IESVE Revit Plug-in User Guide

<VE> 6.1

INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS LIMITED

Developers of the IES <Virtual Environment>

BOSTON, MA GLASGOW, SCOTLAND DUBLIN, IRELAND LONDON, ENGLAND MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA SAN FRANCISCO, CA DUBAI, UAE

Contents
Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 3
IESVE Revit Plug-in.......................................................................................................................... 3
Access .............................................................................................................................................. 3
User Settings and Information.............................................................................................................. 3
Settings and Info............................................................................................................................... 3
Settings ......................................................................................................................................... 3
Help .................................................................................................................................................. 4
Guidance .......................................................................................................................................... 4
IES Website...................................................................................................................................... 5
Set Model Properties............................................................................................................................ 6
Check Model..................................................................................................................................... 6
Building Data .................................................................................................................................... 7
Building Type ................................................................................................................................ 8
Building Constructions .................................................................................................................. 8
Building Service ............................................................................................................................ 9
Place and Location........................................................................................................................ 9
Room Data ..................................................................................................................................... 10
Room Type ................................................................................................................................. 11
Room Constructions.................................................................................................................... 11
Building Service .......................................................................................................................... 12
VE-Ware............................................................................................................................................. 12
VE-Toolkits......................................................................................................................................... 13
Sustainability VE-Toolkit ................................................................................................................. 13
Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 14
Sustainability ............................................................................................................................... 15
VE-Toolkit for LEED-USA ............................................................................................................... 16
VE-Toolkit for LEED-INDIA............................................................................................................. 17
VE-Toolkit for Green Star Australia................................................................................................. 18
<Virtual Environment>........................................................................................................................ 18

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IESVE Revit Plug-in

Introduction
IESVE Revit Plug-in
The IESVE Revit Plug-in provides a link between Autodesk Revit Architecture and MEP and IES
VE-Ware, VE-Toolkits and VE-Pro. This plug-in provides an easy interface between Revit
Architecture and MEP 2008/2009/2010 and the IES suite of tools to allow sustainable performance
analysis.
Access
When the IES Revit plug-in is installed the IES Toolbar will appear under the Add-Ins tab of the Revit
ribbon toolbar.

Note: In versions of Revit prior to 2010 the IES Toolbar is accessed below the standard Revit
toolbars and IES<VE> dropdown in the menu bar.
Performance Analysis can be carried out at any stage of the Building design cycle and the earlier it is
implemented the greater the benefits will be in the final design.
When the model geometry is complete and room/space elements have been placed the model is
ready to begin analysis. Click the Import Model button to transfer the model via gbXML to <VE>, then
use the VE-Ware, VE-Toolkits or <Virtual Environment> buttons to perform different analyses as
detailed below.
User Settings and Information

Settings and Info

Opens the IESVE Revit plug-in About dialog.
Here information for IES Technical Support can be found
and settings such as Units and gbXML Export quality can
be set.
Settings
Click the Settings button to edit units (Imperial or Metric) and to define quality of gbXML Export
when model is exported from Revit to <VE>.

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IESVE Revit Plug-in

Export Quality Settings:

Export type

Brief explanation

Simple

Simple means that Curtain Walls and Curtain Systems are exported with
one complete opening with the total opening area equal to all openings
combined; a curtain wall with 50 panels gets exported as 1 opening.

Simple With Shading Surfaces

Export with simple type and shading surfaces.

Complex

Complex means that Curtain Walls and Curtain Systems are exported with
several openings, panel by panel; a curtain wall with 50 panels gets
exported as 50 openings.

Complex With Shading

Surfaces
Complex With Mullions And
Shading Surfaces

Export with complex type and shading surfaces.

Export with complex type, shading surfaces and mullion. With Mullions
mean that Mullions in Curtain Walls and Systems are exported as shading
surfaces. A "simplified" analytical shading surface is produced from a
mullion based on its centerline, thickness and offset.

Override MEP transfer: This option is available in Revit MEP 2010 onwards, when ticked the Set
Model Properties dialog is displayed when Import Model is clicked. When unticked the Revit Export
gbXML dialog should be used to set model properties prior to any export and analysis using the
IESVE toolbar.

Help
Opens the IESVE Revit plug-in User Guide.

