed, which in turn will become the basis for future safety standards.

Measurement of Forces in Trench

Bracing

Felix Y. Yokel

(301) 921-2457

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: National Institutes of

Occupational Safety and Health

Many deaths and injuries result from the cave-in of

trenches and excavations (well over 100 fatal injuries and

many more nonfatal accidents annually). Lack of

knowledge of transient forces on trench bracings hamper

the engineering profession and hinder the development of

effective standards. Data on forces on shallow trench

bracing are urgently needed so that analytical methods to calculate forces can be developed. Under this project,

hydraulic shores installed as struts in trenches will be

used to measure the pressure on trench walls. The results will be published as an NBS report and used to update

the OSHA standard on excavation safety.

Analysis of the Willow Island Cooling

Tower Failure

H. S. Lew

(301) 921-2647

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: Occupational Health and Safety

Administration

CBT engineers are investigating the cause of the

natural-draft cooling tower failure during construction at Willow Island, West Virginia. Fifty-one workers died as a result of the failure. Construction of the concrete

tower, which is a thin shell of hyperboloid shape,

employed unique techniques and procedures. CBT

carried out field, laboratory, and analytical investigations

that were used to support OSHA's failure investigation

of the tower and will identify possible areas of

improvement in the present construction procedure that could ensure safety in the future construction of such

towers.

44
Effectiveness of Safety Symbols in the

Workplace

Belinda L. Collins

(301) 921-2237

Environmental Design Research Division

Sponsor: National Institutes of

Occupational Safety and Health

Safety symbols that are now proposed for use have

never been evaluated systematically for their understandability to workers in the built environment.

The lack of evaluation presents a great potential for serious error, misinformation, and possible danger. Yet

because symbols can provide a means of rapid and

effective communication that is "language free," they

offer the potential of being an effective means of

conveying urgent safety information; particularly for those who do not read English well. As a result, this project will help develop a comprehensive testing and

evaluation program to serve as the basis for criteria for

effective symbol use in and around the workplace.

Symbols Criteria and Standardization

Belinda L. Collins

(301) 921-2237

Environmental Design Research Divison

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

Symbols in widespread use have neither been

evaluated systematically for effectiveness nor designed in accordance with specified criteria. This presents a great

potential for error. Symbols are now being used that may

not be readily comprehensible or that may have

confusing or contradictory meanings. The problem is particularly acute for owners and operators of multibuilding complexes—hospitals, government centers

used by large numbers of new visitors. As a result,

designers, the graphic arts firms, and building safety

groups have identified an urgent need for a comprehensive testing and evaluation program to serve

as the basis for criteria for effective symbol use in and

around buildings. In this project, the literature on the use and evaluation

of symbols will be reviewed and a research plan

developed for testing the effectiveness of symbols such as the fire safety and worker safety symbols now proposed

for voluntary use by ISO, NFPA, and similar groups.

Sets of symbols will then be selected and evaluated to determine the usefulness of different research methods.

Researchers will share early results and exchange views

with the NFPA Committee on Fire Safety Symbols, and

with ISO. In addition, CBT will chair the ANSI

Committee Z535 Subcommittee on Symbols.

Criteria for Signs in Workplaces

Robert A. Glass

(301) 921-2670

Environmental Design Research Division

Sponsor: Occupational Safety and Health

Administration

Warnings and other safety-related information are frequently communicated through visual displays, both

within fixed workplaces and around temporary work

sites, indoors and outdoors. Safety-related visual displays are usually intended to serve two functions: alerting

personnel to the presence of some situation requiring

attention; and transmitting further information

concerning the nature of the special situation or the

action to be taken by the viewer. Requirements

addressing sign colors and legends are proliferating. In

general, there is a lack of experimental research to

45
support the criteria for these requirements. Moreover,

there are no formalized procedures for measuring

compliance with the requirements. This causes both

confusion and cynicism.

This project will address these problems through

literature searches and laboratory experiments. Results

from this research will bring OSHA's current standards on signs into agreement with the latest research findings

and with national and international agreements moving

towards a set of universal conventions for visual displays.

Door and Window Security

Demonstration

John S. Stroik

(301) 921-2107

Environmental Design Research Division

Sponsor: Department of Housing and

Urban Development

In an earlier project, the Center developed door and

window security standards for the Department of Justice. In this project, the standards are being field-tested in two

public housing sites. The field test is recording the actual performance of specific door and window components to measure just how well they survive actual break-in

attempts. The outcome of the project will be a set of

model specifications for bidding, installation, and main- tenance of door and window components and assemblies

built to door and window security standards for use by

local housing authorities. This year CBT will publish its survey of residences victimized by break-ins; a final report will detail recommendations to HUD.

Building Security

Technology: Symposium

John S. Stroik

(301) 921-2107

Environmental Design Research Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

This project covered the management of a national

symposium on security issues that attracted a wide range

of building managers, designers, and owners. Its outcome was a significant and comprehensive literature base from

which future security planning can benefit and to which

future symposia can add. Members of the symposium also included representatives of hardware manufacturers,

security planning consultants, and federal government.

The ASTM Executive Committee gave its full support

and assistance. This symposium was held in April 1979

and the final ASTM/NBS publication of its report will be issued this fall.

Mobile Home Egress

Sanford Adler

(301) 921-2574

Environmental Design Research Division

Sponsor: Department of Housing and

Urban Development

This project will provide a quantitative basis for modification of the egress requirements of the HUD

Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standards.

Interdisciplinary library and laboratory research will be

carried out in the areas of physical and behavioral

analysis of mobile home occupants, characteristics of

egress devices, performance test development, hazard

analysis, and economic impact. A summary report will document the technical basis of the recommended

performance goals and justify expanding the scope of the

standards. The report will include a proposed revision of

the egress requirements of the standards.

46
At present, the mobile home test facility has been

completed and human engineering tests with volunteer

subjects will begin this year. HUD will use the research

to make specific modifications to the Mobile Home

Construction and Safety Standards.

Mobile Home Egress:

Analysis

Economic

John S. McConnaughey

(301) 921-2308

Building Economics and Regulatory

Technology Division

This project covers the economic analysis component

of the egress study. Work now underway has identified the costs and benefits associated with the egress requirements of the current HUD Mobile Home

Construction and Safety Standard. Life-cycle, benefit- cost analysis has been performed for egress provision

changes being considered by the CBT research team.

