The Model Diagnostic Tool will provide diagnostic information on the model before analysis starts. It will highlight issues which may interfere with successful analysis.
Find the Model Diagnostic Tool on the Welcome Screen (top left). A small window will report progress as the model elements load into the tool. To save time, the Energy Model is not created at this stage.
Allow the Viewer to load. The Menu at the top of the screen may be expanded.
The Menu will then display.
It is recommended to follow the Wizard Steps outlined to check for all issues in your model.
- The first Step will examine the Energy Model
- The second Step will examine the model elements
- The final Step will run the Test automatically and check for issues
Running a Test
Alternatively, you may run a Test manually. This will generate the Energy Model and both Analytical Surfaces and Spaces may then be checked so that all are present and correct.
The wizard steps may also be hidden by unchecking the box shown.
If a Test is run, a list will appear in the panel on the right-hand side under the headings Building Elements and Energy Model. Issues will be listed here if properties are missing of if the application finds issues which may require attention. The lists may be expanded to review details of any issues.
Users may use these lists as a guide and some issues may not be critical for Energy Analysis eg. Stair risers, railings off axis etc. A list of warnings is provided at the bottom and will reduce as issues are resolved.
Using the Wizard
Follow the Steps listed for each check. This will walk you through each stage when you click on each item in the list.
Step 1. Analyze the Energy Model
Click on each item in the list to create the Energy Model, check for Analytical Surfaces/Spaces and Rooms. The Viewer will display each type of element in turn. You may also expand the list of items in the left hand panel and check a box to check specific elements.
Step 2. Check elements in the 3D View
Check Exterior and Interior Walls, Roofs, Floors, Room Bounding conditions and Levels.
To orbit the model in the Viewer use the right mouse button and drag in the viewer screen. To pan, hold down shift + the right mouse button and drag.
Step 3. Run an automatic Test
This will run a check for modeling issues, check for warnings and allow you to fix analytical properties for glazing elements.
Click on Fix Analytical Properties to open a dialog window which will allow you to assign a default Glass Type to elements which have missing thermal properties. This may later be changed for another type but will remove warnings and allow results to appear in the application.
A dialog message will appear to advise that you should then click on the last item in the list (4) which will appear Reload Building Model. This will reload the project with the properties assigned to elements.
As issues are resolved – reload the Model Diagnostic Tool to update the changes (the list of issues will not adjust automatically while the model is modified, as it will need to be reloaded and the new status of the model analyzed).
In the left-hand panel, items may be selected and will display in the viewer. Information is also provided in the lower panel on thermal properties, Revit Family name, Family Type and Room Bounding status. Elements with missing thermal properties will be indicated with a warning symbol. Checking the box beside these items will display more information. The Revit ID of the elements are also provided if you need to find these in the model.
On the top Menu, all Room Bounding elements may be displayed. This will reveal if any walls, floors or roofs are not room bounding . It may be correct or intended that some elements are not room bounding and so the User should make decisions on whether these notifications need attention or are as expected.
Hovering over entries in the list will highlight and isolate that element in the Viewer. Checking the box beside that element will display more details of properties and parameters relating to that element.
Revit ID numbers are also listed and may be searched by inputting a value on the left-hand panel ‘Building Elements’. Project warnings on the right-hand panel also includes the Revit element ID. This may be useful for finding the element in the model to resolve any issue.
Note: it is important that internal walls have Internal function and external walls have an External function in Revit. Walls with an External function are included in the Energy analysis. Floors similarly should have correct functions (Ground Floors should have an External function). Roof elements will always have an external function and this parameter is not editable in Revit.
Levels may also be displayed by clicking on the Levels listed and a grid will display to assist in locating elements in the model. One or multiple Levels may be displayed to check element locations if required.
Viewer
The model may be orbited in the Viewer by using the right mouse button. Shift + right mouse button allows panning in the Viewer. The scroll wheel on your mouse may be used to zoom in/out.
Create a simplified Project
There is also an option to create a copy of your model with only the envelope elements. This is useful for larger, complex models which may have modeling issues. The original model remains intact and a copy will be created with only the essential elements required for Energy Analysis (Roofs,Floors, Walls and Glazing). Internal Walls are also retained. Flexibility is provided to include or exclude elements as you wish.
This will remove all extraneous elements (furniture, structural elements, unused families in the project etc). Sheets, Views in Revit will also be discarded. This will produce a simplified, smaller file size which will process faster and make it easier to diagnose issues.
Note: While the Tool will help to find model issues, it will not always be able to fix all issues such as overlapping elements, gaps in the model enclosure, roofs modeled as floors etc. Some manual adjustment may still be required in Revit to correct issues.
A temporary copy of the model is created with an extension _FPP. A new Sheet is added to the list in Revit. This Sheet may be saved as a new file by right clicking and providing a location and name on your computer (Save as New File). When this file is opened, the model will be simplified. The Sheet View will open with a 3D View. Under Revit’s View Menu, open a Default 3D View and close the Sheet View.
This 3D View may then be used to analyze the model.
Note: The Site Location, True North and Project Information will need to be restored before Energy Analysis as these are discarded during the copy creation.
Some model elements may prevent saving of the new file such as sweeps and reveals. Please remove these before using the process. An advisory message will display during the process if this is the case. The elements which are preventing saving will be listed for attention. When these items are resolved, the Sheet will save to a new file.
