Defining areas

Module(s): Thermal Insulation

You can use the Define Areas tool to define all the surfaces enveloping a building. You can assign components you have already defined as well as attributes, such as inclination or orientation, to these surfaces.

Entering areas using architectural walls

To define areas

1. Click Define Areas (How).
   

   Activate Define Areas in one of the following ways

   • Menu bar: Create Energy Thermal Insulation

   • Palette: Tools Create area in the following module(s):

   Thermal Insulation

2. If you want, you can now modify the parameters of the envelope surfaces.
   Several options are provided on the context toolbar for this.
   

   • Click Properties to set the parameters in a dialog box.
   • Click Match to copy the settings form an existing element.
3. Enter the surface using the polyline entry tools.
4. When you have finished defining the area, you can define and place a label for it on the context toolbar that appears. Use the tools in the Input options and/or status bar to assist you.
   
   

   In the Input options, status bar or dialog line, click

   • Horiz
     to place the label so that it is horizontal
   • Vertic
     to place the label so that it is vertical
   • Angle
     to place the label at an angle
   • Auto
     to automatically adjust the label to the outline of the surface you have selected
   • Size:
     to define a resizing factor for the label
   • Skip
     lets you skip the surface currently selected

Note: When you define another area within an existing area, the latter is cut out automatically. You can use the Reshape Surface Element, Architectural Area tool to modify existing areas.
Moreover, there are tools for splitting or merging areas at a later stage.

If existing areas are deleted completely in this process, these areas are displayed in construction line color for information purposes. Thus, you can define these areas again.

Tip: A factor for individual areas is not provided. If you want to include congruent areas which can only be defined once in elevations (vertical surfaces of dormers, for example), you can copy the areas in question using Copy and Paste.