Version

 Released

Description

Incremental Changes

• Can reverse glazing pane direction 
• Update is now faster following geometric edits and model data changes etc
• New SBEM model option to lump similar surfaces and openings speeds calculations and allows much larger models to be treated
• Bug fix for 'Surfaces within zone treated as adiabatic' when openings present
• Bug fix in DXF export
• Bug fix in test for convex zones

• EnergyPlus v.2.2 supported but some issues still to be addressed with v.2.2 ventilation so v.2.1 is set as the default.
• EnergyPlus DHW implemented using WATER USE EQUIPMENT replacing now obsolete DOMESTIC HOT WATER
• Correction in building volume-weighted average ventilation rate calculations from zone values
• Approval for SBEM EPCs and Part-L calculations
• SBEM recommendations dialog improvements
• New smooth textures
• Bug fix for non-English language Internal blinds dialog
• 'Generate fully enclosed zones' is now switched on by default for new models

• Various fixes for bugs in 1.5.0.058 including construction lines, zone navigation, SBEM installation problems, graph shown in edit dialog info screens
• SBEM PV orientations South-West and South-East now work

• When selecting an epw file in the Hourly weather data dialog the selection starts in correct weather data folder
• Deletes backup files older than 30 days and diagnostics files older than 2 days
• Second 'Office_HighDensIT' activity removed as it causes error in SBEM calcs
• SBEM secondary recommendations report
• SBEM user editable recommendations working
• SBEM 3.1a patch 1

• EnergyPlus shading surface vertex ordering corrected
• SBEM 3.1a
• SBEM recommendations dialog (not yet working)
• SBEM 'Design' lighting illuminance can be entered
• Openings now remain selected after copy at surface level
• Other minor improvements

• SBEM v3 constructions and glazing database
• Bug fix in calculation of SBEM glazing U-value when using library or inference options
• Bug fix for crash when changing block name in previous beta

• Many SBEM improvements and fixes
• International Glazing Database (IGDB) of glazing panes
• Spectral glazing pane data can be entered for more accurate selective glazing materials
• DXF snaps shown in yellow to differentiate from other objects
• Auto backup also copies incrementally to a 'Backup' folder
• Existing files copied to a 'Backup' folder on opening
• Bug fix in CM calculation (measure of thermal mass in SBEM)
• Semi-exposed ceilings now have correct layer order
• Various minor fixes

• SBEM calculation module installation bug fix

• Option to exclude all zone natural and mechanical ventilation loads from Heating and Cooling calculations
• Maintains openings when using 'drag face' and 'stretch'
• Prevent adjacency related crash prior to simulations
• Link body edges adjacent to other zones have correct constructions
• Improved SBEM interface + bug fixes

• Improvements to SBEM interface
• New volume calculation options to allow floor construction volumes to be subtracted from zone volume
• New worked example explains details of surface area and volume calculations: www.designbuilder.co.uk/programhelp/model_geometry.htm
• Link body edges can now be adjacent to other zones

• Uses SBEM 3.0b (approval for this version of DB expected early March)
• Allows licence activation by file
• Many improvements and bug fixes in SBEM
• Bug fix for component blocks generated through building copy
• Auto door generation works again fixing bug in recent versions

BETA test version

• Improved DXF import with range checking and option to scale the DXF data interactively
• New 'Bitmap import' allows scanned floor-plan drawings to be read into DesignBuilder for modelling existing buildings without CAD data
• Prevents 'Tesselation/quadric error' from occurring
• Option to align bitmap and DXF drawing x-axis with the DesignBuilder x-axis
• VAV/CAV (Simulation and Cooling design + VAV compact option) with mechanical ventilation switched off works
• Calculated natural ventilation openings not generated for adiabatic surfaces
• Bug fix in adjacency identification for some configurations
• Change to smaller block wall thickness can cause model attributes to become lost

• In SBEM, zones with Zone type = semi-exterior unconditioned are always unheated/cooled no matter settings on HVAC tab
• Pressing Enter in Compact schedules textbox and Notes in Model options now adds a new line rather than closing dialog
• Drawing options now correctly displayed
• Floor textures in visualisation corrected (were upside down in previous releases)
• Default openings correctly treated following a cut operation
• Correction in constructions dialog when in SBEM mode for incorrect initial setting of U-value

• Default openings correctly treated following a copy/move operation

• NCM Materials and Constructions database included
• NCM / SBEM Constructions inference procedures for existing buildings
• Module licences can be supplied by different resellers

• Infiltration now uses 'zone volume excluding floor construction volume' to calculate airflow rate from ac/h, if the model option for this is set
• Fix for erroneous external floor surfaces introduced for internal floors in 1.4.0.048
• Fix for Unitary single zone system min outside air flow when using heat recovery
• Fix for error caused by undefined adjacency
• U-value for exposed ceilings to unheated roofspaces now used correctly in SBEM calculations
• Other minor fixes

• New autosizing method for calculating supply airflows for simple convective HVAC systems using operative temperature control avoids undersizing
• Licence dialog allows each module to have a separate serial number
• Rounding error in airflow rates provided to EnergyPlus fixed
• Ground plane continues to horizon
• Improved dynamic selection process no longer requires 'double buffer' program option
• Sky colour for visualisations
• Improved reading of v.1.2 files
• Geometry engine improvements and fixes
• Bug fix for heat recovery in unitary compact HVAC systems
• Bug fix for SBEM models having no HVAC system
• Minor fixes

