Launched earlier this year, TAS Architecture is fast becoming a pre-requisite Part L low carbon tool for UK architectural practices.

Developed by EDSL and distributed by CADline Ltd, the new version of TAS will assist in the development of low carbon compliant designs. Specifically developed to look at the architectural elements of a project, TAS Architecture will identify any potential issues from early concept design. On completion of the architectural analysis, a project can be opened in TAS Engineering to further develop other aspects of the design; such as the HVAC systems. This will allow architects and consulting engineers to take a collaborative approach to achieving efficient designs.

The government has stated that both new builds and refurbishments will have to comply with net zero on CO2 emissions by 2019. The current Part L 2010 regulations saw a 20% reduction in permitted emissions, and 2013 will be similar. This will mean that the fundamental architectural design will have to be sympathetically designed with this in mind, otherwise it will result in the following;

  • Increased rejections from M&E consultants
  • Costly re-designs
  • Re-submission of planning applications
  • Missed project timeframes
  • Client dissatisfaction

Many building systems and services manufacturers are now producing products that can significantly improve energy efficiency in both plant and materials and it will be imperative to model a building’s performance using accurate hourly weather data. If your design systems do not recognise these innovations, it will result in costly over engineered buildings, possibly resulting in the certification being lower in performance characteristics than reality.

If the correct tools are adopted, it will enable practices to legitimise any design decisions to the client with factual performance data. It will ensure the architectural team quickly eliminate inefficient designs from an early concept stage and provide the client with an accurate expectation of a building’s expected performance. With a drive towards greener buildings there is a general industry expectation that companies will acquire the necessary technologies to improve their designs.

Until now, only energy monitoring has been available to decide how to best manage a buildings plant/energy strategy. Being historic data, this method will always be in a catch-up mode. Many companies are interested in adopting technologies that will enable them to accurately look at predictive data to do this (Calibrated Energy Models). This will provide a new revenue stream and ensure energy targets are met.

All government contracts and many commercial companies will require BIM compliance as a pre-requisite in the future. There will be a need to ensure all design products comply with the BIM standards.

TAS addresses all the above issues.

TAS features

Fully accredited software. CO2 emissions compliance check and EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating check. The programme is developed in the UK by EDSL and the engineering version has been available for more than 20 years. It has been widely used by M&E consultants throughout the world. Approved to produce the following official documentation; Part L, BRUKL, Criterion 3 Solar gain studies, EPC’s, ASHRAE.

Easily import BIM Compliant 3D models from Revit or create models within TAS. TAS is fully BIM compliant and utilises the gbXML file format (Green Building Extensible Mark-up Language). This has been adopted by all CAD vendors, as the universal BIM file format. TAS is the only programme that can use gbXML in a practical manner. It can automatically correct any anomalies created during the transfer process, saving hours/days of manual work. The on-board modeller is very easy to use and an ideal tool for creating and testing various options to optimise early concept designs. The programme will shortly have a FOC upgrade to include ‘Lightworks’ for daylight studies and will add the ability to render models.

Early, concept stage compliance checks for Part L2 2010/13. Templates to populate models with compliant constructions and occupation schedules. Without the need for architects to have a detailed knowledge of HVAC systems, TAS has the ability to automatically populate early concept models with notionally compliant systems. This allows the user to test all aspects of the architectural design; it guides the user through a process to quickly run Part L2 checks in a matter of minutes. A similar feature is available for occupation schedules. These can also be altered with real occupation levels for calibrated energy models.

Quickly and easily check for compliance with Criterion 3 solar gain limit. Calculates daylight factors and solar shading studies. The ‘solar gain vs. daylight harvesting’ will be fundamental to new designs for Part L2. TAS will identify areas of concern within seconds moreover it will quickly identify areas where significant cost savings can be made.

TAS Advantages

TAS is extremely fast; on analysis the programme uniquely utilises multi-core processing, which quadruples the speed.

Only TAS has the ability to read external databases, saving hours of typing in material details in. As standard TAS comes with various databases, e.g. the International glazing database and all UK standard construction types, (current and historic). Manufactures databases are also available.

Architectural interface, that’s extremely easy to use; only two days of training is required to be completely conversant.

Data can be exported to TAS engineering for dynamic plant modelling and to Cymap for detailed M&E design.

TAS is independently accredited (not iSBEM), all calculations are dynamic, including plant, therefore no approximations are made and calibrated energy models will be near to the actual performance of the building. TAS is used to determine best use plant strategies.

Complete programme re-write employing the latest algorithms, ensuring standard hardware can be used (ideally multi core Pentium with 8GB Ram).

Uniquely, the core programme does not contain any externally authored code, giving total control over the extensive future development plans.

It is the only programme to have its own modern 3D Modeller with parametric solar shading creation.

TAS engineering employs true dynamic plant modelling, using real plant performance data. This ensures you can achieve compliance with the most cost effective plant solutions, saving £1000’s on a typical project.