constructdxf tutorial - ies

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ConstructDXF Tutorial

<Virtual Environment> 5.9

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Contents

1. Introduction.......................................................................................................41.1. This Tutorial.......................................................................................................................... 41.2. Before Using ConstructDXF................................................................................................. 51.3. Conventions Used in this Manual......................................................................................... 5

1.3.1. Click ............................................................................................................................. 51.3.2. Select........................................................................................................................... 51.3.3. Checking/Unchecking.................................................................................................. 5

2. Starting a New Project......................................................................................62.1. Starting ModelIT ................................................................................................................... 62.2. Attaching the DXF File ......................................................................................................... 7

3. Creating Room Templates Using the Building Template Manager ..............93.1. General Tab ....................................................................................................................... 103.2. Thermal Tab....................................................................................................................... 11

3.2.1. Winter Indoor Temp................................................................................................... 123.2.2. Emitter Rad. Fraction................................................................................................. 123.2.3. Summer Min. Temp. .................................................................................................. 123.2.4. Summer Max. Temp. ................................................................................................. 123.2.5. Summer Min. % Sat................................................................................................... 123.2.6. Summer Max. % Sat.................................................................................................. 123.2.7. Cooling Device Radiant Fraction............................................................................... 123.2.8. Solar Reflected. Fraction ........................................................................................... 133.2.9. Furniture Mass Factor ............................................................................................... 133.2.10. Cooling Profile ........................................................................................................... 133.2.11. Cooling Zone ............................................................................................................. 133.2.12. Heating Zone ............................................................................................................. 13

3.3. Lighting Tab........................................................................................................................ 143.3.1. Illuminance Level....................................................................................................... 143.3.2. Limiting Glare Index................................................................................................... 143.3.3. Working Surface Height............................................................................................. 153.3.4. Mounting Height ........................................................................................................ 153.3.5. Luminaire Maintenance Factor.................................................................................. 153.3.6. Lamp Replacement Period ........................................................................................ 153.3.7. Room Surface Maintenance Factor........................................................................... 153.3.8. Lamp Survival Factor................................................................................................. 153.3.9. Light Fittings .............................................................................................................. 163.3.10. Light Fitting Dialogue Box.......................................................................................... 16

3.4. Casual Gains Tab............................................................................................................... 163.4.1. Maximum Sensible Gain per Person......................................................................... 173.4.2. Maximum Latent Gain per Person............................................................................. 173.4.3. Floor Area/Person ..................................................................................................... 173.4.4. Max. Sensible Gain ................................................................................................... 183.4.5. Max. Latent Gain ....................................................................................................... 183.4.6. Radiant Fraction ........................................................................................................ 183.4.7. Maximum Power Consumption.................................................................................. 183.4.8. Fuel............................................................................................................................ 183.4.9. Profile......................................................................................................................... 18

3.5. Air Exchange Tab............................................................................................................... 193.5.1. Variation Profile ......................................................................................................... 203.5.2. Air Change Rate ........................................................................................................ 203.5.3. Adj. Condition ............................................................................................................ 203.5.4. Temperature Offset ................................................................................................... 203.5.5. Temperature Profile................................................................................................... 20

3.6. Construction Tab................................................................................................................ 21

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4. Running ConstructDXF ..................................................................................234.1. Extract Settings .................................................................................................................. 23

4.1.1. Settings - Heights Tab ............................................................................................... 244.1.2. Settings - Doors Tab.................................................................................................. 254.1.3. Settings - Windows Tab............................................................................................. 264.1.4. Settings - Key Labels Tab ......................................................................................... 27

5. Generating the 3D Model................................................................................285.1. Creating the Building Model for the Ground Floor ............................................................. 285.2. Creating the Building Model for the First Floor .................................................................. 29

6. Modifying the Model .......................................................................................326.1. Levels of Decomposition .................................................................................................... 32

6.1.1. MODEL Level ............................................................................................................ 336.1.2. SPACE Level ............................................................................................................. 336.1.3. SURFACE Level........................................................................................................ 33

6.2. Modifying Thermal Attributes for a Single Zone................................................................. 336.3. Modifying Elements for a Single Zone ............................................................................... 356.4. Modifying Individual Opening Constructions...................................................................... 366.5. Modifying Individual Opaque Constructions....................................................................... 38

7. Building Settings ............................................................................................418. Setting Site and Weather Data.......................................................................429. Apache Heat Loss and Heat Gain Calculations ...........................................43

9.1. Introduction......................................................................................................................... 439.2. Performing Heat Gain and Heat Loss Calculations ........................................................... 439.3. Viewing Results in ModelIT................................................................................................ 43

10. Flucs Lighting Design and Analysis..........................................................4510.1. Introduction......................................................................................................................... 4510.2. Performing Lighting Design and Analysis Calculations...................................................... 4510.3. Viewing the Calculated Luminaires in ModelIT .................................................................. 47

11. Flucs Point-by-Point Lighting Analysis on a User Defined LuminaireLayout .....................................................................................................................49

11.1. Introduction......................................................................................................................... 4911.2. Creating and Placing an Array of Luminaires .................................................................... 4911.3. Placing Individual Luminaires............................................................................................. 5111.4. Modifying Luminaires ......................................................................................................... 5211.5. Performing a Point-by-Point Lighting Analysis................................................................... 53

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1. Introduction

1.1. This Tutorial

In this tutorial we will use ConstructDXF to produce data for the IES <VE>thermal and lighting software by scanning ordinary DXF format drawings ofbuilding plan layouts, and generating a 3D building data model, all within theModelIT environment. We will then perform thermal and lighting calculations.

The example building comprises of two storeys with a central courtyard:

Ground floor

First floor

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You will require two DXF files; tut_grd.dxf and tut_1st.dxf. The files are plansfor the ground and first floors respectively.

1.2. Before Using ConstructDXF

You should have a reasonable level of familiarity with the Windows operatingsystem in terms of the basic conventions such as window operations(dragging, resizing, etc.), dialogue boxes, toolbars, file selection etc. If youdon’t, please consult your system manager before attempting to useConstructDXF.

