[Bldg-sim] COMcheck & bldg sim programs

[Nick Caton]

Hi List!

Here's some additional clarification resulting from some off-list discussion:

In my experience, the person demonstrating energy code compliance and the person doing the energy modeling is often the same person (me!), so I'm writing from a perspective that it's a given the COMcheck reports are assembled with the same rigor expected of the energy model.  In function, I personally recognize COMcheck reports as a time-saving tool to simultaneously document model inputs while demonstrating code compliance.

Those providing energy modeling services independent of those producing compliance documentation should at least make themselves aware that there may be conflicts between both sets of documentation to watch out for.  I do not think this possibility should discourage you from using COMcheck or similar tools to enhance your personal workflow and documentation.  The format by which you choose to document your model should not have any bearing on whether you will need to explain discrepancies with other documentation.

When others are assembling COMcheck reports (or other compliance documentation), as the energy modeler I will make a point to review our inputs against each other for corrections, as there shouldn't be two sets of documentation floating out there with conflicting results.  I take on QC measures like this to avoid such review commentary altogether.  In a positive light, making such checks is an easy way to QC your model inputs against the actual design, and may even reveal design decisions which haven't been realized in the model.

Hope this 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
fax 913.345.0617
www.smithboucher.com

From: Maria Karpman [mailto:maria.karpman at karpmanconsulting.net]
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2013 11:06 AM
To: Nick Caton; 'Christian Stalberg'; bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
Subject: RE: [Bldg-sim] COMcheck & bldg sim programs

COMcheck LPDs are based on inputs made by design team when documenting code compliance. Quality of these inputs depend on how seriously energy code is taken by design team and code officials, and vary from project to project. In my experience, they are often way off, and seem to be taken out of thin air. Aside from that, based on Table G3.1, Proposed Building Performance column "...a. Where a complete lighting system exists, the actual lighting power for each thermal block shall be used in the model." LPDs by thermal block are not entered/reported in COMCheck, so I don't really see how COMCheck LPDs may be used in the model even if they were correct.

Maria

From: bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org<mailto:bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org> [mailto:bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of Nick Caton
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2013 10:46 AM
To: Christian Stalberg; bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org<mailto:bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org>
Subject: Re: [Bldg-sim] COMcheck & bldg sim programs

Absolutely!  I regularly use COMcheck to document my proposed LPD tallies and the corresponding baseline LPD inputs.

The only caveat to be aware of is that COMcheck presently cannot document 90.1-2007 inclusive of addendum i, which is of concern if you specifically are determining/documenting exterior lighting wattages for SSc8 for LEED 2009 projects registered after November 2011.  I've contacted the developers, and from the response I understand they do not intend to address this issue.

Further reading/information in the attached discussion.

~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
fax 913.345.0617
www.smithboucher.com

From: bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org<mailto:bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org> [mailto:bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of Christian Stalberg
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2013 8:25 AM
To: bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org<mailto:bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org>
Subject: [Bldg-sim] COMcheck & bldg sim programs


Can anyone tell me if the LPD as reported by COMcheck is a sound input for whole building energy performance simulation programs? If not, why not?

Thank you in advance!

---
Christian Stalberg
Principal
Natural Intelligence, LLC
http://naturalintelligence.us <blocked::blocked::http://naturalintelligence.us/>
Tel. 919.986.9237

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