The Beta version is now available for testing

Background

Localization Denmark is based on the document “Branchevejledning for Indeklima” dated September 2025. The focus is on thermal comfort and daylight. And the parts possible to perform using IDA ICE. 

Main features included are calculation of “udsyn” and hours of temperature above thresholds given by selected climate class. Also included is a function that limits the air flow in zones due to openable windows. Regarding daylight, the 300 lux method is implemented. In addition, climate files from the Danish Metrological Institute are distributed. Both current and future climate. 

Climate files

The climate files are from the Danish metrological institute. The original files are in the “epw” format. The files distributed are converted to the format needed in IDA ICE. The data have the following reference, ”Reference Klima Dataset til Teknisk dimensionering af bygninger for udvalgte klimaparametre, Danmarks Meteorologiske Institut, DMI Rapport 25-14, 29. august 2025”.  

Following files are included: 

• DRY_2001-2010 

• DRY_2011-2023 

• DRY_rcp45_2035-2054 

• DRY_rcp45_2045-2064 

• DRY_rcp45_2055-2074 

• DRY_rcp45_2080-2099 

Building templates

Two building templates, one for “Bolig” and one for “Erhverv” are delivered as starting point for the modelling. To use the localization the modelling must start with one of these files as there is no conversion from the ordinary building template to the Danish ones. In the templates, needed schedules are available and the rea definition is set to external.  

To start a project, click on the Danish flag in the ribbon menue and select Either “Bolig or “Erhverv” 

Another option is to click on the “New” symbol on the far left or select “File” and then “New”. The building templates are available for selection in the templates section when clicking on the IDA Application “IDA Indoor Climate and Energy”. 

The “Localization Denmark” -tab

When the “Localization Denmark” is installed a tab is available when the program is started. 

However when click on it, it just contain the text “Not a template building for Localization Denmark”. 

To use the localization, follow what’s written in the section “Building templates”. 

When a model is started using a valid building template, the tab looks as below. 

It’s possible to change between Indoor climate calculation mode and Day light calculation mode by clicking one of the radio buttons in the top. In both modes there is an input data table, a results table, a run simulation button and a report button. 

Indoor climate

BR Zontyp

Three zone types can be selected Bolig, Erhverv or Not applicable. When the latter one is selected no criteria is used in the simulation and no result is presented in the results table. Examples of such zones may be glazed balconies or the attic. 

Indoor climate class

Depending on selected zone type an indoor climate class is to be selected according to the table below 

The criteria used for evaluation of the simulation is shown below. 

In use

The integration of operative temperature higher that set in the criteria is performed only when the zone is in use. By default, a zone is in use when someone is in the zone. However a zone may be used very intermittent and then it’s possible to set a separate schedule to tell when the zone is supposed to be in use. 

Limiting window ventilation

First must be noted that the limiting Window ventilation option creates a model that is a bit more difficult to handle numerically, two new opening control macros are supplied when starting a model using the building templates. The two macros, “dk-PI Temperature control” and “dk-PI Temperature control AND Shedule” should preferable be used instead of the build in one, “Pi-temperature control” and “Pi-temperature control AND Schedule” 

When zone-type Bolig is selected for a zone the opening of windows may be limited to ensure that the window ventilation is not too high. To utilize this limitation “Use window limit” is set to “yes”. Then the schedule set in the “Limit ventilation through window” is used. 

What actual happens is that any control signal sent to the opening of a window is reduced with a limiting signal and controlled to maintain all airflow through all open windows below the value in l/s,m2 set in the schedule. Following the “Branchveileiding” following scheduleas are predefined from table 8 in chapter 5.3.1. 

dk-Limited_Ensidet: During daytime 07-19 the flow in l/s,m2 is limited to 6, during the rest of time the limit is 0.6. 

dk-Limited_tvaer: During daytime 07-19 the flow in l/s,m2 is limited to 6, during the rest of time the limit is 1.2. 