Guidance
Opens the BIM + Building Performance Analysis Using Revit 2009 and IES <Virtual Environment>
White paper, provides extra guidance on using the link between Autodesk Revit and IES <VE>.
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IESVE Revit Plug-in

IES Website
Launches the IES website in an internet browser

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Set Model Properties

Set Model Properties

The first step when using the IESVE Revit Plug-in is to click the Import Model button to pass the
model from Revit to <VE> via gbXML. When this process is complete the Set Model Properties
dialog will open displaying the model in a <VE> ModelViewer.
The Set Model Properties dialog allows the quality of geometry export to be checked and thermal
data can be applied to the model before analysis begins.
Note: In Revit MEP 2010 onwards model properties are set in the Revit Export gbXML dialog.
Access this by clicking File >> Export >> gbXML. When the model is ready click the OK button to
close the dialog. Click the Import Model button to generate the IES Model Check Report before
proceeding to analysis.
To use the IESVE Set Model Properties dialog instead please see Override MEP transfer in the
Settings options (described above).
Check Model
Following the advice given in the BIM + Building Performance Analysis Using Revit 2009 and IES
<Virtual Environment> white paper (available by clicking the Guidance button) the gbXML should be
of a high quality but it is still very important to check the model has been properly exported before
any analyses are performed.

Click the Check Model button

to generate the IES Model Room Check Report. This
report gives information regarding the geometry of each room in the model with any values outside
expected bounds highlighted.

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Set Model Properties

Missing Surfaces shows rooms that may have gaps where surfaces do not join correctly. It is
important these problems are identified and corrected as the missing area may allow light, solar
radiation and air flow thermal transfer between zones. This would affect the calculation results.
Ratios and areas of walls, floors etc should be compared to original designs to ensure all data has
been correctly transferred to the <VE> model.
Holes to Ceiling/Floor can highlight rooms that are not properly bounded by a floor or ceiling/roof.
When the model data has been checked
and confirmed then the IES Report can be
closed and the check box can be ticked.
It will not be possible to set Model Properties until this has been done.
Building Data
Early in the design process room layout and usage may not yet be known. Analysis can still be
performed, however, by assigning more general data to the entire building on the Building tab of Set
Model Properties.
Simply by defining usage, constructions, an HVAC System and the location of the entire building it is
possible to start using VE-Ware and the VE-Toolkits to get early Energy, Carbon and Daylighting
assessments and compare different architectural design options.

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Set Model Properties

Building Type
Define the primary use of the building from the list which includes Office, Hotel and University/School
amongst others. This is used to apply thermal template data including Heating and Cooling Set
Points, Internal Gains and Infiltration rates.

Building Constructions
Apply constructions from the IESVE Constructions Database to surfaces and openings in the building.

Click the Constructions button to open the Building Construction dialog.

The only Construction Type available to edit here is for the whole building. Simply choose a
construction for each surface and opening type in the model from the extensive lists. These
constructions will then be applied to each occurrence of that surface in the building.
Note: Construction data in the form of Revit Architecture or Revit MEP is not passed directly from the
model.

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Set Model Properties

Building Service
This is used to select an HVAC System for the entire building.
Building System
Active Chilled Beam
Central Heating Convectors
Central Heating Hot Air
Central Heating Radiant Floors
Central Heating Radiators
Constant Volume Dual Duct
Constant Volume Fixed O A
Constant Volume Terminal Reheat
Constant Volume Variable O A
Fan Coil System
Multizone Hot Deck Cold Deck
Other Room Heater
Radiant Cooled Ceilings
Radiant Heater Flued
Radiant Heater Multiburner
Radiant Heater No Flued
Split Systems With Mechanical Ventilation
Split Systems With Mechanical Ventilation With Cooling
Split Systems With Natural Ventilation
V A V Dual Duct
V A V Indoor Packaged Cabinet
V A V Single Duct
Variable Refrigerant Flow
Water Loop Heat Pump

Mechanism
Heating and cooling
Heating only
Heating only
Heating only
Heating only
Heating and cooling
Heating and cooling
Heating and cooling
Heating and cooling
Heating and cooling
Heating and cooling
Heating only
Cooling only
Heating only
Heating only
Heating only
Heating only
Heating and cooling
Heating only
Heating and cooling
Heating and cooling
Heating and cooling
Heating and cooling
Heating and cooling

Place and Location

Set the geographical location of the building. This defines the Weather, Climate data, Sun Path and
light across the building that are used in Sustainability Calculations.
Latitude and Longitude information
about the current location can be
viewed by clicking the Place and
Location button.

To change location click the Select

button. This opens the Select Site Location dialog which shows the locations available in each
Continent. Choose the location which is nearest to where the building will be constructed.