Sponsor: Department of Housing and

Urban Development

Building Access/Egress Research

Planning

Fred I. Stahl

(301) 921-2627

Environmental Design Research Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

Frequently, building codes and standards are viewed

by designers as constraints to the building design process. As a result, minimum standards are often used as design

maxima. Moreover, life-safety features are often viewed

as "add-ons" rather than as elements of a logical system

integrated with the overall building design. To a large

degree, the structure of building code documents foster such conditions. In particular, no mechanisms exist that encourage designers to analyze the safety implications of

alternative designs while these are still at the conceptual

level. The purpose of this project, therefore, is to aid the

completion of BFIRES, a computer simulation tool that enables designers to evaluate alternative building designs on the basis of emergency egress criteria.

Risk Assessment The federal government is concerned with the safety

of its citizens in buildings, and therefore needs an explicit

Brian Pierman framework for specifying the levels of publically

(301) 921-2237 acceptable risk for different building types and for Environmental Design Research Division building-related activities. Especially the levels of risk associated with the use of building components need to Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards be critically assessed. The risk of using a stair, one of the

most hazardous consumer products, compared to an

elevator or an escalator must be evaluated in a systematic

fashion. In this project, the risk literature will be critically

evaluated to determine the current levels of risk now

tacitly assumed by building users, the levels of publicly

acceptable risk, and the possibilities for trade-offs among

different risk levels. In addition, methods now used by

the insurance industry and the regulatory community for determining and evaluating risks to users will be

examined. Methods for quantifying loss and gain, the

47
potential severity of a particular type of injury,

frequency of occurrence, the extent of exposure, and the

degree of choice as to exposure will be included. The

characteristics of different exposed populations and their expectations with regard to risk and its regulation will also be considered.

Walkway Slip-Resistance Standard Slips and falls, often associated with slippery surfaces, are the nation's second largest cause of accidental death. Sanford Adler The lack of a broadly applicable quantitative requirement

(301) 921-2574 for slip-resistance in existing codes and in voluntary

Environmental Design Research Division standards has been a factor in the selection of slippery

shoe materials, walkway materials, and maintenance

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards procedures. For instance, many building codes require

"slip-resistant" walkways, but none specifies how to measure the characteristic. This project will focus on

developing a model performance requirement for the

measurement of walkway surfaces. This year's activity

will focus on the development of standard reference

surfaces (to calibrate the various test devices available)

and on the development of a data base of measurements

of different floor materials in buildings of varying ages and subject to various maintenance regimes. Reports will be prepared summarizing the data collected on standard

reference surfaces for the calibration of slip-resistance

measuring devices.

Simulation of Human Behavior in Fires

Fred I. Stahl

(301) 921-2627

Environmental Design Research Divison

Sponsor: Public Health Service and

Department of Health, Education and

Welfare

Last year, a computer program that simulates human

behavior in building fires was prepared. The long-range

objective of this simulation was to provide a tool with

which building designers and code administrators could

better assess the life safety potential of both planned and

existing structures. This year, the project will continue

with two major improvements to the BFIRES program.

The first will enable BFIRES to simulate human

behavior in spaces infiltrated by migrating smoke and

flame; the second will enable BFIRES to simulate rescue

activities. These enhancements will make the computer

program more useful to the building design and

regulatory communities, since they will enable more

authentic simulation results under a wider range of

conditions.

48
Building

Rehabilitation

Technology

-

49
Rehabilitation Technology

James H. Pielert (301) 921-3146

Building Economics and Regulatory

Technology Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

Activities in this project are in three specific

areas: development of a technical evaluation manual for strength and stability; research to establish the technical

basis of building regulations; and formulation of a

rehabilitation research agenda. The technical manual will include test methods, methods of analysis to predict the

performance of existing buildings, field inspection and

evaluation methods, and data on outmoded systems. As

for the technical basis for regulations, research will be

carried out in selected areas to establish the justification for existing requirements affecting the reuse of buildings.

The research agenda will include identification of and

priority-setting among technological needs.

Preservation of St. Louis Courthouse

James R. Clifton

(301) 921-2630

Structures and Materials Divison

Sponsor: National Park Service

The old St. Louis Courthouse is one of the most

historic structures located west of the Mississippi River.

CBT is participating in a survey of the condition and

composition of the materials used in the Courthouse. The

first phase of the work was a field inspection of the court- house for the purpose of identifying material problems.

Samples of brick, mortar, and paint were selected and

analyzed. Based on the field inspection and laboratory

work, recommendations were developed to assist the

NPS in the preservation of the Courthouse. This year the

project will help the NPS put these recommendations

into use and will help generalize the suggestions for application to other historic buildings.

Structural Preservation of National

Historic Monuments

Charles W. C. Yancey

(301) 921-2137

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: National Park Service

The National Park Service has requested that CBT

provide assistance in identifying major structural problems that may exist in several historic monuments

and advise NPS on the feasibility of various methods of

structural repair that are compatible with NPS

restoration guidelines. Investigations will be conducted

to determine adequacy of the buildings to resist wind and

seismic loads. Analytical studies based on existing data

and additional data collected by NPS will result in recommendations for repairs.

Assessment of Building Rehabilitation

Regulations and Processes

Patrick W. Cooke

(301) 921-2776

Building Economics and Regulatory

Technology Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

Under this project, a 1978 study of the regulatory

processes in the 30 largest cities in the United States and

a separate study of model building code organizations

and selected State agencies will be used to develop a model enforcement process for existing buildings. Such a system would typically include: model forms for design

submittals, regulatory review, and compliance

inspections in the field; preconstruction meetings of owner, designer and building official; interaction between

affected governmental agencies; appeal mechanisms; and

availablility of technical resources. The model process

will be demonstrated on a pilot basis in cooperation with

a mix of local governmental jurisdictions that face

50
different types of rehabilitation activity. The outcome of

this project will be a report outlining the model regulatory process for existing buildings and its rationale,

which would be available for voluntary use by state and

local jurisdictions.