You should also be familiar with ModelIT, as ConstructDXF operates within theModelIT environment. For detailed information on ModelIT, e.g. menu items,toolbars and tool button functions, please refer to the ModelIT documentation.Please contact IES if you require training in ModelIT.

1.3. Conventions Used in this Manual

1.3.1. Click

Pressing the left mouse (or data point) button.

1.3.2. Select

Clicking on an element or item so that it is highlighted. It should be noted that afterperforming certain operations on a 3D model that has been built (such as adding anopening), you must first click on the Select Object tool button in the View tool barbefore you can select an element.

1.3.3. Checking/Unchecking

An option may have a check box next to it. To enable the option, check the box, i.e.click in the box so that a tick or cross appears in it. Clicking in the box again toremove the tick or cross is known as unchecking.

http://www.iesve.com/downloads/help/ModelBuilder/Tutorials/dxf_tutorials.zip

http://www.iesve.com/downloads/help/ModelBuilder/ModelIT.pdf

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2. Starting a New Project

2.1. Starting ModelIT

From your Windows environment, start ModelIT. The ModelIT window willappear with an empty view.

From the File menu, choose New. A Windows common file open dialogue boxopens. Choose a folder to open a project in, type in the project file name e.g.“Tutor1” and click the Open button.

A window will appear which is the ModelIT workspace. The windowbackground may be black; you may change the background and grid coloursby using the Colours option in the Settings menu.

The ModelIT workspace

If you wish, before doing anything else, use Windows Explorer and look in thefolder you chose for the project. You should see that an Apache folder hasbeen created within the project folder in addition to a project *.mit file and that

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various project files have been created within the Apache folder. It is this wholegroup of files that represents the project.

2.2. Attaching the DXF File

Select Reference Files from the File menu. Select the Attach DXF File option.The Attach DXF File dialogue box will appear, from which you can navigate tothe folder where the tut_grd.dxf and tut_1st.dxf files are held:

The Attach DXF File dialogue box

Select tut_grd.dxf (the ground floor plan) and select metres as the scale factor.Leave the Plane value at zero. This refers to the height in the ModelIT Z-planeat which the DXF file is attached. Click on Open to attach the DXF file. You willthen see the DXF file in the window.

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Attached DXF file

Click on the Axonometric View tool button to show the attached DXF file (andsubsequently generated rooms) in an axonometric perspective.

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3. Creating Room Templates Using the BuildingTemplate Manager

Before generating the 3D data model, we need to set up default thermal andconstruction attributes.

To define default room thermal, lighting and construction attributes, we first useAPtemp, the room template manager to create and edit room templates. Thetemplates will then be available within ModelIT.

Select the APtemp option from the Utilities menu. APtemp will then start. At thisstage, you should only see one template in the APtemp active template list,called ‘default’. For the purposes of this tutorial we will set attributes for a newtemplate.

The APtemp window

Click on the Add button. This opens the Room Template dialogue box whereyou can set default room attributes (thermal, lighting and constructions). Whenyou subsequently close this dialogue box, the new template is added to the list.

You will notice that some of the attribute items require profile groups. When you

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first start a project, the profile database will have only one percentage and oneabsolute profile. In order to expand the project profile database either withsystem database entries or your own custom profiles, you must run the APproutility from the Utilities menu. Refer to the APpro and Apache documentation forgeneral information on profiles.

The Room Template dialogue box is split into tabbed sections.

3.1. General Tab

Room Template dialogue box - General tab

In this tab you can enter the Reference name of the template, which willsubsequently appear in the active template list. Enter ‘Offices’ as the templatename.

For comfort temperature analyses, you can set the comfort temperature limitsand profile.

The Select button opens the Percentage Profile Group dialogue box whichenables the required Percentage Profile Group to be selected.

http://www.iesve.com/downloads/help/Thermal/APPro.pdf

http://www.iesve.com/downloads/help/Thermal/ApacheView.pdf

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In most cases, prior to creating a template, users should define their ownprofiles using APpro, the Apache Profiles Database. These profiles will thenappear in this and any other Percentage Profile Group dialogue box.

After modifying the comfort period profile group setting, click on OK to updatethe settings or CANCEL to keep the current setting.

You may also enter the default percentage lettable area and circulation area(e.g. corridors) for your model, for the purposes of calculations performed byIES’s Deft software.

3.2. Thermal Tab

Room Template dialogue box - Thermal tab

This tab contains controls for setting default room thermal attribute data, whichis used by IES’s Apache software.

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3.2.1. Winter Indoor Temp.

This is the control temperature that is needed in the room for the winter heatingcalculation. Typical values are listed in the CIBSE Guide A1, Table A1.2. It ispermissible to enter the same value as the Winter Outdoor Design Temperature.This has a different effect depending on the Heat Loss calculation algorithm used.

3.2.2. Emitter Rad. Fraction

This is the fraction of radiant heat given out by the heat emitter, e.g. 0.0 for forcedwarm air heaters and 0.9 for high temperature radiant heaters.

3.2.3. Summer Min. Temp.

Used in the Heat Gain cooling calculation, this is the minimum temperature allowedin a conditioned space, during the hours of plant operation. If the temperature in thespace falls below the value entered here during the time of plant operation, heatingwill occur to meet this set-point temperature.

3.2.4. Summer Max. Temp.

Used in the Heat Gain cooling calculation, this is the maximum temperature allowedin a conditioned space, during the hours of plant operation. If the temperature in thespace rises above the value entered here during the time of plant operation, coolingwill occur to meet this set-point temperature.

3.2.5. Summer Min. % Sat.

This is the minimum saturation to be maintained during the hours of plant operation.If the percentage saturation in the space falls below the value entered here duringthe time of plant operation, humidification will occur to meet this set-point.

3.2.6. Summer Max. % Sat.

This is the maximum saturation to be maintained during the hours of plant operation.If the percentage saturation in the space rises above the value entered here duringthe time of plant operation, dehumidification will occur to meet this set-point.

