H1/VM1

H1/VM1 Modelling on Speckel

Verification Method H1/VM1 is a part of the New Zealand Building Code. It provides a performance-based alternative to meeting the requirements of Clause H1, which specifies the minimum energy efficiency standards that buildings in New Zealand must meet.

Our Verification Method H1/VM1 modelling approach is unique, where the reference building model and reporting are automated. This approach saves significant time and effort, enabling design optimisation to be the focal point. A typical office building is simulated in less than an hour, including simulations and results.

The H1/VM1 Checklist

The following comprehensive review checklists provide a method to verify a model against all H1/VM1 modeling principles, as per Appendix D - Modelling method – Building energy use comparison.

Modelling Principles, Software and Default Values

Clause	Requirement	Yes/No/N/A
D.1.2.1	Are the proposed building and reference building analysed using the same techniques and assumptions?
D.1.2.2	Are the specifications of the proposed building in the analysis as similar as reasonably practicable to the submitted plans?
D.1.2.3	Does the reference building have the same number of storeys, floor area for each storey, orientation, and geometric form as the proposed building?
D.1.2.3	Are the floors that form part of the thermal envelope of the same type in both the reference building and the proposed building?
D.1.2.4.a	Are the wall construction R-value and thermal mass accounted for accurately in both buildings?
D.1.2.4.b	Are the floor construction R-values accounted for accurately in both buildings?
D.1.2.4.c	Are the roof construction R-value and thermal mass accounted for accurately in both buildings?
D.1.2.4.d	Are the window, door, and skylight sizes, orientations, construction R-values, SHGC, and shading devices accounted for accurately?
D.1.2.4.e	Are the heating, cooling, and ventilation plant sizes accounted for accurately in the models?
D.1.2.5	Is it acknowledged that the results of the thermal modeling are not a guarantee of the actual energy use of the building?
D.1.3.1	Does the software pass the ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 140 test or BESTEST as appropriate?
D.1.4.1	Are the default values and schedules from this appendix used unless demonstrated otherwise?
D.1.4.1	Are any modifications to default assumptions used in both the proposed building and the reference building simulations?
D.1.4.2	Are other aspects of the building’s performance, for which no default values are provided, stated and simulated identically for both buildings?
D.1.4.3.a	Are heating, set-points, and schedules modeled identically for both buildings?
D.1.4.3.b	Are cooling, set-points, and schedules modeled identically for both buildings?
D.1.4.3.c	Are ventilation, set-points, and schedules modeled identically for both buildings?
D.1.4.3.d	Are fresh air ventilation, air change rates, and schedules modeled identically for both buildings?
D.1.4.3.e	Are internal gains loads and schedules modeled identically for both buildings?
D.1.4.3.f	Are occupancy loads and schedules modeled identically for both buildings?
D.1.4.3.g	Are the location and R-values of carpets and floor coverings modeled identically for both buildings?
D.1.4.3.h	Is incidental shading modeled identically for both buildings?

Climate and Thermal Zones

Clause	Requirement	Yes/No/N/A
D.1.5.1	Are both the proposed building and the reference building modeled using the same climate data?
D.1.5.1	Is the climate data from a weather station that best represents the climate at the building site?
D.1.5.1	Does the climate data represent an average year for the site, over at least a 10-year period?
D.1.6.1	For multi-unit dwellings, are both buildings divided into separate thermal zones, with each household unit represented by at least one thermal zone?
D.1.6.2	For other buildings, are both buildings divided into separate thermal zones if the software allows?
D.1.6.3	Are spaces with significantly different space conditioning requirements modeled as separate zones?
D.1.6.4	Is the conditioned space divided into a minimum of three thermal zones?
D.1.6.5	Are roof spaces and enclosed subfloor spaces modeled as thermal zones?
D.1.6.6	Does the model represent internal conductive heat flows between thermal zones?
D.1.6.6	Are internal partitions between thermal zones modeled with their location, surface area, pitch, and construction R-value described?
D.1.6.7	Are the same internal partitions modeled in both the proposed building and the reference building?
D.1.6.8	Are internal partitions within a thermal zone, which may affect the thermal performance of the building, modeled?
D.1.6.9	Is airflow between thermal zones modeled, if desired?

Adjoining Spaces, Thermal Mass, Shading and Infiltration

Clause	Requirement	Yes/No/N/A
D.1.7.1	Are building elements that separate adjoining conditioned spaces assumed to have no heat transfer?
D.1.7.2	Are building elements separating conditioned space from adjacent unconditioned space modeled with a construction R-value 0.5 higher than actual and zero solar absorptance?
D.1.8.1	Is the thermal mass modeled either the same for both buildings or as lightweight for the reference building?
D.1.9.1	Is the thermal mass of the contents the same for both models and regarded as zero?
D.1.10.1	Are floor coverings modeled as proposed for both buildings, with ceramic tiles in wet areas and carpet in others if unspecified?
D.1.11.1	Is exterior shading modeled as proposed in the proposed building, but not in the reference building?
D.1.11.2	Is no account taken of internal shading devices like blinds or drapes?
D.1.12.1	Is shading by structures and terrain that affect the building modeled the same way for both buildings?
D.1.12.2	Is no account taken of trees or vegetation for shading?
D.1.13.1	Are infiltration assumptions the same for both buildings and reasonable for the construction, location, and use?