Cost Estimates and Cost Variability in Between 1972 and 1976 the median costs of new singleRehabilitation family housing increased at an annual rate of 12-1/2

percent. Such rapidly rising prices have forced many

Robert E. Chapman prospective homeowners to look elsewhere to satisfy

(301) 921-2278 their housing demands. This trend is likely to continue

Building Economics and Regulatory over the next ten years. Current forecasts indicate that Technology Division between 22 and 30 million additional housing units will be needed by 1988. A significant increase in the number

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards °f housin§

u"its being rehabilitated is therefore likely.

Since costs play a vital role in all investment decisions,

any significant change in current housing investment

trends calls for a reduction in the uncertainty associated

with the extreme cost variability of residential

rehabilitation. Under this project, CBT analysts will review published

material in the fields of investment theory, real estate appraisal, and cost estimation. Specific articles and case

studies dealing with rehabilitation costs will be examined.

Economists will then contact the publishers of the cost- estimation guides and professional cost engineers to determine the appropriateness of their assumptions when

applied to residential rehabilitation. Based on these

discussions and economic theory, building components in which cost variability is expected to be high will be

identified. The type and nature of empirical data needed

to reduce this cost variability will then be identified.

Statistical and econometric techniques will be identified that will enable the expected range of cost variation to be

predicted. Emphasis will be placed on those procedures

which deal explicitly with risk.

CBT will perform tasks for a wide variety of HUD

research needs throughout fiscal year 1979. Each task

will be performed within certain prescribed time limits and will cover such areas as: (1) durability testing and

criteria, (2) hazard determination, and (3) building

technology assessments. Specific tasks may encompass

such examples as air infiltration and thermographic

measurements, site surveys to uncover pesticide leakage

from treated structures, cost studies of insulation and

storm windows, mobile-home heat loss, and sand-bag

tests of single-layer floor systems; such were the studies

completed in the recent past. CBT's involvement in this work is a continuation of its traditional role of support to other government agencies. The unique characteristic of

this project is that it will give both HUD and CBT the

capability of responding quickly to those day-to-day

problems that require immediate technical attention and

action.

HUD Studies

Thomas K. Faison

(301) 921-3146

Building Economics and Regulatory

Technology Division

Sponsor: Department of Housing and

Urban Development

51

Building And

Community

Acoustics

53
Highway Noise Criteria

Simone L. Yaniv

(301) 921-3784

Environmental Design Research Division

Sponsor: Federal Highway

Administration

Noise from highways and urban traffic has been shown

to be a serious source of annoyance to the public. Many

government agencies, including the Federal Highway

Administration, are trying to solve the problem. The

FHWA is responsible for highway design noise standards

for federal-aid highway projects. FHWA seeks to reevaluate its interim noise standards and procedures,

incorporating considerations of human response to timevarying rather than steady-state noise. CBT has been

contracted to provide FHWA with a data base on the

human response to time-varying traffic noise necessary

for this reevaluation.

CBT has analyzed the time histories and spectra of

traffic noise from different traffic situations and has data on how traffic sounds are received in a building.

Laboratory investigations are planned on the human

response to the time-varying noises. From analysis of

these experiments and in conjunction with the analysis

done on the physical data base, it will be possible to evaluate existing rating schemes and, if necessary, develop an improved rating procedure. A questionnaire

and measurement plan will be developed to assess occupant reactions to highway noise based on the key

parameters.

Building and Community Acoustics Accoustical treatment and noise management, if not made at the early stages of basic design, add significantly

Simone L. Yaniv to the cost of new developments. Corrective measures

(301) 921-3784 are extremely costly. These measures are taken because

Environmental Design Research Division of the effects of inferior acoustic performance on

occupant satisfaction and worker productivity. These

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards costs can be significantly lowered and even offset by

savings if decisions about zoning, airport extensions,

highway construction, and building design are made with

regard to acoustical considerations. For example, the

FAA estimates that soundproofing schools and health

facilities in existing buildings in areas impacted by

aircraft noise would cost the nation over $200 million but

would result in energy savings of over $1.7 million and

savings in teacher time of over $3 million annually. Real

estate marketers are finding that the acoustic

environment and noise management are important sales incentives and the design profession is under public pressure to bring about improvements in the acoustical

environment through building and site planning. Work in

this project will concentrate on three specific

areas: human response, building acoustics, and sound

propagation in urban areas. For each of these areas, emphasis will be on developing criteria, characterization

methods, and predictive models with the aim of

improving in situ performance and usefulness.

54

»
Transmission Line Audible Noise

Measurement

John A. Molino

(301) 921-3783

Environmental Design Research Division

Sponsor: Department of Energy

The most economical means for long-distance

transport of electric energy is the overhead, high-voltage

electric transmission line. Increases in transmission

efficiency are achieved by increases in operating

voltages. However, one of the major factors limiting the

development of new ultra-high-voltage technologies is the audible (corona) noise produced by these lines under

certain conditions. To manage this noise and to avoid

costly retrofit measures, the project will obtain

psychoacoustic data for land-use planning in the vicinity

of power lines, and for construction planning for nearby

building sites. Corona noise samples for different weather conditions

and from different transmission lines will be recorded

with a remote tape recording system. In the laboratory

these recordings will be processed along with recordings

of other environmental sounds into stimulus tapes. These

tapes will then be evaluated by listeners under realistic conditions approximating natural built environments. The

effect of the building shell on the listener's response to corona noise will also be determined. On the basis of

people's responses, criteria will be developed for characterizing the acoustic environment near

transmission lines in terms that are relevant to human

response, so that decisions about land use planning,

building design, and construction may be based on users' needs.

55

Building Materials

and

Composites

Performance

57
Modeling of Concrete Performance

James R. Clifton

(301) 921-2630

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

Portland cement concrete is the most widely used

building material in the U.S. About 700 million tons are used annually. However, the selection of materials for use in concrete is largely empirical. Conservation of

energy and materials is prompting the substitution of

blended cements for portland cements and the use of

waste materials as constituents of concrete. To ensure

that material substitutions do not cause unnecessary risks, a better basis for predicting the performance of concrete

is needed.