• Adiabatic surface Construction model data at surface level now consistant with calculations:
• Adiabatic flat roofs use internal floor construction data with layers reversed
• Adiabatic ground floors use internal floor construction data
• Adiabatic exernal walls use internal partition construction data
• Change wall thickness bug fixed
• Error switching view bug fix
• 'Double buffer dynamics' program option disabled pending bug fix

• Heat recovery building totals now correctly displayed for unitary single zone systems
• Heat recovery now works when economiser switched off for unitary systems using new heat recovery heating setpoint data
• Interblock partition surface model data maintained after block/building copy processes
• Improvement in display of dimension lines for block placement, surface drag and scale operations
• Fix to enable double buffer switch option for zoom/selection windows
• Fix for internal vent generation in floors
• Fix for problem to do with offset snap
• Block objects selected after copy operation
• Change block wall thickness now keeps custom openings and model data
• Darker colours used to represent the building
• Improved default options on 'Clear data to default' dialog
• More posistive selection for category in component and template dialogs
• More diagnostic messages for Compact HVAC 'ExpandObjects' operation
• Other minor fixes

• When Site orientation changed, surface orientation correctly displayed in navigator, in idf file comments and correctly used in SBEM calculations
• Previous versions could lose some custom openings during the rebuild process - this bug now fixed
• SBEM wind generator bug fix

• Bug fix in results reading

• Additional correction for Glazing gains output
• Building import works when dsb file has custom hourly weather file
• Internal error related to zone identification for results fixed

• Can change block wall thickness in existing blocks
• Block wall thickness up to 2m now allowed
• Radiant heating systems now work with E+ 2.1
• SBEM summary reports now correct for users without SBEM licence
• SBEM DHW fuel type no longer resets to Natural gas and is correctly supplied to calcs
• Bug fix for setting Fan-coil, Unitary min fresh air and component block solar transmission on computer systems using ',' as demimal separator
• Various minor fixes

• Heat recovery energy for single zone unitary systems now displayed
• Default construction, glazing and lighting templates use lower 'reference' standard
• Glazing output now corrected for short-wave solar gains (bug fix for recent beta versions)

• Default openings work correctly in interblock partitions
• Textures defined in Constructions are used for rendered display when using simple U-Value constructions when working in SBEM mode
• Defect in the geometry for some complex shaped blocks in recent betas fixed
• Several minor fixes and improvements

• Corrections in Typical workday schedule generation for new system accounting for WinterDesignDays
• Glazing U-value calculation fix for E+ 2.1
• Heat recovery combined with full fresh air (CAV and VAV Compact HVAC systems) uses an economiser to bypass heat recovery cooling wihen this is beneficial
• The heat flows due to mixing air exchange through openings between zones (scheduled ventilation) now displayed giving better zone heat balance results (the calculations have not changed just results display)

Version 1.4 Beta Release 7

• Lumped internal gains show up in results screens (bug fix for recent betas)
• Heat recovery with VAV/CAV HVAC min fresh air error fixed

Version 1.4 Beta Release 6

• EnergyPlus 2.1 calculation engine
• Define summer design day
• Schedules now have way to define heating and cooling autosizing operation
• New granulated textures
• Window gas Xenon now allowed
• Custom window gases can be defined
• Component blocks belonging to other buildings are also included when 'including all buildings in shading calc'
• Increased upper limits for internal gains in Activity templates.
• Several SBEM-related fixes and improvements
• Heat recovery with Unitary single zone HVAC min fresh air error fixed
• Minor zone volume error in recent betas fixed
• Zone DXF export bug fix

Version 1.4 Beta Release 5

• Heat recovery when economiser switched off now works

• Upper temperature limit for EnergyPlus 2.1 increased preventing simulation failure for some models with windows taking up the whole surface
• Recently used files list only shown when appropriate

• SBEM module for UK Part-L2 building regulations compliance checking approved by CLG
• Heating system autosizing calcs prior to Compact HVAC simulations now exclude internal gains giving higher (more realistic) heating system capacities
• More options for defining minimum fresh air:
• 1-By zone,
• 2-Min fresh air (Per person),
• 3-Min fresh air (Per area),
• 4-Min fresh air (Sum per person + per area),
• 5-Min fresh air (Max per person and per area)
• Task and display lighting default lighting density values taken from the Activities database
• Project construction and glazing components automatically generated from template when building is first created
• Many minor fixes and improvements

• Geometric connectivity mechanism revised and improved to provide more reliable adjacency identification
• Provisional approval for the SBEM module
• For 'Separate' constructions, the order of the construction layers for floors and ceilings with suspended floor/ceiling constructions now correct
• Boiler and Chiller CoP values now correctly used (fixing bug in previous beta version)
• Default fan pressures in HVAC templates adjusted down with more realistic values + some changes to default COP values

