General tab
Figure 1: The General tab in IDA ICE 5.1
An object of the Building type is presented in a form on the screen. This contains all the objects connected to the building. The building’s form is automatically displayed each time the user selects to open an already existing, or a new, document (please see Working with IDA systems). The form above shows a sample appearance of the building form. It contains standard versions of the air handling unit, the primary system and energy meters in the HVAC-system and Energy meter list boxes.
Different commands are available to handle with the objects more easily. They are described here in detail: Object commands.
Global data
Location
Sets a Location of the building which contains the geographical position and references to weather data for the place where the simulated building is located. The chosen location does not have to correspond exactly to the location of the climate file. Files can also be downloaded by using the integrated map.
Climate
Selecting a climate object. The object contains a reference to a climate file and information about this file or indicates that synthetic climate is to be used for Custom simulation. Normally, the user does not have to select a separate climate file since a default file will be given in the selected Location object. Files can also be downloaded by using the integrated map.
Wind profile
Selection of wind profile object. Wind profile is used in all models where pressure coefficients are given.
Holidays
Optional choice of list of holidays. The holidays are treated either as Sundays or using special rules – for time schedules which define such rules.
Project data
Object for documentation of the simulation object and the current choice of parameters. Project data are written on reports etc.
Defaults
Default settings for all zones and HVAC systems.
Site shading and orientation
Edit the site shading including orientation (compass arrow) and definition of separate shading objects, e.g. trees, hills and neighbouring buildings.
Thermal bridges
Coefficients for calculation of loss factors for thermal bridges in zones.
Ground properties
Model and parameters for temperature conditions in the ground below the building.
Infiltration
Method and parameters for building air leakage
Pressure coefficients
Coefficients for calculation of wind pressure on external surfaces of the building.
Extra energy and losses
Losses from HVAC distribution systems, hot water and other energy use items
Central systems
List of central hydronic and electric systems as well as one or more air handling units.
Click "Add..". to add an extra system or AHU (If the existing system is no longer needed, see below)
Click "Replace ..." to replace the selected system with a new one.
Supervisory control
A controller that collects signals from the environment (utility signals etc.) and from building sensors and computes supervisory control signals that are relevant to the whole building.
Energy meters
List of the energy meter items, with can be opened for additional settings.
Click "Usage" to list all references to energy meters
Open "Energy contracts and traders" to show the complete information available on all Traders, Energy contracts and Contract rate plans.
Details tables
Several categories of tables show the main parameters of zones and other objects.
The top row of radio buttons allows selecting the category of objects to be shown in the table, between the following:
- The Zones tables group
- The Zone totals group
- The Envelope tables group
- The Geometry & Systems tables group
- The Measuring tables group
- The IFC tables group
The LCA material report button exports all material data to either an excel sheet or a windowed view.
The Report button exports all tables to Excel.
The Expand table button transfers the table to a separate window, which can be viewed at the same time as a Floor plan or 3D tab view.
In the tables, you may:
- Edit parameters. N.B. Grey fields contains values with multiple sources and can not be edited in the table view.
- Select cells and copy/paste their contents to and from other applications
- Open objects (double click the object in the left column)
- Sort the contents by clicking a column header
- Show a parameter on the 3D plan (click "box" image in the column header). The visualization depends on if the column contains zone object, text or a number. Zone objects are colour coded, numbers can be sorted and text will appear as a nametag.
- Visually view if a value is the default (blue background) or has been changed (white background)
- Reorder the zones (n.b. in the Zones table only). The selected zone may be moved up and down by clicking Alt+Up and Alt+Down. This order will be used when combining the results into a single document (see Results tab, Make report).
- Right-click to apply scripts to the chosen object(s).