Thermal Envelope

Clause	Requirement	Yes/No/N/A
D.2.1.1	Are all building elements described in terms of surface area, orientation, pitch, and construction R-value, with glazing areas having their SHGC specified?
D.2.1.2	Is the solar absorption of external building elements modeled as proposed in both buildings, or as 0.5 if not specified?
D.2.1.3	When the modeling program calculates and adds its own surface resistances, are the input resistances adjusted by subtracting the standardised surface resistances?
D.2.1.4.a	In the reference building, is any slab-on-ground floor modeled with a construction type from Tables F.1.2.2A to F.1.2.2X, meeting or exceeding the minimum R-value?
D.2.1.4.b	In the proposed building, does any slab-on-ground floor with embedded heating systems meet the construction R-value in Table 2.1.2.2A?
D.2.2.1	If the glazing area in the proposed building is more than 30% of the total wall area, is the glazing area of the reference building 30% of the total wall area?
D.2.2.2	If the glazing areas in the proposed and reference buildings are different, is the glazing area in the reference building either distributed evenly or resized proportionally?
D.2.3.1	In the reference building, is the skylight area set to zero?
D.2.4.1.a	In the reference building, does the opaque door area that is no more than either 6 m² or 6% of the total wall area have the same or higher construction R-value as the reference building windows?
D.2.4.1.b	In the reference building, does any remaining opaque door area have the same construction R-value as the reference building wall?

Space Conditioning and Internal Loads

Clause	Requirement	Yes/No/N/A
D.3.1.1	For housing, is a minimum temperature of 18°C and a maximum temperature of 25°C modeled, with natural ventilation at 24°C if outdoor air temperature is lower?
D.3.1.1	For housing, is the ventilation rate reasonable for the available venting area and the same for both the proposed and reference buildings?
D.3.1.2	For buildings other than housing, is a minimum temperature of 18°C and a maximum temperature of 25°C from 8am to 6pm, five days a week, modeled unless otherwise justified?
D.3.2.1	Is the fresh air ventilation rate and schedule the same for both the proposed and reference buildings?
D.3.2.1.a	For housing, is the minimum fresh air ventilation rate 0.5 air changes per hour?
D.3.2.1.b	For other buildings, is the minimum fresh air ventilation rate as specified in NZS 4303?
D.3.3.1	Is the calculation of annual loads for space heating and cooling done without simulating equipment, or is it the same for both buildings if simulated?
D.4.1.1	If lighting is modeled, is it the same for both the proposed building and the reference building?
D.4.2.1	For domestic hot water, is the power density for an internal cylinder either ignored or the default value from Table D.5.1.1 used?
D.4.3.1.a	Are default values for heat release from occupants and plug loads used for housing as specified in Table D.5.1.2A?
D.4.3.1.b	Are default values for heat release from occupants and plug loads used for communal residential as specified in Table D.5.1.2B?
D.4.3.1.c	Are default values for heat release from occupants and plug loads used for communal non-residential assembly care as specified in Table D.5.1.2C?
D.4.3.1.d	Are default values for heat release from occupants and plug loads used for commercial buildings as specified in Table D.5.1.2D?
D.4.3.2	Are these default values used unless other suitable parameters specific to the building’s use are shown to be more appropriate?
D.4.3.3	Are unconditioned spaces assigned zero internal gains?
D.4.4.1	Are process loads defined as those heat loads that result from the production of goods within a building?
D.4.4.2	Are process loads modeled only if they are significant and will continue for the expected life of the building, and are they the same in both buildings?

Reference Building and Documentation

Clause	Requirement	Yes/No/N/A
D.5.1.1	Are the default power densities for internal gains from occupants and plug loads used as specified in Table D.5.1.1?
D.5.1.2.a	Are the default schedules for occupancy and plug loads for housing used as specified in Table D.5.1.2A?
D.5.1.2.b	Are the default schedules for occupancy and plug loads for communal residential used as specified in Table D.5.1.2B?
D.5.1.2.c	Are the default schedules for occupancy and plug loads for communal non-residential assembly care used as specified in Table D.5.1.2C?
D.5.1.2.d	Are the default schedules for occupancy and plug loads for commercial buildings used as specified in Table D.5.1.2D?
D.6.1.1.a	Does the documentation of computer modeling analysis include the name of the modeler?
D.6.1.1.b	Does the documentation include the thermal modeling program name, version number, and supplier?
D.6.1.1.c	Does the documentation include technical detail on the proposed building and reference building designs and their differences?
D.6.1.1.d	Does the documentation include the sum of the heating load and cooling load for the proposed building and reference building?
D.6.1.1.e	Where possible, does the documentation include the separate heating load and cooling load for the proposed building and the reference building?