• Correction in Cooling design airflow calculation. Previous beta used zone Operative temperature in the Supply - Zone Delta T calculation. Now uses Air temperature
• Density of air now uses same convention as EnergyPlus, i.e. it assumes dry air at 20degC taking into account elevation above sea level when converting m3/s to kg/s and back - the change affects Cooling design airflow calculations
• Default temperature control option for heating and cooling design and simulations is 'Air temperature' instead of 'Operative temperature' due to some complexities involved with operative temperature control
• Corrections for Full fresh air VAV/CAV Compact HVAC systems - fresh air rate includes sizing factor to give correct flow rates and now deals with 0 outside air
• Improved zone volume calculation for Combined constructions - new model option allows floor construction volume to be included/excluded from zone air volume + documentation on volume calculations
• VAV and Fan-coil unit systems can now be mixed in same building when the first zone in the list has Fan-coil units - bug fix
• Improved error messages when user attempts to select inappropriate component or template data type in model data
• Radiant heaters now work with cooling fixing error in previous betas
• Reading of named E+ eso output file - improved error checking and bug fixes
• Now allows Heating design calculations for models having Detailed equipment model option set
• Prevents EnergyPlus crash if any of the E+ output files are locked in other application such as Excel
• Klima Europa now uses internal dimensions for calculating surface areas
• Many SBEM improvements
• Maximum recently used files listed now 20 on opening screen

• Internal openings filling parent surface now correctly deflated
• Construction used to represent holes and vents has increased R-value to ensure EnergyPlus solution converges for buildings with large holes between zones

• DHW fuel consumption correctly displayed (fixing bug in previous betas)
• Chiller CoP passed to E+ IDF data to speed analysis outside DB - change does not affect results within DB
• DOE EnergyPlus folder name correctly stored - bug fix prevents name being overwritten when saving IDF files for export
• Ground construction no longer added when using 'combined constructions'
• Openings (windows etc) should no longer be deflated by 1 mm unless an edge is coincident with the edge of the parent surface

• Z-axis snap 
• Heat loss through fabric now registers in results (bug fix in last beta)
• Construction floor categories re-organised
• Improved SBEM compatibility
• Improved Construction and Glazing dialogs, providing default U-values
• Lots of minor fixes

• Fixed bug where detailed gains were not being reported in previous beta
• Mechanical ventilation with 0 ach/r is now allowed in combination with natural ventilation when using simple HVAC and scheduled natural ventilation or Design calcs
• Fixed bug in previous beta where heating and cooling equipment was inadequately sized in Simple HVAC
• Out of menory error when reading very large E+ output files should now generate an error message and not crash the program
• IP units error fix
• Miscellaneous rendering fixes
• Minor graphics engine fixes

• Option to include/exclude data from unoccupied zones in block and building totals and averages
• Option when normalising output by floor area to use 'Total floor area' or 'Occupied floor area' as the denominator
• Option to transfer blocks from one building to another
• Heating and cooling supply air conditions can now be entered when using simple HVAC
• Fuel totals now agree with Fuel breakdown data (bug fix)
• Fuel data display improved allowing multiple fuels for heat generators and chillers
• Detailed Cooling design sizing options using Compact HVAC finished and documented
• Bug fix for snap points not always available at surface level
• Bug fixes for 3-D DXF output
• Operative temperature distribution output now shows (0.5.MAT+0.5.MRT) even when Air temperature control used
• Option to copy Grid and Summary Heating and Cooling Design results to clipboard for pasting into a spreadsheet
• DesignBuilder now checks that a DOE version of EnergyPlus is selected before exporting IDF data and if not provides the opportunity to select the appropriate version
• New 'Plenum' zone type - plenum zones must have this set to be used as plenums in Compact HVAC simulations
• Using measure tool now does not delete results (bug fix)
• Trombe wall example model supplied
• Compact HVAC layout schematic diagrams in program help 

• Improvements and bug fix for Cooling design summary data
• New output - Heat recovery sensible and latent heating and cooling
• Bug fix for Heat recovery where minimum outside air was incorrectly calculated in previous version

• UK Part-L2 compliance checking and certification using SBEM - Early beta
• Cooling design calculations provide latent loads and airflow with user-specified supply air conditions
• Improved Cooling design summary sheet - more data dislayed and only for current building
• Option to use Compact HVAC for sizing HVAC in Cooling design calculations (Unitary DX, VAV or Fan coil units)
• System coil energy displayed on separate axis and the other Heat gain data now have own 'Heat balance' axis.
• Display total outside air change rate at the zone level from the air distribution system, infiltration and natural ventilation for all model options
• Explicit support for Compact HVAC Constant volume systems
• Explicit support for 100% fresh air in Compact HVAC
• Economisers now operate correctly (bug fix)
• Fan pressure default template values improved leading to more accurate fan energy consumption prediction
• HVAC Template dialog tidied up
• Option to switch on/off monthly and annual output generation
• Floor and ceiling voids in 'Separate' construction mode correctly accounted for in HVAC airflow rate calculations (bug fix)
• Convert outline block dialog allows Block wall thickness to be set
• Warning for use of Australian RMY hourly weather data

• Spanish language option - beta test
• Return-air luminaires, 'return air fraction' relabelled (bug fix)
• 'Internal gains operate with occupancy' model option action was reversed in previous beta release ('off' was modelled as 'on') (bug fix)
• Temperature distribution bug fix for radiant and operative temperature options
• Changes to the Glazing dialog:
• Calculated data is fixed
• Calculated data is updated automatically when required
• Glazing calculation when dsb file not loaded work again
• Bug fix for CSV report for European settings
• Sill heights are now measured from the zone surface base line (bug fix)

