Part L2 (2013-2014) ApacheSim – Analysis

This dialog, on a tab at the lower edge of the VE Compliance screen, deals with general data required for Part L2 (2013-2104) ApacheSim compliance analysis. It also provides the means to execute compliance simulations and other types of simulation. Results from the compliance simulations are displayed on the neighbouring Results tab.

The Analysis and Results tab will be visible provided no room is selected.

This handles the input of general data required for Part L (2013) ApacheSim compliance simulations.

The building type for the L2 (2013-2104) compliance analysis, sometimes referred to as the NCM building type. The NCM methodology requires the building to be assigned a type such as ‘Airport terminal’, ‘Hospital’ or ‘Office’. For each building type there is a set of ‘activities’ that can be assigned to rooms in the building (optionally via templates) and which dictate the conditions assumed in those rooms. The building type also determines the building category, which is used to set the glazing percentages in the notional building.

The building type may be overridden for individual rooms in buildings housing a variety of activities.

For each building type a Building Category is automatically set.

This button displays the Building & System Data dialog, which is also accessible via the Settings menu.

Three types of simulation can be performed on the actual building. In the case of the notional building only the second type of simulation (test run) is enabled.

This button triggers the Part L2 (2013-2014) compliance analysis, which has four stages:

·       U-value checks

·       Simulation of the actual building using ApacheSim

·       Simulation of the notional building using ApacheSim

·       Invocation of the BRUKL compliance calculator

The U-value checks test for compliance with the fabric requirements of Criterion 2. A test failure halts the compliance analysis.

The simulations are performed over a year using the appropriate CIBSE Test Reference Year (TRY) weather dataset. Simulation settings for these simulations may be edited in a facility accessed via the Building & System Data dialog. Simulation settings are shared between the three types of simulation (except where overridden by the demands of a particular type of simulation – for example the requirement for compliance simulations to cover the whole year).

The BRUKL compliance calculator uses the simulation results to calculate the TER and BER, which then determine whether compliance has been achieved. The results are incorporated in reports accessible via the Results tab.

This button pops up an ApacheSim dialog allowing test simulations to be carried out on the actual building under the conditions applied for compliance simulations. This provides a means of testing the performance of the actual building before committing to a compliance run.

This frame provides shortcuts to tools for setting the following model data:

·       Site location and weather data (APlocate)

·       Constructions

·       Building Templates

·       Apache Systems