This will provide a simplified process to open and analyze your model (assuming that there are no modelling issues and Revit settings are correct). For more in-depth advice, please see the Section about on-boarding your detailed model.
Detailed Models
- Under the FenestraPro menu in Revit, click on the Detailed Design tool. A dialog window will open. Click on the Start button to load your model into the application. Note: if you have opened your model before with FenestraPro, a Continue button will also display to load the model data faster.
FenestraPro will typically ask Revit to create an Energy Model as part of the launching process when you use it for the first time with a new project. If the Energy Model is not successful in Revit, a message will display and the model will require attention first to fix modelling issues (such as gaps in the enclosure, element or family types etc). Please contact us if you have model issues as we can provide guidance on typical issues. There is also guidance here.
2. Essential model elements and surroundings will load into the application.
3. The main window will open. If the Assign Glass button displays, this means that some glazing elements do not have properties. The application can fix this by assigning a default glass type to get you started. Click on this Assign Glass button – a list of glazing elements without analytical properties are displayed. You may fix all of them at once or select individually. Once this is complete, a message will confirm.
4. Next, there is a Model Check option if required. Here you may check if you have all Energy Surfaces and Spaces, see element functions as well as run a check for warnings. Click on Continue button to move ahead when complete or at anytime if you wish to skip this step.
5. In the next stage, you will select a reference Energy Code with target values. You may see a list of suggested Codes (depending on your region) or you may create a Code in your online account and import here. A placeholder Code is also provided to proceed quickly without defining any specific values. Click on the Continue button to proceed.
6. In the next step, Code values are compared to existing element properties in the model to check compliance. Compliance is indicated by a green checkmark, non-compliance is indicated by a red X.
You may apply the target reference Code values to all element categories using the Set button. This will override existing values for calculation purposes (Revit model elements are not changed). Use the Continue button to proceed to the final step (you may always return to this area later to define values in more detail).
7. In the final step, define project settings and click on the Download Solar Data to get results for the model. If there are significant shading effects (surrounding buildings, self shading, shading devices etc) which will reduce Heat Gains in model spaces, leave the Calculate Shading checkbox on. Once this is complete, click OK to the confirmation message and click on the Let’s Start button to enter the main application window.
8. In the main window, you can swap out Glass Types (which will affect the results), generate glazing on the model, save Reports and review Shading Effects on the model.
