Learn to manage BIM workflows and create professional Archicad templates with the BIM Manager Program.

Sustainable design
About EcoDesigner, Energy Evaluation, Life Cycle Assessment, etc.

Psi value calculation

Miha Nahtigal
Advocate
I am trying to simulate thermal bridge similar to certified slab-wall connection by passive.de

I've attached the detail mentioned above with Psi=-0.2 W/mK

I cannot come close to the certified Psi value using Ecodesigner as thermal bridge simulator. I've tripple checked every value I use and still get weird results from Ecodesigner.

What am I doing wrong here?

Passiv.jpg
BIMquants.comBETA - Quantities and Costs Estimation in Archicad - BETA testers needed.
6 REPLIES 6
Miha Nahtigal
Advocate
Ecodesigner's result - Psi=0,36 W/mK
EcoD.jpg
BIMquants.comBETA - Quantities and Costs Estimation in Archicad - BETA testers needed.
Miha Nahtigal
Advocate
I am attaching my source file to clarify things a bit:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3128804/PsiCoefficient.pln


Could somebody verify my detail and Psi calculation?
Where might be the problem?

Psi value should definitely be negative in this case. Is there a problem with ground that should be calculated as infinite element?
BIMquants.comBETA - Quantities and Costs Estimation in Archicad - BETA testers needed.
Anonymous
Not applicable
I think Psi in Ecodesigner doesn't mean Psi but I don't know what does it mean:D If I move border of detail, I'll get the another Psi value and this is not possible. Can this explain anybody from Graphisoft? I thought It could be thermal transmittance of the whole detail, but it isn't too.
Anonymous
Not applicable
May I ask here about an error?
Why does it happen?
Anonymous
Not applicable
martyl wrote:
I think Psi in Ecodesigner doesn't mean Psi but I don't know what does it mean:D If I move border of detail, I'll get the another Psi value and this is not possible. Can this explain anybody from Graphisoft? I thought It could be thermal transmittance of the whole detail, but it isn't too.
Follow the standards which describe how thermal bridge conductivity is calculated. In case of wall/wall for example you must take 3x thickness of construction as its length in the detail. In case of the floor on ground it is 4 meters or a half of building (the bigger value).
furtonb
Advisor
Vahur wrote:
Follow the standards which describe how thermal bridge conductivity is calculated. In case of wall/wall for example you must take 3x thickness of construction as its length in the detail. In case of the floor on ground it is 4 meters or a half of building (the bigger value).


Hi Vahur,

Could you elaborate a bit more on the standard calculation?
I'm a student of architecture, and I don't have access to standards, and they are a bit pricey for my budget.

I've started looking for reference online, but no luck so far.

According to this post:
https://emu.systems/2015/11/09/thermal-bridges-the-psi-value/

The PSI value accounts for the difference between the simplified 1D heat loss and the simulated 2D loss, if I understand correctly. The PSI value given by ARCHICAD is the L2D in the following equation in the case of a L corner detail:

PSI = L2D - (U1 * L1 + U2 * L2)

And L1 and L2 would be a standardized length?
So the Psi,e and Psi,i values could be calculated with the simulated Psi from ARCHICAD.

Is there an official documentation on this from GRAPHISOFT?
The HelpCenter guide is a bit shallow in this sense.

Anyone to point me in the good direction to put the pieces together?

Thanks!
odv.hu | actively using: AC25-27 INT | Rhino6-8 | macOS @ apple silicon / win10 x64