The most time-consuming task when preparing a calculation for an energy performance certificate or compliance check, is describing the building with all it’s details.

So, if the same calculation procedure can be used also for design calculations it makes life much easier. Moreover, you ensure that you use compatible definitions and assumptions. For exactly this reason it was decided in 2015 to merge the calculation of the energy cooling load (which was originally intended to be developed as a separate EPB standard under CEN Technical Committee (TC) 156, Ventilation and Cooling) into EN ISO 52016-1 (Calculation of energy needs for heating and cooling and indoor temperatures).

In EN ISO 52016-1 the hourly calculation of the internal temperature, the energy need for heating and cooling and the calculation of the design heating and cooling load all use the same hourly internal temperature calculation. Although aim and outcome of these calculations are different, the calculation methods are identical and use the same inputs, where this makes sense.
Specific assumptions of the calculations may differ, such as the conditions of use and climatic data (design conditions) and (depending on the situation) the thermal zoning of the building.

In EN ISO 52016-1, a distinction is made between a basic cooling/heating load calculation and a system specific cooling/heating load calculation.
For the basic cooling/heating load and energy need calculation, a continuous operation and no power restrictions for the cooling/heating system is assumed, and the emission is assumed to occur purely convective.
For the system specific cooling/heating load and energy need calculation, a limited operation time may be assumed, the available power of the system may be limited, the recoverable losses may be further specified and a convective fraction according to the system intended to be installed can be used.
However, it is very important to note that design is much more than only system sizing.

Other FAQs related to design:

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2022-02-04