Under this project, a conceptual model and computer

program for modeling the hardening of cement will be

developed. Beginning with the mixing of cement with

water, the course of the chemical reactions taking place

will be modeled and used to predict setting, strength

development, heat evolution, and volume change. The

validity of the model will be checked against laboratory

data for single cement compounds and against data for portland cements. The composition of the liquid within

the pores of hardened cement will be used to predict the

potential of different cements for deleterious reactions

with aggregates in concrete. Finally, the model will be

applied to prediction of the early-age strength

development of concrete at different temperatures. This

year the project will publish two reports: one will review mathematical models for the hardening of cement; and the other will cover a mathematical model

for hydration of tricalcium silicate.

Corrosion of Steel in Prestressed

Concrete

James R. Clifton

(301) 921-2630

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: State Department

This is a cooperative project between CBT and the

Laboratorio Central de Ensayo de Materials des

Construccion (Madrid) on the factors affecting the

corrosion of steel in prestressed concrete structures. Because the use of prestressed concrete is growing

rapidly, it is important that the corrosion of prestressing

steels should be well understood and methods for detecting the corrosion developed. The major causes of

corrosion failure of steels in prestressed concrete will be

identified, both in Spain and the U.S. The Spanish

laboratory will investigate the microstructural features of

prestressing steels that affect their susceptibility to corrosion. In addition, in collaboration with CBT, the

effects of the physicochemical properties of concrete on

prestressed steel will be determined. CBT will identify or develop nondestructive test methods to detect and to quantify the corrosion of steel in prestressed concrete.

58
Corrosion-Preventive Coatings

Paul G. Campbell

(301) 921-3114

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: U.S. Air Force

Inadequate performance of coatings on steel is costing

the Air Force more than $50 million per year. Most of

their steel facilities must be recoated every 3 to 5 years

despite the fact that modern industrial coating practices

should give 10 to 20 years of useful life. CBT's approach to this subject is in three

phases: field surveys, laboratory studies, and the

development of a guide specification. Initially, an

informational questionnaire was sent to all Air Force

bases requesting their coating failure experience. This was followed by selected onsite inspections. The

laboratory phase began with a survey of candidate

coatings, application procedures, and surface preparation

methods. Based upon the laboratory and field tests, a guide specification will be developed for an effective

corrosion-preventive system. Results of this work will be

distributed to researchers, manufacturers, consumers,

contractors, and Federal, state, and local agencies.

Publications in the open literature, specifications, and

talks at professional and technical meetings will follow

the completion of this study.

Effect of Temperature and Humidity Urea-formaldehyde-based foam insulations are being on UF Foams used in greater quantities in the United States in both new and existing housing. In reviewing the performance

Walter J. Rossiter, Jr. of these insulations, CBT identified potential problems

(301) 921-3109 involved in their use including low resistance to a Structures and Materials Division combination of high temperature and high humidity.

Based on preliminary laboratory tests, CBT

Sponsor: Tri-Services Committee recommended that, until further data are available, urea- formaldehyde-based foams should not be applied in areas such as attics that may be subjected to prolonged periods

of high temperature and humidity.

Under this project, foam specimens will be exposed to various conditions of temperature and humidity in environmental cabinets. Their performance during

exposure will be evaluated by observing changes in physical properties such as appearance, weight, and

dimensions. Exposure conditions will be chosen to be

comparable to those expected during service in geographic locations subject to prolonged periods of

high temperature and humidity. The resistance of foams

to high temperature and humidity will be investigated

using analytical techniques such as thermal mechanical

analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and gas chromatographic analysis of decomposition products.

The results of these analytical investigations will be

compared with the performance of foams exposed in environmental cabinets. Changes in cellular structure of

foams caused by exposure to temperature and humidity

will be investigated using photomicroscopy.

59
Properties of Elastomeric Roofing

Membranes

Robert G. Mathey

(301) 921-2629

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: Department of Defense

From a recently completed study, NBS TN 972,

Elastomeric Roofing: A Survey, it was noted that data are not available on the properties of elastomeric membranes

with regard to exposure conditions and aging. It is believed that some elastomeric roofing membranes will exhibit a change in properties when subjected to various

exposure conditions and with age. As an example, the

level of performance with regard to the weather

resistance of elastomeric membranes has not been

established. Some factors included in weather resistance are accelerated aging, natural aging, brittleness,

dimensional stability, heat aging, ozone resistance,

pollutants, volatile loss, loss of plasticizer, and the effects of moisture and temperature. Some membranes may

become brittle under cold conditions and have less resistance to tension, impact, and punching shear forces. Aging may appreciably reduce some properties of

membranes, particularly when combined with cold

environmental conditions. Sustained stress may also reduce the membrane's ability to perform satisfactorily over its intended service life. Because of economic

conditions and materials availability the use of

elastomeric roofing systems has increased considerably over the last few years. This project will develop

information that can be used as a basis for standards and

specifications to predict the performance of these

systems.

NDE of Moisture in Roofs

Lawrence I. Knab

(301) 921-2885

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: U.S. Air Force

Early detection of moisture in roofing is needed if deterioration is to be prevented. However, the usual

methods of inspection for moisture are slow, costly,

require cutting samples from the roof, and seldom

provide conclusive results. The best hope for improvement of inspection procedures and improvement

of roofing maintenance programs is through

nondestructive evaluation (NDE) that will permit

reliable identification of wet areas of insulation and

membrane.

Under this project, the moisture contents of

laboratory-prepared and controlled roofing systems will be determined with nondestructive techniques and

compared with the results of moisture determinations

made by gravimetric measurements. The moisture

contents of different types of roofing systems will be

determined using various nondestructive evaluation

techniques such as nuclear radiation, electrical capacitance, electrical resistivity, microwave, infrared

photography, and infrared thermography.

60
Performance Of Roofing Two billion dollars are spent annually on the repair

and replacement of waterproofing membranes on lowRobert G. Mathey slope roofs. Unsatisfactory performance of roofing

(301) 921-2629 membranes is attributed to many factors, including

Structures and Materials Division inadequate resistance to wind-uplift forces and splitting

caused by excessive stresses in the membrane. ASTM

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards and others (roofing contractors, architects, building

maintenance personnel, building owners, and materials

producers) consider it urgent that action be taken to develop a standard test method to minimize losses from

uplift forces caused by wind.

