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·         Types – Windows, Doors, Permanents, Opaque Louvres

·         Openings in the Vizi

·         Creating (Draw vid)

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Overview

Openings refer to several types of Wall Openings including Windows, Doors (including Opaque Louvres) & Permanent Openings within the Hero Model. Their properties are different depending on their type.

Windows

Windows are used to represent all non-opaque Openings, this includes standard Windows as well as the Glazed portion of a Glazed Doors unless the glazing portion is <25% of the Opening’s Area (as per NatHERS Technical Note guidance).

Expand
titleNatHERS Technical Note 8.1

“Fully or partially glazed hinged doors and sliding doors are considered to be windows in NatHERS software tools. Only the glazed portion of a partially glazed door is to be modelled as a window. The remaining component of the partially glazed door is to be modelled as a solid door. If the glazing component is less than 25% of the door, the door may be modelled as a solid door.”

Info

Internal Windows

Note Internal Windows (i.e. Window on a Wall between Zones) can be modelled within Hero however an Information Alert will be raised notifying the User that no Solar Gains are modelled between those Zones within Chenath. I.e. Internal Windows do not transit Light or Solar Gains between them. Their modelling impacts will be limited to conductive heat transfer losses/gains.

Doors

Doors are used to represent Opaque Openings including standard Doors but also Opaque Louvres.

Permanent Openings

A Permanent Opening is used to model a permanent connection between two Zones such as an Open Hallway between a Kitchen Zone and a Hallway Zone.

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Openings with the Visual-View

Creating

Openings are created using the Opening Drawing Mode

Selecting

Deleting

Selecting…selecting parents, selecting openings on top of each other

·         Deleting

·         Splitting

·         Moving, resizing

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Moving & Resizing

Splitting

Openings can be split using the Split & Merge Drawing Mode

Openings on Floating Walls

·         Openings in the DG

·         Type

·         Spec

·         Orient

·         Width

·         Heights

·         Opening Style & Openability

·         Weatherstripped

·         Insect Screens

·         Frame Colour

·         Coverings internal/external

·         Windows in the Library (link to Window Library)

·         Whole Window Library SectionOpenings can be added to Floating Walls as required.

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Openings within the Data-Grid

Property

Description

Edited Within

Name

The Name of the Opening.

The Opening’s Name is numerically incremented during creation (e.g. from W01 to W02 to W03) and so it can be useful to create Openings based on their Window Schedule tag (if available) so you do not need to rename the Openings.

Opening Data-Grid Name Column

Type

The Type of the Opening: Window, Door or Permanent

Type Column

Specification

The Specification of the Window or Door.

Window Specification

Door Specification

Specification Column

Orientation

The Orientation of the Opening (i.e. it’s normal direction or direction it is facing)

Not Editable

Width

The Width of the Opening (in mm)

Width Column

Left Offset

The Distance from the Left Edge of the Parent Wall to the Left Edge of the Opening (in mm)

Left Offset Column (hidden by Default)

Total Height

The Total Height of the Opening (in mm). (I.e. Head Height - Sill Height)

Total Height Column

Head Height

The Head/Top Height of the Opening (in mm) above the Level’s Reference Height

Head Height Column

Sill Height

The Sill/Bottom Height of the Opening (in mm) above the Level’s Reference Height

Sill Height Column (hidden by Default)

Opening Style

Windows Only

The Opening Type of the Window (e.g. Casement, Louvre, Awning etc)

Opening Style Column

Openable Percentage

The Percentage of the Opening’s Area that is Openable for Ventilation as per NatHERS Technical Note Guidance

Expand
titleNatHERS Technical Note Guidance

8.6: “When using custom windows, assessors must use the manufacturer’s ventilation charts to determine the openable percentage of the window and/or door. If this information is not available, apply the provisional opening percentage in Table 5. These reflect the area of window that can open and deducts a percentage for the window frame.”

8.7 “When using default windows, assessors must apply the provisional opening percentage figures in Table 5. These reflect the area of window that can open and deducts a percentage for the window frame.”

8.8 “Assessors must use their judgement in applying opening percentages to default or custom windows that have complex opening arrangements and/or are made of different window types.”

8.9 “Assessors must adjust opening percentages to windows with restricted opening safety requirements and no complying security screen. If the restricted opening percentage is not specified on the design documentation, assessors must use the provisional opening percentage of 10% for all window types.”

Image Added

Openable Column

Weatherstripped

Weatherstripped Column

Insect Screen

Insect Screen Column

Frame External Colour

External Colour Column

Internal Shade

Internal Column

External Shade

External Column

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Window Library

The Window Library holds the complete library of all Window Specifications available for NatHERS Simulation.

Info

Further Information: Window Library