• Supply and return plenums in Compact HVAC
• 7/12 schedules now support setback temperature setpoints using same rules as Compact schedules. In previous versions,  when using 7/12 schedules and profiles to generate E+ temperature point schedules, profile value 0 was interpreted in simulations as 'use setback'. Now 0 means 'off', 0.5 means 'setback' and 1 means 'use main setpoint temperatures'
• Changes to component block shading mechanism:
• Solar transmission is now defined for the whole block (not for individual block surfaces)
• New maximum transmission factor simplifies definition  
• 'Flat' component blocks use only a single EnergyPlus shading surface speeding simulations
• Option to include custom IDF data in simulation files
• Save and read EnergyPlus ESO output files
• Improvements to lighting definition provides an indication of the lighting convective fraction and clearer  error display
• Definition for Compact HVAC autosizing 'Sizing factor'
• Zone/sys sensible cooling data, missing from 1.3.4.016 restored
• Bug in Heating and Cooling design results display fixed
• Bug fixes in geometry engine

• Faster more reliable simulations of large models:
• EnergyPlus report variable generation streamlined to meet data requirements - bug in 1.3.4.011 implementation fixed. Previous versions were generating unnecessary report variables which slowed simulation initialisation and wasted memory
• Bug fixed allowing DB to read very large EnergyPlus eso output files
• Prompt for keeping components and templates from previous versions

• 2 new component block types: Ground and Adiabatic component blocks generate ground/adiabatic adjacencies for building surfaces in contact with them. New component block types simplify modelling of basements, semi-buried structures and other buildings.
• Heat recovery now works when no economizer is selected. HR documentation improved
• Removed 'Min fresh air flow rate' data for clarity - DB autosizes this now
• New HVAC templates and some changes to existing templates

• Bug fix for French language version

1.3.4.004

• Bug fix for auto-zoning option
• Bug fix for 3-D DXF export
• Graphics engine bug fix

1.3.4.003

• New option to switch off automatic zoning to speed drawing partitions in large/complex blocks
• Bug fixes for exising option to switch off automatic refresh of Navigator lists
• Toolbars and menu are now fixed in position
• Graphics engine bug fix for enclosed zone identification

• VAV terminal units: parallel and series PIU
• 4-Pipe fan coil units with outside air mixing
• Night cycle control
• Fan part-load power coefficients including options for variable speed fan and ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G fan
• AHU fan placement options: draw through, blow through
• Options for setpoint temperature reset for AHU heating and cooling coils in VAV systems
• General improvements to Compact VAV data display clarify meaning of data
• Maximum number of 'shadow overlaps' can be set
• Bugs in recent 1.3 betas with temperature distribution and ASHRAE 55 comfort reports fixed
• New data filters give more control over data displayed in lists
• Graphs have legend options and separate out legends for each axis
• Lists sorted alphabetically

• Miscellaneous bug fixes

• Natural ventilation operation through interior openings adjusted and documented
• Thermal mass construction can be specified in Construction templates
• Snow modifier range extended
• Many minor bug fixes and improvements

• New hourly weather data including 60 new locations for Austrailia
• Upper limit on construction layers increased to 10
• CSV report bug fix
• Lighting with air-extraction luminaires
• Miscellaneous, process and catering gains have fuel and fraction lost data
• All gains have radiant fraction data
• Lighting energy, general and task/display lighting gains, door heat conduction data displayed
• Natural ventilation crack library updated to reduce sizes of cracks between windows and surrounding surface
• Window and vent cracks between opening and surrounding surface included when Natural ventilation is switched off
• Heat transfer through holes and vents displayed correctly

• Uses EnergyPlus v 2.0.0
• 'Combined' constructions option simplifies definiton of floors, slabs, ceilings etc.
• SBEM UK Part-L Compliance Checking pre-BETA
• Data panel automatically displays relevant component and template lists and data is more visible.
• Report of walls, roof, floor, glazing areas and construction details with optional ISO 13790 thermal properties in CSV format
• Option for simplified modelling of semi-exterior unoccupied zones
• Improvements to daylight control, working plane height can be defined, glare control
• Displays solar gain and conduction heat transfer through interior windows
• Lighting data expanded
• Allows non-rectangular sub-surfaces, doors and holes (as well as windows and vents).
• Auxiliary energy included in fuel consumption totals (bug bix)
• Other minor bug fixes

• Improved representation of edges in 3-D DXF output
• Minor bug fixes in graphics engine

• Templates and custom hourly weather data now stored with the dsb file making DesignBuilder files completely portable
• Export 3-D DXF data to SketchUp and other CAD applications for further modelling and visualisation  
• Template and component data is checked for missing references before DDF export and any missing data selections are automatically included
• Data to be imported from DDF files is listed before the import
• Measure tool allows distances, angles and areas to be measured
• Option to highlight model data that is different from data in template

• Fix for crash when load HVAC templates
• Selecting template at top of model data starts 'Load data from template' dialog
• Sub-surface allowed in ground and external floors
• Sub-surfaces adjacent to ground now has ground contruction added when site level option set

