CMU Performance
U-FACTOR is the overall coefficient of thermal transmittance of a construction assembly, in Btu/(hr. x ft.² x ºF), including air film resistance at both surfaces.
C-FACTOR (also known as C-value) is the time rate of heat flow through unit area of a body induced by a unit temperature difference between the body surfaces, in Btu (hr. x ft.2 x °F). It is not the same as K-value or K-factor.
HEAT CAPACITY (HC) is the amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of all the components of a unit area in an assembly by 1°F. It is calculated as the sum of the average thickness times the density times the specific heat for each component, and is expressed in Btu per square foot per °F.
Building Types
LOW-RISE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING is a building, other than a hotel/motel that is of Occupancy Group R, Division 1, and is three stories or less, or that is of Occupancy Group R, Division 3.
HIGH-RISE RESIDENTIAL is a building, other than a hotel/motel, of occupancy group R-1 with four or more habitable stories. California Building Code Occupancy Group R-1 includes apartment houses, convents and monasteries (accommodating more than 10 persons). (See definition of Unconditioned Space above). If a building has four or more habitable stories, any residential occupancy in the building is considered high-rise residential, regardless of the number of stories that are residential.
HOTEL/MOTEL is a building or buildings incorporating six or more guest rooms or a lobby serving six or more guest rooms, where the guest rooms are intended or designed to be used, or which are used, rented, or hired out to be occupied, or which are occupied for sleeping purposes by guests, and all conditioned spaces within the same building envelope. Hotel/motel also includes all conditioned spaces that are (1) on the same property as the hotel/motel, (2) served by the same central HVAC system as the hotel/motel, and (3) integrally related to the functioning of the hotel/motel as such, including, but not limited to, exhibition facilities, meeting and conference facilities, food service facilities, lobbies and laundries. A key part of this definition is that the hotel/motel includes all spaces within the same building envelope as the lobby or the guest rooms. This is because hotel/motel buildings are generally multi-purpose facilities. They may include such diverse spaces as restaurants, auditoriums, retail stores, offices, kitchens, laundries and swimming pools. All are treated as hotel/motel spaces. This concept extends to other buildings associated with the hotel/motel that pass the three tests: (1) same property, (2) same central HVAC system, and (3)integrally related to the hotel/motel.