[en] Transport vibrations are the subject of many research, mostly their influence on structural elements of the building is investigated. However, nowadays, especially in the centres of large cities were apartments, residential buildings are much closer to the transport vibration sources, an increasing attention is given to providing vibrational comfort to humans in buildings. People who buy apartments in the tourist attractively cities like Cracow expect to be very close to the downtown and at the same time to have quiet place to rest without any annoyance coming from transport vibration. Unfortunately, tourist attractively cities are mostly old cities with old buildings which were not designed for dynamic influences which are now in the neighbourhood. At the same time, old buildings are under the conservator care, who limits the possibility of using some solutions. There are three types of possible protection against vibrations: vibroinsulation in the source of vibration, vibroinsulation on the way of propagation and solutions in the building. The first solution depends on goodwill of infrastructure owner, the second could be complicated in the city centres and the third is the best for apartment owners but it could be expensive. The paper presents three different types of vibro-acoustic floor with different layers’ configuration. Their advantages and disadvantages are also shown. In the article the main emphasis was put on the technology of making these three types of floors in terms of the possibility of their assembly in a historic building. Detailed technological parameters have been described. The paper also proposes vibroacoustic materials that can be used as a floor layer which could isolate from transport vibrations (paper)

[en] After a short description of the history of radon measurements in mines, the results of bare track detector application in dwellings are commented on. Many related methods and problems are discussed. Most experiences are similar to the published ones, but details are specific for Central Europe (absence of air-conditioning, etc.). (author)

No abstract available

[en] The results of a large-scale survey of radon concentrations in Norwegian dwellings are reported. Measurements of radon have been made in a total of 7500 dwellings. The dwellings were randomly selected and the number in each municipality is proportional to its population. The measurements were performed using etched track detectors from the National Radiological Protection Board in the UK. One detector was placed in the main bedroom in each dwelling for 6 months. The annual average of radon concentration in Norwegian bedrooms is calculated to be 51 Bq.m^-3. The frequency distribution is approximately log-normal with a geometric mean of 26 Bq.m^-3 and about 4% of the bedrooms have concentrations above 200 Bq.m^-3. The radon concentrations are found to be about 40% higher for bedrooms in single-family houses than in blocks of flats and other multifamily houses. In a large proportion of single-family houses the living room and the kitchen are located on the ground floor and the bedrooms on the first floor. An additional factor is that the winters of 1987-1988 and 1988-1989 were much warmer than normal. Taking these factors into account, the average radon concentration in Norwegian dwellings is estimated to be between 55 and 65 Bq.m^-3. (author)

[en] Information is given about the radon programme in Czechoslovakia after the democratic revolution in 1989, i.e. organisation, implementation steps, limits. Results for radon exposure and radon evaluation for Jachymov, a special situation, and for Petrovice, as an example of a high radon risk area, are given. (author)

[en] Short communication

[en] With climate change, heat waves have become more frequent and intense. Rotating power outages happen when the power supply is unable to meet the cooling demand increase resulting from extreme high temperatures. Power outages during heat waves expose residents to high risks of overheating. In this study, we propose a novel data-driven inverse modelling approach to inform decision makers and grid operators on planning rotating power outages. We first infer the building thermal characteristics using the connected smart thermostat data, and used the estimated thermal dynamics to simulate the thermal resilience during a heat wave event. Our proposed method was tested for the California power outage in August 2020 by using the open source Ecobee Donate Your Data dataset. We found in California the power outage should not last more than two hours during heat waves to avoid overheating risks. Informing the residents in advance so they can prepare for it through pre-cooling is a simple but effective strategy to expand the acceptable power outage duration. In addition to assisting power outage planning, the proposed method can be used for other applications, such as to evaluate a building energy efficiency policy, to examine fuel poverty, and to estimate the load shifting potential of building stocks. (letter)

[en] A short study was carried out investigating a reported problem of shadow flicker and flashing from the blades of a turbine. The incidence of this phenomenon was confirmed and the duration and frequency of occurrence assessed. The shadow flicker period would be short and only occur at certain times, but could cause irritation. A device to stop the turbine when shadow flicker occurred was recommended and is described. A recommendation was made that turbines should be sited at least ten diameters distance from habitations, and more if sited to the East/Southwest, and the shadow path identified. (author)

[en] The article presents the methodology for determining the dynamic resistance of residential, prefabricated buildings subjected to mining shocks. The calculations were performed using simplified 2D models and response spectrum methods. The results of calculations may in the future be used in the assessment of the impact of the predicted accelerations of ground vibrations on building structures. (paper)

[en] The article describes the buildings bases consolidation on the example of a 12-storey residential building with two levels of underground parking adjacent to the existing buildings. The cement with different additives mechanical properties laboratory studies results and the components consumption per unit of working solution are given. The foamed soil cementcompositions preparation technology is described. (paper)