HVAC Design Data for 80 Australian Locations covered by the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
The information or advise contained in this website is intended for use only by persons who have had adequate technical training in the field of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system design. This website has been compiled as an aid only and the information or advice should be verified before it is put to use by any person. the user should also establish the applicability of the information or advice in relation to any specific circumstances. While the information or advise is believed to be correct, the author Eric Laurentius Peterson, and his employer The University of Queensland, disclaim responsibility for any inaccuracies contained within the document including those due to any negligence in the preparation and publication of this website. Those using this website are advised that it was developed as a repository of supporting on-line material in relation to the paper submitted to the Australian Institute of Refrigeration and Heating Inc. (AIRAH). Users this website are asked to read the paper, "Developing HVAC Design Conditions for Australian Locations with Hourly Meteorological Data" by Eric Laurentius Peterson and J. Ben Liley delivered with powerpoint slides at AIRAH's The Future of HVAC conference, convened at Docklands, Melbourne, 13th & 14th August 2013 , exploring the changes, ideas and innovations that are driving our industry's future.
The NatHERS climate files 2012 Reference Meterological Year (RMY) was compiled from BoM raw climate data and then used to complete a typical year for every NatHERS climate zone in Australia. These NatHERS climate files (A-weighted TMT2A) were then processed with the EnergyPlus Weather Utility to generate the files found in the Table below "EPW & ASHRAE 2009 DDY". The Commonwealth of Australia as represented by the Department of Industry and Science (the Commonwealth) has developed NatHERS Reference Meteorological Year (RMY) climate files for 2012. The files are compiled from Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) raw climate data and then used to complete a typical year for every NatHERS climate zone in Australia. These latest files will be included in future versions of NatHERS accredited software as determined by the NatHERS National Administrator. NatHERS RMY files were provided for research purposes and NatHERS nationwide household energy rating scheme assessors do not currently use these for regulatory purposes. NatHERS RMY files were developed for residential building ratings and users should make their own decision on their suitability for other uses. The NatHERS 2012 RMY data files are publicly funded data provided by the Commonwealth of Australia, and no person or entity may charge for its supply or use. Meanwhile the Commonwealth of Australia, The University of Queensland, and NIWA have exercised reasonable care and skill in the preparation and collation of the data files, the data is supplied on an “as is” basis, without warranty of any kind. The Commonwealth of Australia, The University of Queensland, and NIWA New Zealand accept no liability for any direct, indirect, special or consequential damages, loss, damage or cost arising from and relating to any use of the data and/or the information associated with it.
Design data for HVAC has been developed by The University of Queensland in collaboration with New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) in a major revision of the NatHERS climate data files for the Commonwealth Department of Resources, Energy & Tourism (DRET).
Design data have been distilled from 45 years of hourly meteorological records to represent design conditions that are exceeded only under exceptionally circumstances. The design data are temperature, humidity, and solar radiation coincident with extreme events is required for calculation of peak thermal loads of the built environment. These data are essential to the design of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Requests from industry have been made over recent years for Commonwealth Government assistance to update the design conditions currently published in AIRAH DA09 Application Manual. The AIRAH data was originally developed by the Commonwealth during the 1970s and 1980s, but is now suspected to be out-of-date due to climate change and urban heat island effects.
A contract was established with The University of Queensland to develop (in consultation with NIWA) up-to-date design data to suit contemporary needs within the Australian context. The project is being treated as an opportunity to better understand a range of important issues in order to inform future work and to allow for expanded data extraction for the benefit of industry.
This is not an accepted revision of DA9, but an on-line repository of draft design data seeking industry comment. Please email e DOT peterson AT uq.edu.au directly with any issues you may have. We are particularly interested in learning what tools, software, and methodology your organization uses to estimate heating, and air-conditioning loads. We also would like to understand your approach to load estimating at locations that are not near airports. How to you approach coastal and mountain sites? The attached powerpoint illustrates a demountable classroom modelled at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport useing the new design data. The attached word document provides metadata description of the new design data. The attached pdf provides the Commonwealth's rationale for this work.
ACDB Table 1 This is a summary of all 80 ACDB Zones set out in style of AIRAH DA9 Table 1 (including Option 1 and 2 with mean coincidence dry/wet bulbs).
ACDB Table 2 This is a summary of all 80 ACDB Zones compares the "Option 1" Design Dry Bulb to ASHRAE-style DDB (0.4%, 1% & 2%) and local climate change.
ACDB Table 3 This is a summary of all 80 ACDB Zones compares the "Option 2" Design Wet Bulb to ASHRAE-style DDB (0.4%, 1% & 2%) and local climate change.
Powerpoint Demonstrating ACDB Zone 61 Tullamarine Airport Data used in Program CAMEL at Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works Project Services.
Spreadsheet Details of 80 ACDB Zone basestations.
Word Doc Draft Methodology Paper for consultation.
PDF Development of current Design Condition Data for use in Load Estimation & Analysis "Summary of project progress and industry consultation findings" by Ian Swain, Department of Resources, Energy & Tourism May 2013 (Commonwealth DRET's motivation for commissioning this work to be delivered by the Consortium of The University of Queensland and NIWA)
Tables summarize data at ACDB Zone basestations. Dry "Option 1" design DB file. Wet "Option 2" design WB file. "Design Values" CR design file.
