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Constructions

Simple and Detailed Constructions can be set up now in h2x. These Constructions allow you to model Material properties used for Heat Gain and Heat Loss calculations.

  • Search Constructions allows to search for a specific Construction

  • Construction Types drop down menu allows to filter for:

    • Door

    • Floor

    • Roof

    • Wall

    • Window

Default Constructions & Simple Constructions

h2x has a Simple Construction library based on ASHRAE Fundamentals with built in U-values, Solar Absorptance and Roughness. These properties can be changed by selecting the Construction from the list and editing the properties pop up window on the right.

Simple Constructions

Simple Constructions can be set up for Walls, Doors, Floors and Roofs using an overall U-Value. These Simple Wall, Door, Floor and/or Roof Constructions don’t need Material specifications at all.

Step-by-step

  1. Select New Construction

  2. Select one of the: Door / Floor / Roof / Wall

  3. Select Simple on the Construction tab in properties pop up window

  4. Edit it's Name, U-Value, Solar Absorptance, Roughness

  5. Set Construction as Default option to set the Construction as the default construction to use when drawing and editing Rooms in Floor Plan mode

  6. Select Create Construction to save changes

  7. They will be available in constructions drop down menu in Floor Plan mode if a specific Door / Floor / Roof / Wall needs to be overriden

Note that for accounting for thermal lag in heat gain calculations, detailed constructions are required. Thermal lag in Heat Gain is NOT calculated for simple constructions. Heat Loss calculations are unaffected whether the construction is simple or detailed

Detailed Constructions

For more accurate and detailed calculations, Detailed Constructions may be set up for Walls, Doors, Floors and/or Roofs by defining Material layers. Please refer to Materials section in the User guide for more information on how to set up Materials.

Creating Detailed Constructions

On Detailed Constructions, Materials set up previously in the Materials tab in the Heat Load settings can be assembled into Detailed Constructions by stacking multiple material layers in order. The layer order represents the physical build-up from external surface to inside surface. h2x uses the full material layer stack to model how heat moves through the surface over time. The estimated overall Thickness & U-Value of the Construction is displayed as a reference.

Step-by-step

  1. Select New Construction

  2. Select one of the: Door / Floor / Roof / Wall

  3. Select Detailed on the Construction tab in properties pop up window

  4. Add Materials in order

  5. Edit it's Name, U-Value, Solar Absorptance, Roughness

  6. Set Construction as Default option to set the Construction as the default construction to use when drawing and editing Rooms in Floor Plan mode

  7. Select Create Construction to save changes

  8. They will be available in constructions drop down menu in Floor Plan mode if a specific Door / Floor / Roof / Wall needs to be overriden

Model Non-Opaque Room Elements

Window Constructions can be defined in h2x and their properties: U-Values and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient.

Creating Window Constructions

Step-by-step

  1. Select New Construction

  2. Select Window

  3. Edit it's Name, U-Value, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient

  4. Set Construction as Default option to set the Window as the default construction to use when drawing and editing Rooms in Floor Plan mode

  5. Select Create Construction to save changes

  6. They will be available in constructions drop down menu in Floor Plan mode if a specific Window needs to be overriden