HVAC-informed Thermal Zoning for BIM2BEM Transformation

Abstract: Building Energy Modelling (BEM) extends performance evaluation beyond direct monitoring. Integrating BEM with Building Information Models (BIM), called BIM2BEM, streamlines energy performance analyses. However, strict one-to-one geometric correspondence often results in unnecessary complexity, inflating computational costs without significantly improving accuracy. This study proposes an HVAC-informed thermal zoning approach within BIM2BEM workflow, integrating geometry processing, HVAC topology establishment, zoning scenario generation, and model simplification, thereby automating simplified BEM generation. Its effectiveness is demonstrated by applying it to a complex building. The results indicate that different zoning routines can minimise the risk of overestimating building energy requirements and oversizing HVAC systems.