3.2.7. Cooling Device Radiant Fraction

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The Cooling Device Radiant Fraction is the cooling that is seen as radiant energy,e.g. 0.0 for an air system.

3.2.8. Solar Reflected. Fraction

This is the fraction of solar radiation which, once transmitted by the glazing room, isthen re-reflected out of the window. The value of solar fraction lost dependsprimarily on internal surface emissivity and room geometry. As a general rule,windows which have a high room view factor will have higher solar re-reflectedfractions.

3.2.9. Furniture Mass Factor

In Apache System Simulation the thermal mass of the air in a room is calculated asthe product of the room volume, the air density and the air specific heat capacity atthe room conditions. See the Apache User Guide for more information.

3.2.10. Cooling Profile

Contains a control to set the percentage profile group reference that defines theoperation of the cooling system in summer. The Select button opens the PercentageProfile Group dialogue box which enables the required Percentage Profile Group tobe selected.

In most cases, prior to creating a template, users should define their own profilesusing APpro, the Apache Profiles Database. These profiles will then appear in thisand any other Percentage Profile Group dialogue box.

3.2.11. Cooling Zone

This allows you to set a default cooling zone to which spaces will be assigned for thepurposes of thermal calculations. Note that this option does not appear if runningAPtemp in standalone mode.

3.2.12. Heating Zone

This allows you to set a default heating zone to which spaces will be assigned for thepurposes of thermal calculations. Note that this option does not appear if runningAPtemp in standalone mode.

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3.3. Lighting Tab

Contains information used by the design calculations of IES’s Flucs software.

Room Template dialogue box - Lighting tab

3.3.1. Illuminance Level

This is the standard maintained illuminance to be provided on the working plane.Recommended illuminance levels are included in Part 2 of the CIBSE InteriorLighting Code.

3.3.2. Limiting Glare Index

If you enter a value for the limiting glare index then the program will perform a glarecheck, provided that glare data exists for the luminaire. Recommended values forlimiting glare index may be found in the CIBSE Interior Lighting Code.

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3.3.3. Working Surface Height

The working surface height is the level of the illuminated plane.

3.3.4. Mounting Height

This is the vertical distance between a luminaire and the working plane.

3.3.5. Luminaire Maintenance Factor

The lumen output from a luminaire decreases with time because of dirt deposition onand in the luminaire. The luminaire maintenance factor quantifies this decline, beinga proportion of the initial light output from the luminaire that occurs after a set time,allowance having been made for the decline in light output from the lamp.

3.3.6. Lamp Replacement Period

This category is used to assess the depreciation in light output from the lamp over agiven time. This has a two-fold functionality: If a value of less than 1.0 is input, theprogram will interpret this as the actual lamp lumen maintenance factor. Values ofgreater than 1.0 will be used as a lamp replacement period when looking up theLLMF curves (determined by lamp type).

3.3.7. Room Surface Maintenance Factor

The room surface maintenance factor is the proportion of the illuminance providedby the lighting installation in a room, after a set time, compared with that whichoccurred when the room was clean. Allowance is made for the depreciation in lumenoutput of lamps and the effect of dirt deposition on the luminaires.

3.3.8. Lamp Survival Factor

This category is used to assess the proportion of lamps that have not failed after aset time. If a value of less than 1.0 is input, the program will interpret this as theactual lamp-survival factor. Values of greater than 1.0 will be used as a lamp-replacement period when looking up the LSF curves (determined by lamp type).Lamp-survival factors may be obtained from the manufacturers’ data. Typical lampsurvival factors are shown in the CIBSE Code for Interior Lighting.

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3.3.9. Light Fittings

Contains controls for setting luminaire, lamp and lamp colour combinations. TheSelect button opens the Light Fitting dialogue box. You can only select data which isheld in the system database. If user defined data is required, it must be defined andselected while in the Flucs program environment.

3.3.10. Light Fitting Dialogue Box

The Light Fitting dialogue box contains three list boxes for the selection ofluminaires, lamps and lamp colours.

Luminaire Used to select the required luminaire.Lamp Used to select the required lamp.Lamp Colour Used to select the required lamp colour.

The lists are linked so that only valid lamps are listed for the currently selectedluminaire and similarly only valid lamp colours are listed for the selected lamp. Aftermodifying the light fitting settings, click on OK to update the settings or CANCEL tokeep the current settings.

For the purposes of these examples, select the default luminaire to be a CromptonDulcet with opal diffuser.

3.4. Casual Gains Tab

This tab contains controls for default room casual gain settings. The list boxcontains the various casual gain types; people (occupancy), tungsten lighting,fluorescent lighting, machinery, miscellaneous, cooking and computers.

Note if a casual gain (or air exchange mechanism) is unchecked in the RoomTemplate dialogue box, it will be disabled in all the model spaces.

Once a particular gain type has been selected from the list box, the group boxbelow will be updated to display settings for the selected category. The gaintype can be switched on or off by checking/unchecking the box adjacent to thegain type. Switching off the gain category will cause the group box below to bedisabled, and will inhibit the transfer of data for this category to Apache.

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Room Template dialogue box - Casual Gains tab

Note not all items listed below are needed for each type of Casual Gain.

3.4.1. Maximum Sensible Gain per Person

This is the value used to calculate the sensible heat gain per room from occupants.Typical values are listed in CIBSE Guide A Table A7.1.

3.4.2. Maximum Latent Gain per Person

This is the value used to calculate the latent heat gain per room from occupants.Typical values are listed in CIBSE Guide A Table A7.1.

3.4.3. Floor Area/Person

This value is used to calculate the number of people per room.

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3.4.4. Max. Sensible Gain

This is the default maximum sensible gain per square metre of floor area for the gaintype described in the list box above. Typical values can be found in CIBSE GuideA7.

3.4.5. Max. Latent Gain

This is the maximum latent heat gain per square metre of floor area for the gain typedescribed in the list box above. Typical values can be found in CIBSE Guide A7.This setting is only displayed for appropriate types of heat gain.

