Issues with SBEM v4.1 interface in DesignBuilder v5 and v6

DesignBuilder v5 and v6 incorporate interfaces to SBEM v5 and v4.

The v4 interface is accessing some v5 features in particular concerning mechanical extract, PV and window shading. This should not cause any instabilities, input data is ignored or converted to the correct format when writing the data to SBEM.


HVAC Tab: Local Mechanical Extract


The options for the Scope of extract system display the v5 options. These are automatically converted to the following:

Fan remote from zone = Extract system serving multiple spaces
Fan within zone = Extract system serving a single room
Fan remote from zone with grease filter = Extract system serving multiple spaces

All other inputs for this section are compliant with v4.1.g

Solar Collector (PV)
Unlike earlier SBEM v4 interfaces, Photovoltaics are drawn  on a surface and the geometry data is reported under the relevant Solar Collector header.


The data here is largely of the format suitable for SBEM v4 (Peak Power is only available in SBEM v5) however the displayed PV types are the same as those available for SBEM v5 calculations. These are thus converted as follows:

Mono crystalline silicon = Monocrystalline silicon
Multi crystalline silicon = Polycrystalline silicon
Multi layer thin film amorphous silicon = Amorphous silicon
Other thin film layers = Other thin films
Thin film copper-indium-gallium-diselenide = Other thin films
Thin film cadmium-telluride = Other thin films

Openings Tab: Shading


The Shading System and Shading transmission factor are the only shading inputs relevant in SBEM v4. Settings for other parameters are ignored. Note that only relevant settings are displayed in DesignBuilder v6.