IEA Annex 30 : bringing simulation to application. Conclusions of subtask 1 : model qualification

From 1995 to 1998, IEA Annex 30 "Bringing Simulation to Application" has been adressing the problem of improving the conditions aiming at a more effective use of building and HVAC simulation among consulting engineers and building practitioners. Therefore, the project gathered both academic research teams and several consulting offices representatives in order to demonstrate, on real Case Studies, what should be done to achieve this goal.
The first Subtask of the IEA Annex 30 was dealing with the most fundamental step appearing in the process of simulation use: qualification of the models implemented in the available simulation tools. The objective of the Subtask was to establish a framework allowing any simulation models developper to provide the necessary information making any simulation model user more confident when using such tools.
To achieve this objective, Subtask 1 was divided in two parts: - a first part dealing with a survey of the available models and data resources useful for building and HVAC
simulation;
- a second part dealing with the development and the application on several examples of "model qualification procedures", which provides the required framework.
The survey action was mainly focussing on the following items: models, meteorological data, internal gains, HVAC and material databases.
The model qualification procedure was first defined as a sequence of operations involving several steps: model documentation, parameters identification, examples of use and sample results, validation (or verification of the models), integration in a data exchange process.
This procedure was applied to several building and HVAC models: building thermal zones, cooling coil, chiller and cooling tower.