BPRM ModelViewerII

Input Data Visualisation

Overview

Data assigned to your model can now be visualised as part of the new ‘Input Data Visualisation’ feature in Model Viewer II. The feature allows you to view an assortment of variables from Apache systems to Thermal templates to Internal Gains and much more. A full list of currently viewable data is below.

The feature can be accessed through the

button on the PRM toolbar

To use the feature you must first select at least one room. The button will then be enabled and upon pressing it you will be presented with the dialog below.

Selecting the variable you want to display and then clicking Apply will launch or update Model Viewer II with your selection.

If you can’t find the variable you’re looking for in the list you can apply a text filter to reduce the number of items shown. This filter applies, regardless of whether you change category or not, until you clear it by clicking on the X button.

Note: Colouring only applies to selected rooms and if the data is available for those rooms. Any rooms not selected or without the specified data will show up white.

Important: When viewing results in Model Viewer II, please be aware that turning shadows on will apply lighting/shading to the model and therefore affect the false colours shown. This means you may not be able to match up the surface colours with the legend colours accurately.

Variable Types

Variables are split into two different types for display. These are detailed below.

Discrete

Each input is a string value represented by an item on a colour key.

The colours are generated by choosing equidistant points on a colour wheel. Up to 12 different colours are used before a shading pattern is applied. The order in which colours and patterns are applied can be changed to suit your needs. See section 1.4.8 below.

Continuous

Each input is a numerical value represented on a colour scale.

The colour of each input is determined by the ‘False Colours’ and ‘Gradient Scale’ options applied. An example of the UI can be seen above.

Data List

Below is a list of all the variables currently available for display.

Each variable has its type displayed beside it as follows.

Discrete

Continuous

Important: Any variables that can have multiple values will be combined into one item. Numeric values will be summated, and discrete values will be shown as ‘Multiple <Item>s’.

General

	General Template	The general template assigned to the room.
	Thermal Template	The thermal template assigned to the room.
	Room Volume	The calculated volume of the room.
	Floor Area	The calculated floor area of the room.
	Lettable Area	The percentage of the floor area that is lettable.
	Circulation Area	The percentage of the floor area that is classed as circulation.
	Included in Building Floor Area?	Whether or not this zone contributes to the building floor area.

Room Conditions

	Heating Profile	A modulating profile scheduling the operation of the heating plant.
	Heating Setpoint	The temperature set point for heating control. It can be constant or it can follow an absolute profile.
	Cooling Profile	A modulating profile scheduling the operation of the cooling plant.
	Cooling Setpoint	The temperature set point for cooling control. It can be constant or it can follow an absolute profile.
	DHW Profile	Specifies the procedure for determining how the room’s DHW demand varies with time.
	DHW Consumption*	The maximum rate of hot water consumption.
	Aux Energy Profile	The modulating profile specifying the times when auxiliary energy will be incurred.
	Solar Reflected Fraction	The fraction of solar radiation entering the room which is assumed to be scattered back out through glazing.
	Furniture Mass Factor	An allowance for the thermal inertia of furniture.
	Humidity Control Min	The minimum percentage saturation level to be maintained in the room during periods of plant operation, as specified by the Cooling profile.
	Humidity Control Max	The maximum percentage saturation level to be maintained in the room during periods of plant operation, as specified by the Cooling profile.
	Max Humidification	The maximum level of humidification calculated during a Loads run.
	Max Dehumidification	The maximum level of dehumidification calculated during a Loads run.
	Max Heating + Humidification	The maximum level of room unit heating plus humidification calculated during a Loads run.
	Max Cooling + Dehumidification	The maximum level of room unit cooling plus dehumidification calculated during a Loads run.

* - only rooms with the consumption value entered in the units you have chosen to display will be coloured up.

