sbem 3.4

wilky371 · Posts: 27 Location: Carterton, Oxfordshire

a recent email from CIBSE indicated that from towards the end of April, any software not using sbem 3.4 will not lodge with landmark.

Is there a new version of design builder coming up to take this into account.

Also is there anyway that design builder could email there registered users when new versions or updates come out ?

Thanks in advance.

Stephen.

Andy Tindale · Posts: 2432 Location: Stroud

Stephen,

We are looking into the implications of this annoucement on DesignBuilder but I can say that we will certainly aim to release a new version including SBEM 3.4.a by 26 April.

I have concerns that SBEM 3.4.a is not even released yet and there will only we a few short weeks to get the interface developed, tested and released! On top of this we are already committed to other developement tasks (for our v.2 release) over the next 4 weeks. I'll keep you updated with any news.

Andy

wilky371 · Posts: 27 Location: Carterton, Oxfordshire

Andy,
Many thanks for your (as always) quick reply.
I look forward to hearing more information.

Regards,
Stephen.

Andy Tindale · Posts: 2432 Location: Stroud

Given the uncertainty around the cut-off of SBEM 3.3 and 3.2 lodgement around this time and the availability of DesignBuilder with SBEM 3.4, if you have EPCs that will need lodging soon I suggest that you aim to get them lodged by 26th April. We can't guarantee that we'll have DesignBuilder with SBEM 3.4 ready and tested by then.

Andy

wilky371 · Posts: 27 Location: Carterton, Oxfordshire

Thank you Andy, I will try to get all my EPC's done by then.

Stephen.

mbaldwin · Posts: 44

I am about to start an assessment of a large building which will take a week to model. When will the 3.4 software be available and approved? (Stroma have told me I can't lodge certificates produced on versions which are not approved.)

Maria

Pilch · Posts: 76

Any update on this at all? Like Maria, I too have a large building to model starting later this week with a short deadline for completion.

Thanks

Andy Tindale · Posts: 2432 Location: Stroud

Here is an extract of an email just sent to CLG explaining our position

Pilch · Posts: 76

According to BRE, the software update has been postponed to 10 May 2009 - I assume therefore the current version of DB will continue to work after this weekend?

Andy Tindale · Posts: 2432 Location: Stroud

Yes there has now been an extension until midnight 9th May and you will be able to continue to lodge EPCs generated with DesignBuilder v.1 until then. After this time you will need to use v.2 which will have been released by then. Here is the text of an email we will be sending out to our SBEM customers shortly:

wilky371 · Posts: 27 Location: Carterton, Oxfordshire

Andy,
V2 from then on. Do current users of v1x have to pay to upgrade, is there any information on this ?

Stephen.

Andy Tindale · Posts: 2432 Location: Stroud

Stephen,

DesignBuilder SBEM v.2 will be provided on an annual subscription basis only and when v.2 is released we will provide a free annual licence to all our SBEM customers. Once this has run out (May 2010) it will be necessary to purchase on going licences each year. The cheapest way to do this will be to purchase an annual single user SBEM licence which will cost £450.

Why are we moving over from perpetual SBEM licences in v.1 to annual licences in v.2? Because the fast rate of change to the SBEM calculations means that we have a constant stream of development to do on this software and also because last years SBEM wouldn't be any use to DesignBuilder users anyway - it has to be up-to-date.

We will be providing full details of modules and prices from next week when we will 'unveil' DesignBuilder v.2 at the CIBSE conference.

Andy

wilky371 · Posts: 27 Location: Carterton, Oxfordshire

Andy,
Great, no problems with having to pay annually, I understand all the development costs etc.

So from what I read, the annual cost for DB will be from May 2010 onwards.

Many thanks for your quick reply.

Stephen.

suden · Posts: 64

I am assuming that there will be a few differences between DB V1.9 and V2 that may make projects from one to the other incompatible to varying degrees. I have some large projects I need to complete by early next week, but am hesitating to start them if I can not finish and lodge them by Saturday 9th.

Perhaps you can advise; Can I at least build the model in DB 1.9, leaving out all the HVAC, activities, lighting etc, and import that into DB V2 to finish off?

Any insights would be great, thanks.

Si

Andy Tindale · Posts: 2432 Location: Stroud

Si,

There shouldn't be any significant compatibility issues between DB 1.9 and v.2.0. Yes v.2 uses SBEM 3.4 which does have some extra data and some slight differences in HVAC database values but nothing that would break your models.

Your proposed approach to develop the building layout using v.1.9 is sound. You'll be able to finish off with v.2.0 on Monday.

If you like I can send you a late v.2.0 beta which is largely finished. It will allow you to start using the new version which has passed all CLG numeric tests and hopefully will get approval once our final checks are done tomorrow. You'll need to wait until next week to lodge with it though.

Andy

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