Thermal Modelling
Architectural Design Development
Thermal modelling can be used to evaluate an Architects design and deliver energy efficiency and environmental comfort.
- Evaluate the performance of a building without the restraint of compliance (Part L) checking procedures.
- Produce outputs for the purposes of BREEAM credits.
- Evaluate the benefits of different design proposals to achieve energy efficiency and environmental comfort targets.
- Assess the potential for over-heating at design stage, reducing the risk of costly remedial work.
- Assess natural ventilation strategies, solar shading and high thermal mass structures.
- Demonstrate Part L Criterion 3 compliance.
- Building Bulletin 101 (BB101): Ventilation of school buildings.
- Benefit from further cost effective environmental modelling services, 3D visuals and animations.
Thermal modelling is a design tool, not a compliance checking procedure. As such, this method provides the freedom to model a building more accurately than a DSM or SBEM model which both utilise ‘National Calculation Method’ template data.
Thermal modelling using IES Virtual Environment software utilises the sophisticated ‘Apache Simulation’ thermal modelling engine to accurately model a building’s behaviour.
Want to evaluate the performance benefits between utilising bris-soleil or solar control glazing? Thermal modelling can provide you with the answers. Would it be more cost effective to invest in a better thermal envelope or improve lighting systems? Thermal modelling will let you know.
The prescriptive nature of the 2010 Part L Criterion 3 assessment requires glazed areas not to exceed threshold levels defined within the ‘Notional Builing’. Adhering to these threshold levels can reduce architectural design flexibility and the thermal efficiency of high mass designs. A thermal model can be used to demonstrate that internal temperatures will remain within tolerable limits in order to demonstrate Criterion 3 compliance through alternative means.
Furthermore, geometrical data from Sketchup and Revit software can also be utilised, avoiding the need and cost of re-generating this information. Using this method, working along side architects, we can rapidly investigate the viability of various design proposals.
