Question-and-Answer Resource for the Building Energy Modeling Community
 | 1 | initial version |
Wall thickness is not added by EnergyPlus/OS/Sketchup. Walls are 2D in EnergyPlus, so typically modelers will trace the inside of the wall such that space/zone area is accurate so any area-dependent gains (lighting/equipment power density, occupant density, etc) are accurate. It is very common to have 5 - 10% discrepancy between gross building areas listed on the plans and floor areas in the model due to wall thicknesses being omitted.
The mass effects of internal walls and furniture can be simulated using InternalMass objects, but there is no geometric accounting for wall thickness.
| | 2 | No.2 Revision |
Wall thickness is not added by EnergyPlus/OS/Sketchup. Walls are 2D in EnergyPlus, so and usually it's more important to have accurate zone/space areas than gross building area. So typically modelers will trace the inside of the exterior wall and the midplane of interior walls such that space/zone area is accurate so any area-dependent gains (lighting/equipment power density, occupant density, etc) are accurate. accurate for the space. It is very common to have 5 - 10% discrepancy between gross building areas listed on the plans and floor areas in the model due to wall thicknesses being omitted.
The mass effects of internal walls and furniture can be simulated using InternalMass objects, but there is no geometric accounting for wall thickness.
