Connecting spaces and U values for banked wall

[Richsa]

Hi all,

I am trying to connect spaces vertically to act as a staircase, but its not working, should I be trying something different?

Also, the building is built into a cutting meaning that the rear of the ground floor is essentially underground, is the best way to identify this when modelling just by improving the U value of the rear ground floor wall?

Thank you in advanced,

Rich

[EcoNerd]

Yeah - I was/am asking myself the same questions.
About the staircase: I drew the staircases as if they were regular rooms belonging to the corresponding floor and I put holes into them leaving a bit of material around them. But I'm sure there must be a better way.

About the cutting: Good question...

[PCully]

Staircases- what doesn't work when you connect them? That shouldn't be a problem really, if you connect them opaque surfaces then put holes in the ceiling to represent any open parts that should represent it well enough?

Part of the building underground - use the divide tool to separate the spaces into parts above and below ground level (along a gradient if required), then you may choose to connect the spaces again or leave them separate (remember to ensure the surface that splits them has 100% hole so air/heat flow is modelled correctly). Then if you select the space and go down to adjacency level you will see you can select the different surfaces and assign appropriate constructions. In thermal views you can also query the adjacency and set an Adjacent Condition (the standard would be Temp from profile then use a constant 10 absolute profile to represent 10degreesC ground temp)

That should represent what you want,
Phil

[Richsa]

Thank you Phil, I was just being silly with the stairs but the rest of it makes sense.

Do you have any ideas how to delete a partition wall, sounds crazy but I have used modelit to draw a 4 story commercial building and I am wanting to represent any changes to partitions on the top floor, only thing is, I cannot delete a partition wall once it is in place? Please help.

Rich

[PCully]

yep,

Merge will remove the partition entirely and the volumes will be represented as a single room.

Or use the Connect Spaces option and choose to "remove partitions" this will simply add a hole to the total area of the partition giving the same overall effect.

If Merge works for your geometry then that will leave you with a nicer model in the end.

Phil