Under this project, the thermal shock factor, an

expression for estimating the resistance of membranes to

splitting because of a sudden drop in temperature, will be

revised to incorporate a term dealing with membrane

extensibility. Available experimental data will be

analyzed and used to ascertain the validity of the new

mathematical model containing the extensibility term. As

part of an ASTM activity under CBT leadership, two

major laboratories have conducted tests to measure uplift

resistance of comparable roofing systems. A third

laboratory will conduct tests to obtain additional data to

select and develop a standard method of test. CBT will draft the proposed standard method of test for submission

to ASTM.

Two other reports, dealing with the factors influencing

bitumen temperatures during construction of built-up

roofing membranes and the mechanical properties of

built-up membranes, will be published. Performance tests and criteria for roofing systems will be obtained from

other countries and summarized in a report to RILEM

Committee 31 -PCM on Performance Criteria for Building Materials.

Durability Of Coatings for Steel Protective coatings for the steel and wood used in buildings cost 4.5 billion dollars each year. One way to Larry W. Masters reduce the costs of painting steel structures involves

(301) 921-3458 increasing the painting cycle but this is hampered by the Structures and Materials Division j ack Qf reliable methods for predicting long-term

performance. New and improved methods for evaluating

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards the durability and protective qualities of coatings for

steel are urgently needed if the new cost-effective

coatings are to be recognized.

Under this project, the ASTM Methodology for Durability Prediction, developed by CBT, will be

adapted to coatings for steel. A Technical Note was

published describing the application of the methodology

for the prediction of the durability of coatings for steel. Laboratory research is being performed that will result in improved understanding of adhesion of coatings, and to improved testing procedures. Recommendations will be

sent to ASTM on methods to test the durability of steel coatings.

61
Roofing and Coating Research for the

Army

Robert G. Mathey

(301) 921-2629

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: U.S. Army

U.S. Army buildings vary widely in construction type

and are located in many geographic and climatic areas. Since roofing and coatings have been the source of many

of the Army's maintenance problems, this project offers an opportunity to apply laboratory research studies and

practical field experience to the solution of special

problems. Recommendations will be made about the

selection of materials and application methods. The

solution to these problems will also benefit other

governmental agencies and the private sector by

eliminating or reducing unanticipated early roofing and

coating failures.

White House Painting Study The White House has been painted many times since

the early 1 800's. Since paint failures have been a Paul G. Campbell continuing problem, this may be related to the following

(301) 921-31 14 factors: the architectural design of the building, Structures and Materials Division sandstone substrate, moisture infiltration, and adhesion

problems related to the old paint layers. Data concerning

Sponsor: Department of Interior this unique building are needed to provide an optimal

approach to decisions concerning surface preparation,

types of coatings, painting cycle, application methods,

and the need for minimum disruption of the activities of

the White House.

The project initially included critical analyses of the

historical records concerning painting practices and

resulting difficulties. The literature was searched for information on the types of potentially useful coatings,

recommended surface preparation, and application

procedures. Laboratory tests, e.g., adhesion, moisture

retention, and color retention, have been made on a sandstone substrate and, based upon the results, field tests on selected areas of the White House are being

conducted.

Based upon laboratory and field investigations, a guide

specification will be developed for painting the White

House. This specification will be part of a final report

that will also contain detailed material requirements,

project accomplishments, and recommendations for interim activities before the optimal program begins. The

results will also be applicable to the maintenance of other

historic buildings.

Organic Coatings

Paul G. Campbell

(301) 921-3114

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: Tri-Services Committee

The annual costs of organic coatings in the U.S. exceed $8 billion. Maintenance costs alone would be

significantly reduced if better systems, including surface

preparation, were available. In developing test methods

and specifications, this project contributes directly to the

improvement of the coatings technology used by the

military and also contributes to improvement of the

62
nation's coatings technology through publications, specifications, and participation in ASTM activities. Field tests are being monitored to evaluate the

performance of the new coating systems. In each case, the results obtained from a range of commercially

available materials will be used as the basis for federal or

military specifications. The Tri-Service Committee's

Paints and Protective Coatings Manual will undergo

revision and will include sections on legislative restrictions on paint components, surface preparations,

and a matrix table on paint compatibilities. Also, advisory

and consultative services, based upon laboratory and

field tests, will be performed. Reports will be published on a military specification for high performance flat latex, specifications for one-package latex block fillers, and specifications for a heat-resistant coating for steel.

United States-Canada Project for

Monitoring Exposure Conditions

Larry W. Masters

(301) 921-3458

Structures and Materials Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

Reliable evaluation of the performance and durability

of new materials is important to the advancement of

building technology. Although laboratory and natural

exposures are used in evaluating the performance of

materials, no generally satisfactory relationships between

the effects of different exposure conditions have been

developed. Better monitoring of exposure conditions is essential to improvement of durability technology, but

electronic instruments cannot be used at remote outdoor

exposure sites because of the maintenance required. An

alternate approach to measuring the intensity of solar radiation to which test samples are exposed involves the use of light-sensitive plastics. This approach is being

studied jointly by CBT and the Canadian National

Research Council.

In this project, CBT has identified candidate materials

and checked their linearity of response to radiation in the

laboratory. The sensitivity of the materials to factors other than sunlight is also being determined. Candidate

materials are being exposed at CBT and NRC sites and

calibrated against instrumental measurements of total and

UV radiation. This year's products include a report on

the U.S./Canadian study of plastic materials as monitors

of solar radiation with recommendations for stan- dardization of materials and measurements. Recommended ASTM and ISO standards for radiation

monitoring using plastic materials will also be published.

63

Building Service

Systems

Performance

65
Electrical Distribution Systems

Protection

Robert W. Beausoliel

(301) 921-3454

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

NFPA fire statistics indicate that electrical failures cause the largest number of building fires. Annually,

about 100,000 fires are attributed to building electrical systems and 60,000 additional result from motors and

appliances. CBT laboratory results demonstrate that common overcurrent protection devices do not provide

adequate protection against fire during short-circuits. This project will approach this problem through a study

of short-circuit phenomena under the range of conditions

common in residential wiring. Performance criteria for

fire protection requirements of overcurrent protection

devices will then be developed. The potential of microprocessors to perform safety functions by recognizing the

characteristic signals of short-circuits will also be

explored.

