ARCH408-6 Building Physics
ARCH408-6 Building Physics
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Oct 10, 2025
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Architecture
Nerma Omićević
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
To provide an introduction and develop knowledge in the following areas such as: Building and energy; Comfort issues, energy use, carbon emissions, and operational performance; Heat and Mass transfer; Light and humidity; and Airflow and temperature
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Szokolay, S. V. (2008). Introduction to architectural science: The basis of sustainable design (2nd ed.). Architectural Press.
Additional Literature
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. (2009). 2009 ASHRAE handbook: Fundamentals (SI edition). ASHRAE.Teaching Methods
Face-to-face lectures
Tutorials
Project-based learning
Problem-solving learning
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction: Physical Environmental Factors, Moisture and Sources of Moisture | |
| 2 | Occupant Comfort: Forms of Occupant Comfort, Personal Parameters, Environmental Parameters, Psychrometry | |
| 3 | Psychrometry. Air Comfort: Psychrometry; Indoor Air Quality, Ventilation, Design Criteria | |
| 4 | Heat transfer: Conduction, Convection, Radiation, Ventilation | |
| 5 | Heat transfer: Conduction, Convection, Radiation, Ventilation | |
| 6 | Heat transfer: Conduction, Convection, Radiation, Ventilation | |
| 7 | Heat transfer: Conduction, Convection, Radiation, Ventilation | |
| 8 | Midterm exam | |
| 9 | Design Principles: Energy Conservation, Cold Bridges, Heat Loss Problems | |
| 10 | Mass Transfer: Vapor diffusion and Moisture Transfer Infiltration Condensation in plane; Condensation in zone | |
| 11 | Mass Transfer: Vapor diffusion and Moisture Transfer Infiltration Condensation in plane; Condensation in zone | |
| 12 | Mass Transfer: Vapor diffusion and Moisture Transfer Infiltration Condensation in plane; Condensation in zone | |
| 13 | Room Acoustics: Direct Sound, Reverberation, Sound Reflection, Sound Absorption Acoustical Performance | |
| 14 | Room Acoustics: Direct Sound, Reverberation, Sound Reflection, Sound Absorption Acoustical Performance | |
| 15 | Light Comfort: Illumination, Colormetry, Photometry Daylight Availability, Reflecting Components, Daylight Reflecting Surfaces Design Criteria |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Midterm exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Project
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Homework
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Final exam
3 hours ⏳ (1 week × 3 h)
Midterm exam
3 hours ⏳ (1 week × 3 h)
Lectures
14 hours ⏳ (14 week × 1 h)
Tutorials
28 hours ⏳ (14 week × 2 h)
Home study
98 hours ⏳ (14 week × 7 h)
Final exam study
4 hours ⏳ (1 week × 4 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [ARCH408-6] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Oct 10, 2025 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| ARCH408-6 | Building Physics | 1 | 2 | 6 | TBA | |||||
| Prerequisite | ARCH313-6 | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Nerma Omićević | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Wednesday: 9:30-12:00 Thursday: 9:30-12:00 |
|||||||
| nomicevic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | TBA | Assistant E-mail | ||||||||
| Course Objectives | To provide an introduction and develop knowledge in the following areas such as: Building and energy; Comfort issues, energy use, carbon emissions, and operational performance; Heat and Mass transfer; Light and humidity; and Airflow and temperature | |||||||||
| Textbook | Szokolay, S. V. (2008). Introduction to architectural science: The basis of sustainable design (2nd ed.). Architectural Press. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Face-to-face lectures, tutorials, project-based learning, problem-solving learning | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction: Physical Environmental Factors, Moisture and Sources of Moisture | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Occupant Comfort: Forms of Occupant Comfort, Personal Parameters, Environmental Parameters, Psychrometry | |||||||||
| Week 3 | Psychrometry. Air Comfort: Psychrometry; Indoor Air Quality, Ventilation, Design Criteria | |||||||||
| Week 4 | Heat transfer: Conduction, Convection, Radiation, Ventilation | |||||||||
| Week 5 | Heat transfer: Conduction, Convection, Radiation, Ventilation | |||||||||
| Week 6 | Heat transfer: Conduction, Convection, Radiation, Ventilation | |||||||||
| Week 7 | Heat transfer: Conduction, Convection, Radiation, Ventilation | |||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm exam | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Design Principles: Energy Conservation, Cold Bridges, Heat Loss Problems | |||||||||
| Week 10 | Mass Transfer: Vapor diffusion and Moisture Transfer Infiltration Condensation in plane; Condensation in zone | |||||||||
| Week 11 | Mass Transfer: Vapor diffusion and Moisture Transfer Infiltration Condensation in plane; Condensation in zone | |||||||||
| Week 12 | Mass Transfer: Vapor diffusion and Moisture Transfer Infiltration Condensation in plane; Condensation in zone | |||||||||
| Week 13 | Room Acoustics: Direct Sound, Reverberation, Sound Reflection, Sound Absorption Acoustical Performance | |||||||||
| Week 14 | Room Acoustics: Direct Sound, Reverberation, Sound Reflection, Sound Absorption Acoustical Performance | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Light Comfort: Illumination, Colormetry, Photometry Daylight Availability, Reflecting Components, Daylight Reflecting Surfaces Design Criteria | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Project | 1 | 25 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Homework | 8 | 5 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Final exam | 3 | 1 | 3 | Midterm exam | 3 | 1 | 3 | |||
| Lectures | 1 | 14 | 14 | Tutorials | 2 | 14 | 28 | |||
| Home study | 7 | 14 | 98 | Final exam study | 4 | 1 | 4 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/10/2025 | |||||||||