• Loading user templates which reference user components causes the user components to be loaded to the model
• More robust algorithm for zoning of blocks
• Lumped gains model option:
• Shows Activity tab (bug fix)
• When 'Output for occupied periods only' is requested, program now uses Lumped gains schedule
• Improvement in drawing with arcs (bug fix)
• Various bug fixes in 'Hourly weather data' translation tools
• Window blinds no longer generated for Heating design calcs
• Windows, doors, vents and sub-surfaces in internal floors now correctly shown in Visualisations
• Various other minor bug fixes

• 'Weather data translator unable to access EPlusWth.dll' bug fix

• Latest EnergyPlus version 1.4 is the default calculation engine
• Optimised window IDF generation speeds up  simulations in models with lots of similar windows (use 'Lump similar windows on surface' Advanced model option)
• Copy, move, delete facade data at building level
• Option for operative temperature control
• Components and template data sets can be exported and imported allowing data to be transfered between libraries and models and and also with other users
• Import library components to model
• Component and template data now listed for 'Local + General' regions only by default
• System components and templates are locked individually rather than by folder allowing locked library data to be copied and edited
• Prevent edit templates when file is open
• Faster reading of EnergyPlus output
• UK National Calculation Methodology activitiy templates and schedules
• ASHRAE constructions and materials
• ASHRAE schedules and activities
• Option to define schedules using E+ Compact schedules for rapid definition
• Offset snap for drawing partitions and voids parallel to, and at a fixed distance from, existing perimeters and partitions
• Option for virtual partitions
• Calculated natural ventilation ACH data can be displayed
• Calculated natural ventilation internal airflow heat flux data can be displayed
• Walk-through visualisations integrated with orbit, zoom, pan controls.
• Mouse wheel allows quick zoom, orbit, pan operations
• Option to display zone names in model view at block level
• Option to exclude unoccupied periods from comfort and environmental conditions report data
• Calculation options dialogs improved
• DXF import supports cm, inches, feet and custom units (in addition to millimetres and metres)
• Metabolic rates are now components instead of templates - check file conversion report for recommended actions
• Elimination of unnecessary triangulation reduces number of surfaces and speeds up simulations
• ANSI/ASHRAE 140 2004 validation results now available from the Downloads -> Reports web page
• Externalised 99% of UI text for non-English language versions of DesignBuilder
• Domestic hot water modelled using hot water consumption per floor area data
• BLAST blinds database
• Improved custom opening retention when floating partitions drawn
• Minor improvement in accuracy of window area generation
• Local shading side fins can now extend top and bottom above and below window
• File import bug fix
• More help
• Heating setback works with 7/12 schedules (bug fix)
• Improved readability of 'Typical workday' IDF schedule output
• Option to use (or not use) daylight saving time
• Time zone dialog tidied up
• Can now key in a distance when using move/copy block commands
• Speed increase for creating display for blocks/slabs with lots of openings
• TMY hourly weather data files now correctly translated to EnergyPlus format
• Simple HVAC auxiliary data changed to kWh/m2/year
• Cooling setback temperature setpoint can be defined
• Compact HVAC Fan electricity fuel consumption now correctly accumulated in fuel totals
• When heating is switched off it now stays switched off even when internal temperatures are less than 0° (bug fix)
• Heat recovery in Compact HVAC
• AHU heating and cooling schedules can be defined with VAV and Unitary multizone Compact HVAC
• Maximum supply air flow, minimum outside air and min outside air schedules can be defined with Compact HVAC
• Missing electrochromic panes in system database now restored
• Support for new resellers
• Full support for operative temperature distribution output
• Improved detection of currently installed version of EnergyPlus
• English, Italian, Spanish and French languages supported
• Automatic language selection based on Windows Regional Settings
• DXF attachment height bug fix.
• DXF line colour fix.
• Press ENTER to terminate partition line streams.
• Construction lines are now entered individually, not as streams
• Ceilings and flat roofs removed from block level rendered view.
• Openings only displayed for current surface at surface level.
• All Sub-surfaces displayed in edit view.
• Opening move/copy/rotate dynamics bug fix.
• Dome creation bug fix.
• Snap to void perimeters in block below
• New pitched roof construction default for unoccupied spaces
• New shortcuts for view commands
• Improved usability with small screens - 800 x 600 works well
• Option to switch off heating/cooling if load = 0
• Component blocks can have time-varying transparency for modelling seasonal variation of tree shading etc.
• Window frame conductance now correctly passed to EnergyPlus excluding surface resistances (bug fix)
• Constructions display R-values and surface-surface U-values
• Monthly data correctly displayed when only part of the month is simulated
• Simulation results units now always display correctly (bug fix)
• Many other minor improvements and bug fixes

• Intermittent problem saving model components to library fixed
• Geometry engine bug fix for interblock partitions
• E+ 1.3 equipment gains displayed correctly
• Floor area and internal gains now calculated correctly in vertically stacked merged zones created by cutting holes in floors
• Suspended floors on ground floors now applied
• Default upper enthalpy limit for economiser now set to 50,000
• Bug fix for weather data translation when climate change or year fix option selected

• Correctly loads model components when custom library components defined
• Material roughness can now have settings other than "Rough"
• Internal floor construction is now applied correctly when different constructions are requested in upper and lower zones

