Updating small v1 and v2 SBEM models

Modified on Fri, 3 May at 12:27 PM

Updating small v1 and v2 SBEM models
v1 and v2 models can be directly loaded into later versions of DesignBuilder. Note that you will have to make some manual changes to the model. The main changes will be to change the Building Type (Sector) and Activities. Neither of these are automatically updated to the new settings.
    
If this generates the Error loading file - file corruption then you will need to load it first into DesignBuilder v4.2.0.054 and re-save to rebuild the geometry.

Model Options
    Project Details
Sector: clicking on the 3 dots opens the Sector Browser, note the old sector name appears as a valid selection but isn't. Reset to the correct one (A1/A2 Retail and Financial/Professional services in the example case below). If you reclick on the 3 dots the old setting will have disappeared from the valid choices.


    Maximum number of storeys: this will default to 1. It is used for working out bridging (perhaps more?)
    
Activity tab
        For 2010 and later NCMs (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and NEAP (Ireland), all the activity definitions (which are is based on the new building sector types) are changed. However, your model will import with the old activities and these will need to be manually replaced. Looking at this model:
Set the predominant activity at the Building level. Note the sector displayed initially comes from the sector set in model options. The activity displayed will not be from that sector but from the earlier (SBEM v3) activity


When the activity is reset the Sector displayed will be the sector from which the activity has been selected. Note the folder for the old Sector (Retail Warehouses in this case) disappears once the setting is made.


        If you are still familiar with the building (a good zone naming system is helpful here) it may be quicker to replace the activities by resetting the activities in all blocks and zones to that just set at Building Level using Clear to Default. It will then be easier to select the correct replacement for each zone which has a different activity. However, this will mean that you can't check the activity set originally in the model and that might be important to identify the new setting.
If you decide to go ahead with resetting all the activities (note, this only changes the activity/sector, it will not change other data for the zone) use right-click menu when hovering over the activity:


This will make it easier to select the new activity for blocks and zones below as the default Sector is also inherited:


If 'clear data to default' is not used you may need to navigate to the correct Sector folder for each new assignment:


        Some zones may not have an obvious replacement activity (for example 'Meeting Room' and 'Common Room/Staff' are no longer available in many sectors). Please check the documentation provided by SEAI as to the process required in setting activities.
        
        Note: SBEM does not check the Activity IDs as part of its error checking. If you have unchanged activities in your model then this will generate errors. These errors may be generated in the Reference or Notional Building rather than the Actual Building as SBEM may have trouble assigning attributes to an activity type it does not recognise.
        
        Note that each activity type has an associated identification number. The original activity IDs used numbers in the range 1-529. The new ids have values over 1000-1358. If you have not been able to locate zones with an incorrect assignment then you could check the SBEM input file assignments:
        
1. Locate the SBEM folder



2. Locate the file model.inp in that folder



3.         Right click and choose a text editor to open



4. Search for 'ACTIVITY ='



5. Note any Zones with IDs below 1000



6. Locate the zone and reset the activity




Constructions
        Current approved versions of DesignBuilder access the SBEM construction and glazing libraries appropriate for the relevant versions of SBEM. For constructions assigned in DesignBuilder v2.3 (SBEM 3.5.b) or earlier, the assignments may be incorrect or have values different to those originally assigned because:
        a. The construction record has not been carried through from the 3.5.b database to the later database
        b. The value has changed from that set in the original database
        c. The construction record no longer exists in the latest database
Thus it is wise to review the constructions/glazings used in the model.


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