FenestraPro Envelope Analysis: Enhancing Shading Design
A key consideration in optimizing the design of a building’s envelope is it’s solar shading strategies. This is where FenestraPro Envelope Analysis comes into play, particularly our new shading functionality. Offering seamless integration with Autodesk Forma platform, Envelope Analysis now provides an intuitive tool to assess shading impacts on their building envelope during the early stages of design to make informed design decisions.
Why is Shading Important?
Shading systems play a critical role in regulating the amount of solar heat and natural light that enters a building. Properly designed shading not only enhances the building’s energy performance by reducing heating and cooling loads, but also contributes to occupant comfort. Without adequate shading, buildings can suffer from excessive solar heat gain in summer, causing high energy demands for cooling, or insufficient daylight, leading to higher artificial lighting needs.
Shading in Envelope Analysis
FenestraPro’s shading analysis functionality integrates directly with Autodesk Forma, providing real-time feedback to designers about the impact of shading elements on the building envelope. By analyzing impacts of shading, the solar exposure, and daylight penetration, FenestraPro allows designers to test and optimize shading designs early in the project.
FenestraPro uses detailed solar radiation analysis to highlight areas of the building envelope that are most exposed to the sun, and shows percentage of sunlight hours shaded by surrounding buildings or shading devices on each facade as annual average values, or month to month values. Designers can then implement various shading solutions, such as overhangs or louvers, and immediately see how those changes affect the building’s energy performance.
Benefits of the Shading Functionality
The key advantage of FenestraPro’s shading functionality is its ability to optimize shading early in the design process. By using real-time environmental data, the tool helps architects achieve solar control while maintaining sufficient daylight for occupant comfort. This translates into energy savings, lower operational costs, and reductions in carbon intensity.
FenestraPro Envelope Analysis for Forma, with its powerful shading analysis tools, equips designers with the necessary insights to design high-performance, energy-efficient buildings. By integrating shading strategies at the conceptual stage, designers can strike the perfect balance between aesthetics, comfort, and environmental impact.
Try it for FREE on the Forma App Store!