• EnergyPlus version 1.3.0 supported
• Movie generation can be cancelled
• Codec can be selected when generating movies
• Improved help
• Bug fix for calculating reflections with pitched roof blocks.  
• Bug fix for sloped interblock partitions

• Improved window reveals, frames and dividers - near full implementation of EnergyPlus frames and dividers
• Bug fix for Compact HVAC Unitary single zone cooling schedules
• Unitary multizone systems without  thermostatic control zone are now flagged
• Air Distribution header on HVAC model data now called Mechanical Ventilation
• New mechanical ventilation setpoint temperature for Simple HVAC
• Default mechanical and natural ventilation setpoint temperatures changed from 22 to 26°C

• File corruption bug which existed only in version 1.1.0.011 fixed
• External floor heat flow reported separately
• Component and template library backup/restore bugs fixed 
• Supports Carli, Inc license codes

• Radiant heating systems generate correct boiler energy consumption (bug fix)
• Evaluation mechanism now working correctly (bug fix)
• Site solar radiation intensity now reported correctly when in IP units (bug fix)

• Improved view and navigation controls for rendered view allow any camera position and angle
• Compact HVAC systems can have different schedules for central air handling unit heating/cooling coils and zone control
• Improved documentation of Compact HVAC
• Can now specify thermostatic control zone in Compact unitary multizone systems
• Nearly 300 new hourly weather files for Asia and Africa
• Hourly weather files now named using conventional: Country_Location_Source
• Categorisation of US locations by state
• Can now specify natural ventilation as flow/person for outside air requirement like mechanical ventilation
• When keying in distance in IP units units now shown as 'ft' (bug fix)
• Improved generation of glazing areas in facades of other buildings when 'include all buildings' solar option set
• Snow modifiers for ground reflections
• Option for preview of EnergyPlus version 1.3 with improved calculated natural ventilation using AIRNET
• Templates take on the location requested (bug fix)
• CSV output uses Windows system list separator (so works with Continental European settings)

• Radiant heaters with operative temperature control allow radiant heating systems to be modelled including:  
• Underfloor heating systems 
• Hot water radiators  
• High-temperature radiant
• Improvements to compact HVAC including breakdown of heating energy into preheat, reheat and main heating
• Different ground temperature defaults
• New natural ventilation options with opening modulation based on outside air temperature
• Option to exclude wind pressure from COMIS natural ventilation simulations for more conservative design calcs
• Option to exclude infiltration (cracks) from COMIS natural ventilation calculations to speed up simulations
• Optional output data allow reduced data sets to be generated
• New comfort data :
• ASHRAE 55, Fanger, Pierce and Kansas State University comfort model output
• Temperature distribution in each zone for predicting hours over/under various temperature thresholds
• Humidity output
Glazed cavity and sealed/naturally ventilated Trombe walls now modelled

Surface convection coefficient algorithms can be defined at building, block, zone or surface level

Hourly weather data statistics now automatically loaded on selecting an hourly weather file

• Blocks with voids now generate correct floors and ceilings
• Triangulation error bug fixed
• Improved documentation
• Improved examples
• Textures scaling bug fixed
• Bug with component blocks fixed
• Output display bug fixed when IP units are selected
• Some new textures
• Many minor improvements

• Component blocks for modelling architectural features
• Vents and holes can now have any shape
• Holes now transmit solar radiation
• Improved rendering of holes in floors
• IP units kWh -> Btu  units conversion fixed and Unit conversion factors now documented
• Prevent a crash when attempting to add custom textures (custom textures are a Version 2 feature)
• Improved modelling of adiabatic and ground adjacency conditions
• Walls adjacent to ground are now modelled with the wall construction and site ground construction added on the external face (instead of using ground floor construction)
• Better help and Getting Started tutorials
• Bugs with Outline blocks fixed
• Faster IDF generation for HVAC equipment
• Site data for locations in the Southern Hemisphere now correctly reported
• Wind speed and direction reported for Heating Design calculations
• New unoccupied Roofspaces now have leaky uninsulated roof construction by default
• COMIS simulations when zones have been merged now work
• Autosizing options now all work correctly
• Compact HVAC Unitary systems now work correctly when Air distribution is switched off
• Various minor bug fixes.

First announced official release

• On-line help
• Allows up to 400 zones with Compact HVAC
• Mechanical ventilation now included in Heating Design calculations  
• Speeded calculation of snap point and plane identification
• Holes in 'Scheduled' natural ventilation simulations should now generate Mixing objects in EnergyPlus IDF data
• Selection by rectangle improved
• Bug with converting outline blocks fixed
• x, y readout on statusbar now correct

• Online documentation
• Minor fixes

Beta test release 23

• Fixed bug where user model components were lost when dsb file copied to a different computer
• Updates user components and templates with new regions
• 'Import building' now includes model data
• Uses EnergyPlus DLL Version 1.2.3.031
• Many minor changes

Beta test release 22

• External applications now launched in correct folder allowing Compact HVAC to work reliably
• Latest ASHRAE worldwide design weather data and locations (4429 data sets)
• Latest EnergyPlus hourly weather data (975 files)
• Includes all countries in lists
• Adiabatic and ground surfaces indicated at zone and surface level
• Search and replace for component model data
• DXF snap improved
• Uses EnergyPlus DLL Version 1.2.3.029 with bug fix for adiabatic surfaces with openings

Beta test release 21

• Improved diagnostics with function to send data to support desk
• Adjustment to way external applications are launched
• Example files fixed
• Other minor fixes

Beta test release 20

• Fixes bug occuring when no HVAC system defined when using Compact HVAC
• Additional geometric checks to prevent block intersections and other invalid configurations
• Ground floors handled more robustly with a new mechanism to allow surfaces to allow the program to decide whether a surface is adjacent to ground
• Prevents all openings apart from sub-surfaces from being placed on ground surfaces
• Some speed improvements
• Learning mode is on by default
• Improvements to Learning mode

Beta test release 19

• Fixed bug which caused a crash when attempting COMIS simulations when ',' is the decimal separator.

