Surface Filter

The Surface filter allows you to view results that change on a surface by surface basis within a zone. As the result varies depending on the surface, each surface will report a different result.

Please note that to view surface results, the surface must have a Surface Output Specification applied to it in the Building Simulator recording the result in question. Also, the Output Selection must contain the surfaces in question.

A lot of the filters below begin with Internal or External, to help denote which side of the surface they are referring to. While this notation is easy to understand for surfaces on the envelope of the building, it is a bit more complex when we start to talk about internal surfaces. The ‘Internal’ prefix will always refer to side of the surface touching the zone, i.e. the near side surface. The ‘External’ prefix will always refer to the side of the surface facing away from the zone, i.e the far side surface.

Image showing the internal and external side of a surface.

Internal Temperature

The temperature of near side of the surface. Please note that the results will only be displayed if a Surface Output Specification recording temperature is applied to the surface in the Building Simulator.

External Temperature

The temperature of far side of the surface. Please note that the results will only be displayed if a Surface Output Specification recording temperature is applied to the surface in the Building Simulator.

Internal Solar Gain

The amount of solar energy absorbed by the near side of the surface. Please note that the results will only be displayed if a Surface Output Specification recording solar gain is applied to the surface in the Building Simulator, or if the Output Surface Solar Data option is ticked when simulating the Building Simulator file.

External Solar Gain

The amount of solar energy absorbed by the far side of the surface. Please note that the results will only be displayed if a Surface Output Specification recording solar gain is applied to the surface in the Building Simulator, or if the Output Surface Solar Data option is ticked when simulating the Building Simulator file.

Aperture Flow In

The amount of air flowing into the zone through the selected surface. Please note that the results will only be displayed if a Surface Output Specification recording Aperture Data is applied to the surface in the Building Simulator, or if the Output Surface Aperture Data option is ticked when simulating the Building Simulator file.

Aperture Flow Out

The amount of air flowing out the zone through the selected surface. Please note that the results will only be displayed if a Surface Output Specification recording Aperture Data is applied to the surface in the Building Simulator, or if the Output Surface Aperture Data option is ticked when simulating the Building Simulator file.

Internal Condensation

The amount of condensation built up on the near side of the surface. Please note that the results will only be displayed if a Surface Output Specification recording condensation is applied to the surface in the Building Simulator.

External Condensation

The amount of condensation built up on the far side of the surface. Please note that the results will only be displayed if a Surface Output Specification recording condensation is applied to the surface in the Building Simulator.

Interstitial Condensation

The amount of condensation built up within the construction applied to the surface. Please note that the results will only be displayed if a Surface Output Specification recording condensation is applied to the surface in the Building Simulator.

Internal Conduction

The amount of heat transfer through the fabric of the construction. If the value is positive, heat is being transferred from the far side of the surface to the near side. If the value is negative, heat is being transferred from the near side of the surface to the far side. Please note that the results will only be displayed if a Surface Output Specification recording Conduction is applied to the surface in the Building Simulator.

Image showing the direction of internal conduction

External Conduction

The amount of heat transfer through the fabric of the construction. If the value is positive, heat is being transferred from the near side of the surface to the far side. If the value is negative, heat is being transferred from the far side of the surface to the near side. Please note that the results will only be displayed if a Surface Output Specification recording conduction is applied to the surface in the Building Simulator.

Image showing the direction of external conduction

Aperture Opening

The opening area of the surface as a fraction of the total area. I.e. if the window is open 50% of free area, the Aperture opening field will display 0.5. Please note that the results will only be displayed if a Surface Output Specification recording aperture data is applied to the surface in the Building Simulator, or if the Output Surface Aperture Data option is ticked when simulating the Building Simulator file.

Internal Long Wave

The amount of long wave radiation absorbed by the near side of the surface minus the amount of long wave radiation radiated by the surface. Please note that the results will only be displayed if a Surface Output Specification recording long Wave is applied to the surface in the Building Simulator.

External Long Wave

The amount of long wave radiation absorbed by the far side of the surface minus the amount of long wave radiation radiated by the surface. Please note that the results will only be displayed if a Surface Output Specification recording long Wave is applied to the surface in the Building Simulator.

Internal Convection

The amount of energy transferred between the internal air and the near side of the surface. If it is positive, the air is heating the surface. If its negative the surface is heating the air. Please note that the results will only be displayed if a Surface Output Specification recording convection is applied to the surface in the Building Simulator.

External Convection

The amount of energy transferred between the external air and the far side of the surface. If it is positive, the air is heating the surface. If its negative the surface is heating the air. Please note that the results will only be displayed if a Surface Output Specification recording convection is applied to the surface in the Building Simulator.