Dynamic Simulation Modelling

Analysing a new building to assess how it will perform and how comfortable it will be to occupy is a very important part of the design process. Occupant comfort should be assessed year-round as a building’s propensity to overheat can be just as important as how cold it may become in winter.

Building Regulations requires buildings to be built with high levels of insulation and very air tight. However these buildings can suffer from overheating during the summer often requiring a complete change of cooling/ventilation strategy after the building is built.

Dynamic Simulation Modelling (DSM) allows us to create a very detailed thermal model of your proposed building to accurately assess any heating, cooling and ventilation issues it may have once it is built.  This allows us to consider the design and positioning of solar shading, passive stack ventilation, night time cooling, CO2 & temperature sensors etc.

The DSM process takes into account a wide range of different influencing factors such as the properties shape and orientation, it’s location in the UK, shading from neighbouring properties, fabric insulation, window and door performance, different types of heating/cooling systems and their efficiencies, heating controls, lighting, thermal mass of the building, air leakage rates, ventilation, hot water storage efficiencies together with different renewable technologies and their individual efficiency influences.

For highly glazed properties or complex buildings with modern heating, cooling and ventilation strategies it’s important that these areas are addressed at concept stage to ensure the building will be practical and comfortable to live or work in.