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AF2508 Building Service Technologies and Systems 7.5 credits

Administer About course

COURSE CONTENT

The aim of this course is to provide a thorough understanding of the function, design and operation of building services technologies and systems, with particular emphasis on heating, ventilation and cooling.

A key focus is placed on understanding how appropriate levels of thermal comfort and indoor air quality can be provided efficiently in different types of buildings in response to specific occupant and process requirements.

The efficiency and quality of building services, together with overall building performance, are considered from a broad sustainability perspective, taking into account occupant satisfaction, energy efficiency and environmental impact.

These issues are addressed through both theoretical study and applied, hands-on modelling exercises using state-of-the-art indoor climate and building energy simulation software.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

1.      Assess specific occupant and process needs and requirements relating to indoor environmental quality in different categories of buildings.

2.      Understand the function of individual building services technologies and subsystems, including heating, ventilation and cooling systems.

3.      Perform HVAC load calculations, design and size building services systems, and discuss appropriate and efficient control systems.

4.      Simulate and evaluate the performance of individual building services technologies and subsystems.

5.      Evaluate the operation and performance of complex building services systems from an integrated whole-building perspective.

6.      Simulate and evaluate the dynamic energy performance of buildings.

7.      Analyse key aspects of building services efficiency and quality in relation to occupant and process requirements, together with relevant sustainability criteria, including occupant satisfaction, energy efficiency, environmental impact and cost-effectiveness.

Information per course offering

Termin

Information for Autumn 2026 Start 24 Aug 2026 programme students

Course location

KTH Campus

Duration
24 Aug 2026 - 23 Oct 2026
Periods

Autumn 2026: P1 (7.5 hp)

Pace of study

50%

Application code

12124

Form of study

Normal Daytime

Language of instruction

English

Course memo
Course memo is not published
Number of places

Min: 10

Target group
No information inserted
Planned modular schedule
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Contact

Examiner
No information inserted
Course coordinator
No information inserted
Teachers
No information inserted

Course syllabus as PDF

Please note: all information from the Course syllabus is available on this page in an accessible format.

Course syllabus AF2508 (Autumn 2021–)
Headings with content from the Course syllabus AF2508 (Autumn 2021–) are denoted with an asterisk ( )

Content and learning outcomes

Course contents

Upon successful course completion, students are intended to have gained a sound understanding of the folowing aspects of building service components and systems, as well as related building services:

• Customer needs/requirements (indoor air quality, thermal comfort, lighting, domestic hot water etc) in different categories of buildings

• Air flows and thermal processes in buildings

• Component selection and system integration (heating/cooling, domestic hot water preparation, ventilation, lighting, etc.)

• System boundaries selection and system optimization in retrofitting and new construction (from singular buildings to building clusters/precincts)

• Low-exergy systems and renewable energy technologies

• Energy-efficiency and energy quality management in buildings

• Control systems and technologies

• Operational safety/reliability and sustainability

• BIM-based applications for building services

• Service quality, performance assessment and customer value

Intended learning outcomes

The course aims at providing a sound understanding of key building service components and systems, as well as their function and performance in different types of buildings, including high-performing buildings (passive, near-zero-energy and positive energy buildings).

Special emphasis is placed on the inter-relationships between service quality, operational safety/reliability and sustainability of complex building service systems, with particular focus on energy-/resource- and cost-efficiency, as well as environmental compatibility.

Literature and preparations

Specific prerequisites

Documented knowledge in service and energy systems and building physics 15 ECTS corresponding to the content in courses AF1002 and AF1402.

Eng B/6 according to the Swedish upper secondary school system.

Literature

You can find information about course literature either in the course memo for the course offering or in the course room in Canvas.

Examination and completion

Grading scale

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Examination

  • ÖVN1 - Laborations, 3.0 credits, grading scale: P, F
  • TEN1 - Examination, 4.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

ÖVN1- Laborations; 3 ECTS; Grade scale P,F

TEN1 - Written exam; 4,5 ECTS; Grade scale A-F

Other requirements for final grade

Passed in ÖVN1 and TEN1

Examiner

Profile picture Ivo Martinac

Ethical approach

  • All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
  • In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
  • In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

Further information

Course room in Canvas

Registered students find further information about the implementation of the course in the course room in Canvas. A link to the course room can be found under the tab Studies in the Personal menu at the start of the course.

Offered by

ABE/Sustainable Buildings

Main field of study

The Built Environment

Education cycle

Second cycle