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Use Detailed Elements for Material Thermal Properties

When you want to perform energy analysis for a Revit model that contains building elements such as floors, walls, and roofs, you can use material thermal properties from the detailed elements.

The thermal properties associated with the building elements are then used during energy analysis to provide more realistic results.

Note: Use the Detailed Elements setting of the Advanced Energy Settings dialog only when you are completely aware of all material thermal properties in the model and are confident that they represent real construction properties for energy simulation. If you use this setting without ensuring the quality of material thermal property data in model elements, you may introduce errors to the model or destabilize the simulation. For example, if elements have a very high or low thermal mass, such as a construction containing only 1mm insulation or 6 inches of steel, the simulation will report the error "Elements are too thick/thin."

To use materials-based thermal properties for energy analysis

  1. Open a view that displays the building model.
  2. Click Analyze tabEnergy Optimization panel (Energy Settings).
  3. In the Energy Settings dialog, for Other Options, click Edit.
  4. In the Advanced Energy Settings dialog, select Detailed Elements, and click OK.
  5. Add materials-based thermal properties to elements, as follows.

To add materials-based thermal properties to elements (walls, floors, roofs, and so on)

  1. Open a view that displays the building model.
  2. Select a building element, such as a wall.
  3. On the Properties palette, click Edit Type.
  4. For Structure, select Edit.
  5. In the Edit Assembly dialog, click in the Material column.
  6. In the Material Browser, click + Thermal to view and edit thermal properties.
  7. Click Apply and OK to close the dialog.
  8. Click OK to close the Edit Assembly dialog.
  9. In the Type Properties dialog, under Analytical Properties, note that the thermal properties are populated: Heat Transfer Coefficient (U), Thermal Resistance (R), and Thermal mass.
  10. Repeat steps 2-9 for each element that requires thermal properties for energy analysis.

To set materials-based thermal properties for windows

  1. Open a view that displays the building model.
  2. Select a window.
  3. On the Properties palette, click Edit Type.
  4. Under Analytical Properties, for Analytical Construction, select a glazing type.

    For assumptions on glazing types, download this file.

  5. Click Apply and OK to close the dialog.
  6. In the Type Properties dialog, under Analytical Properties, note that the thermal properties are populated: Heat Transfer Coefficient (U), Thermal Resistance (R), and Thermal mass.

To set materials-based thermal properties for curtain walls and curtain systems

  1. Open the desired Glazed System Panel from the Families list in the Project Browser.
  2. Open its properties and, under Analytical Properties, for Analytical Construction, select a glazing type.

    For assumptions on glazing types, download this file.

  3. Click Apply and OK to close the dialog.
  4. In the Type Properties dialog, under Analytical Properties, note that the thermal properties are populated: Heat Transfer Coefficient (U), Thermal Resistance (R), and Thermal mass.
For greater flexibility when defining the thermal properties of door types, window types, and curtain panel types, select an option for Define Thermal Properties by:
  • When set to Building Type, the thermal properties are defined by either the conceptual types or schematic types as set in the Advanced Energy Settings for the entire project.
  • When set to Schematic Type, the thermal properties are defined by the Analytic Construction property.
  • When set to User Defined, the properties become editable.
Note: The Material Thermal Properties section of the Energy Settings dialog must be set to Detailed Elements to use this parameter.

When you next perform energy optimization, materials-based thermal properties for the detailed elements are used during energy analysis. For elements that don't yet contain this data, the simulation uses selected schematic types or default conceptual types.

Parent topic: Advanced Energy Settings

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