Knowledge base

BREEAM (1)

General (4)

• Is DesignBuilder approved for BREEAM ENE 01 calculations?
• Which BREEAM credits does DesignBuilder calculate?
• Is DesignBuilder "compliant" with CIBSE AM11 (BREEAM requirement)

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CFD (1)

General (5)

• DesignBuilder crash when trying to show CFD slice
• CFD convergence issues
• MRT calculation with component block without boundary conditions

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Case Studies (1)

General (3)

• Comparison of Variable Air Volume (VAV), Passive Chilled Beam (PCB) & Under Floor Air Distribution (UFAD) Systems
• Cost Benefit Analysis of an Urban Neighbourhood Refurbishment Project
• Quantify Performance for a 20-Year Energy Performance Contract

Daylighting (1)

General (5)

• How to generate Spatial Daylight Autonomy for a Single Day
• Daylighting Tools in DesignBuilder v7
• Solar tubes in DesignBuilder Daylighting

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Data files, Template and Components (1)

General (12)

• File couldn't be saved as a compressed file
• DesignBuilder dsb file version compatibility
• Can't find previously created construction (schedule, material etc)

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Hardware and OS (2)

Hardware (6)

• How to enable dedicated graphics card (GPU) for DesignBuilder
• Screen size resolution issues
• Can DesignBuilder make use of extra processors (e.g. 4 core)?

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Operating System (5)

• Does DesignBuilder run on Macs?
• Which operating systems does DesignBuilder support?
• Surfaces missing when using Parallels application

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Hourly Weather Data (1)

General (11)

• CIBSE Weather Data shows .stat file missing message
• DSM Weather Data for 2021 regulations
• Add a new custom weather file (EPW) to project

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HVAC (2)

Simple (6)

• Is DesignBuilder approved by CIBSE for plant sizing applications?
• How to model walk in cooler, freezer or cold room (Simple HVAC)
• What is the difference between zone sensible heating/cooling (on the heat balance graph) and zone heating, sensible, total cooling (on the system energy graph)?

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Detailed (7)

• DX-Assisted Ventilation Unit
• Radiant Heating and Cooling
• VRF design and modelling using DesignBuilder

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Installation (3)

General (18)

• Delete user Data folder
• Designbuilder main window is not visible
• How to reinstate hidden messages or popup dialogs

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Revision History (3)

• DesignBuilder v7.3 Revision History
• DesignBuilder v7.0 Revision History
• DesignBuilder v6.1 Revision History

Uninstallation issues (5)

• Unable to uninstall previous version 5.0 (or older)
• Uninstalling DesignBuilder v6 issues
• Installing/Uninstalling DesignBuilder gets Error Code: -5004 : 0x80070005

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LEED (1)

General (5)

• Reporting VRF capacities, COP and other data
• Why Lighting and Equipment gains outputs are missing from the results
• Space Areas in LEED summary and ABUPS

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Licenses (2)

Single user licenses (10)

• How to activate a single user Activation code
• How to deactivate a single user licence in DesignBuilder?
• Activating a single user *. lic license file

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Site licenses (6)

• Setting Up a Licence Server for Site Network Licenses
• Guidance to setup network license for multi-site access
• Adding seats to existing site license

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Modelling (1)

General (26)

• DesignBuilder geometry convention flexibility
• How to check the length of each thermal bridge
• Using Offset Snap to Draw Perimeter Zones

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Natural Ventilation (2)

Calculated (4)

• Error: Too many iterations in Airflow Network simulation
• How can I allow calculated natural ventilation when the outside air is warmer than inside
• Large horizontal openings and tall spaces

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General (1)

• Is DesignBuilder suitable for modelling natural ventilation?

CIBSE TM52/59 Overheating and TM54 (3)

General (1)

• Air velocity for comfort calculations

Weather files (4)

• Adding TM59 weather templates
• London data sets/weather stations for Overheating calculations
• CIBSE Weather Data shows .stat file missing message

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TM54 (1)

• DesignBuilder CIBSE TM54 Modelling resources

Parametric (1)

General (3)

• LCC Optimisation Results Not Reproduced Manually
• Customise Your Optimisation, Parametric Analysis and UA/SA Analyses with Custom Scripts
• Parametric Analysis Data Export

Sales (1)

General (8)

• Upgrade single user license to latest version
• Single-user versus Network licenses
• DesignBuilder Newsletters

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SBEM and DSM (5)

BRUKL (11)

• Specifying Design Lighting
• BRUKL Ventilation Reporting
• Display Lighting on BRUKL

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EPC and Action Plans (13)

• SBEM 6.1.e Patch 04 (Scotland Section 63)
• SBEM 6.1.e Patch02 (Kaizen Certification)
• Why do some of the recommendations not appear in the Recommendations report?

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Expert (5)

• Lighting Controls
• 2021 (SBEM v6) Building Ratings
• Modelling individual zones to find optimum improvements

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Problems and Solutions (13)

• SBEM Applications and Versions
• Convert model geometry from DesignBuilder v7 to DesignBuilder v6
• DSM Weather Data for 2021 regulations

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Previous Releases (11)

• How to change NCM version from 5.6b to 6.1b?
• SBEM 6.1.e Patch01
• XML will not lodge due to Negative TER

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Simulations (4)

General (31)

• Why is the maximum cooling load not the same as the sum of the internal and solar gains?
• Glaser condensation diagram layers compressed together
• Designing for Future Climate

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IDF files (3)

• Exporting IDF files
• IDF files generated by DesignBuilder don't run in EP-Launch
• How to identify surfaces and zones in EnergyPlus IDF data

Simulation Manager (2)

• JobServer not available
• Simulation Manager Troubleshooting

Outputs (5)

• Requesting additional outputs for your simulation
• How to view solar radiation incident on a surface
• Why don't I see the heat balance simulation results (walls, glazing, roof etc gains)

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Support (1)

General (8)

• Support Desk Policy
• Program Help for previous versions
• DesignBuilder dsb file version compatibility

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Top tips (1)

General (18)

• Using Offset Snap to Draw Perimeter Zones
• Why are Internal Partitions Not Accessible at Zone Level?
• Designing for Future Climate

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