3.4.6. Radiant Fraction

This represents the amount of sensible gain that is released as radiant heat (theremainder is assumed to be convective). Typical values are listed in CIBSE GuideA7.

3.4.7. Maximum Power Consumption

This is the default peak rate of energy (or fuel) consumption of the device beingdescribed. Most casual gains (such as lights and small machines) consume energy(or fuel) as well as emitting heat.

3.4.8. Fuel

Where the default casual gain being defined has an associated power, or fuelconsumption, this item defines the type of fuel that it uses. For example, lights wouldnormally use electricity, but cooking might use gas or electricity.

3.4.9. Profile

This contains a control to set the percentage profile group reference that describesthe variation of the heat gain throughout the year. The Select button opens thePercentage Profile Group dialogue box which enables the required PercentageProfile Group to be selected.

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3.5. Air Exchange Tab

Contains controls for default room air exchange settings. The Air Exchange listbox contains a list box of the various air exchange types; infiltration, naturalventilation and mechanical ventilation.

Once a particular air exchange type has been selected from the list box, thegroup box below will be updated to display settings for the selected category.The air exchange type can be switched on or off by checking/unchecking thebox adjacent to the air exchange type. Switching off the air exchange categorywill cause the group box below to be disabled, and will inhibit the transfer ofdata for this category to Apache.

Note different combinations of Air Exchange types with adjacent conditioncodes require different items of data.

Room Template dialogue box - Air Exchange tab

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3.5.1. Variation Profile

This contains a control to set the percentage profile group reference that describesthe variation of the selected air exchange type throughout the year. The Selectbutton opens the Percentage Profile Group dialogue box which enables the requiredPercentage Profile Group to be selected. After modifying the air exchange profilegroup setting, click on OK to update the settings or CANCEL to keep the currentsetting.

3.5.2. Air Change Rate

This value is the maximum number of air changes in air changes/hr, l/s or l/s/m2 for agiven profile group, i.e. he air-change rate assumed at those times when the definedprofile has a value of 100%, or when there are no profiles used (in Apache HeatLoss calculations).

3.5.3. Adj. Condition

This sets the default adjacency condition for the current air exchange type. Thecondition may be set to air from the outside of the building (i.e. at the outsidetemperature), air from the outside plus an offset temperature or air at a fixedtemperature defined by a temperature profile.

3.5.4. Temperature Offset

This sets the offset temperature to be used in conjunction with the outside airtemperature for the associated adjacent condition. This setting is only displayed ifthe adjacent condition is set to 'External Air Plus Offset Temp.’

3.5.5. Temperature Profile

This contains a control to set the absolute temperature profile group for theassociated adjacent condition. This setting is only displayed if the adjacent conditionis set to 'Temp. From Profile'. The Select button opens the Absolute Profile Groupdialogue box which enables the required Absolute Profile Group for the ventilation airtemperature to be selected.

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3.6. Construction Tab

The Construction tab lets you assign default construction types to roofs,ceilings, walls, partitions, floors, windows and doors.

When you first start a project, the project construction database will have onlyone construction for each surface element type. In order to expand theconstruction database either with system database entries or your own customconstructions, you must run the APcdb utility. Refer to APcdb and Apachedocumentation for general information on constructions.

Room Template dialogue box - Construction tab

You will notice a setting entitled ‘Horizontal-Vertical Element Transition Angle’(degs) at the top of the tab. This setting is used to dictate whether elements willbe interpreted as horizontal (floors, ceilings) or vertical (walls). If the surface tiltangle is less than 90-degs the surface element is interpreted as a ceiling, if it isgreater than 90+degs as a floor, otherwise a wall.

To associate a particular construction type with an element, select the requiredelement in the Room Element list box and then select the required construction

http://www.iesve.com/downloads/help/Thermal/ConstructionsDatabase.pdf


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in the Construction list.

Assign each element type with one of the construction types.

When you have entered the required data in all the above tabs, press OK toconfirm the Room Template. The Room Template dialogue box will then close,and the new template with the chosen reference name will be added to theactive template list.

New template added to the active list

See the APtemp user guide for further information on using APtemp.

Exit from APtemp, choosing to save any changes you have made. You willthen be returned to ModelIT.

Select the ‘Offices’ template from the list in the dialogue bar at the bottom ofthe ModelIT window. When the model is generated, all the generated spaceswill take the attributes of the selected template.

Selecting a template from the dialogue bar

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4. Running ConstructDXF

Click on the ConstructDXF tool button, or select ConstructDXF from the Utilitiesmenu. The ConstructDXF window will appear. In the ConstructDXF window youwill see an image of the currently attached DXF file.

The ConstructDXF window

4.1. Extract Settings

Click on the Settings button in the ConstructDXF window. This opens theSettings dialogue box, which is split into tabbed sections. Most of the settingscan be left at their default values, but the most important ones are describedbelow.

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4.1.1. Settings - Heights Tab

Settings - Heights tab

Leave the value in the Base Plane box as zero. This is the point in the model Z(height) plane from which the storey will be extruded, and reflects the Plane valueyou entered earlier in the Attach DXF File dialogue box. For the storey height, type in2.7.

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4.1.2. Settings - Doors Tab

Settings - Doors tab

Check that the minimum door width and maximum door width settings match theoccurrences in the drawing files. In this case the door widths are all 1.0m. Set therange of the default Door Width settings to 0.1m minimum and 1.1m maximum, toaccount for any doors that may be fractionally over 1.0m wide.

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4.1.3. Settings - Windows Tab

Settings - Windows tab

Check that the window offset and minimum window width match the occurrences inthe drawing files. The largest window in the building is 3.45m wide, so set theminimum and maximum window widths to 0.2 and 3.5m respectively and set themaximum window offset to 0.05m. Leave the minimum number of window lines atthe default value of 3, and leave the Layer Search at ‘No Layer Search’.

