Monodraught Performance Components ‘Catalogue’ now available in the IES VE-Pro Suite

Leading low energy ventilation and lighting manufacturer Monodraught has partnered with building performance analysis specialist IES to develop a revolutionary approach to modelling natural ventilation systems – Windcatcher Performance Components. This pioneering venture introduces a comprehensive ‘catalogue’ of Monodraught’s systems, available as predefined ‘Performance Components’ for any user of the IES Virtual Environment Suite to access and utilise within their models. Explaining the benefits to architects and consultants, Monodraught business development director Robb Alsem quotes the catalogue’s Windcatcher Performance Components as a unique tool that offers users the ability to easily and accurately explore the viability of natural ventilation as an alternative to conventional HVAC strategies. “Users can now carry out their own assessment of the performance of Monodraught Windcatcher systems within their designs, assess the energy and carbon savings and assure compliance with the associated building regulations and thermal comfort criteria, while significantly reducing the modelling time typically associated with wind tower natural ventilation schemes.” says Alsem. He also stresses that, for the first time, designers can now integrate natural ventilation strategies using quantified performance data that accurately reflects the true performance of the Windcatcher systems within the Virtual Environment. The performance defining characteristics of the systems have been experimentally validated by Monodraught, thus giving users increased confidence in the natural ventilation and hybrid schemes they are designing. “By giving designers real assurance in their design strategy from the simulation data that IES generates, they then have the confidence to specify Monodraught systems at a much earlier stage, thus streamlining the design process.” He adds. The Catalogue contains the full range of Windcatchers – circular, square, oval, X-Air, Heritage etc., which designers can simply drag and drop into their building model. Each Performance Component not only replicates the geometry of the Monodraught system it is portraying, it also incorporates associated construction properties, thermal templates and air flow profiles that define its performance and subsequent impact on the building. The performance and energy savings can then be assessed in an open and transparent process, demonstrating the true capabilities and potential for natural and hybrid ventilation schemes throughout the year. In addition, the shape and authentic textures of the Windcatcher systems offer architects and designers a means of understanding the aesthetics of Monodraught systems and how best to integrate them within a building. Monodraught’s iNVent control system also features as standard to provide an effective control strategy and further reduce the time consuming and often laborious processes associated with modelling a natural ventilation strategy from scratch. “We are giving consultants and architects the tools to design and model comprehensive natural ventilation strategies in the virtual environment – saving both time and money” says Alsem. The full catalogue of Monodraught Windcatchers features as standard in the latest IESVE 2012 release, available now to all new licensees and existing users of the VE-Pro suite. The catalogue is also soon to feature Monodraught’s Cool-Phase low energy ventilation system and the complete Sunpipe range, available as predefined Performance Components for users to drag and drop into their building models. Windcatcher, Sunpipe and Cool-Phase are registered trademarks owned by Monodraught Limited.