Innovative Electrical Wiring

William J. Meese

(301) 921-3661

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Housing and

Urban Development

Restrictions on the use of nonmetallic-sheathed cable in the National Electrical Code and other codes and

standards are alleged to result in unnecessarily high costs of electrical wiring systems. Also, technological progress

is alleged to be unduly hindered because innovative

electrical wiring systems cannot be used in building

construction until certain performance criteria have been

met. Because of the very serious hazards presented by

electrical wiring systems, changes in codes and standards

should be made only when justified with adequate

technical data. Fire-starting mechanisms and electric shock are being characterized with appropriate electrical and thermal measures. After developing a basic

understanding of the technical parameters involved,

performance criteria and test methods will be developed.

Based on the results of this research, changes in the

National Electrical Code and changes to other codes and

standards will be proposed. Data and information will be

provided to groups such as NCSBCS, IEEE, NEMA,

and ANSI.

Air and Smoke Migration in Buildings

Tamami Kusuda

(301) 921-3501

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

A major cause of fire casualties is smoke inhalation by

building occupants. Analytical procedures for predicting

smoke migration as a function of building construction,

HVAC system operations, climatic factors, and

occupancy schedules are sorely needed. This project will attempt to fill this analytical gap, providing a computer

program that can be used to study air and smoke motion

through interior doors, staircases, and HVAC ducts. This

year the project will develop a comprehensive algorithm

suitable for the simultaneous solution of heat, air, and

smoke transfer equations. Several other novel computing

schemes are also to be studied.

66
Plumbing Systems Measurement and

Design Methods

Paul Kopetka

(301) 921-2136

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

The plumbing community has identified the need for revision of storm drainage systems design criteria as a

result of new weather-load data. Present storm drainage

systems are thought to be oversized and wasteful of

piping materials. Likewise, the VA has asked CBT to provide assistance for its hospital plumbing systems

studies with emphasis on reduced size venting (RSV).

The study of the dynamics of RSV requires a sophisticated testing environment and measurement capability

that can only be satisfied by the CBT Plumbing Research

Laboratory.

A flow-visualization inlet tank and flow control

provides for tests with a variety of pipe sizes, entrance

configurations, and vortex strengths. The microcomputer

will interface directly with the storm drain data

collection, and data reduction activities. The CBT minicomputer will continue to provide support with graphic

interpretation of reduced data. State-of-the-art instru- mentation, including the laser anemometer and

microcomputer, for determining capacity and falling-film

velocity in stacks will be applied. Straight stack tests for 50 mm and 100 mm (2 and 4 in.) pipe sizes will be

completed and turning offset sections will also be

studied. Dynamic measurement capabilities to monitor

hydraulic tests of VA plumbing installations and the long-run header/ stack tests will be continued and header

bend tests begun.

Service Systems Demand Modeling

Richard A. Grot

(301) 921-3470

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

Using waste water and reject heat can lead to a

significant reduction in the energy and water requirements in buildings. Products are currently being

introduced to recover this heat from air conditioners,

waste water, and heating system flues. But the evaluation

of these products and methods requires service system

demand models. Under this project, operational models,

under household usage, of air conditioners and

refrigerators will be developed. Use of waste heat by

several types of heat recovery devices will be studied

using the field data from the Twin Rivers Appliance

Studies, the Andrews AFB water and water-heater study,

and the building satellite loads of the Total Energy

Project at Jersey City. A parametric study of the design

factors for several heat recovery devices will then be

undertaken. The results of all this, computer programs

and data sets for evaluting heat-recovery systems, will be

published as NBS reports.

67
Performance of Water Conserving

Devices

Lawrence S. Galowin

(301) 921-3293

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Housing and

Urban Development

Today, many methods and devices for reducing water

use are being recommended and promulgated by local and state regulatory bodies without a technical basis for

their performance requirements. Because of this problem,

CBT is designing a set of test methods for such devices

and is determining a rating method from these test results to supply designers, contractors, inspectors, and building

regulatory officials with economically efficient guidelines

and criteria. Both user acceptance of water reduction and

sanitary requirements for public health are at stake. Especially important will be studies of water transport of

wastes in partially filled drainage pipes.

VA Hospital Plumbing Criteria

Paul Kopetka

(301) 921-2136

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Veterans Administration

In this project, full-scale vent stack and header tests will be instrumented in the Plumbing Research

Laboratory with high-speed data acquisition components

coupled to the CBT minicomputer. Dynamic

measurements of pneumatic parameters will provide

reduced size venting (RSV) and vent header design data. Larger header bend configurations will be tested to determine limit design conditions of flow circulation

exchange, pressure losses, and friction drop. The result of

this will be methods of measurement and control of

RSV/Header Testing. Data will be collected and

analyzed for design and recommendation reports to the

VA on variable RSV, vent header limits, vent header

return bends, and mechanical vents. The results will also be made available to the model code groups and to the

ANSI A40 Committee for National Plumbing Code

Revision. Selected portions will be prepared as technical

papers to the American Society of Plumbing Engineers

and to journals. Overall, incorporation of RSV systems

in Veterans Administration hospitals could result in large

cost savings within two years.

Underground Heat Distribution Systems

Tamami Kusuda

(301) 921-3501

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: Department of Defense and Tri- Services Committee

Although underground heat distribution systems are often considered in the energy conservation plans of

communities, many of the existing systems have been

failing due to ground water seeping into the system and

the rupture of the carrier pipes. Under this project, a prototype testing facility will be constructed for evaluating the pipe heat loss while ground water is allowed to enter under laboratory conditions.

Underground heat distribution systems of selected categories and types will be tested to validate the Tri- Services test criteria.

68
Environmental

Design

Technology
Task Lighting Criteria Designers increasingly question the validity of the current North American recommendations for levels of

Gary T. Yonemura illumination. CBT studies indicate that the experimental

(301) 921-2680 basis for the current determination may be invalid for Environmental Design Research Division many of the tasks encountered in practice. Preliminary

studies conducted with gratings at CBT indicate that Sponsor: Department of Energy when visual performance is measured by equality of

contrast, the function obtained (contrast plotted against

luminance) is different from that obtained when the

visual task is detection. Follow-up studies conducted

with real-life tasks and alphabets gave functions similar to those obtained with gratings. The psychophysical

quantification of the functions will be accomplished by

using a fluorescent system with reproductions of the

NBS Microcopy Test Chart as the stimulus. The data

currently available are serving as the basis for a paper

describing the laboratory research approach and

applications to lighting design. But the major product of

this project will be the development of a more realistic basis for the development of lighting energy criteria for

buildings.

