Overview of VE-SBEM interface features

L2 (2010) SBEM constitutes one of the Regulatory Frameworks covered by the VE Compliance application of the Virtual Environment. A brief summary of its features follows.

 

The VE Compliance view covers the following Regulatory Frameworks, which may be selected using the Regulatory Framework (Regs) selector on the VE Compliance toolbar:

·       Part L2 (2010) – England/Wales

·       Part F (2012) – N Ireland

·       Section 6 (2010) – Scotland

·       Part L1 (SAP 9.80) – England/Wales

·       Part L2 (2013) - England

·       UK Dwellings (SAP 9.90, 2013 and beyond)

 

The VE Compliance view offers the following Methods, which may be selected using the Method selector on the VE Compliance toolbar:

·       ApacheSim - compliance

·       ApacheSim - EPC

·       SBEM - compliance

·       SBEM - EPC

 

This Guide covers the last two methods above, in conjunction with selecting Part L2 (2010) from the Regulatory Framework (Regs) selector on the toolbar.

 

The different Regulations all share core features of the VE Compliance view, such as the model workspace, the browsers, the menus and the toolbars. For a description of these please consult the VE Compliance View User Guide.

 

Under the SBEM method, the actual, notional and reference buildings are generated within SBEM and their properties cannot all be viewed directly through the VE interface although some aspects of the Actual Building can be queried and modified where applicable as described below.

 

Data relating to individual rooms is entered via the Space Data interface (accessed by Query or more commonly via Tabular Space Data >> Space Data (NCM) Group). General Building Regulations data, such as the room ‘activity’, is specified on the Building Regulations tab. SBEM specific data, including all NCM Lighting data is also entered on this tab.

 

Other tabs specify data for room conditioning, systems and Transpire Solar Collectors.

 

Editing of Space Data can be done via Tabular Space Data in the Space Data (NCM)Group:

 

 

The internal gain data for the room’s Building type and Activity is read by SBEM from its own copy of the NCM database, so Space Data’s Internal gain and Air exchange tabs are not visible (as they would be for the ApacheSim method).

Where any parameter is set from NCM Template and not editable for the Actual Building the Space Data interface will grey it and not allow the user to modify the values.

 

HVAC and hot water systems for SBEM are described using counterparts of the parameters appearing in the iSBEM interface.  The system properties are defined in Apache Systems (NCM System Wizard as well as Hot Water and Solar Water tabs) with further room level inputs in the System tab of Space Data.

 

Building regulations data relating to constructions (for instance, whether a window is classified as display glazing) is entered via fields labelled ‘Building Regulations’ within the construction data dialogs in Construction Database (CDB).

 

The Part L2 analysis and results dialog on the lower edge of the VE Compliance view is divided into two tabs:

·       Part L2 (2010)- England/Wales - Analysis: facilities for defining Room settings, Building settings and specifying the Part L2 analysis to be performed (for SBEM method only the Compliance or EPC calculations are available here).

·       Results: facilities for viewing the results of the analysis and opening the output PDFs.

The contents of the first of these tabs depends on the room selection.

When at least one room is selected it displays editable data for the NCM activities assigned to the selected rooms.

When no room is selected it provides access to the Building & System Data dialog, which displays data at building or system level required by the BRUKL compliance and EPC generation modules, together with thermal bridging data.

In either case the tab also displays options for running compliance or EPC analyses.

The Results tab displays the results of the compliance or EPC analysis.

 

Guidance on Part L2 (2010) assessments

The VE Compliance application provides the means to test compliance with the conservation of fuel and power requirements of the UK Building Regulations, including (but not limited to) the Part L2 2010 regulations applying in England and Wales.

The following guidance is aimed at providing an overview of the implementation of the Part L2 2010 Building Regulations in the VE software. Much of this guidance can also be applied to the improvement of EPC ratings.