3.2 Overview of Scotland Section 6 (2022) compliance analysis in the VE
In the IES Virtual Environment all building regulations compliance testing is performed in the VE Compliance View.
The starting point for a compliance analysis is the input of geometrical data in ModelIT. The Template Manager, a central resource available from all Views, is typically used next to set up room system and ventilation parameters. Apache View, while not essential for compliance testing, commonly plays a part in the input of data for ratings (compliance and EPC) analyses that is shared by other Apache View applications, and Views such as SunCast and MacroFlo may also be invoked. The purpose of this section is to provide an overview of the roles played by the different parts of the VE in the compliance testing process.
ModelIT handles the input of the building geometry.
The Template Manager provides facilities for setting room conditions for a range of thermal applications. In the context of ratings, it also allows the specification of room activities that define the standard occupancy and plant operation conditions that apply in NCM procedures. In compliance tests these standard conditions automatically override certain of the Room Data settings that would otherwise be taken from the Room Template.
Apache View covers thermal applications such as heating and cooling load calculations, and simulation outside the context of ratings. The analysis in this View applies to the real building, for which all the input data is under your control. Where data is shared between the real building and the actual building, this data may be entered in either Apache View or VE Compliance. Examples of such shared data include:
· Location
· Constructions
· HVAC systems
· Renewables
VE Compliance covers thermal analysis specific to UK ratings analysis (Building Regulations compliance and EPCs. Some of the data required by ratings is shared with Apache View, as indicated above, and may be entered or edited in either View. Other ratings-specific data must be entered in the VE Compliance View. This includes:
· Regulatory framework
· Building type
· Room activities (may be specified by means of templates)
· Data relating to lighting and lighting control
· Heat bridging data
· Stage of analysis (Design or As Built)
· Data required by the BRUKL compliance calculator, including addresses, system characteristics and air-tightness properties
By default, VE Compliance displays data for the actual building. The notional building may also be inspected in this application. Facilities are provided for performing compliance simulations, test compliance simulations (on both the actual and notional buildings) and summertime temperature analyses for limiting solar gains.
SunCast analyses shading and internal solar penetration, factors which may optionally be taken into account in compliance simulations.
ApacheHVAC and Radiance are other Views covering component-based HVAC system simulation and lighting simulation, respectively, that are also available as adjuncts to compliance simulations.
Vista provides facilities for viewing the results of VE Compliance and other simulations.