Apache System

	HVAC System	The Apache System serving the room.
	Aux Vent System	The Apache System handling auxiliary ventilation air exchanges.
	DHW System	The Apache System that handles Domestic Hot Water.
	Heating Unit Size	The maximum heating unit demand encountered during loads analysis.
	Heating Unit Unlimited Capacity?	Whether or not there is unlimited capacity available from the heating units in the room.
	Heating Unit Fixed Capacity	The maximum capacity available from the heating units in the room.
	Heating Plant Radiant Fraction	The fraction of the heating plant’s output that is in the form of radiant, rather than convected, heat.
	Cooling Unit Size	The maximum cooling unit demand encountered during loads analysis.
	Cooling Unit Unlimited Capacity?	Whether or not there is unlimited capacity available from the cooling units in the room.
	Cooling Unit Fixed Capacity	The maximum capacity available from the cooling units in the room.
	Cooling Plant Radiant Fraction	The fraction of the cooling plant’s output that is in the form of radiant, rather than convected, heat.
	System Air Supply Flow Rate	The maximum flow rate of air supplied to the room.
	System Air Supply Free Cooling Flow Capacity	The maximum flow rate of external air available for providing free cooling to the room.
	System Air Supply Variation Profile	A modulating profile specifying the time variation of the system supply air flow.
	Has Mechanical Supply?	Whether or not the room is served by a mechanical ventilation air supply.
	Mechanical Supply Specific Fan Power	The specific fan power to be used for the calculation of auxiliary energy associated with room-level ventilation supply.
	Has Mechanical Exhaust?	Whether or not the room has mechanical ventilation extract.
	Extract Flow Rate	The exhaust extract flow rate.
	Mechanical Exhaust Specific Fan Power	The specific fan power to be used for the calculation of auxiliary energy associated with room-level ventilation extract.
	Is Remote Extract Fan?	Whether or not the extract fan is outside of the room.

Internal Gains

	Lighting Max Sensible Gain	The peak sensible heat gain of the lighting gain.
	Lighting Max Power Consumption	The peak rate of energy consumption of the lighting gain.
	Lighting Max Illuminance	The illuminance value used to calculate the maximum sensible lighting gain.
	Lighting Installed Power Density	The value used to calculate the maximum sensible lighting gain.
	Lighting Radiant Fraction	The fraction of the lighting gain’s output that is in the form of radiant, rather than convected, heat.
	Lighting Fuel	The type of fuel that the lighting gain uses.
	Lighting Variation Profile	The modulating profile specifying the variation of the lighting gain throughout the year.
	Lighting Dimming Profile	The modulating profile specifying the dimming variation of the lighting gain throughout the year.
	Lighting Diversity Factor	The multiplicative factor applied in simulation runs for the lighting gain.
	Lighting Ballast/Driver Fraction	The fraction of the Maximum Power Consumption that will be attributed to the ballast or LED driver of the lighting gain.
	People Max Sensible Gain	The peak sensible heat gain of the people gain.
	People Max Latent Gain	The peak latent heat gain of the people gain.
	People Occupancy	The occupancy density for the specified people gain.
	People Variation Profile	The modulating profile specifying the variation of the people gain throughout the year.
	People Diversity Factor	The multiplicative factor applied in simulation runs for the people gain.
	Computers Max Sensible Gain	The peak sensible heat gain of the computer gain.
	Computers Max Power Consumption	The peak rate of energy consumption of the computer gain.
	Computers Radiant Fraction	The fraction of the computer gain’s output that is in the form of radiant, rather than convected, heat.
	Computers Fuel	The type of fuel that the computer gain uses.
	Computers Variation Profile	The modulating profile specifying the variation of the computer gain throughout the year.
	Computers Diversity Factor	The multiplicative factor applied in simulation runs for the computer gain.
	Machinery Max Sensible Gain	The peak sensible heat gain of the machinery gain.
	Machinery Max Latent Gain	The peak latent heat gain of the machinery gain.
	Machinery Max Power Consumption	The peak rate of energy consumption of the machinery gain.
	Machinery Radiant Fraction	The fraction of the machinery gain’s output that is in the form of radiant, rather than convected, heat.
	Machinery Fuel	The type of fuel that the machinery gain uses.
	Machinery Variation Profile	The modulating profile specifying the variation of the machinery gain throughout the year.
	Machinery Diversity Factor	The multiplicative factor applied in simulation runs for the machinery gain.
	Cooking Max Sensible Gain	The peak sensible heat gain of the cooking gain.
	Cooking Max Latent Gain	The peak latent heat gain of the cooking gain.
	Cooking Max Power Consumption	The peak rate of energy consumption of the cooking gain.
	Cooking Radiant Fraction	The fraction of the cooking gain’s output that is in the form of radiant, rather than convected, heat.
	Cooking Fuel	The type of fuel that the cooking gain uses.
	Cooking Variation Profile	The modulating profile specifying the variation of the cooking gain throughout the year.
	Cooking Diversity Factor	The multiplicative factor applied in simulation runs for the cooking gain.
	Miscellaneous Max Sensible Gain	The peak sensible heat gain of the miscellaneous gain.
	Miscellaneous Max Latent Gain	The peak latent heat gain of the miscellaneous gain.
	Miscellaneous Max Power Consumption	The peak rate of energy consumption of the miscellaneous gain.
	Miscellaneous Radiant Fraction	The fraction of the miscellaneous gain’s output that is in the form of radiant, rather than convected, heat.
	Miscellaneous Fuel	The type of fuel that the miscellaneous gain uses.
	Miscellaneous Variation Profile	The modulating profile specifying the variation of the miscellaneous gain throughout the year.
	Miscellaneous Diversity Factor	The multiplicative factor applied in simulation runs for the miscellaneous gain.