Beta test release 18

• Minor fixes and improvements in:
  • IDF data generation
  • Snaps, especially z-axis snaps
  • Setup procedure

Beta test release 17

• Stability improvments for complex models related to treatment of block connection elements
• Improved handling of EnergyPlus simulation engine
• Uses EnergyPlus DLL Version 1.2.3.026 with bug fix for task lighting
• 'Single zone with shading' Scope model option now works
• Single zone models with openings in partitions now work
• Semi-exposed wall constructions
• Miscellaneous bug fixes

Beta test release 16

• EnergyPlus Executable option supplied with install
• Improved error log diagnostics
• COMIS cracks can be 'switched off' at building, block, zone or surface levels
• Miscellaneous bug fixes

Beta test release 15

• EnergyPlus closes correctly

Beta test release 14

• Drawing in IP units now possible
• Improvements and bug fixes in graphics engine
• Bugs fixed in preparing EnergyPlus IDF data
• Natural ventilation for heating and cooling design is now 'Scheduled' even when 'Calculated' option set.
• Progress window improved

Beta test release 13

• Many improvements and bug fixes in graphics engine
• Pressure coefficient data supplied to EnergyPlus correctly
• Ground surface is indicated in green in navigator
• Summer design summary data correctly updated and displayed
• Holidays are now components
• Louvres now extend to edges of window
• Update glazing U-value now works
• User-defined temperature gradients
• Modelled data options all displayed in single dialog
• Natural ventilation bugs fixed
• Airflow openings now allowed in horizontal surfaces
• New licensing system
• EnergyPlus simulations more reliable
• DXF data import works more reliably
• DXF data can be moved
• Optimisations in EnergyPlus IDF data
• Some progress with reporting
• Many minor fixes and improvements

Beta test release 12

• Option to use IP units
• EnergyPlus compact HVAC systems
• Blocks can be drawn in any plane and stretched normal to the base.
• New cutting tool allows a block to be cut along any plane - resultant blocks can be individually deleted if required
• New 'drag face' tool allows blocks to be stretched by selecting and dragging faces
• Outline blocks allow complex geometries to be created rapidly
• Facade layout set directly in model data, defaults come from Facade templates, Facade components are now obsolete
• Dome blocks
• Openings (windows, doors, holes etc) allowed in all surfaces
• Option to merge zones by activity and/or when connected by large holes
• Asset Rating calculations for EPBD Certification using prEN 15217
• CO2 emission factors for each fuel can be defined by region
• Solar shading and reflection from other buildings accounted for
• Day of week now correctly displayed on graphs
• Simulation output X-axis annotations for DST and dates
• Option to lock simulation output Y-axis and scale it manually if required
• 'Glazing heat gain' now reported as a single value (instead of seperate gains & losses)
• Additional shading types: 'Electrochromic glazing' and 'Transparent insulation' now treated
• Regional variations allowed in Activity templates, Lighting template, Sectors, Holidays, Schedules, Constructions, Construction template data tables
• New Holiday schedule mechanism allows regional variation
• Lighting template data populated with generic system types and typical W/m2/100 lux data introduced
• HVAC model data re-organised and simplified.
• Different zones can have different HVAC operating schedules.
• HVAC templates populated with generic system types
• New hourly weather data - 794 datasets available for download, including lots of new data from Italy, Spain and China.
• Print option
• Option to simulate using DOE version of EnergyPlus
• Export data to file, clipboard or report topic
• Report generation (initial implementation)
• Right click provides relevant commands in Navigator and Model Data windows
• Load and clear model data operations can be applied to individual model data items
• New 'Reload template' command
• More model data can be edited by typing numeric values (instead of selecting from drop-down lists)
• Typing in model data text boxes is more responsive and numeric data is checked
• Component and template libraries can be backed up and restored (including any custom data)
• System component and template libraries are automatically backed up following installation
• Data map - new mode displays only non-default data
• Rendition of roofs is simplified, allowing gable windowsto be defined and other blocks to be placed alongside
• Building model data options dialog simplified and reorganised
• Improved snaps & drawing guides
• File version translator generates a report

