Surfaces window
The Surfaces window is used to create and maintain the list of project specific surface properties.
The list of surfaces offered in this window can be synchronised with surfaces directly entered and used in the model, thus all surfaces constituting the component are displayed here also.
The primary use of this window is to prepare lists of surfaces which, in cooperation with other windows, allow significant simplification and acceleration during the input of element properties for space boxes.
Upper part of the window lists surfaces. The bottom part - Surface Editor - allows definition of surface properties.
Important: Changes to surface properties in the project specific surface list do not automatically propagate to properties of construction elements. Applying new surface properties to selected elements must be done explicitly - either by a double-click onto a list item or via a drag-drop operation from the surface list.
Remark: The tab "Std.Surfaces" provides a list of (read only) normative surface properties.
Surface list
A double-click onto a line representing surface in this window results in an assignment of surface properties of selected surface to currently selected space elements (selected from elements list).
Also, by drag-drop operation (by dragging with the mouse), a surface line can be dragged onto element editor window resulting in assignment of surface properties to the element currently shown there.
Surfaces window can be opened either from main menu View→Data Input & Entry→Surfaces or from element editor by a double-click onto surface name, transfer coefficient or resistance input fields.
| Surface list | List of all surface properties entered |
| Double-click left mouse button | Transfer of surface properties of selected material onto currently selected elemen(s) in the element list. |
| Dragging with left mouse button | Transfer of surface properties of dragged surface to space element currently edited in element editor, or: |
| Click right mouse button | Exposes the context menu of surface editing functions. |
| Click left mouse button | Selection of surface from surface list. Properties of selected surface are displayed in Surface Editor for further processing. |
Remark: If there are several elements selected (from element list) then a double-click onto the surface line (or drag-drop of surface line) result in the assignment of surface properties to all selected elements. Such bulk element assignment has to be confirmed by the user. If within selected elements there are some of incompatible type (non space) further user confirmation is requested.
Functions of the context menu
| Add Surface | A new surface is appended at the end of the list. |
| Delete | Deletes selected surface from the list. |
| Synch. from Elements | Executes immediate synchronisation of surface list from properties of all elements currently in the modelled component |
| Autosynch. from Elements | The synchronisation of surface list from properties of all elements in the modelled component will be executed automatically (checkmark is visible) and can be turned on or off here. |
| Pick from Project... | Surfaces saved within another project will be read and appended to the list. |
| Sort Surfaces | Surfaces will be sorted by name and alpha. |
Synchronisation of surface list
The list of surfaces offered in this window can be synchronized (extended) with surfaces currently in use in the modelled component, thus all surfaces used in the model are also displayed. This provides the ability to transfer properties directly entered in element editor to the list and have them at hand as additional entries.
Synchronisation can be explicitly requested from the context menu of the material list ("Synch. from Elements") or will automatically be executed on each element selection change when the application setting "Autosynch. from Elements" is active.
Synchronisation executes by following steps:
- All elements of modelled component are analysed.
- Surface properties of each space element are extracted.
- If no such surface (name, α, Rs) can be found in surface list it is appended to it.
- Surfaces appended during this synchronisation run and appended at the end of the list are sorted alphabetically.
This procedure assures, that entries are retained in the list and only "missing" surfaces will extend it.
Remark: Automatic synchronisation of list contents, if active, occurs on each element selection change. Changes to element properties (in Element Editor) alone do not result in automatic synchronisation yet. Immediate synchronisation can be explicitly requested from the context menu of the surface list ("Synch. from Elements").
Tip: To have the list showing only surfaces actually used in the modelled component delete all surfaces from the list (this can be quickly done with DEL-key) and then request immediate synchronisation from component's elements. Unused surfaces are not removed automatically from the list!
Standardised surface heat transfer coefficients
The tab "Std.Surfaces" provides a list of (read only) normative surface properties (standard values of Rsi and Rse).
You can find these reference values within the description of U-Value calculator.
Important: While assessing heat loss different values must be used within the component model as those for the mould and condensation assessment! That means you will have to adjust respective Rsi and Rse values depending on the assessment type.
See also: Element Editor, Elements 2D, Element list, Surface Editor window