Air Exchanges

	Infiltration Max Flow	The total peak air change rate for all Infiltration air exchanges in the room.
	Infiltration Variation Profile	The modulating profile(s) specifying the variation of the air flow throughout the year for all Infiltration air exchanges in the room.
	Infiltration Adjacent Condition	The source(s) of air entering the room for all Infiltration air exchanges in the room.
	Infiltration Adjacent Room	The adjacent room(s) from which the air is drawn for all Infiltration air exchanges in the room.
	Infiltration Temperature Profile	The absolute profile(s) specifying the supply temperature for all Infiltration air exchanges in the room.
	Infiltration Temperature Offset	The offset to be added to the external air temperature for all Infiltration air exchanges in the room.
	Natural Max Flow	The total peak air change rate for all Natural air exchanges in the room.
	Natural Variation Profile	The modulating profile(s) specifying the variation of the air flow throughout the year for all Natural air exchanges in the room.
	Natural Adjacent Condition	The source(s) of air entering the room for all Natural air exchanges in the room.
	Natural Adjacent Room	The adjacent room(s) from which the air is drawn for all Natural air exchanges in the room.
	Natural Temperature Profile	The absolute profile(s) specifying the supply temperature for all Natural air exchanges in the room.
	Natural Temperature Offset	The offset to be added to the external air temperature for all Natural air exchanges in the room.
	Auxiliary Max Flow	The total peak air change rate for all Auxiliary air exchanges in the room.
	Auxiliary Variation Profile	The modulating profile(s) specifying the variation of the air flow throughout the year for all Auxiliary air exchanges in the room.
	Auxiliary Adjacent Condition	The source(s) of air entering the room for all Auxiliary air exchanges in the room.
	Auxiliary Adjacent Room	The adjacent room(s) from which the air is drawn for all Auxiliary air exchanges in the room.
	Auxiliary Temperature Profile	The absolute profile(s) specifying the supply temperature for all Auxiliary air exchanges in the room.
	Auxiliary Temperature Offset	The offset to be added to the external air temperature for all Auxiliary air exchanges in the room.

