Building Model Overview
The Building Model section is where you define the physical characteristics of your building. This includes drawing spaces on floor plans, assigning envelope elements, and configuring HVAC systems.
Workflow
Section titled “Workflow”Building modeling typically follows this sequence:
- Sheets - View and navigate uploaded floor plans
- Spaces - Draw spaces on the floor plans
- Envelope - Assign walls, windows, roof, and slab to spaces
- Zones - Group spaces into thermal zones
- Systems - Assign zones to HVAC systems
Sections
Section titled “Sections”Sheets
Section titled “Sheets”The Sheets pane displays your uploaded floor plans. Use this view to:
- Navigate between floor plans
- Verify sheet scale and orientation
- View spaces overlaid on the drawing
Spaces
Section titled “Spaces”Create and edit building spaces:
- Draw polygon boundaries on floor plans
- Assign space types
- Configure space-specific properties
- Use AI Space Takeoff for automatic detection
Envelope
Section titled “Envelope”Define the building envelope:
- Assign wall types to exterior boundaries
- Add windows and doors
- Configure roof and skylight elements
- Define slab construction
Organize spaces into thermal zones:
- Group spaces with similar conditioning needs
- Define zone-level properties
- Plan HVAC system layout
Systems
Section titled “Systems”Create and configure HVAC systems:
- Define central units and terminal equipment
- Assign zones to systems
- Configure system-level parameters
Building Model Validation
Section titled “Building Model Validation”HVAKR validates your building model and alerts you to potential issues:
- Missing envelope - Spaces without assigned walls or roof
- Overlapping spaces - Spaces that share the same area
- Unassigned spaces - Spaces not assigned to zones or systems
- Invalid geometry - Self-intersecting polygons or gaps
Check the validation panel to resolve issues before running calculations.
Best Practices
Section titled “Best Practices”- Work floor by floor - Complete one floor before moving to the next
- Assign space types early - This enables load calculations as you model
- Use consistent naming - Name spaces clearly for reports
- Verify envelope - Check that all exterior surfaces have proper assignments
- Group logically - Create zones that match your system design intent