DesignBuilder EnergyPlus is a comprehensive dynamic thermal analysis tool and offers all of the analysis tools discussed in AM11 that can be used for comfort and energy analysis. BREEAM Ene 01 credits must be carried out using approved EPC software and you can use DesignBuilder SBEM.
DesignBuilder EnergyPlus is a comprehensive dynamic thermal analysis tool and offers all of the analysis tools discussed in AM11 that can be used for comfort and energy analysis. BREEAM Ene 01 credits must be carried out using approved EPC software and you can use DesignBuilder SBEM for this.
Note that BREEAM states "Thermal modelling must have been carried out using software that is compliant with CIBSE AM11. The software used to carry out the simulation at the detailed design stage must provide full dynamic thermal analysis." This has given rise to a certain amount of confusion, because CIBSE AM11 is not actually a compliance document but rather a set of guidelines that simulation practitioners should follow when choosing simulation software. It provides information on building energy modelling and a checklist to help customers ask suppliers such as DesignBuilder whether their software is suitable for their needs. In fact there isn't anything in AM11 with which DesignBuilder can comply with (or fail to comply with).
DesignBuilder Radiance can be used to generate daylight illuminance data to claim credits for the Daylighting credit Hea 01.
For more information see:
Which BREEAM credits does DesignBuilder calculate?
You can download a document describing the details of how DesignBuilder complies with the requirements set out in A10 of the BREEAM documentation:
BREEAM Checklist A10 Report For DesignBuilder
Was this article helpful?
That’s Great!
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry! We couldn't be helpful
Thank you for your feedback
Feedback sent
We appreciate your effort and will try to fix the article