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Energy & Sustainability

Thermal Modelling

Thermal modelling enables you to understand the performance of a building through a computer-generated model, allowing projects to further understand the energy consumption, carbon emissions, comfort, overheating and daylight factors that impact a project.

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Energy & Sustainability IES VE dynamic simulation modelling Planning and BREEAM energy assessments Overheating analysis — TM59, TM52, BB101 Net zero carbon modelling and design support

What Is Thermal Modelling?

Thermal modelling is the process of replicating the proposed development through a computer-generated model, incorporating thermal elements, constructions, HVAC, lighting, daylighting, orientation, building use and much more. This enables the model to simulate real-life scenarios so that criteria set out in BREEAM, net-zero frameworks, or planning requirements can be met.

Key Areas of Expertise

  • Carbon emissions and reductions
  • BREEAM energy and thermal comfort credits
  • Overheating Analysis — TM59, TM52, CIBSE Guide A
  • Daylighting assessment
  • Building Regulations Part L compliance
  • Low and zero-carbon technology feasibility

Software

Our engineers are experienced and qualified in the use of IES VE software — an industry-leading dynamic simulation tool — to undertake thermal modelling across a wide range of building types and project stages.

Why is thermal modelling required?

During the planning application process, it is often required to show how the proposed development will meet a number of criteria such as carbon emissions & sustainability, By undertaken thermal modelling in the concept stages of a project we can ensure that early strategies can be implemented to address the relevant criteria,

Similarly, recognised assessment procedures such as BREEAM will be able to obtain credits by demonstrating how the building operates and from this can be used to achieve credits towards your BREEAM rating.

Thermal modelling is the process of replicating the proposed development through the use of a computer-generated model, including Thermal Elements, Constructions, HVAC, Lighting, Daylighting, Orientation, Building use & type and much more, this enables the model to be used to improve and develop real-life scenarios and therefore meet criteria set out such as BREEAM or Net-Zero.

Understanding how the development works and performs will enable decisions and strategies to be implemented at an early stage and therefore the overall development can benefit from lower carbon and highly efficient designs.

Another potential reason behind thermal modelling is to support the planning application in the production of an energy & sustainability statement, thermal modelling can be used as a great tool to be able to design a project as close as possible to how the dwelling will ultimately perform and therefore can achieve carbon reductions or thermal comfort.