What information does your architect need to enter?

The time it takes to input information into the PHPP depends on the amount of information available and the experience of the person using the software. If it is to give the most accurate results possible, the PHPP will usually require the following information (note that intelligent Building Information Modeling often helps to pull out a lot of this information):

Building description: Is it residential or commercial? What is its external volume? Climate data: This is given by selecting the most appropriate region from a drop-down list U Values: This covers material layers and thermal conductivities, material thicknesses and surface resistance

Areas: Treated Floor Areas (TFA) on a room-by-room or whole-floor basis

Ground: Perimeter/area ratios (P/A) and U values of floor

Components: Are the windows and doors double or triple glazed? What are the specifications of the frames and glazing?

Shading: Its location, size, and distance from the building

Ventilation: System sizing, volume (TFA x 2.5m), air test volume and air pressure test result Heating: The software uses the standard calculation procedure for heating load employed by Passivhaus and others, sometimes called ‘the monthly method’

In addition to the above, overheating calculations, domestic hot water, electricity and auxiliary electricity (appliances, lighting, cooking), Primary Energy value and boiler information (fuel source, boiler size and efficiency), will also need accounting for.