DD Wizard Window %

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In Screen 6 of the DD wizard, it asks for the % window of each side of the building. I setup the windows using the "custom window/door placement" button on that same screen, since I wanted my 3D model to actually represent what the building looks like. I have two shells (1st and 2nd floors) with identical window locations. The 2nd floor % defaulted to 23% for every direction. I know this number isnt actually true because one of the directions has no window at all. The first floor defaulted to 29% for every direction (also not true, since they are identical). But when I click "return to navigator" I get a message that says: "ERROR: Value being checked = 29. Percent Glass value exceeds maximum (based on the window height and the sizes & positions of other windows)." It lists this message four times, and allows me to press the continue button, after which it returns to the navigator. My questions are: 1) why are the % between 1st and 2nd floor different at all? 2) Since I manually input the windows, will changing the % have any effect on anything? 3) Will this ERROR message have an impact on being able to simulate the model? What does this error actually mean? Since my % window is 29% floor-to-floor, it is below the App. G allowed 40% 4) What does everyone else typically do with windows? Just the % or do you actually manually input them? 5) If you manually input them, do you find it easier to do it in the wizard or detailed edit mode? Sorry for the long question, thanks for the help.

Brian Goldsmith, LEED(r) AP

Brian Goldsmith's picture
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Joined: 2011-09-30
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If you are oging to manually input your windows in the custom window
placement or later in the design input mode, i usually enter 0% for all
window ratios. This eliminates annoying pop ups and gets you to where you
want to go.

rdh4176's picture
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Joined: 2011-02-14
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Hi Brian!

* No idea where the starting/default numbers come from... I
could only speculate!

* The "Percent glass exceeds maximum" cautions are likely a sign
that the numbers, as entered, cannot add up. A simple example: if you
define a typical sill height 2 ft and then specify a coverage of 100%
for an orientation... the program can't physically make both criteria
happen. Floor-to-ceiling heights and window dimensions come into play
here.

* If you plan to manually specify eventually, you can likely
eliminate these cautions by defaulting those fields (right-click any red
figures and default so they're green). Zeroing out the percentages as
Rob's suggesting is another way to skin the cat.

* Whether such cautions/errors are affecting your actual
simulations is a simple check. 'finish' the wizard screens and examine
your 3D model on all sides. If it looks okay regarding window ratios
you're good to go.

* For any "full" model, I almost always specify windows/doors
using the wizard's "custom input" screens, sometime after all preceding
screens are definitely finished, but before entering detailed. I'd
advise to postone window placement until all shells are in place, if you
will have stacking/adjacent shells whose windows need to line up.

* I will on occasion opt to use the % coverage approach when it
suits the task at hand (exploratory models investigating options
relatively unaffected by window placement/layout). Note that if you do
custom layouts it will override/ignore any inputs regarding % coverage,
so there's not time lost using those inputs early on if it helps.

* I will on occasion re-work or refine my door/window layouts in
detailed when necessary (not often). Detailed mode does offer some
potential for extra flexibilities in geometry, but isn't time-efficient
for me. If a detailed-mode model should require major reworking
regarding window layouts, I'd be inclined to heavily consider going back
to wizards and then re-entering other detailed work, to save time
altogether.

~Nick

NICK CATON, E.I.T.

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Joined: 2011-09-30
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