Doors

Openings tab in model data

External Doors

External doors are used for modelling heat conduction. They can also provide airflow between the exterior and interior when the Calculated natural ventilation model option is selected.

Doors can be added to the model by navigating to the appropriate surface and either:

1. Setting the Auto generate option and settings the Preferred width and height options. In this case, for surfaces that do not contain any custom openings, a single door will be positioned at the left side of the surface looking from outside.

2. Alternatively, for more control over the placement position of the doors, you can draw the doors using the Draw Door command.  Note that on surfaces where custom openings have been defined, any changes to door layout model data on the Opening tab is ignored.

Note: if you have drawn custom doors at the surface level then these will be used even if the Auto generate checkbox is not checked. The Auto generate checkbox only controls the automatic generation of doors, not their use in the calculations.

The additional door model data that can be added is described under:

• Door Placement - defines the size and position of door when using the Auto generate option.
• Door Operation - defines the times when doors can open.

Important Note: The external door operation settings are only made available for editing when the Natural Ventilation > On checkbox is checked on the HVAC tab.

Glazed doors

Doors use opaque constructions and if the door you wish to model is transparent then it should be modelled using a window. If only a portion of the door is glazed then the door could be modelled as part door and part window.

Internal Doors

Regardless of the Natural ventilation model option selected, data on internal doors can always be accessed. In this case the properties of the selected door component(s) define the resistance to heat conduction and airflow (see details below under Door Modelling).

Note: Internal door data is not available at zone level to avoid ambiguity when different settings are made in adjacent zones. Surface level internal door settings are generally inherited from block level, however settings for inter-block doors are inherited from the building level. For details on these rules see: Zone Level Data for Internal Surfaces.

Otherwise the same comments made above for External doors also apply to Internal doors.

Door Modelling

 

Calculated Natural Ventilation (Simulations only)

 

Each door is modelled using:

 

• An EnergyPlus Door. The heat conduction through the Door component is combined with the Wall and Partition results.
• An EnergyPlus AirflowNetwork:MultiZone:Component:DetailedOpening and other associated AirflowNetwork components, providing a flow path. You can define Door operation.

 

Scheduled Natural Ventilation (and Heating and Cooling Design Calculations)

 

Each door is modelled using:

 

• An EnergyPlus Door. The heat conduction through the Door component is combined with the Wall and Partition results.
• Outdoor air ventilation airflows are defined explicitly for zones as a whole and external doors do not contribute to this.
• Internal doors also have an EnergyPlus ZoneMixing object using parameters set in the Model options dialog. External doors do not exchange air with Scheduled natural ventilation.

 

More details on how door operation is modelled in the Door Operation help topic.