Not getting accurate heating/cooling loads compared to WrightSoft

[jeremiah.hawlader]

I'm using an existing model of a college building provided by the college. I have the analytical spaces set for each rooms, but I'm getting incorrect heating and cooling loads for them. As far as I'm aware it should be showing 20-25BTU per sq ft.

Was hoping someone can show me how to get accurate data, or point me to the right direction. The firm I work for uses WrightSoft to get the calculations. I'm trying to get similar data on Revit in our efforts to switch over. Any help would be appreciated!

Here is the .rvt file, it's too large to upload here.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12zaPZYD7M4U5MNa2-uws8adbSLuwxVHa/view?usp=sharing

[HVAC-Novice]

How do you know Wrightsoft is correct? All load software will have somewhat different results based on how they analyze spaces, loads etc. Also different methods (HBM, RTS and their implementation) Are you using the exact same data? Like are per eprson, type of activity, power density and so on? 

I use Ripple HVAC, which uses the Revit engine. Here an ASHRAE paper on validation. 

IMHO, it works very fine and you can customize within what Revit allows. With proper setup, the results look very reasonable to me. FWIW, I gave up Trace 3D since Ripple HVAC works better for me. Give it a try - it is free. id id a LOT of customization of the schedules. 

With ANY software, you have to do sanity checks to verify it works fine and your entries are correct. Revit has some limitations, but one huge advantage is, the geometry will be correct. Here is a thread of mine about it. One of the things in Revit, you have to do a good job determining the room-bounding of walls/ceilings is correct, especially if you have walls that are joined (like a fur-wall). A sanity check of the load results will tell issues. 

Revit is a bit weird with data entry since it works differently for load an energy simulation. Like for load, it uses the infiltration data under the Load button setting (you used the Load button???), and not the space type settings. For construction you have to set the values in energy settings. it is confusing the way Revit did it. but the Ripple website explains it well and you get the hang of it. They also (rightfully) recommend to handle ventilation loads separately. Ripple also doesn't use the revit zones. 

I looked at your model, but obviously I can't tell if the data entered are correct and match Wrightsoft. 

I added a lot of sanity check columns to the Ripple schedules (like ft²/ton of cooling) to give me an overview. If you look at load results of Writghsoft, they likely give you checksums lie Btu/ft². Use similar data in Revit. In the load report, make sure only actual exterior walls have wall load. the load verification is similar to any load software.