Trial / Demo
This summer, IES ran a series of lecture-style sessions covering key analyses that can be undertaken using IESVE. With almost 1400 questions submitted across the five sessions, addressing each one wasn't feasible. However, common themes emerged within the questions asked.
Read on for the answers to these questions, where we share invaluable advice on how IESVE can be utilised across a wide variety of key analysis areas.
Ensure spaces are fully enclosed, avoid overlapping rooms, and regularly run geometry checks throughout model creation. Adjacencies are created automatically when surfaces align correctly, so small gaps, overlaps, or duplicated surfaces should be corrected before simulation. The visual model checks and zone visualisation tools can help identify issues early. Find out more on our Tech Tip.
Connect joins selected rooms whilst maintaining room boundaries.
Merge combines multiple rooms into a single room volume.
Partition splits an existing room into two or more separate spaces.
These tools are fundamental for refining geometry without redrawing spaces.
Model them as separate spaces to correctly represent air volumes, heat transfer, and airflow paths. Depending on the analysis being undertaken, they may be conditioned, unconditioned, or designated as void/plenum areas.
Start with simple geometry blocks and progressively modify them using modelling tools such as connect, merge, partition, extrusion and surface editing. For highly complex projects, geometry can also be imported from BIM workflows. Find out more on our Tech Tip.
Load calculations determine peak heating and cooling requirements used for equipment sizing. Dynamic simulation evaluates building performance hour-by-hour across an entire year, including energy use, comfort, carbon emissions, and operational behaviour. IESVE supports both workflows within a single integrated model. Find out more about loads calculations in IESVE.
Ventilation rates and infiltration assumptions are assigned through thermal templates and room data. These airflow rates are then included in the heating and cooling load calculations. Ventilation requirements can also be set using code-based minimum values where applicable.
Profiles define how occupancy, lighting, equipment, ventilation and other variables change over time. These schedules can be assigned through thermal templates and applied across multiple rooms to ensure consistent modelling assumptions.
For Apache dynamic simulations in IESVE, a simulation weather file is required. You should use the weather file closest to your model’s location, or as per regulation guidance for your specific project. IES has a wide range of weather files available on our portal, providing global coverage, with free and paid for options available.
Use ApacheHVAC when detailed HVAC system modelling, equipment sizing, airside systems, plant operation, or advanced controls need to be represented. It provides a more detailed approach than simplified template-based system modelling.
Typically, rooms are grouped into zones and HVAC systems are assigned at zone level. The Zone Manager workflow can automatically create zones and simplify room-to-zone assignment before HVAC systems are applied.
Multiplexing allows multiple thermal zones to share common HVAC equipment whilst maintaining individual room loads and conditions. This reduces model complexity and is particularly useful when similar spaces are served by the same system.
Yes. Manufacturer performance data can be incorporated into HVAC component definitions and used to create more representative system models where detailed product information is available.
SunCast enables solar exposure and shading analysis, helping you understand solar gains and their impact on building performance.
RadianceIES provides detailed daylight modelling, supporting daylight compliance assessments and the creation of high-quality visualisations.
Flucs supports electric lighting design through artificial lighting calculations and enables combined daylight and electric lighting assessments for a more complete evaluation of visual performance.
Shading can be represented using physical geometry such as overhangs, fins and surrounding buildings. Solar calculations then account for their impact on incident solar radiation and daylight availability.
Glazing, constructions and materials are assigned through the construction database. Properties such as U-value, SHGC/g-value, visible transmittance and layer composition can be modified or created as custom assemblies.
RadianceIES enables analysis against daylight standards and rating systems such as LEED, BREEAM, daylight autonomy, daylight factor and glare assessments. Results can be used to demonstrate compliance and optimise design performance.
Psi-values are assigned within the thermal bridging tools and are used to account for additional heat losses that occur at construction junctions beyond standard U-value calculations.
Detailed thermal bridges can be defined by creating junction-specific ψ-values or by importing results from dedicated thermal bridge calculations. These values are then applied to relevant junction types throughout the model. You can find out more about thermal bridging in our on-demand webinar.
Parametric Simulation allows you to automatically test multiple design variables, including glazing options, constructions, HVAC strategies, controls, occupancy assumptions and energy-efficiency measures, helping identify the most effective design solution.
Once an optimal scenario has been identified, you can update the baseline model with the selected parameter values and rerun simulations to confirm performance and generate final project outputs.
On-Demand Learning provides Training videos to work through at your own pace, with questions to test yourself as you progress. You can access our On-Demand Training here.
Yes, IES offers education licences for both students and educators. Licence options vary depending on whether IESVE forms part of the course curriculum, or for independent learning. Find out more about our education options.
Contact our team for more information, or visit our website.