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4.1.4. Settings - Key Labels Tab

Settings - Key Labels tab

For the void space search string, type in ‘*court*;’ in either upper or lower case.

When you have entered the required data in all the above tabs, press OK to updatethe Settings. The Settings dialogue box will then close.

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5. Generating the 3D Model

5.1. Creating the Building Model for the Ground Floor

Click on the Extract button. This will initiate the model generation processwhich is displayed on a percentage completion bar. The process may beaborted at any stage by clicking on the Cancel button.

The 3D data model for the ground floor will then be generated within theModelIT environment. When the Extract process is complete, you will see thegenerated model both in the ConstructDXF window and in the ModelITenvironment. This model file will have the extension .MIT, and is now astandard ModelIT 3D model. The created zones can now be modified using thesame techniques as when modifying a model you may have manually createdwithin ModelIT (see the ModelIT Tutorial). You may also manually add zones.Note that you need to close the ConstructDXF window before you can work inModelIT.

You should see that the zones have been extracted from the DXF file, withdoors and windows also extracted. If zones or doors and windows are missingfrom the created model, you will need to check the extract Settings, and buildthe model again. All zones will have a height of 2.7m (as set in the Heights tabin the Settings dialogue box).

There will be small gaps between zones due to the wall thicknesses. As longas the gap between zones is less than the Maximum Horizontal Separation setin the Tolerances tab in the Settings dialogue box, ModelIT will recognise thatthese zones are thermally adjacent to one another. In this way, wallthicknesses can be accommodated.

Within the ConstructDXF window, click on the Close button. The ConstructDXFwindow will close, and the facilities in ModelIT will become enabled.

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The generated model – ground floor

5.2. Creating the Building Model for the First Floor

At this stage, you could choose another template from the list in the dialoguebar. However, for the purposes of this tutorial, we will leave the templatesunchanged.

Select Reference Files from the File menu and select the Attach DXF Fileoption. The Attach DXF File dialogue box will appear, from which you cannavigate to the folder where the tut_grd.dxf and tut_1st.dxf files are held.Select tut_1st.dxf (the first floor plan) and select metres as the scale factor.

Before you extract the next storey, you must make sure that the Z (height)value of the base of the next storey is equal to or greater than the Z value ofthe top of the current storey in the model. To do this, change the Plane value inthe Attach DXF File dialogue box to 3.0m. This refers to the height in theModelIT Z-plane at which the DXF file is attached. Click on Open to attach theDXF file. You will then see the DXF file in the ModelIT window at theappropriate height.

Click on the ConstructDXF tool button, or select ConstructDXF from the

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Utilities menu. The ConstructDXF window will appear. In the ConstructDXFwindow you will see an image of the currently attached DXF file and the groundfloor rooms.

At this stage, you could modify the extract settings. However, for the purposesof this tutorial, we will leave the settings unchanged. However, if you click onthe Settings button to open the Settings dialogue box and go to the Heightstab, you will see that the value in the Base Plane box has changed from 0 to 3,reflecting the Plane value you entered in the Attach DXF File dialogue box.Click on OK or Cancel to close the Settings dialogue box.

The facility to change the Base Plane value within the ConstructDXFenvironment allows you to use the same DXF drawing for multi-storey buildingsand to change the Base Plane height, avoiding the need to closeConstructDXF and reset the Plane value in the Attach DXF File dialogue box.

Click on the Extract button. This will initiate the model generation processwhich is displayed on a percentage completion bar. The process may beaborted at any stage by clicking on the Cancel button.

The first floor rooms will then be generated within the ModelIT environment,above the existing ground floor spaces. When the Extract process is complete,you will see the updated model in the ModelIT environment.

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The generated model – ground and first floors

There will be a small gap between the ground floor zones and first floor zones.This gap is 0.3m, because the ground floor zones are 2.7m high, and the firstfloor zones were built upwards from a height of 3.0m.

As long as the gap between zones on different floors is less than the MaximumVertical Separation set in the Tolerances tab in the Settings dialogue box,ModelIT will recognise that these zones are thermally adjacent to one another.In this way, ceiling/floor void thicknesses can be accommodated.

Within the ConstructDXF window, click on the Close button. The ConstructDXFwindow will close.

Select Reference Files from the File menu. Select the Detach DXF File option,and the tut_1st.dxf file will be detached from the project.

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6. Modifying the Model

6.1. Levels of Decomposition

After the model generating process is complete, you may now experiment withroom and element selection and modification. ModelIT uses levels ofdecomposition of the 3D data model. When you have first generated a modelor have opened an existing model, the initial level of decomposition is alwaysMODEL. Notice that at present, the text in the top bar of the active ModelITwindow says “Model”.

The MODEL level of decomposition

The levels of decomposition are in order from top level to bottom level asfollows:

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6.1.1. MODEL Level

This displays all spaces in the model. At this level you can select a room and reviewand modify data for the space.

6.1.2. SPACE Level

This displays the selected space. At this level you can select a surface and reviewsurface dimensions, and modify the reflectance for lighting calculations.

6.1.3. SURFACE Level

This displays the selected surface. At this level you review and modify door andwindow data, and review and modify the surface construction data.

6.2. Modifying Thermal Attributes for a Single Zone

To review or modify the data for a room in the model, you must first select aroom. One method of doing this is to click in the required room in the modelview. Another method is to select the Model Browser option from the Viewmenu. The Model Browser will open, and you can click on the required room inthe Model Browser tab or in the Space List tab. You can close the ModelBrowser after you have used it.

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The Model Browser

For this exercise, select room g2. The selected room will be highlighted in themodel view. Click on the Query tool button or select Query from the Modelmenu. The Room Data dialogue box opens.

The Room Data dialogue box is very similar to the Room Template dialoguebox that appears when you are creating/editing room templates using theAPtemp utility, but allows you to change the items of data that are specific to aparticular space. In the General tab the room name can be changed, and thistab also shows the generated room area and volume.

In the Casual Gains tab, room gains are shown in W as well as W/m2, andboth of these values can be modified.

