Release Notes for FenestraPro Envelope Analysis

This page will list the release notes for the Forma Extension: FenestraPro Envelope Analysis

Release Notes Version 1.0 (May 16^th 2024)

• Add Glazing Zones to your Forma model by using a slider to define Window to Wall ratios.
• Suggested Energy Codes for selected locations (to be expanded).
• Check compliance by comparing model performance with Energy Code values.
• Results for Total Glazing Percentage, Overall model U-value, Heat Gain and Daylighting.
• All areas and results currently in metric (imperial models to be supported soon!).
• Request an Energy Code to be displayed for your project if needed (see below).

Release Notes Version 1.1 (May 29^th 2024)

• Support for imperial units added!  Results, areas, Energy Codes and model performance in imperial R-values.  Models with locations in the USA, will display suggested regional energy codes which may be selected and areas and results will display as imperial units.  
• Support  added to analyze multiple buildings (or several buildings in one project).  As you select the second/third building, the same settings are used to analyze the second/third building (window to wall ratio, energy code etc).  The calculation will commence automatically when a building is selected (currently only one building can be selected and analyzed at any one time).
• Fix when the building geometry is edited in Forma while using the FenestraPro extension.  Press ‘escape’ on your keyboard to disengage from the editing mode and select the building again to recalculate results.

Release Notes Version 1.2 (June 17^th 2024)

• ‘Apply by Façade’ feature added – view and control settings independently on different Façades.  The Total WWR will then update to reflect the changes. You may set Façade percentage glazing values independently or make some solid walls (zero percentage). Facades may also be highlighted on the model to identify their location. Glazing zones on the model will also update to display the new settings. There are more details about this feature on this page HERE
• Fixed an issue where Floor Area was a total of all internal floors – only the Ground Floor area is now displayed

Release Notes Version 1.3 (July 22^th 2024)

• Settings for Facades now persist and will be remembered by the application even if the project or Forma window is closed.
• Energy Code that is selected and applied using the ‘Use Code benchmark properties’ setting, will also be saved for the next session of your project even if you close the project and later reopen FenestraPro again.  

Release Notes Version 1.4 (August 1^st 2024)

• Charts have been added to the Facades List.  Inside the Facades List is an icon to view related Charts. You may open this panel which will display the monthly Heat Gain values in Chart form for that Façade. You may open multiple Charts at the same time and compare the results. These values are saved if you close and reopen the same project. Note: Currently any subsequent updating of the overall glazing percentage slider for the proposal, will not update the Facades List or Charts and these individual settings must be manually updated. This is to be reviewed and improved in a future release soon.

Release Notes Version 1.5 (August 19^th 2024)

• Overall Charts added. Annual Average Chart for all Facades is now available using the icon beside the Total WWR slider.
• When the overall slider is adjusted after the individual Facades are defined, this will override the individual settings and all Facades will be set to the Total WWR value.
• Construction Types will not display until the model proposal is selected (this is intentional and correct).

Release Notes Version 1.6 (August 28^th 2024)

• Construction Types added – allowing you to define element properties from suggested options.  Model properties for your Forma project can now be set for Walls, Roofs, Floors and Windows from a suggested list. Once these are applied, the overall results in the dials will adjust and details in the Facade Charts will also update.
• Suggested Element properties provide U-values for all metric model elements. Properties with R-values are provided for imperial solid elements (walls, roofs and floors) and imperial U-values for windows.

Release Notes Version 1.7 (September 6^th 2024)

• Shading Effects are included with Charts for each Façade and for the Overall Model.
• The effects of self-shading, surroundings and shade devices modeled on the building will now affect the results.
• Shade devices (horizontal canopies or fins) can be added to the model by using the volume tool – cube or freeform option. These will cause shade effects and feed into the results. Please see the main page on Forma HERE for advice on changing the model condition and recalculating.

Release Notes Version 1.8 (September 23^rd 2024)

• The highlighting function on the model now activates when it is clicked on rather than by hovering over the eye icon (this prevents unwanted orbiting of the model). Clicking on  another Facade will cancel the previous selection.
• ‘Copy to Clipboard’ is now provided to copy Charts to the Boards or to an intermediate application before adding content to a Board. This feature is provided for both Overall Charts and Facade Charts
• An extra tab is now available in the Overall Chart to review results for group orientations

Release Notes Version 2.0 (October 31^st 2024)

• Models with internal walls are now supported thanks to the addition of an energy creation tool.
• A default perimeter zone of 6m / 20 ft is used to calculate the Heat Gain in internal spaces. Deeper rooms will not produce any higher results but spaces with the end wall (opposite glazing) less than this default value, will have higher Heat Gain results (since heat gain will be concentrated in a smaller space), Daylight will currently not be affected by changes in perimeter depth.
• More complex Forma models with different floor plans on each level and various roof heights can now be analyzed. These require a more complex identification of internal spaces and separation of external Facades.
• The extension will read the model and identify internal spaces and surfaces belong to external Facades.

More Complex Models

Models that may have different floor plans on each level, require an intelligent division and identification of external Facades and internal spaces. Models where some floors have an independent design, may cantilever, recess or have different roof heights are now supported.

Please Note:

• There may be some model conditions which will continue to create challenges such as large gaps or openings between the geometry and complete analysis may not yet be supported. Please contact us if you have specific issues with a project and we can advise – support@fenestrapro.com
• Total Roof area may not always pick up multiple lower roof areas such as balconies and projecting floors (please confirm correct areas by using the area measurement tools in Forma).
• Models using 3D Sketch and separate project geometry created using the ‘Basic Building’ will not be analyzed by selecting a window around all geometry in the project.  The model should be selected by clicking on the roof of the model (all connected geometry will then be loaded). Geometry that is created separately can only be analyzed independently.