7.6 Add Curtain Walls

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If several Surfaces have been selected, one Curtain Wall will be generated over all the Surfaces that are selected (if they are adjacent or stacked on top of each other) using the settings that you have input.

Surfaces that are separated, will each receive an independent Curtain Wall.

Note: At least one Curtain Panel must be loaded in the model so that it may be used when generating the Curtain Wall. If you intend to use glazed and solid panels, please set at least one panel for each with thermal properties assigned first before using this function.

Once a solid wall is selected on the model, the Add Curtain Wall and Add Window buttons display in Facades tab.

Adding Curtain Walls – choose a solid wall on the model

If you have not used the Building Manager to calculate the Solar Loads, a message will prompt you to do so.  This may display after the model has been changed eg. glazing has been added or deleted.

Note: When you select a solid wall on the model, the Add Curtain Wall button will display on the Toolbar.  This will open the dialog window for creating Curtain Walls.  There must be at least one family in the model for each of the following: a Glazed Panel, Solid Panel and Mullion.  The glazed and solid panel families must also have thermal properties.  If you have not yet assigned analytical properties to at least one curtain panel, a message will display to advise you.

The only required setting is the method to define the glazing.  Dimensions, Panel and Mullion Specification are optional but may be input if required.

The Steps to creating a Curtain Wall are listed below:

  1. Choose the method for generation. Options are Percentage Glazing or Target Solar Load. Curtain Walls are created on the basis of glazed area or a Solar Load value.
  2. Input values for Height and Width of the Curtain Wall
  3. Enter the Head Height and Sill Height
  4. Select specifications for the Glazed Panels and Mullions
  5. Enter values for Grid Distances if required
  6. Click on Preview Curtain Walls to generate the elements on the model

You may leave the default values and after selecting a method of defining the curtain walls (1),  continue to Preview on the model.

Workflow for generating Curtain Walls

In the next window, while the Curtain Walls are being previewed (but not yet created), a summary of the settings are displayed.  Here you may also enter values for solid panel placement and offset from floor slabs.

Surface Tabs appear at the top of this window and changes to settings here will only apply to the Surface Tab you are currently.

If the settings are not suitable after you preview the curtain walls, you may wish to begin again.  A button is provided for this called Clear and Restart.

If you have made changes, you may use Preview all Curtain Walls to review the proposed elements.

Preview of Curtain Wall outlined before being confirmed
Preview all Curtain Walls on the Surfaces selected

Finally, when you are satisfied with the preview, you can click on the Add Curtain Walls button to generate the glazing on the model. The results of the settings that you have chosen are displayed.  You may then confirm before applying to the model.

The properties of the glazing will be determined by the panel type selected.  Properties are set for this panel type in the model will be used for the new curtain walls.

Curtain Walls are written to the model

After the Curtain Walls have been created, a message will display to remind you to Refresh the results.  This will add new Surfaces to the List.  You should also recalculate the Solar Loads in the Building Manager since there have been changes made to the model.  This is normal and you may open the Building Manager and recalculate the Solar Loads to include this new glazed area.

After adding Curtain Walls, Recalculate Solar Loads in the Building Manager and use the Refresh button to update the results

As new glazed areas are created, new Surfaces will be assigned.  You will therefore have to select these new Surfaces to view the results for the new glazing that has been generated.

Note: After you create Curtain Walls,there are 3 steps to ensure that the results update correctly:

    1. Click the Refresh button on the Dashboard and allow time for new Surfaces to be created for the glazing
    2. Once this is complete (you will notice new Surfaces at the end of the list in Facade Navigator) – recalculate the Solar Loads in the Building Manager.
    3. Once the Building Manager has completed, click on the Refresh button again to update the results.  You may then click on the New Surfaces to view the results for these areas only

Note: If you delete these Curtain Walls in Revit or Undo and then try to create more on the same Surface, it may not proceed.  This is due to changes in the model which have not been updated.  In this case, please use Refresh to update to the current model state, then open the Curtain Wall Generation feature again.

If you are suing Spatial Elements and create new glazing, new Surfaces will be created for the new curtain walls.  If this is subsequently undone or rolled back, there may be a temporary disconnect between the Energy Model and the current state of the Revit model.  Please recalculate the Solar Loads in the Building Manager.  Sometimes it may be necessary to relaunch the application to reset to the current model condition.

If floor elements protrude into the thickness of the exterior walls, Curtain Wall generation may be affected as Surface identification may not be correct.  This may be resolved by adjusting the profile of the floor back away from the inner leaf  of the Exterior Wall.

     

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