Settings for “Udsyn”

Firs must be noted that the built in shading control macros, “Sun” and “Sun and Schedule” can’t be used when using zone type “erhverv“ if the calculation of udsyn should be correct. Instead use the control macros “dK-Sun” and “dk-Sun-schedule”. 

When zone-type Erhverv is selected for a zone the factors for “Udsyn” need to be set in accordance with the “Branchveileiding” chapter 6.5.2 and appendix F. Instead of “Udsynsklasse” weighting factors are used. Weight factors are needed for internal movable shades, windows bundled with external fixed shades and external movable shades. 

For clear windows the weight 0 can be used. In localization windows and fixed outside shades are treated as one. 

During the overheating calculation the control signal for shading is multiplied with the weight factor integrated and dived by number of hours to calculate a percentage. 

When more than one shading is used the highest value is selected for integration. 

The setting “Styrning i felter“ with value yes or no is used to select the correct criteria for the results. If the control of the shading is divided in maximum one floor and at most 5 m in width the criteria allows 5% more usage of the weighted shading. 

Arbetsdager per uge

For zonetype Erhverv the criteria used differ in accordance with Arbetsdager per uge, 5 or 7 days.  

Simulation

When pressing the Run-button, the overheating simulation is performed using following settings although it might look different when pressing the set up button. The simulation is performed using selected climate file. The internal gains are set to 100% and schedule smoothing is set 0. The schedule smoothing setting ensure that the schedules follow the input data. The climate file is the same as the one in the Generic-tab. 

Results

The results follow the criteria selected in indoor climate class. Not all results are shown. Results regarding “Udsyn” is only shown in the report. Of the result “Winter, Hours below” is not part of the criteria. This result calculates the number of hours when the operative temperature is below the zone temperature minimum set point. 

Report

The button report is located below the simulation on the right side of the results table. 

The report is structured in a way that it starts with general information about the simulation. The criteria as shown in the indoor climate class is shown. As results following tables are presented. Passed criteria are shown with green text and failed with red. 

Supply air flow [l/s] and Supply air temperature [°C] are both directly imported from simulation "Overheating" in tab "Summary". Air speed in zone [m/s] is the same value as "Air velocity in the occupied zone" which is set in the zone form. 

Daylight

When clicking the radio button, daylight, the tab change to the appearance below. In the Input data table, the only setting is to set yes or no in the column “Calculate daylighting?” 

Setting surface properties

By clicking on the button ”Set reflectance”, Surface  reflectance are set according to Bygningsreglementets vejledning om lys og udsyn 1.2,  Dagslys (§ 379-381). 

Simulation

The simulation is performed using radiance with three-phase calculations, with parameters as listed below for high resolution. The simulation is configured in the daylight-tab. Normally the only parameters that needs to be changes is the resolution ( default  0.5 m) and height over floor (default 0.8). 

The 300 lux method stipulates that there must be a daylight level of at least 300 lux on 50% of the relevant area during half of the daylight hours. The evaluation method is based on the Daylight Autonomy, DA method, which is one of the most widely used climate-based daylight simulation methods. The method indicates for how much of an analysis period the illuminance exceeds a given value in a point or area. The 300 lux method is a variant called Spatial Daylight Autonomy, sDA, where there are requirements for how much of the area must comply with the requirements. The method builds a computer model of the building and calculates the illuminance in a horizontal grid in the room for all daylight hours during a year. The calculations are based on climate data, the geometry of the building, the locations of the windows, shadows, the properties of the glass and the reflectance of the surfaces inside and outside the building. 

Results

The result is shown as at what percentage of the floor area that have more than 300 lux half of the daylight hours. If the criteria is met the background color is green otherwise red. 

Report

The button report is located below the simulation on the right side of the results table. 

The report is structured in a way that it starts with general information about the simulation. 

The criteria as shown in the indoor climate class is shown. As results following tables are presented. 

Passed criteria are shown with green text and failed with red.