Illumination Measurements and Criteria

A. Ted Hattenburg

(301) 921-3454

Building Thermal and Service Systems

Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

The building illumination community is engaged in a major controversy over the optimum design of lighting

systems versus the national need to conserve energy. The

basis for today's illumination levels is being seriously

challenged, and often rejected, by practitioners in the

field, but no sound methodology is available to replace it. A key element required is the provision of precise, valid

physical measurement techniques, widely accepted in the

field, to provide the foundation for vision research, guide

systems design, and evaluate the effectiveness of installed systems. This project will approach the problem through

a physical measurement laboratory, where precise

physical measurements can be developed under

controlled conditions. This facility will also enable bi- directional reflectance to be measured for a variety of

standard tasks. Another product of the work will be a set of reproducible standard targets, available for wide use in the field.

Visual Environment

Gary T. Yonemura

(301) 921-2680

Environmental Design Research Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

This project deals with establishing an empirical basis for recommending levels of illumination for visual task performance. The study recognizes that two lighting

systems flooding the same task surface with identical levels of luminuous flux can differ significantly in the

effectiveness of the light for task performance. The

difference is dependent on the placement and design of

the luminaires. To study these areas, work is proceeding on developing a reference lighting system from which

the relative performance of lighting systems can be

obtained, a standard task that is representative of

commonly encountered tasks, and instrumentation to

70
measure contrast rendition. Such an instrument, called a

visibility meter, will be designed and constructed this year; it will become an important part of this continuing

research. Researchers are also looking into some of the

basic concepts involved in the prediction of contrast. To

this end a program to simplify calculation and understand

contrast rendition has begun.

Visual Techniques in NDE Much is known about visual processes, per se, but the

visual conditions, techniques and information capacity

Gary T. Yonemura required of the observer, as specifically related to NDE,

(301) 921-2680 are not firmly established. Field observations and

Environmental Design Research Division interviews with NDE experts to identify the visual

information parameters associated with typical NDE sites Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards and tasks wil1 be conducted. In this project for NBS's

National Measurement Laboratory, microphotometric

and microdensitometric measurements will be made of

NDE tasks encountered in practice. The quantitative

descriptions of defect parameters will serve as the base

from which visual standards and methodology to assess and calibrate the "eye" will be derived.

Color and Appearance The long-range objective of this project is the

continued development and application of color science

Gerald L. Howett ancj technology with the aim of optimizing the use of

(301) 921-2670 color in the promotion of safety, communication, visual

Environmental Design Research Division performance and comfort, and esthetic satisfaction. Current emphasis is directed toward safety.

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards A major task this year will be the study of the

conspicuity of warning lights, such as might be used for emergency signals in and around buildings. The idea is to permit any signal light to be given a numerical rating on

a common, standardized scale that represents people's

reactions. Ultimately, performance specifications for such

lights could be expressed simply as a minimum rating on

this conspicuity also begin on an experiment to assess color contrast as a function of field size. The experiment

will be an instrumental, continuously variable

generalization of a study done with fixed paper samples

by Judd and Yonemura. Output of this project will be a

report describing the methodology of the experiment for the quantitative scaling of the conspicuity of lights, as well as the experimental findings for the dependence of

conspicuity on luminosity, flash rate, and their interaction. Two publications based on work from earlier years are planned: a book chapter on specification and

designation of color and a paper on formulas for predicting the equivalent luminance of colored lights

(i.e., the luminance of an equally bright white light).
Site Development Current site development practices result in high costs while failing to ensure high-quality performance in a Edward A. Arens number of critical areas. HUD and others have singled

(301) 921-3595 out site development costs as the fastest growing segment

Environmental Design Research Division of housing costs and the segment with the greatest

potential for cost reductions. At the same time, most

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards existing site regulations lack substantiating

documentation and do not effectively promote energy

efficiency, building security, or even occupant and

pedestrian safety. Potential for improvement in voluntary

design practices and in regulations is suggested by recent research on building security, consumer acceptance, and

pedestrian safety. Substantial improvement in energy

conservation is demonstrated by the success of recent innovative amendments to zoning ordinances in Davis,

CA, in which passive solar design principles are incorporated into subdivision requirements.

This project is developing an overview report on

current U.S. site development regulation, its effectiveness

and its costs, and the institutions involved with it. Issues

are: the types of site regulation in effect, their extent and the nature of their mandates; the physical

characteristics of building sites addressed by regulation,

the purposes of regulation, and the range of prescribed

values found in codes; institutions involved in site regulation and mechanisms by which regulations are modified; and impacts of current site regulation on

building costs, both the process costs (primarily due to delay) and compliance costs (building measures to meet

the regulations). The report will be used in planning NBS

research on site development.

Design Technology Development

Fred Stahl

(301) 921-2627

Environmental Design Research Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

The purposes of this project are to consider: (1) information networks in the design professions, (2) the

role of the Environmental Design Research Division

(EDRD) in serving the design professions through

research activities, and (3) the challenge of matching the

multidisciplinary capabilities of the problems. The

approach to dealing with these issues involves a series of

roundtable discussions designed to contribute to the

EDRD's short and long range planning.

Building Circulation

George Turner

(301) 921-2102

Environmental Design Research Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

Pedestrian circulation is a critical factor in the design

of buildings. The location and association of spaces in buildings determine the pattern and characteristics of

pedestrian circulation and therefore have a direct effect on the building's economy. This project will: 1) analyze

pedestrian movement characteristics on building ramps

and relate the findings to pedestrian movement characteristics on such as stairs and corridors; and 2) develop a conceptual framework that both classifies and defines the

elements of pedestrian circulation in buildings. Later

phases of the project will characterize frequently

72
encountered circulation problems, and develop models of

pedestrian circulation.

