| Ripple HVAC Loads Toolkit Default Settings | |||||
| Setting Location: | Setting: | Revit Versions: | Default Setting: | Comments: | |
| Room & Area Computations: | Areas and Volumes | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | True | This is required to have 3d spaces, which are required for loads. | |
| Energy Settings: | Basic | Mode | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Use Building Elements | The loads toolkit is built for performing true loads on actual spaces bounded by building elements. “Conceptual Masses” makes assumptions about massing elements (Massing & Site tab) in the models. In our experience a rule of thumb CFM/sf is better to use at this stage. |
| Ground Plane: | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Level below the average topography height, if no topography exists, it picks the lowest level. | Specify the level below which the energy model surface is assumed to be in contact with the ground for heat transfer. For a building where the ground floor is partially underground (for example, built into a slope), use the level with the most exposure as the ground plane. This is the setting that is hardest to automatically set. Make sure it is accurate. |
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| Project Phase: | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | the latest phase in the project, typically “Project Completion”. | This will calculate loads for every space that is not demolished. You may have existing spaces that don’t need loads calculated for, you can either delete those spaces or ignore them. | ||
| Analytical Space Resolution: | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Not Applicable | Only applies to analytical spaces which are used for energy modeling. | ||
| Analytical Surface Resolution | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Not Applicable | Only applies to analytical spaces which are used for energy modeling. | ||
| Perimeter Zone Depth | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Not Applicable | This is only used if “Mode” includes Conceptual Masses. See comments for “Mode” setting. | ||
| Perimeter Zone Division | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Not Applicable | This is only used if “Mode” includes Conceptual Masses. See comments for “Mode” setting. | ||
| Average Vertical Void Height Threshold | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Not Applicable | Only applies to analytical spaces which are used for energy modeling. This value is used to avoid the application of unwanted thermal loads and properties to analytical spaces like ceiling voids and small vertical spaces, such as closets and small storage spaces. When an analytical space’s average height falls within this threshold, it will automatically be assigned to Unconditioned zone equipment. All analytical spaces assigned as Unconditioned are not included in any systems analyses. Analytical spaces do not have a height, so the Average Vertical Void Height Threshold is determined by dividing the volume by the area. | ||
| Horizontal Void/Chase Area Threshold | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Not Applicable | Only applies to analytical spaces which are used for energy modeling. This is a variable that “flattens” bounding elements. If there is a less than a 1′ foot bump out of the wall, the load engine will assume it’s flat. It greatly reduces processing time by not trying to analyze the area of every mortar joint. 1′ is the Revit default and works well. | ||
| Advanced | Export Complexity | 2022, 2023, 2024 | Not Applicable | Only applies to analytical spaces which are used for energy modeling. | |
| Detailed Model (All Parameters) | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Not Applicable | This is only used if “Mode” includes Conceptual Masses. | ||
| Building Type | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | “LTK-Load-Default Building” | This is a building type that will be assigned to spaces if nothing else is (when Space Type = <building>). Properties can be viewed by going to Manage Tab -> MEP Settings -> Building/Space Type Settings. | ||
| Building Operating Schedule | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | 24/7 Facility | The building operating schedule will set back turn off internal loads during unoccupied periods. For HVAC loads, we want to assume peak internal loading during peak external loading so we set the building to operate 24/7. | ||
| HVAC System | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Not Applicable | This setting selects and HVAC system type and attempts to add additional load, such as fan power, as necessary. It relies on the HVAC Zone being set. The HVAC Zone combines some aspects of the AHU zone and some aspects of the terminal unit zone and there’s no clear direction on what the zone is supposed to be, so HVAC Zones are disregarded. | ||
| Outdoor Air Information | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Not Applicable | This is only used if “Mode” includes Conceptual Masses. | ||
| Export Category | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Spaces | Ripple HVAC Loads Toolkit utilizes spaces for calculation. | ||
| Conceptual Types | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Not Applicable | This is only used if “Mode” includes Conceptual Masses. | ||
| Schematic Types | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Not Applicable | This is the set of thermal properties that will override space bounding elements (when Space Construction Type = <building>). If you run the “Set Code Minimum Construction Types” funtion, these will be set to code minimum for your area. | ||
| Detailed Elements | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | True | This checkbox only matters for gbXML exports, if this button is checked, the gbXML will export using the detailed elements, regardless of if they are overridden or not. | ||
| Heating and Cooling Loads | Building Type | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Set in Energy Settings: Advanced | See Energy Settings | |
| Location | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Not Set | Set by aqcuiring coordinates from architectural model or manually setting. | ||
| Ground Plane: | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Set in Energy Settings: Basic | See Energy Settings | ||
| Project Phase | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Set in Energy Settings | See Energy Settings | ||
| Sliver Space Tolerance | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | 3′ | The sliver space tolerance is meant to account for spaces which are enclosed, but for which a space is not actually placed, such as plumbing chases. When you’re setting your sliver space tolerance you should be thinking of what the smallest dimension in the building that is actually exposed to the exterior. For example, if you have a 3’ 1” outdoor alleyway that cuts into your building, you can set your sliver space tolerance to 3’ 0” so that the model doesn’t disregard the alleyway as an outdoor space, but still ignores all of the 3’ chases and voids around the building. If the sliver spaces aren’t accounted for, the load engine will assume that the sliver space is exterior. Typically these internal walls will have not windows, so the impact on the load will not be excessive. But it is good practice to review the space placement to ensure the entire building envelope is captured. This setting was moved to “Energy Settings: Advanced” in Revit 2022. | ||
| Building Envelope | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Identify Exterior Elements | When set to “Identify Exterior Elements” the load engine will calculate if the bounding element (wall, roof, ect.) is exterior. Otherwise, if set to “Use Function Parameter”, the load engine will check the element’s “Function” parameter, and if it’s set to “Exterior”, the load engine will assume the element is exterior. Because architects may make mistakes when setting the “Function” parameter, it’s better to calculate if the element is exterior or not and not rely on the architect. This setting was moved to “Energy Settings: Advanced” in Revit 2022. | ||
| Analytical Grid Cell Size | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | 3′ | This setting effects how the load engine calculates if the bounding element is exterior or not. The smaller it is the longer the load calculation will take. We’ve found that 3′ is a good compromise between speed and accuracy. | ||
| Building Service | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Not Applicable | This setting selects and HVAC system type and attempts to add additional load, such as fan power, as necessary. It relies on the HVAC Zone being set. The HVAC Zone combines some aspects of the AHU zone and some aspects of the terminal unit zone and there’s no clear direction on what the zone is supposed to be, so HVAC Zones are disregarded. | ||
| Schematic Types | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | <building> | If you ran the “Set Code Minimum Construction Types”, these will be set to the IECC code minimums for the project’s climate zone. | ||
| Building Infiltration Class | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | None | We recommend using active pressure control to elimate infiltration. Loose – infiltration level of approximately 0.076 cfm/sqft Medium – infiltration level of approximately 0.038 cfm/sqft Tight – infiltration level of approximately 0.019 cfm/sqft None – construction has an infiltration level of 0 cfm/sqft |
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| Report Type | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Detailed | A detailed report type will report the most information available. | ||
| Use Load Credits | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | False | If “Use Load Credits” is true, the load engine with subtract internal loads from the total heating load, so it may assume that the lights and people are enough to heat a space. Our opinion is that your heating load should assume a totally unoccupied building. | ||
