Construction Layer Properties

The Properties For: [surface type]: Layering: [construction] dialog opens from a room surface from the OpenBuildings Energy Simulator Project Tree's pop-up menu.

It contains controls used to view building construction layers and material properties.

Property heading	Properties
Layers	Layers are listed in order from the inside space to the outside on the left side of the dialog box. Each layer contains a list of physical and thermal properties data. Click the arrow buttons to show and hide the physical and thermal properties data specified for each layer. Constructions have the following physical and thermal properties: Thickness — The total thickness of the material layer. Density — The material density or mass per unit volume. Conductivity — The property of a material that indicates its ability to conduct heat. Specific heat — The amount of heat required to change a material's temperature by a given amount. Vapor resistivity — The time and pressure needed to force a unit amount of water vapor through the material layer.
Graphical display	Construction layers are graphically represented in order from the inside space to the outside. Thicknesses are displayed proportionally with the full construction fitting into the graphical display area. Inside/Outside — For constructions with wall set as the default usage, the two labels indicate which side of the construction is the inside and the outside. Layer number one is always towards the inside. Top/Bottom — For constructions with ceiling or floor set as the default usage, the two labels indicate which side of the construction is the top (inside space) and the bottom (outside space). Layer number one is always towards the top. Layer number — Layers are labeled with a number that corresponds to its order in the construction. Changes to the order also update the numbering. Dimension — Construction thickness is displayed with the dimension, and is used as a reference. Changes to layers and new layers as well as changes in units update this dimension. Layer component information — Material and thickness is displayed in a pop up tool tip when the pointer is positioned over a layer. Graphical layer component select — Activate the layer in the layers list by clicking on the layer graphics. Right click option - flip orientation — Right click on a layer to rotate the construction 90 degrees.

Property heading

Properties

Layers

Layers are listed in order from the inside space to the outside on the left side of the dialog box. Each layer contains a list of physical and thermal properties data. Click the arrow buttons to show and hide the physical and thermal properties data specified for each layer.

Constructions have the following physical and thermal properties:

Thickness — The total thickness of the material layer.
Density — The material density or mass per unit volume.
Conductivity — The property of a material that indicates its ability to conduct heat.
Specific heat — The amount of heat required to change a material's temperature by a given amount.
Vapor resistivity — The time and pressure needed to force a unit amount of water vapor through the material layer.

Graphical display

Construction layers are graphically represented in order from the inside space to the outside. Thicknesses are displayed proportionally with the full construction fitting into the graphical display area.

Inside/Outside — For constructions with wall set as the default usage, the two labels indicate which side of the construction is the inside and the outside. Layer number one is always towards the inside.
Top/Bottom — For constructions with ceiling or floor set as the default usage, the two labels indicate which side of the construction is the top (inside space) and the bottom (outside space). Layer number one is always towards the top.
Layer number — Layers are labeled with a number that corresponds to its order in the construction. Changes to the order also update the numbering.
Dimension — Construction thickness is displayed with the dimension, and is used as a reference. Changes to layers and new layers as well as changes in units update this dimension.
Layer component information — Material and thickness is displayed in a pop up tool tip when the pointer is positioned over a layer.
Graphical layer component select — Activate the layer in the layers list by clicking on the layer graphics.
Right click option - flip orientation — Right click on a layer to rotate the construction 90 degrees.