Unheated building calculation

suden · Posts: 80

Hi
I have been informed by my accrediting body that it is possible to run iSBEM models and calculate an EPC rating without having any heated areas within a building. It's news to me as I assumed that it was not possible, given that DB does not allow this. Can anyone confirm this?

I am trying to run a model on an single zone, unheated storage warehouse. The client requires an EPC so that they can claim FITS (after April 1st).

Andrew Bairstow · Site Admin Posts: 412 Location: Birmingham, UK

It is my understanding that there needs to be at least one 'conditioned' zone in the building though that can mechanically ventilated but neither heated or cooled. There should be guidance (DCLG?) on this with which your accreditation scheme will have provided you during your initial assessment (this may have since been updated). Perhaps you ask them for the latest copy. Please bear in mind (and this applies to any software) that just because the software allows you to do something this does not mean that this meets the requirements of the end product.
Regards
Andrew

suden · Posts: 80

I can only assume something has changed. I had seen EPCs marked as unheated, which I assumed to be wrong. Like you, I thought at least one zone had to be heated, but now my accrediting body says otherwise and an EPC can be lodged without any heating requirement.

We are being asked to undertake EPCs for buildings without any heating requirements for PV installations (to enable the full FIT). I was told by my accrediting body that in this instance I can lodge an EPC without any heating.

Any thoughts?
Thanks

Andrew Bairstow · Site Admin Posts: 412 Location: Birmingham, UK

You may have seen cerificates describing the environment as 'unconditioned' which is the output from sbem in the circumstance of the building having no heating but having mechanical ventilation. I have raised this issue with bre. sbem itself does not check for the presence of heated zones but DesignBuilder makes this check before submitting data to sbem. We are currently reviewing the checks made by our software.
For your purposes you could split one zone (preferably one with low heating requirement eg store) into two using virtual partitions. Make the smaller zone area 1m2 (the minimum) and specify a simple heating system (perhaps using default electric resistance). This will allow the calculation to proceed: the resulting rating being much the same as if there were no heating in the building.
Regards
Andrew

suden · Posts: 80

Hi Andrew.
Thanks for offering a work around. I hope that would satisfy an audit though. In the past when I have found software issues or bugs between iSBEM and DesignBuilder my Accreditation body has said that the only acceptable way to lodge the EPC would be using iSBEM. Something I do not relish!
Crying or Very sad

Regards

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