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Set Model Properties

Room Data
Later in the design stage, when more detailed information about the building is available, data can be
applied to individual rooms to obtain more accurate analysis results.
To enter Room Data click on the Rooms tab.

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Set Model Properties

Level - Select rooms by storey i.e. ground floor, first floor, second floor.
Select
- When the Select Button is pressed the Modelviewer will display the building as an x-ray
with any selected rooms highlighted Red.
Isolate
- When the Isolate Button is pressed the Modelviewer only displays the rooms that are
selected on the list.
Room Type, Room Construction and Room (HVAC) System can be used to apply data to the
selected room(s). This will override the Building Type data applied for the selected rooms.
Room Type
Define the use of the room by selecting an option from the list. This is used to apply thermal template
data including Heating and Cooling Set Points, Internal Gains and Air Exchanges.
Select <Building> to make the Room Activity the same as is set for the Building.
Note: Spaces whose room type is chosen as unoccupiable or plenum will NOT be considered
habitable area therefore will not be part of the area calculations of the building for the Energy Use
Intensity.
Room Constructions
This is used to apply constructions from the Constructions Database to surfaces and openings in the
rooms.
Click the Constructions Button to open the Room Construction dialog.

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Set Model Properties

Note: this differs from Building Construction as multiple Construction Types can now be created and
applied to different rooms.

New - adds a new Construction Type with default constructions.

Delete - Deletes the currently selected Construction Type.
Duplicate - Copies the currently selected Construction Type.
Building Service
If any rooms use a different HVAC System from the one selected for the building this can be specified
here. Select <Building> to use the same system as the Building.

VE-Ware
The VE-Ware button runs a dynamic thermal Apache simulation and generates whole-building annual
energy and carbon usage results. A report is generated showing details of total Energy usage,
Energy breakdown by usage, total Carbon Emissions and, depending on location, comparison
against NZBC Clause H1 Compliance (New Zealand) or Architecture 2030 Challenge targets (rest of
world) .
Further information is available from the IES VE-Ware User Guide and the IES website.

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VE-Toolkits

VE-Toolkits
The IES VE-Toolkits are a set of analyses that can be run to help influence and direct early stage
building designs. These fast analyses can be run with basic model inputs to allow indicative
assessment of design options taking into account climate, building fabric, energy & carbon, thermal
loads, daylighting and solar shading. Further options offer an assessment of the potential for Low or
Zero Carbon technologies and water reduction.
Using the VE-Toolkits for LEED the building model can be appraised against LEED credits to give an
indicative result based on credits that cover daylighting, comfort, water and Renewables.
Click the Guidance
see the IES website.

button to open the VE-Toolkits User Guide for more detailed help and also

Sustainability VE-Toolkit
The Sustainability VE-Toolkit is divided over two tabs; Overview and Sustainability.
The Overview tab can be used to give a greater understanding of the implications of the building
location by understating climate and uses this information to offer guidance on building fabric design,
materials and potential strategies for further investigation.
The Sustainability tab allows early stage analysis of Energy and Carbon emissions, Heating and
Cooling Loads, solar shading and daylight assessment and Water and Low or Zero Carbon
Technologies reviews based on building design and simple inputs.

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VE-Toolkits
Overview

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VE-Toolkits
Sustainability

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VE-Toolkits
VE-Toolkit for LEED-USA
Measure building performance against indicative LEED rating system covering credits for daylighting,
comfort, water and renewables across LEED NC V2.2/V3, LEED Schools V1/V3 and LEED Core and
Shell V2/V3 rating systems.

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VE-Toolkits
VE-Toolkit for LEED-INDIA
Measure building performance against indicative LEED-INDIA rating system covering credits for
daylighting, comfort, water and renewables across New Construction v1.0 and Core & Shell v1.0
rating systems.

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VE-Toolkits
VE-Toolkit for Green Star Australia
Automated indicative Green StarTM rating system credit assessment that covers daylighting, comfort
and water across Office Design v3, Office As-Built v3, Office interiors v1.1, Education v1, Healthcare
v1 and Retail Centre v1. Covers credits for IEQ4 Daylighting, IEQ9 Comfort and Wat 1 Water

<Virtual Environment>
Launch VE-Pro with the model loaded and model properties assigned. Further model customisation
can be performed using VE-Gaia then perform more detailed analyses using the full range of VE-Pro
modules.
Further information on the <VE> applications is available from the IES website.
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