Navigator toolbar icon. This will ensure that the Navigator is synchronised with the model.DesignBuilder provides a great deal of flexibility in the way that block and zone geometry is defined. There are options to define building blocks using external measurements while providing correct internal zone geometry for floor area and zone volume calculations derived from actual surface thickness; or using internal measurements, in which case the zone geometry is the same as block geometry.
Select the template which best fits the way you would like to define the building geometry. The templates provided by DesignBuilder are:
External measurements, internal zone geometry - blocks are defined using external measurements and surfaces dimensions, zone volume and floors areas are all derived from the inner zone geometry.
The usual inheritance mechanism applies so loading the required template at building level defines the geometry convention for the whole building. Settings can be made down to zone level.
This template is also selected when creating a new building.
Tip: After making any changes to the model which could affect the geometry including construction type selection as well as the settings described on this page you should manually refresh the Navigator by pressing the Refresh Navigator toolbar icon. This will ensure that the Navigator is synchronised with the model.
This setting defines whether the geometric surface data used in the calculation (heat transfer etc) is based on the inner or outer zone volume dimensions. Options are:
Note: In cases where the 1-Inner volume option is selected and non-zero surface thickness settings are being used, any component block shading devices placed adjacent to the block at building level will not be exactly adjacent to the corresponding zone inner surfaces used in the simulations which are offset inwards from the block outer geometry. The resultant gap will allow solar radiation to pass into the windows which will not be apparent by looking at the model at building level or on the visualisation screen. You are therefore advised to avoid using the combination of 1-Inner volume geometry, non-zero surface thickness and external component blocks used as local shading devices. This issue does not arise with the local shading mechanism which ensures that overhangs, sidefins and louvre blades are offset with the window.
This setting dictates whether internal or external measurements are used to calculate the zone volume is required to calculate air volumes etc.
Note: The 1-Inner volume setting should generally be used for calculating zone volume.
This setting dictates whether internal or external measurements are used to calculate the zone floor area. This is required to calculate per m2 values such as occupancy and other internal gains etc. as well as floor area values for general reporting.
Note: The 1-Inner volume setting should generally be used for calculating zone floor area.
Each surface has its geometric thickness calculated from the construction selected but only when the checkbox for the associated surface type (list below) is unchecked. If the thickness is to be overridden then check the appropriate checkbox and enter the fixed surface thickness. Settings can be made from building level right down to surface level giving considerable flexibility over the model geometry.
If the external wall surface thickness is to be overridden (i.e. not derived from construction thickness) then check the checkbox and enter the wall thickness (in m or in).
If the below grade wall surface thickness is to be overridden (i.e. not derived from construction thickness) then check the checkbox and enter the wall thickness (in m or in).
If the partition surface thickness is to be overridden (i.e. not derived from construction thickness) then check the checkbox and enter the wall thickness (in m or in).
If the ground floor surface thickness is to be overridden (i.e. not derived from construction thickness) then check the checkbox and enter the floor thickness (in m or in).
Note: In most cases ground floor blocks are measured from ground level and the ground slab construction is not included in the volume of the building so this setting is normally overridden to be zero.
If the external floor surface thickness is to be overridden (i.e. not derived from construction thickness) then check the checkbox and enter the floor thickness (in m or in).
If the internal floor surface thickness is to be overridden (i.e. not derived from construction thickness) then check the checkbox and enter the floor thickness (in m or in).
If the semi-exposed floor surface thickness is to be overridden (i.e. not derived from construction thickness) then check the checkbox and enter the floor thickness (in m or in).
If the semi-exposed ceiling surface thickness is to be overridden (i.e. not derived from construction thickness) then check the checkbox and enter the ceiling thickness (in m or in).
If the pitched roof surface thickness is to be overridden (i.e. not derived from construction thickness) then check the checkbox and enter the pitched roof thickness (in m or in).
The depth of the ceiling void (in m or in). This is used, in addition to any surface thickness applied to the ceiling/roof surface to reduce the size of the zone inner volume and surfaces areas to account for the ceiling void.
Note: If the ceiling/roof construction already includes an air gap to define the ceiling void and its thickness is being used to define the inner volume then you should enter 0 here. Likewise, if the ceiling void is already modelled using its own zone then enter 0.
The depth of the floor void (in m or in). This is used, in addition to any surface thickness applied to the floor surface to reduce the size of the zone inner volume and surfaces areas to account for the floor void.
Note: If the floor construction already includes an air gap for the floor void and its thickness is being used to define the inner volume then you should enter 0 here. Likewise, if the floor void is already modelled using its own zone then enter 0.
Certain block geometries can prevent an inner zone volume being generated from the outer geometry resulting in the outer geometry being used instead (even if the 1-Inner volume Zone geometry and surface areas option has been set). This can happen when:
In both the above cases the zone outer geometry is used for all zone thermal surfaces. However although DesignBuilder is unable to generate full inner zone geometry for these zones it can still calculate approximate zone inner volumes and floor areas based on the outer zone geometry and surface thicknesses.
External measurements, perspective view
External measurements, section view