DesignBuilder tips

Miscellaneous information you should know before starting 'serious work' with DesignBuilder:

 

  1. Buildings are put together by drawing blocks. Block creation and edit operations take place at the building level.
  2. Blocks can be subdivided into more than one zone by drawing partitions. Partitioning takes place at the block level.
  3. Default data is inherited from the level above, so blocks inherit their data from the building level, zones inherit their data from blocks, surfaces from zones and openings from surfaces. It is therefore possible to make global changes to the model by changing data at building level. It is possible to override default by editing the data. So for example, you could change the external wall construction for a whole block.
  4. Data templates are the source of default data in DesignBuilder.  They can also be used for loading data to the model en masse. For example you can load the 'Energy code - heavyweight' construction template at the building level to change the construction of the entire building to thermally heavyweight elements which comply with local energy codes/building regulations.
  5. You can clear non-default data (i.e. data that has been explicitly entered) to its default state by using the Clear to default command.
  6. When drawing a block which touches another block, you should use the shift key to lock the base perimeter to the correct plane before drawing.  You can release the shift key once you have placed the first point of the perimeter.
  7. Use the snap points - DesignBuilder block geometry is quite easy to work with but you must use the positioning tools provided to ensure that blocks connect exactly. The only way to do this is to use snaps - do not position blocks and partitions relative to each other 'by eye'.
  8. Large building models can take a long time to simulate. You should familiarise yourself with the Working with Large Models help topic before creating a large/complex DesignBuilder model.
  9. DesignBuilder dsb files are already compressed so there is no need to 'Zip' them when attaching to e-mails or support forums.
  10. Understand DesignBuilder constructions, in particular the way floors and ceilings are defined.
  11. Name your zones. Do this by clicking twice (not double-clicking) on the name in the Navigator and typing the name. This is especially useful when merging zones and when checking adjacencies of individual surfaces in the Navigator.
  12. If you are exporting IDF data for use outside DesignBuilder please read the Exporting EnergyPlus IDF Files topic.