OpenBuildings Designer

What's New Highlights for OpenBuildings™ Designer 2023 ( v23.00.00.xx )

Install via CONNECTION Client:

If you have any earlier version of AECOsim Building Designer or OpenBuildings Designer CONNECT Edition already installed on your computer, you can download and install OpenBuildings Designer 2023 from the CONNECTION Client, then OpenBuildings Designer 2023 will be advertised as an update from the CONNECTION Client. However, It will NOT replace any earlier versions of the product and install it as a separate instance of OpenBuildings with the root directories C:\Program Files\Bentley\OpenBuildings 2023\OpenBuildingsDesigner and C:\ProgramData\Bentley\OpenBuildings 2023.

Sign into the CONNECTION Client to view and apply your Application updates. If needed, please refer to the CONNECTION Client help for more information on installing the update.

Get OpenBuildings Designer 2023:

Open https://softwaredownloads.bentley.com/en/ProductDetails/1934 in any browser and sign in.
Click Download to download OpenBuildings Designer 2023 x64 version 23.00.00.xx.

Note: Important installation requirements and notices are found in the Readme.

General Updates :

Rebranding from OpenBuildings™ Designer CONNECT Edition to OpenBuildings™ Designer 2023
- Since brand is an integral part of the application identity, rebranding OpenBuildings Designer CONNECT Edition to OpenBuildings Designer 2023 results in several changes to the default installation directories, registry entries, executables and many other aspect of the application. References to 'CONNECT Edition' were replaced with '2023' which refers to current year. The OpenBuildings 2023 rebranding does not impact or change the Building Information Modeling feature set available in the product, and is both the next update release and successor to OpenBuildings Designer CONNECT Edition Update 10.1. OpenBuildings Designer CE and OpenBuildings Designer 2023 can coexist on the same computer, please refer installer update, side-by-side installation wiki.

Integrated MicroStation 2023.1
- It includes updates from MicroStation 2023.1.

Security Improvements
- This release also includes the latest OpenBuildings Designer and MicroStation security improvements. The details will be found in our advisory page website located in our Trust Center here https://www.bentley.com/trust-center .

IFC-SG mapping and parameters available with Singapore dataset
- This release includes IFC-SG mapping and parameters included as Dataset Extensions and enabled with Singapore dataset with a configuration variable.

Installer Update :

Side-by-side Installation allows you to adopt OpenBuildings Designer 2023 without upgrading your current installation of OpenBuildings Designer CONNECT Edition mid-project. For more information regarding configurations, please refer to the side-by-side installation.

Note: If you already have a previous version of OpenBuildings Designer on your machine, OpenBuildings Designer 2023 will install as a separate application.

Usability and Productivity Enhancements:

Usability and the overall user experience in OpenBuildings is a key focus for our team. The following usability improvements were implemented:

Enabling the correct options for DWG Save-As.
OpenBuildings Designer now supports Reading/Writing and saving to the RealDWG 2024 file format.
Establishing reference link on copying/importing Saved view from another model.
Improved results in IFC 2x3 export for revolving solids.
Improvements in Graphical column schedule seeds for generating reports.
Define consistent value for tolerance in Cached visible edges.
Drawing production improvements included to produce reliable outputs for cached visible edge tolerance, structural re-symbolization for hidden lines.
Parametric cell support in Catalog Editor for Windows.
Consistency in RFA wizard in context with component center workflow.
Improvements in exporting ProStructures element to CIS/2 file format.
ECS axes updating according to steel elements on mirroring.

Performance Improvements:

OpenBuildings Energy Simulator menu loading times.

Energy Simulator Updates:

United Kingdom Part L SBEM (Simplified Building Energy Model) requirements:
- All SBEM requirements and testing of models required for accreditation have been completed. Once OpenBuildings Designer 2023 has been released, the product will be submitted for accreditation to the appropriate governing bodies in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
- Due to security protocols Bentley Systems does not deliver the Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM) software with install. In order to run Part L functionality successfully, users will need to download the appropriate version of iSBEM (through the UK's National Calculation Method (UK NCM) at https://www.uk-ncm.org.uk/disclaimer.jsp. A complete guide to install the required version can be referred here.
TM 52
CIBSE TM52, developed by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, focuses on assessing thermal comfort in buildings. It provides guidelines and methodologies for analyzing and improving occupants' comfort in non-domestic buildings. With its integration into OpenBuildings Energy Simulator (OpenBuildings), users can now leverage TM52's thermal comfort analysis within the simulation capabilities of the software.

In Simulation report - Simulation method, the tree list includes "temperature frequency" reports for TM52 which includes options to set room temperature limit, temperature frequency schedule report and CIBSE TM52 overheating criterion 1,2 and 3 for room reports.
Delete roof section functionality enhanced to remove more than one roof sections and roof lights at a time.
Improvements in following tools:
- Part L 2021 SBEM engine upgrade to accommodate Scotland & Wales calculations.
- Part L 2021 updated to display reference building in Jersey regulation result.
- CIBSE Heat Gain summary and full reports corrected to display design day.
- Dry & Wet bulb temperatures in CIBSE Maxi Gain, Airflow & Summer temperature calculation.
- Error fixed for HVAC Manager plant data fuel type.
- Weather Data: Updated to show correct longitude for Malta location.
- Improved logic to restrict creation of shading with the same shape in a project.