Global data

Rotate building Angle to rotate building incrementally [°]. Choose whether to rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise.

Clockwise Click to rotate the building clockwise by the specified angle around the center of the building.

Counter-clockwise Click to rotate the building counter-clockwise by the specified angle around the center of the building.

This object is used to model masses like internal walls and floor slabs that are contained inside the room, are "seen" by the room walls, and thus partake in the radiation balance.

The given area should provide a figure for the area exposed towards the zone surfaces. Note that all objects are treated as double sided; the area of one side is given. The construction specified should correspond to a section through the object.

Area is for one side of a two-sided wall, given per total floor area.   

Construction can be edited and chosen from a database. The order between sides is not significant.

Surface can be edited and chosen from a database.

The convective heat transfer coefficient can be set to a fix number. Long-wave heat transfer is calculated by ESBO.

The length of thermal bridges between internal slabs and external walls, given per total floor area, can be set.  

Thermal bridges Click to open thermal bridges object, which contains coefficients for calculation of loss factors for thermal bridges in rooms, Figure 42.

Figure 42.

The total loss factor for a room is calculated as the sum of loss factors in bridges created by different construction elements.

The coefficients are given per unit of element size (in most cases per meter). The sizes of elements are calculated from room geometry.

Please note that the scale of Good, Typical etc. may not be representative in all countries.

Ground properties Click to open the ground properties object, which contains parameters for temperature conditions below the building, Figure 43.

Figure 43.

Ground layers under basement slab Ground layers under slab down to constant temperature.

Ground layer outside basement walls Ground layers outside wall to ambient temperature.

The ground layer under the basement floor is connected to a constant temperature, which is computed as the mean air temperature of the selected climate file. The layers around the basement walls are coupled to a facade object for crawl space, which is kept at ground surface temperature. Note that no 2D or 3D effects are modelled for either of these couplings.

Extra energy and losses Click to open extra energy and losses object, which contains information about system losses and extra energy consumers of the building that do not take part in the building heat balance, such as external lighting, Figure 44.

Figure 44.

Distribution System Losses are specified to account for leakage from pipes and ducts that pass through the building without having to describe their exact path and insulation properties.

Duct losses include both thermal conduction and air leakage losses, although the actual loss of mass through the duct wall is not modeled. Duct losses take account of actual temperature difference between the duct system and rooms, while water circuit losses are independent of actual temperatures.

Units for heat and cold distribution may be changed for convenience. Click on the hyperlinks to change.

Rough estimates of possible loss levels are provided for convenience via sliders, but these levels vary greatly between countries.

A given percentage of the heat (or cold) from each distribution system is deposited to the room heat balance. Remaining heat is simply lost to ambient.

Any number of Additional Energy Use items may be specified (right click to rename them). This is energy which should be accounted for in total supplied energy, but does not enter the building heat balance. Ice melting equipment or external lights are examples.

For each item, both an absolute and a per-floor-area contribution may be given. The total of both is displayed for convenience. Each item must also refer to a schema and an energy meter.

Building 3D and shading Click to open the building 3D and shading window, Figure 45, Figure 46 and Figure 47. For a summary of basic mouse operations, see 3D view.

In the building 3D and shading window, rooms can be given a position in 3D space to form a sensible building. By default all rooms of the building are placed at the origin. Drag rooms from the table in the Room tab to the building 3D and shading window, Figure 45. However, only one item of every type of room can be shown in the 3D view. To reposition a room in the x-y plane: select it, hold down the Ctrl-key (the marking will change from red to green) and drag it. Hold down the Ctrl-key and the Shift-key to move the room in the z-direction.

Windows and solar panels are shaded by the rooms unless all rooms are placed at the default position at the origin and no shading objects have been added.

Figure 45. 3D view with several rooms

In the building 3D and shading window, shading objects can be added to produce additional shading of windows and solar panels. Drag shading objects from the palette to the building 3D and shading tab, Figure 46. Right click and choose Delete to remove the shading object. Right click and choose Duplicate to insert a copy of the shading object, slightly shifted from the original position.

A selected shading object can be moved by holding down the Ctrl-key and dragging the shading object to a new position. The shading-object will move in the x-y plane. Hold down the Ctrl-key and the Shift-key to move the shading object in the z-direction.

Figure 46. 3D view with shading objects inserted

Figure 47. 3D view with shading objects (with handles) surrounding the building

Right click and choose Edit to edit the shape of the shading object, Figure 47.

When in edit mode, Figure 47, the shading object can be modified as follows:

• To edit the shape and location of the handle of a shading object, place the cursor over a handle, click the left mouse button, and drag the handle.
• To move the entire shading object, place the cursor over the shading object, in-between two handles, click the left mouse button, and drag the shading object. The shading object follows the cursor while remaining fixed in the z-axis.
• To move the shading object along the z-axis, hold down the shift-key while moving the mouse.
• To rotate the shading object around the z-axis, place the cursor above the shading object, hold down the shift-key and the middle mouse button, and move the mouse.
• To scale the shading object (bring the handles closer/further apart), place the cursor above the shading object, hold down the shift-key and the right mouse button, and move the mouse backward and forward, not sideways.
• To insert a new handle, hold down the Ctrl-key, and click the left mouse button.
• To remove a handle, place the cursor above the handle, hold down the Ctrl-key, and click the right mouse button.

Exit the edit mode by clicking the right mouse button and choosing Done or Cancel from the right mouse button menu.

The following properties can be assigned to objects in the 3D view:

• constructions of walls, floors, roofs and wall parts
• window types
• surface properties of wall, floors, roofs, wall parts, doors, window frames and shading objects.

To assign a property to objects: Double-click on the property in the palette on the side bar and select the objects in the 3D view. Click OK to accept.

To add a new property to assign: Click on the database icon  on the top of the palette and select a resource from the database.