Interior Space Criteria

Stephen Margulis

(301) 921-2102

Environmental Design Research Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

Energy conserving illumination and daylighting

schemes, new designs in office furnishings, and the

proliferation of the "open plan" office layouts are all challenges to the interior space planner. Under this project, a literature review of office planning will be a

basis for determining how space planning criteria are developed and used in office design. A conceptual

framework, consistent with environment/behavior

research, will be prepared to help develop or make

explicit space planning criteria and to rationalize office evaluation studies. A pilot study of a space planning

concept is underway to assess the feasibility of the

proposed approach. There will be interviews with the

General Services Administration and other federal staff involved with space planning and with officials of

professional societies of space planners: American

Society of Interior Designers and Institute of Business

Designers.

Post-Occupancy Evaluation Techniques

Arthur I. Rubin

(301) 921-2177

Environmental Design Research Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

Many buildings today do not appropriately serve their intended functions. While ad hoc studies of postoccupancy evaluation are performed, no systematic

approach exists at present to evaluate buildings. As a

result, the present state-of-the-art dealing with this subject

is inadequate, being little better than it was decades ago. The improvement of building design requires a better understanding of design factors that do and do not work,

and the development of a standardized evaluation

procedure (linked to the design process). This project

will undertake a review of research procedures and

studies concerned with the evaluation of buildings. Field

studies of buildings will be conducted to develop, test, and improve a model of post-occupancy evaluation. The

model will focus on the influence of design decisions on

the functional adequacy of buildings from the standpoint

of occupant activities.

Design and Construction Technology

Application Program

Porter Driscoll

(301) 921-3106

Center for Building Technology

Headquarters

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

The objective of this program is to improve building

design and construction practices by identifying

researchable problems in cooperation with those who

design and build buildings, by assisting in the formulation

of responsive research projects and programs, by

delivering usable technical information to the building

design and construction communities, by participating in cooperative technology application demonstrations, and

by evaluating the impact of new technology. The

approach is based on close interaction with the design

and construction communities directly and through their professional and trade organizations.

73
Design and construction community input will be

provided to research project leaders for the precise

definition of the problems to be answered and as a continuing resource during the research. Research

findings and other technical information will be

converted as necessary into forms usable by the design

and construction communities. Last year, project results

in acoustics, windows and energy, design economics,

architects' access to information, and home safety were

presented in several media. These and other forums will be used again this year to bring researchers and

practitioners to a common awareness of building

problems and the tools needed, or at hand, to solve them.

Federal Building Technology

Noel J. Raufaste

(301) 921-3106

Center for Building Technology

Headquarters

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

This project assists CBT in performing its mission to increase the usefulness, safety, and economy of buildings

by disseminating research findings to the federal agencies, building owners, designers, builders, users, and

others in the building community. This project also contributes to assessing the technical trends, needs, and

concerns of the building community and determining the

kind of technical information that is needed from CBT.

During this year, this project will publish technical

material on CBT's research activities to notify building

community users about ongoing and completed research,

conduct workshops and seminars on building science and

technology, and complete the design and installation of a

centralized computer facility to improve data analysis in the CBT laboratories.

Services to the Federal Construction

Council

Harry Thompson

(301) 921-3375

Center for Building Technology

Headquarters

Sponsor: Several Federal Agencies

The Federal Construction Council (FCC) is a special

element of the Building Research Advisory Board,

Commission of Sociotechnical Systems, National

Research Council. Its purpose is to foster continuing

cooperation among the Federal Construction agencies in advancing science and technology as related to design,

construction, and operation of Federal facilities. Under

this project, CBT will contribute to the FCC Newsletter,

Transactions of the Federal Construction Council, Federal

Construction Guide Specifications, and a number of

administrative reports.

74
Building

Economics
Techniques for Economic Evaluation

Harold E. Marshall

(301) 921-3701

Building Economics and Regulatory

Technology Division

Sponsor: National Bureau of Standards

Because of the rising costs of building materials, the

increasing cost of construction due to safety and

environmental requirements, and the rising costs of clean

water and fuels, the building community continues to need more sophisticated economic tools for evaluating

alternative building technologies and financing

mechanisms to help provide affordable buildings. The

aim of this project is to foster the use of benefit-cost tech- niques in building design evaluations. Among other

studies this year, CBT economics research will support

the development of an ASTM standard. A life-cycle cost

guide, in condensed form, will be published in Architectural Graphic Standards. Reports will also be

published on rehabilitation and fire, incorporating

simulations and econometric models.

Solid Waste Cost-Allocation Methods

Stephen F. Weber

(301) 921-2308

Building Economics and Regulatory

Technology Division

Sponsor:

Agency

Environmental Protection

Currently, the municipal taxes or private fees paid by

an individual household or building occupant for solid waste management services bear little relation to the

actual cost of disposing of the wastes produced by that household or occupant. Generally, a fixed monthly fee or

a portion of local property taxes is paid for the disposal

service, regardless of either the amount of waste

generated by a particular household or the actual costs imposed on the waste management system by that household. Thus, there is no incentive for those who

generate solid waste even to consider the disposal costs associated with the products they use, let alone to modify

their consumption patterns accordingly. A product

charge is currently being discussed as one method of

internalizing the disposal costs of products entering the

solid waste stream. Under this project, disposal cost data gathered by a 1975 NSF study will be used to calculate solid waste

densities. They will also be ranked and correlated with

each of the major cost components of the system (labor,

vehicle operating costs, etc.) as well as total collection

costs. If there is sufficient variance in density and small

correlation between weight and volume, then regression

analysis will be used to estimate a cost function based on

weight and volume.

Estimating Area Cost Factors

John S. McConnaughey

(301) 921-2308

Building Economics and Regulatory

Technology Division

Sponsor: Tri-Services Committee

The lack of accurate and reliable area cost factors (ACFs) is a serious problem to the Tri-Services in the

estimation of building construction costs. Area cost

factors convert unit construction costs from different geographic regions to a common base; they are used by

Tri-Services, the Secretary of Defense, and Congress

during the approval and review process of all Tri- Services construction projects. Information from

completed Tri-Services construction projects and

economic data such as regional/local construction

market data will be used to develop a geographic cost

76
index. The index will be developed so that it may also be

used by Tri-Services to estimate ACFs for selected

foreign areas. The results of this research, and of the

Michigan State University research on geographic cost

differentials on military construction, will be delivered as a report to Tri-Services.

* U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1980 308-511/6755

77

I'
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Bureau of Standards

National Engineering Laboratory Center for Building Technology