Beta test release 11

• Bug with autosave fixed + default autosave interval increased to 15 minutes
• 'Lump by activity' option now works
• Heating sizing simulations work when 'early' HVAC data detail mode selected
• Accounts for ground reflectance in EnergyPlus simulation
• Diffuse thermal and visible reflection from local shading devices is now accounted for
• Default data folder changed from 'My Designs' to 'My DesignBuilder Data' and is now user definable from program options
• Model Data is now shown by default at block level
• Single zone building models now work
• Graphics at building level are now faster
• Geometry tab now visible with 'Lumped' gains data option at block level
• Day of week now correctly displayed in simulation data when interval is 'every timestep'
• Site data now correctly displayed when interval is 'every timestep'
• Option to display daylight saving time on simulation results screen
• System constructions and glazing updated when the energy code is changed at site level
• Model status kept up-to-date and results always deleted when a model component is edited
• 'Pitched Roof' and 'sloping wall' blocks can be changed to vertical 'wall' blocks
• Switching to edit screen following a navigation change in another screen synchronises model graphic view with data

Beta test release 10

• Orbit command in Edit screen now provides a rotation about the centre of the current view (rather than the centre of the current object)
• Full scene software antialiasing now gives really crisp edges to the model in visualisation view (fast graphics card required)
• Roof textures now always correct (bug fixed where textures could get lost when a block height is changed elsewhere in the model)
• Visualisation controls tidied up
• Cleaner image when shadows switched on in visualisation screen
• Version numbers now include a build number
• Only one instance of DesignBuilder is now allowed
• Adiabatic internal surfaces now allowed
• Edit surface name capability now removed to avoid problems with copied blocks

Beta test release 9

• Significant speed improvements in modeller, especially file saving and loading, achieved by simplifying the Edit view and optimising facade generation
• New 'drawing guides' easier to use than the previous system
• Improved snaps and locks, with options to activate/deactivate individual snaps/locks
• Uses EnergyPlus 1.2.1.022 by default, fixing a serious bug in COMIS simulations in version 1.2.1.12.
• Smoother dynamics (zoom/orbit)
• Can now edit surface names
• Can now switch off frames
• Window areas now generated accurately
• Window frame constructions defined directly in model data and fed default data by glazing templates
• Wall surface vertices now always correctly ordered in EnergyPlus simulation data.
• Crash when changing site exposure fixed
• Bugs with undo/redo fixed
• Crash at startup on some Windows 2000 machines fixed
• Crash preceding EnergyPlus simulations on some Windows 2000 machines fixed
• Displays correct window frame textures
• Vents correctly positioned when doors included in automatically generated facades
• Correct data now displayed in Data tab on opening page and in Learning mode
• Measure tool now available at zone and surface level
• Now works correctly for models in the southern hemisphere
• Roofspace insulation now correctly inserted
• Remembers dialogue help window maximised/minimised status
• Troubleshooting wizard improvements, including e-mail notification that data has been uploaded

Beta test release 8

• Opaque sub-surfaces
• New drawing methods: 'rectangular' and 'circular' for rapid drawing of common block and opening shapes
• Heating and cooling system size limits now automatically calculated when necessary in 'Early' HVAC data detail mode
• Stability and speed improvements
• Bug fixed in weather data 'install on demand' + option to use HTTP or FTP
• Option to use interim release of EnergyPlus version 1.2.2 (using 'install on demand')
• More snaps and inference lines at surface level
• More material definitions in database including data from ISO 10456  and 6946
• Diagnostic mode writes key information to a log file

Beta test release 7

• Inference/dimension line provided on all clone/move operations
• Clone and move supported for surface openings (windows, doors etc.)

Beta test release 6

• Based on EnergyPlus version 1.2.1 hence faster simulations because:
  • Surfaces with more than 4 sides are modelled without triangulation
  • Faster solar initialisation
  • Faster COMIS solution
• External and internal surface editing - user definable windows, doors, vents and holes
• Sloping walls
• Undo/redo for geometric operations
• More robust COMIS simulations
• Starts by default with 'Learning mode' switched off
• Improved stability
• Many minor changes
• No support for Windows 98 and ME

Beta test release 5

• New graphics engine implementing blocks of different heights
• New user interface
• Based on EnergyPlus version 1.2.0.
• COMIS multi-zone natural ventilation simulations
• Standard constructions customised to local energy code requirements
• Internal windows, doors and vents
• Software graphics option to allow DesignBuilder to work with non-OpenGL compatible graphics cards
• Troubleshooting wizard
• Internal gains output broken down by 'End-use'
• CO2 emissions calculated
• Material surface properties bug fix

Beta test release 4

• Based on EnergyPlus version 1.1.1
• Bugs on systems using ',' as decimal separator fixed
• Black bar no longer displayed at bottom of screen for graphics cards without OpenGL acceleration
• Site orientation can now be entered
• Appropriate data now shown at surface level
• Surfaces can be set to be in contact with ground
• Auto backup switches off during simulation
• Zones spanning multiple stories now stable
• Daylighting bugs fixed

• Internationally aware
• Edit HVAC plant in single zone models
• Adiabatic surfaces
• Many bug-fixes

• Corrected bug which caused crash on WinNT and 98 on start up

• EnergyPlus thermal simulation link
• 3TC thermal simulation link
• 3D rendered visualization using OpenGL
• Load bulk data from templates
• Customise data detail
• Zones spanning multiple stories
• Design and hourly weather data
• EnergyPlus daylight modelling
• EnergyPlus COMIS link for natural ventilation modelling
• Heating and cooling load simulation
• Graphic results display
• Simulations using hourly weather data
• Summer and winter design day simulations
• Parametric simulations
• Weather data conversion and analysis