Trial / Demo
IES Virtual Environment (IESVE) enabled ibak Hamburg GmbH to accurately model, optimise, and validate thermal and daylight comfort for the ROCKYWOOD project in Offenbach am Main. Through dynamic simulation, the team demonstrated compliance with DGNB SOC (German Sustainable Building Council) criteria, ultimately achieving DGNB GOLD certification with a 68.8% degree of fulfilment.
PRIMUS Developments GmbH appointed ibak Hamburg GmbH to conduct DGNB (German Sustainable Building Council) certification for the ROCKYWOOD project in Offenbach am Main, Germany. This commercial office and mixed-use project has been successfully awarded DGNB GOLD with a total degree of fulfilment of 68.8% in the NBV18 rating scheme for New Office and Administration Buildings.
As part of the certification process, ibak Hamburg GmbH performed comprehensive simulations to verify compliance with DGNB criteria SOC 1.1 (Thermal Comfort) and SOC 1.4 (Visual Comfort) using IESVE.
The ROCKYWOOD project utilised IESVE's integrated simulation suite to assess both thermal and visual comfort performance. The workflow combined multiple specialised tools within IESVE to deliver comprehensive analysis:
A critical innovation in the workflow was the integration of IESVE output with Tableau for automated result visualisation and client reporting. This integration significantly improved efficiency and transparency in presenting results to stakeholders.
DGNB thermal comfort assessment requires two simulation studies based on extreme weather conditions: one for extreme summer conditions and one for extreme winter conditions. Both utilised TRY (Test Reference Year) weather data sourced from DWD (Deutscher Wetter Dienst) for current conditions, with additional simulations conducted for projected 2030 and 2050 climate scenarios to demonstrate future climate resilience.
The simulations followed DIN EN 16798-1 and DIN 4108-2 standards. Key parameters assessed included:
Analysis focused on 'worst-case' spaces selected based on orientation (north-facing, shadowed areas with minimal solar impact) and floor level. This conservative approach ensured that comfort requirements were met across the full range of building conditions.
DGNB visual comfort criteria are based on quantified daylight performance metrics. IESVE simulations assessed the building using two complementary parameters:
Scoring was determined from the numerical output of all usable areas for DF and at identified workstations for UDI. The integration of daylight analysis with the thermal comfort workflow provided a holistic view of occupant comfort performance.
Beyond thermal and visual comfort, ROCKYWOOD exemplifies sustainable construction principles. The structural design strategically minimises reinforced concrete use, limited to the ground floor load-bearing structure, vertical circulation core, and firewalls. Above this, five prefabricated timber floors utilise cross-laminated timber (CLT) and wood-based materials.
This construction approach delivers measurable benefits:
IESVE simulations verified that ROCKYWOOD meets and exceeds DGNB thermal and visual comfort requirements across both current and projected future climate scenarios. The comprehensive analysis supported the project's successful achievement of DGNB GOLD certification with a total degree of fulfilment of 68.8%.
The integration of simulation results with third-party visualisation tools (Tableau) enabled ibak Hamburg GmbH to deliver clear, automated reporting to the client, improving both the efficiency and transparency of the certification process.
ibak Hamburg GmbH selected IES VE 2024 for its integrated modelling capabilities, comprehensive DGNB support, and seamless workflow integration. The platform enabled efficient analysis of b\oth thermal and daylight comfort within a single environment, eliminating the need for multiple tools and reducing analysis time.
"The comprehensive simulation capabilities of IES VE 2024, combined with its seamless integration of dynamic thermal and daylight analyses, made it the ideal choice for DGNB certification. The ability to output results in formats compatible with third-party visualisation tools like Tableau greatly improved our client reporting process and added significant value to the certification workflow."
Hans Niemann, Senior Expert Building Physics & Sustainable Engineering, ibak Hamburg GmbH
ibak Hamburg GmbH is a consultancy specialising in sustainable real estate development, working with project developers and building owners since 2010. The company’s team of over 30 sustainability professionals focuses on holistic certification strategies, including DGNB, LEED, WELL, BREEAM, and GRESB, and provides independent engineering services across all phases of a project.
