Zones with different roof height on same floor

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Hi all Modelers,

This time I have come across a single floor building which has zones with
different height. I have attached a roughly drawn elevation as an example
(Which is not needed :/) . Can any1 guide me how to model such case as
equest allows you to take same height for single floor.

Thanks,
Tejas

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A quickie from me. Make each zone a different shell. Then, I believe, you can do your different roof heights. Detail Edit Mode is best. Sorry i do not have time to create an example.
John R. Aulbach, PE
On Monday, July 30, 2018, 3:43:05 AM PDT, equest user via Equest-users wrote:

Hi all Modelers,
This time I have come across a single floor building which has zones with different height. I have attached a roughly drawn elevation as an example (Which is not needed :/) . Can any1 guide me how to model such case as equest allows you to take same height for single floor.
Thanks,Tejas_______________________________________________
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John Aulbach's picture
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I would use one shell with zones to match the areas where the roof height changes. Then I modify the roof heights and wall heights in Detailed Mode. Six of one, half dozen of the other.

Christopher R Jones, P.Eng.
T+ 1 416-644-0252

[cid:image002.png at 01D42822.B0B24820]

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John?s suggestion is valid & is straightforward. I believe with zones in adjacent shells they will need to modified from ?adiabatic? interior walls to having proper adjacencies for internal heat transfer. But it works.

Another approach would be to place all zones in a single shell at the lower/predominate roof height. Ensure that the zone boarder aligns with the higher roof area. Blue lines in 1st attachment. Then in detailed mode the roof can be raised to the higher/proper height. This will stretch the interior walls up though, so those will need to be set back down to their original height (reduce their ?HEIGHT?, so they stay the height of the blue lines). The new exterior walls can be created, assigned to the proper ?LOCATION? will put them in the right plan location (second image, highlighting). Then increase the ?Z? value to the lower roof height and decrease their ?Height? to be just the bump up height. Red lines in 1st attachment.

This will allow a single shell, keep adjacent heat transfer, and allow addition of these bump up walls.

Thanks,
DARIC R ADAIR PE, CEM, BEMP
Mechanical Engineer, Energy Analyst

Henderson Engineers
daric.adair at hendersonengineers.com

Licensed in KS

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Tejas,

Great question! I work for an architecture firm as an energy analyst, and I find my life is a lot easier if I go the extra mile to accurately model the building?s envelope in eQuest despite the extra time and effort with a mild increase in accuracy. I have illustrated one of my recent models below which includes green screens, parapets, a partially sloped roof, and spaces with and without ceilings (a lot of overkill). This process is much more involved than the process your model will take. See my step-by-step instructions below.

[cid:image001.png at 01D42811.85066190]

It appears your model will require at least three (3) shells be created in the Wizard ? One for portion of the building.

1) Create first shell with height ?X?

a. All shells should have the footprint of the entire building.

2) Create second shell with height ?X+N?

a. All shells should have the footprint of the entire building.

b. On the ?General Shell Information? screen (1 of 26), make sure you ?Specify exact Site Coordinates? in order for eQuest to appropriately assign geometry and locate the shell accordingly.

3) Create shell with height ?X?

a. All shells should have the footprint of the entire building.

b. On the ?General Shell Information? screen (1 of 26), make sure you ?Specify exact Site Coordinates? in order for eQuest to appropriately assign geometry and locate the shell accordingly.

When you are done, you should have something that looks like the following illustration. If you have done it correctly, the wizard should create all your interior and exterior walls appropriately as illustrated by the outlined geometry (Red). Of course, I encourage you to add thermal zones as required to each shell to accurately model the HVAC system and other associated loads.

[cid:image002.png at 01D42813.D082F500]

[ARCH | NEXUS]
DAVID W. GRIFFIN II
BEMP
ENERGY ANALYST
2505 E Parleys Way
Salt Lake City, UT 84109
Office 801.924.5028
archnexus.com
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David Griffin II's picture
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Hi Tejas,

I had a similar project like yours. I tried to make different shells with
different heights at the first place and the simulation output didn't make
sense. Then I tried to make one shell in the Wizard Data Edit, and then
switch to Detailed Data Edit. In the Building Shell tab, I edited the
height in Floor Properties. If there are some zones with different height.
You may need to create new exterior or interior walls to fix it. The model
turned out very well.
[image: image.png]

Jing

On Mon, Jul 30, 2018 at 5:43 AM equest user via Equest-users <

--
PhD Candidate, LEED AP BD+C

School of Architecture and Urban Planning
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Jing Hong's picture
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Hi David,

That was a great detailed explanation. Thank you very much. I agree on the
point you mentioned about putting extra effort in modeling the building's
Envelope in eQUEST.

Also that was a great model you created !!! Mine has some of the features
common to your's too which include parapet walls. Great way of modelling
parapet walls using Building shades.

Thanks a lot.

Tejas.

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Jing,

So are you saying that creating zones as different shells may lead to
erroneous outputs later? Can u elaborate on what were the things which made
you realize the output didn't made sense.

I am quite comfortable with both the ways you mentioned.

Thanks,

Tejas

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Yeah Daric. I completely get your point.

Thanks,

Tejas

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Sure John.

Thats what I am planning to do now.

Thanks.
Tejas

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