A. Emami, E. Barzamini, S. Aloustani,
Volume 27, Issue 2 (12-2017)
Abstract
The external walls are regarded as an important source for the thermal exchange between the outside and inside of a building. Despite the significance of building walls for energy savings, a large body of research has focused mainly on thermal comfort, environmental impacts, and economic costs of residential buildings. However, few researchers have addressed the thermal performance of common building materials. The clay block has attracted a lot of attention as the important building material in temperate and humid climate. The present study aimed to study the thermal performance of three clay block external walls systems in temperate and humid climate by increasing trapped air thickness between internal and external walls of buildings. FLUENT software was employed to simulate and calculate the thermal characteristics, which were extracted and compared to the calculated data according to chapter 19 of "Iranian National Building Regulations". The results indicated that the air trapped between the internal and external the leaves of cavity walls considerably influenced thermal resistance. In addition, the new combined wall system could considerably save the energy, compared to the existing wall systems. In conclusion, the energy goals can be fulfilled by improving the layout of the walls.
Maryam Tavakoli, Ali Emami, Leila Mirsaeedie,
Volume 30, Issue 1 (6-2020)
Abstract
Designing the maternity ward of hospitals is crucial due to the special conditions of mothers before, during, and after birth. Numerous environmental factors affect mothers, and it calls for an evidence-based design of these spaces. Although many investigations have drawn their attention to the issue, there is a paucity of research in terms of the significance of the birth environment factors. Therefore, the specific question of the research is that to what extent each of these factors is significant? In order to answer this question, the researchers devised a questionnaire based on which the most prominent variables could be ascertained. The questionnaire contained four main domains, including fear cascade, facilities, aesthetics and support, and the researchers distributed them among mothers in four hospitals in Golestan province, Iran. Six influential spaces affecting mothers, including communication space, hospitalization room, nursing station, neonatal room, operation room and external space, were investigated in this regard. Using the descriptive-analytical method and SPSS software, the research hypotheses were tested, and the Friedman test was employed to rank the domains and their variables. The findings demonstrated the significance of the aesthetic domain and such variables as the nursing station, natural light in corridors, and view to the doctor room. The study offered fresh insights into the design of a peaceful maternity ward.
