Dear equest-users,
While entering my real exterior walls layer by layer and simulating, I'm obtaining an error:
"Cannot simulate layers as given. Walls thickness is too thin or too light"
In fact, my exterior walls are glass walls with a thickness of 1.5 cm only!
How can I solve this problem?
Thank you
KL
For glass walls (I am assuming you are referring to a curtainwall assembly of some sort) the best practice (in order to get solar heat gain and daylight) is to model them as a window - a child component housed within a wall (parent component). The trick is you have to make your windows minutely smaller than the parent wall - otherwise you will get an error.
Vikram Sami
BEMP, LEED BD+C
Associate Partner
ZGF ARCHITECTS LLP
T 206.521.3509 E vikram.sami at zgf.com
925 Fourth Avenue, Suite 2400
Seattle, WA 98104
I believe transparent or semitransparent surfaces are best modeled as windows. I.e. "glass walls" are windows; not walls.
- Matt H
Sent from mobile, please excuse typos.
Actually, not an uncommon scenario in my experience. A simpler workaround: define a glass type equal to your wall construction, and specify windows for each exterior surface equal to 100% of the surface (be mindful of framing thickness.
Take a broader look now at what combination of constructions are occurring with these glass walls, and you might be able to streamline your efforts further: For storefront systems with opaque/spandrel sections, I will commonly identify any opaque/spandrel construction sections occurring and use that as my base exterior wall construction hosting the windows - thus anything that isn't translucent glass for those walls = spandrel.
Hope that helps!
~Nick
[cid:489575314 at 22072009-0ABB]
NICK CATON, P.E.
SENIOR ENGINEER
Smith & Boucher Engineers
25501 west valley parkway, suite 200
olathe, ks 66061
direct 913.344.0036
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