Heat Load Calculation

[Anonymous]

Has anyone been able to take advantage of the Revit heat load analysis that integrates with Trane Trace (and others)? We have not and have found that taking advantage of this tool is unrealistic because it requires a complete Architectural model before we can do our heat loads. Typically, we do not have an Architectural model that is complete enough to import into Trane Trace until at least 50% CD's.

Let me know if you are also having to manually input your heat loads. Any response or advice is appreciated.

[srosen]

Your energy calculation that will be performed by your software will be as accurate as your model is. If the model is not complete (let's say no windows) then exporting the model to xml for import into your energy calculation software will only reflect the building as it is. You won't be able to achieve a more accurate calculation manually inputting the model - you still do not know anything about the windows. Once the architect has a reasonable model you can begin to calculate the building loads. It is a huge time saving feature to export the model rather than manually measuring and inputting data.

[Anonymous]

We have been doing heat loss calculations with Building Systems 2007.1 for over 1 year with Trane Trace 700. The only thing is Autodesk cannot figure out that not every wall in an external wall. See Autocad MEP discussion forum about this. We have NEVER inputed the information manually. Of course srosen is correct is stating that the analysis is only as good as the information. We have Revit MEP but it takes time to train staff on it. Also, I have not found any architectects utilizing is widely in Canada yet.

Cvanoverbeke

[KyleB_Autodesk]

What you are talking about is the adjacency of a surface in AutoCAD MEP. The adjacency is actually determined by Trane Trace upon import of a gbXML file. Using AutoCAD MEP terminology, if a Wall has a Space on either side, it will be deemed Interior; if a Wall has a Space on only one side, then it is deemed Exterior. That's the way the program works.

HTH,
Kyle B
Revit MEP Product Manager (and recovering AutoCAD MEP guru)

[Anonymous]

Kyle B,
You are a 'recovering AutoCAD MEP guru'? Why do you say that? Have you benefited from switching from AutoCAD to Revit?