SA-12-C018 -- Beyond the Shoebox : Zoning Approaches for Unusual Building Shapes

Current architectural trends as well as advanced building information modeling (BIM) software facilitate the design and construction of buildingforms that go far beyond the typical shoebox models commonly used for energy simulation. ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G provides twodimensionalguidelines for how to model thermal zones in buildings where HVAC systems and zones have not yet been designed. What is the bestway to zone unusual three-dimensional shapes that present issues beyond what is covered in the ASHRAE guidelines? This paper will examinethis question and determine the impact on energy model outputs by studying 3 different unusually shaped buildings of 2 different building use typesin 4 different climate zones. Several zoning approaches beyond the ASHRAE guidelines will be simulated and compared using DOE-2simulation engine and TMY2 climate data.