In addition, there are ‘default’ check boxes next to the data items that enableyou to switch between the settings specified in the Room Template dialoguebox (before you generated the model), and any other settings. The Thermal tabis shown below as an example.

Room Data dialogue box – Thermal tab

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Other main features in the Room Data dialogue box (compared to the RoomTemplate dialogue box) are as follows:

Casual Gain and Air Exchange tabs: it is possible to add to and modifythe list of gain and air exchange types (e.g. if you have two differenttypes of fluorescent lighting gains in a space).

Air Exchange tab: for the Adjacent Condition, it is possible to select anadjacent room.

Note also the Output Review tab, which may be used to get a quick summaryof results created by the Apache module.

Experiment by editing selected items, and then click on the OK button toimplement the changes.

6.3. Modifying Elements for a Single Zone

Click on the Move Down button to move down a level of decomposition to theSPACE level. The display will now change to fit the selected space into themodel window. Notice that the text in the top bar of the active ModelIT windowswitches from “Model” to “Space: Surface Mode”.

The SPACE level of decomposition

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To review or modify the data for a surface in the model, you must first select asurface. To do this, click near the centre of the required surface in the modelview. Select an exterior wall with windows. The selected surface will behighlighted.

Click on the Query button to review surface data. The Surface dialogue box willappear, displaying the element area, orientation, tilt and reflectance. Changethe reflectance (for lighting design purposes) if required and press OK.

Surface dialogue box

6.4. Modifying Individual Opening Constructions

Click the Move Down control again. Notice that the text in the top bar of theModelIT active window now switches to “Surface: Opening Mode”.

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The SURFACE level of decomposition – Opening mode

At the SURFACE level of decomposition there are two modes, Opening andAdjacency. You can select the required mode from the drop down list in thedialogue bar at the bottom of the ModelIT window. The default mode isOpening mode. Make sure you are in this mode.

Mode selection

To review or modify the data for an opening, you must first select an opening.To do this, click near the centre of the required opening. The selected openingwill be highlighted. Click on the Query button to review opening data. TheOpening dialogue box will appear, which displays the opening area and currentconstruction.

Opening dialogue box

Click on the Select button and a Construction dialogue box will appear, fromwhich you may select a new construction for the opening. Note that you shouldhave used the APcdb facility first (within APtemp or from the Utilities menu), toenable a list of constructions to be displayed here.

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Construction dialogue box

When you have selected the new construction, click on OK to close this box,and click on OK to close the Opening dialogue box. The new construction isnow assigned to the opening.

6.5. Modifying Individual Opaque Constructions

Switch to Adjacency mode by selecting Adjacency Mode from the drop downlist in the dialogue bar. The text on the top bar of the ModelIT active windowshould change from “Surface: Opening mode” to “Surface: Adjacency mode “.

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The SURFACE level of decomposition – Adjacency mode

Click on the Query button to review adjacency data. The Adjacency dialoguebox will appear which displays the adjacency area and current construction.

Adjacency dialogue box

Click on the Select button and a Construction dialogue box will appear, fromwhich you may select a new construction for the element. Note that you shouldhave used the APcdb facility first (within APtemp or from the Utilities menu), toenable a list of constructions to be displayed here.

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Construction dialogue box

When you have selected the new construction, click on OK to close this box,and click on OK to close the Adjacency dialogue box. The new construction isnow assigned to the element.

Click the Move Up button repeatedly, until you are back at the MODEL level ofdecomposition.

To modify other elements or other rooms you must first move up to theappropriate level of decomposition (by clicking on the Move Up button), selectthe required element or room, and then move down to the appropriate level ofdecomposition.

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7. Building Settings

Click on the Settings pull-down menu and choose Building. The BuildingSettings dialogue box opens.

Building Settings dialogue box

Here you can set the building base orientation, which for the purposes of heatgain and shading calculations, rotates the whole site clockwise by the anglechosen. If the orientation angle is zero, the top of the plan view screen is North.If the orientation angle is set at, for example, 45 degrees, then the top of theplan view screen is now North East, and what was the North face of the buildingwill now be the North East face.

Note that changing this angle does not visually rotate the building in the ModelITplan view; it only affects the calculations.

In this dialogue box you can also set the Control Temperature Radiant Fraction.

Enter the required data and click on OK to close the Building Settings dialoguebox.

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8. Setting Site and Weather Data

Run APlocate by clicking on the APlocate tool button within ModelIT. Set thesite and weather data and then exit from APlocate. You will then be returned toModelIT.

The building model is now complete, and you are ready to perform thermal orlighting calculations using the IES calculation software.

At this stage you may exit from ModelIT, by selecting Exit from the File menu.You may now be asked if you wish to save the *.mit model file. Click on the Yesbutton, and the model file will be saved. In these examples, the model file willhave the name Tutor1.mit.

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9. Apache Heat Loss and Heat Gain Calculations

9.1. Introduction

In this section we will use the generated data model to perform heat loss andheat gain calculations using Apache.

If you have exited from ModelIT, you will need to load the model file, whichshould be called Tutor1.mit. To do this, start ModelIT and select Open from theFile menu. A standard Windows file dialogue box will appear; select therequired *.mit file and click on the Open button. The model file you built earlierwill then be loaded into ModelIT, and you will be presented with a view of themodel.

9.2. Performing Heat Gain and Heat Loss Calculations

Click on the Apache-calc tool button on the Facet toolbar. An Apache dialoguebox will appear. Ensure that both the Links boxes in this dialogue box areunchecked, and click on the Run Apache button. If the question ‘Do you wishto read in the system databases?’ appears, click on the No button.

After a short while the Apache menu dialogue box will appear. The Apachedata files for heat loss and heat gain design calculations will have beenautomatically generated, and the Apache project file name will be given thesame name as the ModelIT *.mit model file name.

Conduct Heat Loss and Heat Gain calculations, experimenting with the variousoptions within Apache (refer to the Apache User Guide).

