BIM HVACTool - Green Building Simulation Software
The BIM HVACTool is software specifically developed to meet the requirements of building simulations. We use the term "Green Building Simulation" to encompass the wide range of tasks associated with it, such as flow simulations, energy simulations, fire simulations, and daylight calculations. With our software, you can already plan in a forward-thinking and innovative way, as it supports you in the process.
Commercial Use
Commercial licenses for the BIM HVAC Tool are available either as a single-user license or a network license. You purchase the software once in its current version and have the option to keep it up to date through annual service and maintenance fees of 30% of the purchase price. These service and maintenance contracts are optional. After a three-year lapse in the annual maintenance fees, the software must be purchased again at the full price. This measure ensures that our quality standards are maintained among our users.
Non-commercial use
Non-commercial licenses are often used for courses at universities or research institutions to allow students to learn the software. These licenses are designed to support the non-commercial use of the software, meaning they cannot be used for profit-making purposes. Students have the option to request a personal non-commercial license, enabling them to use the software for their learning and research purposes.
Single-User License
A single-user license permits the use of BIM HVACTool on one computer. A separate license is required for each computer on which the BIM HVACTool software will be used. A single-user license is tied to a specific PC, meaning the license is intended for use on that particular computer. However, if you change or move to a new computer, there is often the option to transfer the license via a web service.
Network License
A network license allows the software to be used on multiple computers within a LAN network. A central license server is used to facilitate the transfer of licenses across the network, removing the restriction of binding the license to a single computer. However, even with a network license, only the number of purchased licenses can be used within the network. The number of available licenses determines the maximum number of concurrent users or installations of the software in the network.
AddOns
Available packages
The BIM HVACTool is divided into various modules, also referred to as add-ons. Each module can be selected and combined individually, providing you with maximum flexibility in customizing the software. This allows you to choose the features relevant to your needs and adjust the pricing accordingly.
Additionally, theme-specific packages are available, covering certain key areas or application domains. These packages include bundled features and modules that are specifically tailored to a particular theme or field of application, offering a more targeted solution for your specific requirements.
Fluid Package
With the Fluid Package, you gain access to all add-ons needed for conducting flow simulations. This package enables the use of the open-source tool OpenFOAM in conjunction with the BIM HVACTool. As a result, you have all the necessary features and modules at your disposal to perform precise flow simulations and gain detailed insights into the behavior of fluids in your building projects.
Energy Package
With the Energy Package, you gain access to all add-ons needed for conducting thermal building simulations. This package enables the use of the free open-source tool EnergyPlus in conjunction with the BIM HVACTool. As a result, you have all the necessary features and modules at your disposal to conduct detailed energy analyses of buildings. You can simulate and evaluate various aspects such as heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, and other energy components to achieve optimal energy efficiency and thermal comfort.
Daylighting Package
With the Daylighting Package, you gain access to all add-ons needed for performing daylight calculations. This package enables the use of the free open-source tool Radiance, including support for GPU calculations, in conjunction with the BIM HVACTool. As a result, you have powerful features and modules at your disposal to conduct detailed daylight analyses for your building projects. You can analyze natural lighting, account for shadows and reflections, and optimize the use of daylight in your spaces.
Rendering Package
The Rendering Package includes the IRay+ Real Time Raytracing software or, alternatively, OSPRay. With the Rendering Package, you can create photorealistic renderings and combine them with CFD results. The IRay+ software offers advanced raytracing capabilities, enabling high-quality visual representations. Alternatively, you can use Intel's OSPRay to create stunning renderings. By integrating CFD results with the renderings, you can generate realistic visualizations, providing a better understanding of the impact of flow dynamics in your building projects.
CityComfort Package
With the CityComfort Package, you have the ability to study urban climate effects. The less windy and sunnier it is, the more pronounced the urban climate effect becomes. The CityComfort+ module, which is unlocked with this package, provides advanced features and tools for detailed urban climate analysis. You can examine parameters such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation to gain a better understanding of the urban environment. The CityComfort+ module enables you to assess the impact of the urban climate on thermal comfort and building ventilation, helping you to take appropriate measures to improve urban well-being.
Fire Package
With the Fire Package, you gain access to all add-ons required for conducting smoke simulations. This package enables the use of the open-source tools OpenFOAM and FDS (Fire Dynamics Simulator) in conjunction with the BIM HVACTool. With these powerful tools, you can perform detailed smoke simulations to analyze the spread of smoke in buildings and assess fire risks. The Fire Package provides you with a comprehensive solution to address safety-related aspects of fire protection and evacuation, helping you take appropriate measures to minimize risks.
Additional module
Wind AddOn
Description
This add-on enables you to easily perform a wind simulation analysis with OpenFOAM. The add-on supports automatic mesh generation, streamlining the process. Additionally, it provides the option to conduct a climate analysis to assess local wind conditions. You can import weather data from EnergyPlus Weather or from test and reference datasets to create realistic conditions for the simulation. This allows for a detailed examination of the impact of wind on buildings and their surroundings, helping you optimize design and planning.
Requirements:
This add-on requires the Fluid Package.
Comfort AddOn
Description
The Comfort Add-On enables you to analyze flow results according to the DIN EN ISO 7730 standard. Thermal comfort is a key concept in this standard, describing human well-being based on factors such as air temperature, radiation, clothing, activity level, and air velocity.
With this add-on, you can calculate various parameters related to thermal comfort, including radiation temperature asymmetry, the humidity limit, and operative temperatures in the space. This information helps you assess the conditions within a room and ensure that the thermal comfort of the occupants is maintained. By analyzing and optimizing these parameters, you can enhance indoor comfort and create a pleasant indoor climate.
Requirements:
This add-on requires the Fluid Package.
ETTV AddOn
Description
ETTV (Envelope Thermal Transfer Value) is indeed an add-on primarily used in the Asian region. It is a concept applied within the framework of Green Building certifications and maintained by Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA). Other countries, such as Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, have adopted similar regulations and guidelines.
ETTV refers to the heat transfer through the building envelope and plays a crucial role in evaluating a building's energy efficiency. It defines the maximum allowable heat transfer per unit area of the building envelope and sets limits to ensure that heat efficiency and energy consumption are optimized.
The use of the ETTV add-on enables architects and engineers to analyze heat transfer through the building envelope and ensure compliance with the established ETTV limits. This promotes energy-efficient building design and construction while helping meet the requirements for Green Building certifications.
Description:
ETTV is a standalone package and does not require any third-party software.