Constructions

	Construction	The construction name and id of all constructions in use.
	Construction U-value	The U-value as calculated by the user selected method of all constructions in use. Calculation methods: EN-ISO / CIBSE / ASHRAE.
	Construction Net R-value	The total thermal resistance as calculated by the user selected method of all constructions in use. Calculation methods: EN-ISO / CIBSE / ASHRAE.
	Construction Total R-value	The total resistance of all layers of all constructions in use (does not include inside and outside surface resistances).
	Construction Outside Surface Emissivity	The emissivity of the outside surface of all constructions in use.
	Construction Inside Surface Emissivity	The emissivity of the inside surface of all constructions in use.
	Construction Outside Surface Resistance	The thermal resistance between the outside of a surface and its environment for all constructions in use.
	Construction Inside Surface Resistance	The thermal resistance between the inside of a surface and its environment for all constructions in use.
	Construction Regs Thermal Bridging Coefficient	The heat loss as a multiple of element area for non-repeating thermal bridging used for UK Building Regulations compliance.
	Construction Regs Data Source	The (generic or regulatory) data source of all constructions in use.
	Opaque Construction	The construction name and id of all opaque constructions in use.
	Opaque U-value	The U-value as calculated by the user selected method of all opaque constructions in use. Calculation methods: EN-ISO / CIBSE / ASHRAE.
	Opaque Net R-value	The total thermal resistance as calculated by the user selected method of all opaque constructions in use. Calculation methods: EN-ISO / CIBSE / ASHRAE.
	Opaque Total R-value	The total resistance of all layers of all opaque constructions in use (does not include inside and outside surface resistances).
	Opaque Thermal mass Cm	The thermal capacity per unit area and temperature rise of all opaque constructions in use.
	Opaque Thermal mass class	The weight category describing the Thermal mass Cm of all opaque constructions in use.
	Opaque Is Ground contact floor?	Whether or not the construction is marked as a ground-contact floor.
	Opaque Is Ground contact wall?	Whether or not the construction is marked as a ground-contact wall.
	Opaque Is Green roof?	Whether or not the construction is marked as a green roof.
	Opaque Thickness	The thickness of all opaque constructions in use calculated as the sum of the layer thicknesses.
	Opaque Mass	The area density of all opaque constructions in use as calculated from the densities and thicknesses of the construction layers.
	Opaque Outside Surface Emissivity	The emissivity of the outside surface of all opaque constructions in use.
	Opaque Inside Surface Emissivity	The emissivity of the outside surface of all opaque constructions in use.
	Opaque Outside Surface Resistance	The thermal resistance between the outside of a surface and its environment for all opaque constructions in use.
	Opaque Inside Surface Resistance	The thermal resistance between the inside of a surface and its environment for all opaque constructions in use.
	Opaque Outside Surface Solar Absorptance	The fraction of incident solar radiation absorbed by the outside of a surface for all opaque constructions in use.
	Opaque Inside Surface Solar Absorptance	The fraction of incident solar radiation absorbed by the inside of a surface for all opaque constructions in use.
	Opaque Outside Surface Visible Light Reflectance	The reflectance of visible light by the outside of a surface for all opaque constructions in use.
	Opaque Inside Surface Visible Light Reflectance	The reflectance of visible light by the inside of a surface for all opaque constructions in use.
	Opaque Regs Door type	The door type used for UK Building Regulations compliance testing for all door constructions in use.
	Opaque Regs Thermal Bridging Coefficient	The heat loss as a multiple of element area for non-repeating thermal bridging used for UK Building Regulations compliance.
	Opaque Regs Data Source	The data source of all opaque constructions in use.
	Opaque Regs Has Metal Cladding?	Opaque constructions can be identified as metal clad. This is used for thermal bridging in SBEM compliance testing.
	Opaque Regs Is Curtain Wall?	Wall constructions can be identified as a curtain walls. This is used for UK Building Regulations compliance testing.
	Opaque Regs Retain in Not/Ref Building?	If the construction belongs to the Partition or Floor/ceiling categories this additional parameter must be set for UK Building Regulations compliance testing.
	Glazed Construction	The construction name and id of all glazed constructions in use.
	Glazed U-value	The U-value as calculated by the user selected method of all glazed constructions in use. Calculation methods: EN-ISO / CIBSE / ASHRAE.
	Glazed Glass U-value	The Glass only U-value as calculated by the user selected method of all glazed constructions in use. Calculation methods: EN-ISO / CIBSE / ASHRAE.
	Glazed Frame U-value	The Frame only U-value as calculated by the user selected method of all glazed constructions in use. Calculation methods: EN-ISO / CIBSE / ASHRAE.
	Glazed Net R-value	The total thermal resistance as calculated by the user selected method of all glazed constructions in use. Calculation methods: EN-ISO / CIBSE / ASHRAE.
	Glazed Total R-value	The total resistance of all layers of all glazed constructions in use (does not include inside and outside surface resistances).
	Glazed g-value	The solar transmittance value of all glazed constructions in use.
	Glazed Shading Coefficient	The ratio of the instantaneous heat gain at normal incidence transmitted by a particular glass/blind combination to that transmitted by a reference glass.
	Glazed Transmittance	The transmittance value of the window for solar radiation at normal incidence for all glazed constructions in use.
	Glazed Shading Devices	The local, internal and external shading devices attached to all glazed constructions.
	Glazed Is Electrochromic?	Whether or not the glazed construction contains an Electrochromic layer.
	Glazed Electrochromic Profile	The modulating profile which determines when the electrochromic glazing is active.
	Glazed Frame Percentage	The material percentage of the glazing element taken up by the frame.
	Glazed Frame Absorptance	The ratio of the amount of radiation absorbed by a surface to the amount of radiation incident upon it.
	Glazed Frame Resistance	The thermal resistance of the frame.
	Glazed Frame Outside Surface Area Ratio	The outside surface area ratio of this frame. This is the material percentage of the outside surface taken up by the frame.
	Glazed Frame Inside Surface Area Ratio	The inside surface area ratio of this frame. This is the material percentage of the inside surface taken up by the frame.
	Glazed Frame Type	The type of frame material used in UK Part L compliance testing.
	Glazed Outside Surface Emissivity	The emissivity of the outside surface of all glazed constructions in use.
	Glazed Inside Surface Emissivity	The emissivity of the outside surface of all glazed constructions in use.
	Glazed Outside Surface Resistance	The thermal resistance between the outside of a surface and its environment for all glazed constructions in use.
	Glazed Inside Surface Resistance	The thermal resistance between the inside of a surface and its environment for all glazed constructions in use.
	Glazed Regs Type	The window type.
	Glazed Regs Surface Area Ratio	The “developed area to projected area” ratio for the window or rooflight.
	Glazed Regs Thermal Bridging Coefficient	The heat loss as a multiple of element area for non-repeating thermal bridging used for UK Building Regulations compliance.
	Glazed Regs Data Source	The data source of all glazed constructions in use.
	Glazed Regs Is Display Window?	Whether or not the window is a display window.
	Glazed Regs Use BFRC data values?	Whether or not the window uses values as defined under the conventions of the British Fenestration Rating Council.
	Glazed Regs g-value	The solar transmittance value as defined by the BFRC.
	Glazed Regs Light Transmittance	The light transmittance value as defined by the BFRC.
	Glazed Regs Glazing Type	The glazing type used for dwellings under UK Building Regulations compliance testing.
	Glazed Regs Sky Blocked	The degree of shading used for dwellings under UK Building Regulations compliance testing.

