The following workflow is recommended for preparing and performing a <VE> Compliance analysis for Part L2 (2006). The plan need not be followed slavishly. Variations can be made in the ordering of the tasks and experienced users may wish to take alternative approaches to some of the stages. The purpose of the plan is to guide you through the basic process.
Create geometry
The process usually begins with the entry of building geometry in ModelIT.
Set location and weather data
The building location is specified in the APLocate utility. The L2 regulations currently cover locations in England and Wales.
Weather data for simulation-based Part L2 (2006) assessments is provided by CIBSE and consists of two weather files – a Test Reference Year (TRY) used for Criterion 1 and a Design Summer Year (DSY) which is used in one of the methods for showing compliance with Criterion 3. TRY and DSY files are provided for 14 UK locations. You will need the TRY and DSY files corresponding to the nearest of these locations to the building location. A licence to use this data must be obtained from CIBSE. IES acts as an agent for CIBSE and the licence to use the data may be purchased online using an option on the IES Online menu. If you use this option, copies of the files in the IES .fwt format will automatically added to your installation.
Create and assign constructions
Constructions for building elements such as walls, roofs and glazing are created in the Constructions Database (CDB) utility accessible via Apache View or <VE> Compliance. They should satisfy the U value requirements of Criterion 2. The construction definition should include allowance for non-repeating thermal bridging, using an area-based thermal bridging coefficient. Constructions may be assigned to building elements in either Apache View or <VE> Compliance.
Set building type and general data
At this stage you may wish to go to <VE> Compliance and set up some of the high-level data required for the compliance analysis.
First check that the Regulatory framework selector is set to ‘Part L2 (2006) – ApacheSim’.
In the ‘Building settings’ box near the bottom of the screen select a building type from the list. This indicates the type of building for Part L2 purposes and determines what room activities can be specified in the building. It also automatically sets the Building Category, which determines glazing areas in the notional building.
When the building type is set or edited the associated NCM Templates are automatically imported into the model.
For a building with multiple use, the various parts must be analysed in separate <VE> Compliance assessments. The part of the building included in a particular analysis is defined by the settings of the check boxes ‘Include room in Building Regs analysis?’ for each room on the Room Data Building Regulations tab.
An efficient way to assign Room Data is by means of Room Templates. A Room Template contains a collection of settings that define the internal conditions applying in a room of a given kind. By defining these conditions centrally you can assign them quickly to large numbers of rooms and transfer them readily to other models via the Import Template mechanism.
Room Templates contain data arranged on tabs under the headings Building Regulations, Room Conditions, Systems, Internal Gains and Air Exchanges. Not all this data is used in <VE> Compliance assessments, some being overridden by standard settings. It is therefore important to understand where and how the various components of Room Template data are used. In particular, if you do not intend to use the analysis options available in Apache View (which analyses the real building) you do not need to set Room Template data on the Room Conditions and Internal Gains tabs, or create air exchanges of the Auxiliary Ventilation type.
One of the attributes that can usefully be set in the Room Template is the NCM Activity, which is always partnered with an NCM Building Type. If these attributes are set in the Room Template, rooms assigned the template will automatically have the NCM Activity (and all the Room Data associated with it) set in <VE> Compliance. (This applies provided that the NCM Building Type set globally for the building in<VE> Compliance matches that of the Room Template. If this is not the case, the Room Template NCM Activity setting will be ignored and a default substituted for it.)
If you adopt a policy of including NCM Activity settings in your Room Templates you will save a lot of time and effort assigning NCM Activities to individual rooms and groups of rooms in <VE> Compliance.
The next section provides guidance on the Room Template settings.
Assuming a successful outcome, the Part L2 (2006) compliance process is now complete in relation to those aspects that can be tested before construction. The reports generated, together with appropriate supporting evidence, can now be submitted to Building Control.
The content of Part L submissions should be agreed in advance with the local Building Control officer as there may be differing interpretations during the early stages of implementation of the new regulations. These are likely to be resolved over time as a sufficient number of Competent Persons are trained and accredited. It may be necessary, for instance, to agree how compliance with Criterion 4 will be met post construction as part of the pre-Construction report.
Create or import room templates
An efficient way to assign Room Data is by means of Room Templates. A Room Template contains a collection of settings that define the internal conditions applying in a room of a given kind. By defining these conditions centrally you can assign them quickly to large numbers of rooms and transfer them readily to other models via the Import Template mechanism.
Room Templates contain data arranged on tabs under the headings Building Regulations, Room Conditions, Systems, Internal Gains and Air Exchanges. Not all this data is used in <VE> Compliance assessments, some being overridden by standard settings. It is therefore important to understand where and how the various components of Room Template data are used. In particular, if you do not intend to use the analysis options available in Apache View (which analyses the real building) you do not need to set Room Template data on the Room Conditions and Internal Gains tabs, or create air exchanges of the Auxiliary Ventilation type.
One of the attributes that can usefully be set in the Room Template is the NCM Activity, which is always partnered with an NCM Building Type. If these attributes are set in the Room Template, rooms assigned the template will automatically have the NCM Activity (and all the Room Data associated with it) set in <VE> Compliance. (This applies provided that the NCM Building Type set globally for the building in<VE> Compliance matches that of the Room Template. If this is not the case, the Room Template NCM Activity setting will be ignored and a default substituted for it.)
If you adopt a policy of including NCM Activity settings in your Room Templates you will save a lot of time and effort assigning NCM Activities to individual rooms and groups of rooms in <VE> Compliance.
The next section provides guidance on the Room Template settings.
Assuming a successful outcome, the Part L2 (2006) compliance process is now complete in relation to those aspects that can be tested before construction. The reports generated, together with appropriate supporting evidence, can now be submitted to Building Control.
The content of Part L submissions should be agreed in advance with the local Building Control officer as there may be differing interpretations during the early stages of implementation of the new regulations. These are likely to be resolved over time as a sufficient number of Competent Persons are trained and accredited. It may be necessary, for instance, to agree how compliance with Criterion 4 will be met post construction as part of the pre-Construction report.