9.3. Viewing Results in ModelIT

Exit from Apache and return to ModelIT.

Move up to the MODEL level of decomposition if you are not at this levelalready. If you now select a room and click on the Query button, you can selectthe Output Review tab on the Room Data dialogue box to review heat loss/gainresults for the room. If no cooling has been specified in the room for heat gaincalculations, peak summertime temperatures will be displayed.

At this stage you may exit from ModelIT, by selecting Exit from the File menu.


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You may now be asked if you wish to save the *.mit model file. Click on theYes button and the model file will be saved. In these examples, the model filewill have the name Tutor1.mit.

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10. Flucs Lighting Design and Analysis

10.1. Introduction

In this section we will use the generated data model to perform lumen andglare calculations using Flucs. A luminaire layout will be calculated for aselected room and a point-by-point lighting analysis will be performed on thatdesign. The layout will be displayed within the ModelIT environment.

If you have exited from ModelIT, you will need to load the model file, whichshould be called Tutor1.mit. To do this, start ModelIT and select Open from theFile menu. A standard Windows file dialogue box will appear; select therequired *.mit file and click on the Open button. The model file you built earlierwill then be loaded into ModelIT, and you will be presented with a view of themodel. Click on the Axonometric View tool button to see the model in anaxonometric perspective.

10.2. Performing Lighting Design and Analysis Calculations

Within ModelIT, make sure you are at the MODEL level of decomposition byusing the Move Up tool button. Select room g1. If you have difficulty inselecting a room with the cursor, an alternative method is to select the ModelBrowser option from the View menu. The Model Browser will open, and youcan click on the required room in the Model Browser tab or in the Space Listtab. You can close the Model Browser after you have used it.

Move down one level of decomposition to the SPACE level using the MoveDown tool button. Now select Lighting Mode from the drop down list in thedialogue bar at the bottom of the ModelIT window. The Light Fittings list boxopens. You will also see that the text in the top bar of the ModelIT activewindow now says “Space: Lighting Mode”. If lighting calculations have beenperformed already on this room, you may see a list of light fittings in the LightFittings list box and also displayed graphically in selected space. Delete anyexisting fittings by selecting them in the list and clicking on the Delete toolbutton.

The Light Fittings list box may be left open throughout all of the lighting designprocedures or closed at any time and re-opened again by clicking on the LightFitting List tool button on the Lighting toolbar.

The default view in Lighting mode is Plan. Switch the view to Axonometric andyou may notice a line traced around the perimeter of the room slightly below

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the ceiling. This line indicates the light fitting mounting height, which is definedin the lighting section of the Room Data dialogue box. If the default mountingheight is equal to or greater than the generated room height, ConstructDXF willautomatically make the mounting height for each room 15mm less than theroom height.

Space level - Lighting mode

Within ModelIT, run Flucs by clicking on the Flucs tool button on the toolbar.

Note that this tool button is only active when you are at the Space > LightingMode level of decomposition. The Flucs menu dialogue box will appear. Flucsdata files for the selected room will have been automatically generated, withthe data for the room already loaded into Flucs.

You will see the room name has been used as the Flucs project file name. Youdo not need to enter any Flucs data manually; it has been automaticallycreated for you by ModelIT.

The IES lighting program Flucs may be used for both lumen designcalculations as well as detailed point-by-point calculations.

Use Flucs to perform lumen design calculations for the selected room, and

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then perform a detailed point-by-point analysis on a selected design for thatroom (the luminaire positions data will be sent to ModelIT when you exit fromFlucs).

Note that you do not have to perform a point by point analysis to createluminaire positions data for a selected design solution. All that is required isthat after performing a lumen design calculation, you choose the option tooutput a solution to the analysis calculations.

At this stage you could if you wished, modify the luminaire positions and fittingdata within Flucs. On exiting Flucs, the amended luminaire data will be sent toModelIT.

10.3. Viewing the Calculated Luminaires in ModelIT

Exit from Flucs and return to ModelIT. You will see that the Light Fittings listbox is now populated with the light fitting array created by Flucs and the modelwindow has been updated to display the light fittings. At this stage you canprint out the graphic of the room and luminaires if required, using the Printoption from the File menu.

Calculated array of luminaires

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The luminaire positions for that room will be saved within the ModelIT projectuntil you perform another Flucs design calculation and return again to ModelIT.

Note that to analyse other rooms using Flucs, it would be necessary to moveback up and down the levels of decomposition for another room and switch toLighting mode before running Flucs.

At this stage you may exit from ModelIT, by selecting Exit from the File menu.You may now be asked if you wish to save the *.mit model file. Click on theYes button, and the model file will be saved. In these examples, the model filewill have the name Tutor1.mit.

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11. Flucs Point-by-Point Lighting Analysis on aUser Defined Luminaire Layout

11.1. Introduction

In this section we will create and place an array of luminaires into a room in thegenerated data model, and we will then perform a point-by-point lightinganalysis for that layout using Flucs.

If you have exited from ModelIT, you will need to load the model file, whichshould be called Tutor1.mit. To do this, start ModelIT and select Open from theFile menu. A standard Windows file dialogue box will appear; select therequired *.mit file and click on the Open button. The model file you built earlierwill then be loaded into ModelIT, and you will be presented with a view of themodel. Click on the Axonometric View tool button to see the model in anaxonometric perspective.

11.2. Creating and Placing an Array of Luminaires

Within ModelIT, make sure you are at the MODEL level of decomposition byusing the Move Up tool button. Select room g2. If you have difficulty inselecting a room with the cursor, an alternative method is to select the ModelBrowser option from the View menu. The Model Browser will open, and youcan click on the required room in the Model Browser tab or in the Space Listtab. You can close the Model Browser after you have used it.

Move down one level of decomposition to the SPACE level using the MoveDown tool button. Now select Lighting Mode from the drop down list in thedialogue bar at the bottom of the ModelIT window. The Light Fittings list boxopens. You will also see that the text in the top bar of the ModelIT activewindow now says “Space: Lighting Mode”. If lighting calculations have beenperformed already on this room, you may see a list of light fittings in the LightFittings list box and also displayed graphically in selected space. These will beautomatically replaced when you create your new array.