Other

	Room Group* ^2015FP1	The room group the zone is assigned to, based on the grouping scheme.
	Layer* ^2015FP1	The layer the zone is assigned to.
	Surface Adjacent Condition	The boundary condition used by Apache for thermal calculations.
	Surface Area	The total surface area (not taking into account any adjacencies or openings).
	Surface Tilt	The surface rotation angle, in degrees, from horizontal.
	Surface Orientation	The surface rotation angle, in degrees, clockwise from north.
	Surface Reflectance	The proportion of light striking the surface which will be reflected off of it.
	Opening Area	The total opening area.

* - to view items by their actual assigned colour, use the ‘View > Colour’ menu options in the VE instead.

Options

Depending on the type of variable you have selected, there are various options for you to choose from to alter what is seen in Model Viewer II.

Display Units

What units to display the variable in.

This may be a selection of units that you can choose from, fixed units, or not applicable (N/A).

Note: Applies to Continuous variables only.

False Colours

Allows you to select what false colour scale to apply to the model.

Infrared Standard
Infrared Cold
Infrared Warm
Infrared Hot
Spectrum Full
Spectrum Part
Spectrum Cold
Spectrum Mid
Spectrum Warm
Spectrum Hot
Mono Brown
Mono Sepia
Mono Blue

There are 13 colour scales in the list to choose from as standard. You can add to this list by creating your own colour scales. These should be in bitmap image format (.bmp; 24bit; 512x1px), and added to the <VE>’s Shared Content directory under the ‘Texture/GradientMaps’ folder.

Note: Applies to Continuous variables only.

Gradient Scale

What scale to use when converting the numeric values into the colours applied on the model.

The three options are as follows:

Relative [min..max] ( value − minimum ) ÷ ( maximum − minimum )

Absolute [0..max] ( value ÷ maximum )

Manual* [min..max] ( value − minimum ) ÷ ( maximum − minimum )

If you select Manual scaling, then anything outside the specified range with show up white.

Note: Applies to Continuous variables only.

* - user defined scale

Surface Type

Allows you to filter surface variables by type to reduce the number of items displayed.

The options include: All / Internal / External; Floors, Ceilings/Roofs, Walls.

Opening Type

Allows you to filter opening variables by type to reduce the number of items displayed.

The options include: All / Internal / External; Windows, Doors, Holes.

Make Windows Opaque

Allows you to make windows solid (i.e. opaque) in case the variable you have selected applies to glazing.

Any variables which apply at opening level will show this option as ‘recommended’.

Enable Room Labels

Allows you to quickly toggle the display of Room Names in the viewer on or off.

It provides direct access to the ‘Toggle Display Options > Room Names’ feature in Model Viewer II.

Shading Colours & Patterns

Allows you to define the order (from top to bottom) in which shading colours and patterns are applied to your variable.

Each item is assigned a new colour from the list, and after every 12 items displayed, the colours start again and the next pattern in the list is used.

Note: Applies to Discrete variables only.

Legend

The position and text colour of the legend can be changed if needed.

It can be placed in one of four positions: top left (default), bottom left, top right and bottom right.

Any colour can be chosen for the text; the default is black.