7.2 Façades

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Please note that the following information refers to the older version 1.0 and is to be updated soon…

In Façades, users can explore and manipulate the performance and geometric properties of each façade and glazing element.  Selections can be made through the Façade Navigator, by clicking on the Facades/Surfaces listed, or by selecting a Surface/Façade on the Revit Model itself.

The selections chosen will populate the Façades with relevant family data based on the user requirements.  If no Surfaces/Facades are selected, then all are assumed to be selected and results will display for the entire model.

When no Surfaces are selected, the Dashboard will display average weighted results for the model.  If you choose Select All to select all Facades and Surfaces in the model, the results will be the same.  Results may sometimes appear different in Detailed models if the setting for ignoring Surfaces below a certain area is adjusted in Settings.

Using this setting, smaller Surfaces (janitor’s closets, service ducts etc) will be excluded when Select All is used.  This can account for some differences in Dashboard results when all are selected or when none are selected.  The minimum Surface Area to be included may be set in the Settings Tool.  You may wish to adjust this to include or exclude smaller Surfaces from the results.

Option in Settings to exclude Surfaces below a certain area

Note: If you find that the list of Facades in the Façade Navigator differs from that in the Charts, please adjust the tolerance of areas that are included in the Settings.  Under the setting for ‘Do not Show Surfaces smaller than’, set this value to a lower figure eg. reduce it to 1 foot squared or zero so that more areas are included.

In the Façades window, under Groups and Filters, you may sort by: Façade / Orientation / Story Height / Space / Percentage Glazing / Heat Gain Group / Daylight. The user can also filter the results by: Percentage Glazing / Area / Orientation / Floor.

When the list is re-sorted and selections are made, calculated values will then be displayed on the Dashboard accordingly.  Selected Façades/Surfaces will highlight on the model in a 3D View (but not in a Revit 3D Energy Model View).

Selections in the list will highlight on the model

Guardian Glass for BIM defines Surfaces to manage the Facades and Surfaces in the project.  This is based on information from Revit’s Energy Analytical Model (EAM).  Where floors and walls intersect, surfaces are created to organize the project into manageable areas.  Results for these areas may be viewed independently or as part of a larger Façade which is a collection of Surfaces with the same orientation.

For the Spatial Elements method, surfaces from Revit’s Energy Model are used to define the areas on the exterior and Analytical Surfaces and Spaces are used for calculations. Information from the model  regarding heights, widths and orientations is extracted from Revit. Curtain Walls are assigned their own Façade in Spatial Elements.

Curtain Walls receive separate Surfaces with the Spatial Elements method

In the Building Elements method, Guardian Glass for BIM also reads Shade Surfaces from the EAM (Energy Analytical Model) when there are no rooms or spaces present. These are used to interpolate surfaces which are not defined by internal spaces. In Building Elements, Curtain Walls Surfaces are part of a larger Façade.

Note: The Dashboard will display the Average values for all the Surfaces that are currently selected in the Tree List of the Façade Manager. Users should note that the inclusion of surfaces with zero glazing (eg. solid walls) will reduce the average values for Solar Load and Daylighting shown in the Dashboard.

Note: Users should therefore be careful in the selection of surfaces as choosing one with 50% Glazing with another surface which has 0% Glazing will display an average of 25% Glazing. Solar Load and Daylight average values will also be different on the Dashboard than when a glazed surface only is chosen.

Where Surfaces may be grouped/filtered by Percentage Glazing, a user may wish to avoid any surfaces which have zero glazing for this reason.

 

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