This rule checks the placement and properties of components in the building envelope. For components (e.g. windows) located in recesses, the validity of their positioning can be checked according to the width of the recess, for example to check if a window is not positioned too deep in a too narrow recess to be eligible for natural ventilation. For vertical airwells, their validity as sources of natural ventilation can be checked according to their height, width and opening area.
The rule parameters are:
Components to check:
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Components in Building Envelope: The filter specifies which components' positioning should be checked during the recess validity check. The components listed here do not include airwells or affect the airwell validity check.
Recesses:
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Requirements for the recesses: This table specifies the positioning requirements of a component inside a recess in relation to the width of the recess, for example to check if the component is a valid source of natural ventilation. The first table entry in increasing order of Exceeded Depth (d) for which d is exceeded by the depth of the component being checked will identify the Minimum Width (w) requirement for the recess (example in image below). The width of the recess is defined as the shortest distance between its two sides, in the portion spanning from the location of the component to the open end of the recess.
In the image above, a component located 2 m inside a recess will not imply any Minimum Width (w) requirement, a component located 5 m inside a recess will imply a Minimum Width (w) of 3 m, a component located 7 m inside a recess will imply a Minimum Width (w) of 4 m and a component located deeper than 9 m inside a recess will imply a Minimum Width (w) requirement of 5 m.
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Check Recesses for Validity: Enable/disable checking the positioning of components in recesses for validity.
Airwells:
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Airwell Components: This filter specifies which components constitute airwells. The specified components must have a non zero footprint area. The airwells will be formed of one or more such components arranged in vertical columns. If the components of an airwell are not vertically aligned, the amount of base area visible by looking at the airwell from above will be considered its opening area. If two vertically adjacent components forming an airwell are vertically separated by no more than 10 cm of distance they will be considered a single, unobstructed airwell. Otherwise, the airwell will be considered not valid because it is not contiguous.
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Airwell Requirements: This table specifies the requirements for an airwell to be valid. The first table entry in increasing order of Exceeded Height (H) for which H is exceeded by the height of the airwell being checked will identify the Minimum Area (A) and Minimum Width (w) requirements for that airwell
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Check Airwells for Validity: Enable/disable checking airwells for validity.
Analyzing the results:
The recess validity check creates issues if there are components located inside a recess that is too narrow in its portion between each component and the open end, not meeting the requirements specified in the "Requirements for the recesses" table.
The airwell validity check can create issues in four different cases:
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The airwell opening area is too small for its depth, according to the "Airwell requirements" table.
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The airwell width, defined as the shortest side of the smallest rectangle enclosing the airwell's opening area, is too small for its depth, according to the "Airwell requirements" table.
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The airwell opening area is zero, which can indicate the presence of a component with zero footprint area inside the "Airwells Components" filter or a modeling problem such as misaligned airwell components.
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The airwell is not contiguous, when the components representing its volume are separated by a gap greater than 10 cm, which indicates a modeling problem.
Rule report:
The rule does not have a report.
Rule tools:
The rule does not have tools.