The Light Fittings list box may be left open throughout all of the lighting designprocedures or closed at any time and re-opened again by clicking on the LightFitting List tool button on the Lighting toolbar.

The default view in Lighting mode is Plan. Switch the view to Axonometric andyou may notice a line traced around the perimeter of the room slightly below

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the ceiling. This line indicates the light fitting mounting height, which is definedin the lighting section of the Room Data dialogue box.

To change the mounting height for the space, go back up to the MODEL levelof decomposition and then click on the Query button. Click on the Lighting tabin the Room Data dialogue box. Go to the Mounting Height edit field and lowerthe mounting height. Click on OK. Now go back to the SPACE level using theMove Down tool button and select Lighting Mode. You will see that themounting height perimeter has dropped.

Click on the Draw Light Fitting Array tool button on the Lighting toolbar. TheLuminaire Array dialogue box opens.

Luminaire Array dialogue box

Click on the Select button, and choose a luminaire, valid lamp and lamp colourfrom the Light Fitting selection dialogue box. Click on OK to accept the type oflight fitting to be used for all fittings in the array. You will then be returned to theLuminaire Array dialogue box. Set the number of light fittings in the X and Ydimensions to 2 and 3 respectively and choose them to be placed parallel tothe X-axis.

Check the Snap to Grid box if you wish the array of luminaires to be placed ona drawing grid intersection. For the placement of an array, the snaps areindependent of the Locks settings in ModelIT.

Click on OK in the Luminaire Array dialogue box. A dialogue box may appearinforming you that all existing fittings will be deleted; if so, click on Yes toproceed with the array creation. The Light Fittings list box is then updated withthe array entries and the model window will display the newly created array.

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A placed array of luminaires

11.3. Placing Individual Luminaires

Switch the view to Plan. Click on the Draw Light Fitting tool button on theLighting toolbar. Note that this tool button is only enabled when you are in Planview. When you move the cursor back into the model window you will see theoutline of a light fitting attached to the cursor. Place the fitting by clickinganywhere within the ceiling perimeter. Notice that the Light Fittings list isupdated to include the new fitting.

To change the default fitting type, move up one level of decomposition to theMODEL level and then click on the Query tool button on the Edit toolbar. Clickon the Lighting tab in the Room Data dialogue box. Click on the light fittingSelect button to open the Light Fitting selection dialogue box (you may need touncheck the Light Fitting Default check box to enable the Select button). Selecta different luminaire to the default and click on OK. Click on the Room Data OKbutton to close the Room Data dialogue box. Now move back down one levelof decomposition and select Lighting Mode. Place another light fitting andnotice that the entry in the Light Fittings list reflects the newly selected fitting.

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11.4. Modifying Luminaires

You can select light fittings using the Select Object tool button in the Edittoolbar and then clicking on the required fitting in the view, or by selectingentries in the Light Fittings list box. Select the first three fittings in the list bydragging the cursor over the required fittings in the list. These fittings shouldnow be highlighted.

Light Fittings list box - selected luminaires

Click on the Select button in the Light Fittings list box to open the Light Fittingdialogue box. Click on the Select button in this box to open the Light Fittingselection dialogue box. Select a different luminaire to the default (e.g.Holophane, Holoflux) and click on OK to close this selection dialogue box.Click on OK to close the Light Fitting dialogue box. Notice that the selectedluminaire now appears in the Change To box at the bottom of the Light Fittingslist box. Click on the Change button to replace the three selected light fittingswith the new one. Note that the relevant fittings in the model window displayhave been updated.

Now select the next three light fittings in the list using the same method asbefore. Click on the Rotate button to open the Light Fitting Rotation dialoguebox. Select Across from the Orientation box and click on OK. Notice that theselected light fittings have been rotated through 90 degrees so that they nowlie across the X-axis.

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If you wish to delete selected luminaire(s), click on the Delete tool button.

Experiment with modifying, adding and deleting luminaires until you have aluminaire layout for which you wish to perform a point-by-point lighting analysisusing Flucs. At this stage you can print out the graphic of the ceiling grid andluminaires if required, using the Print option from the File menu.

Once you have defined your layout, the luminaire positions for that room will besaved within the ModelIT *.mit model file until you perform another Flucsdesign calculation and return again to ModelIT.

To define a luminaire layout for any other room in the building, you would needto move up and down the levels of decomposition to the required room, andthen perform the same operations as described for room g2.

You are now ready to perform a Flucs point-by-point analysis for the luminairedata for room g2.

11.5. Performing a Point-by-Point Lighting Analysis

Within ModelIT, run Flucs by clicking on the Flucs tool button on the Facettoolbar. Note that this tool button is only active when you are at the Space >Lighting Mode level of decomposition. The Flucs menu dialogue box willappear. Flucs data files for the selected room will have been automaticallygenerated, with the data for the room already loaded into Flucs.

You will see the room name has been used as the Flucs project file name. Youdo not need to enter any Flucs data manually; it has been automaticallycreated for you by ModelIT.

Use Flucs to perform a detailed point-by-point analysis on your luminaire layoutfor room g2 and view an isolux plot on screen (refer to the Flucsdocumentation).

At this stage you could if you wished, modify the luminaire positions and fittingdata within Flucs. On exiting Flucs, the amended luminaire data will be sent toModelIT.

You can also use Flucs to perform daylighting analyses or electric plusdaylighting analyses, because Flucs recognises room windows in the 3Dmodel.

Exit from Flucs and return to ModelIT.

Exit from ModelIT, by selecting Exit from the File menu. You may now be

http://www.iesve.com/downloads/help/Lighting/FlucsPro.pdf

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asked if you wish to save the *.mit model file. Click on the Yes button, and themodel file will be saved. In these examples, the model file will have the nameTutor1.mit.

constructdxf tutorial - ies

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