DEAP Version 3.1.

0 release notes

August 2010

Release Notes for Version 3.1.0 of DEAP

August 2010
Contents:
1 About DEAP 2 Summary of changes from DEAP v3.0.1 to DEAP v3.1.0 2 2

3 Compatibility of DEAP V3.1.0 with earlier versions of DEAP 3 4 Installing DEAP V3.1.0 .4.1 Downloading DEAP .4.2 Installation .4.3 Launching DEAP V3.1.0 5 Further Details on New DEAP V3.1.0 Features .5.1 .5.2 .5.3 .5.4 .5.5 .5.6 .5.7 .5.8 Uploading assessments to NAS Viewing NYP ratings using DEAP Downloading assessments from NAS directly to DEAP Working on lower screen resolutions TGD L 2008 reporting Mandatory data requirement TGD L 2008 section 1.3.2.3 Table 4 Water Heating Efficiency Adjustment Factor 3 3 4 6 7 7 9 9 11 13 13 14 16 17 17

6 Terms and Conditions 7 Contact Information

This document relates to DEAP Version 3.1.0 only. DEAP Version 3.1.0 is the most current version of DEAP software. This version of the software must be used when generating Building Energy Rating (BER) files for uploading to the National Administration System. Version 3.1.0 may be installed as a direct replacement for the previous versions (V3.0.0 or V3.0.1). Assessment records from V3.0.0 and V3.0.1 of DEAP can be transferred to V3.1.0 using the instructions in this document. 1

DEAP Version 3.1.0 release notes

August 2010

This document details the contents of the download package, new features in this version of DEAP and also includes install instructions. This document MUST be read in full prior to installing DEAP V3.1.0.

1 About DEAP
The Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure (DEAP) is the official procedure for calculating Building Energy Ratings (BERs) for dwellings in Ireland, as required under the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations, 2006 (S.I. No. 666 of 2006). The DEAP software is a tool for using this methodology to generate BERs. Under Technical Guidance Document (TGD) L to the Building Regulations 2008, DEAP is the method used to show that CO2 emissions, energy usage, fabric insulation levels and level of renewable energy technologies all meet the requirements set out in TGD L 2008. Likewise, under TGD L to the Building Regulations 2005, DEAP is the method used to show that CO2 emissions and fabric insulation levels meet the requirements set out in TGD L 2005. DEAP is not used to demonstrate conformity with other provisions for dwellings in TGD L to Building Regulations 2005 and 2008, such as thermal bridging, air infiltration, heating controls, insulation of plumbing and ducting services. DEAP can also be used to assess existing dwellings. Guidance in the DEAP manual gives further information on this process.

2 Summary of changes from DEAP v3.0.1 to DEAP v3.1.0

The primary new features in DEAP v3.1.0 are as shown in the following table.
Change Direct assessment upload to NAS Direct assessment download from NAS TGD L 2008 report Fixed errors on DEAP detailed report output Compatibility for Windows 7 and 64 bit Windows applications Works on smaller low resolution screens TGD L 2008 1.3.2.3 accounted for Table 4 lookup: water heating efficiency adjustment factor DEAP download file size decreased Additional fields marked as being mandatory for NAS acceptance Description BER Assessors can now upload BER assessments directly to NAS from DEAP. BER Assessors can now download BER assessments directly from NAS to DEAP (provided they are downloading a BER assessment which they had already published). DEAP now generates a report which provides summary information on the dwelling, its features and its level of conformance with TGD L 2008. The DEAP detailed report previously did not reflect information on solar water heating systems present in the dwelling. Other typographical errors have been fixed also. Microsoft Excel output report option has been updated to reflect the other report formats. DEAP is now designed to run on PCs with 64 bit or 32 bit operating systems. Windows 7 compatibility has been added to the existing Windows Vista and XP compatibility. All DEAP screens and fields are now accessible on screen resolutions from 800x600 and above. For TGD L 2008 conformance checking, DEAP now allows the user to meet the area weighted average elemental U-value (Um) requirements of opaque elements using TGD L 2008 section 1.3.2.3. When using the Table 4 lookup function under the DEAP Distribution System Losses and Gains tab, if space heating also supplies DHW is not selected, then the water heating efficiency adjustment value is not changed by this lookup when apply is clicked. The DEAP application download file is significantly smaller when compared to previous versions of DEAP. DEAP checks that all mandatory fields required for NAS contain data prior to upload.

DEAP Version 3.1.0 release notes

August 2010

3 Compatibility of DEAP V3.1.0 with earlier versions of DEAP

DEAP V3.1.0 can import XMLs from the following previous versions of DEAP:

DEAP V2.1.2 DEAP V3.0.0 DEAP V3.0.1

DEAP V3.1.0 can be installed directly onto a PC which already has DEAP V3.0.0 or DEAP V3.0.1 installed.

4 Installing DEAP V3.1.0

DEAP V3.1.0 includes the following: Setup - setup application for the DEAP software this is the file which must be clicked when installing DEAP V3.1.0. _Installation data - This is part of the install package for the DEAP software and should not be clicked during the DEAP V3.1.0 installation process; The current version of the DEAP manual (October 2008); This release notes document. The recommended system requirements are as follows: 256MB of RAM 200MB of available hard disk space Monitor that supports 800 x 600 resolution or higher Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0 or later Windows XP SP2 or later or Windows Vista or Windows 7 32 bit or 64 bit PC

.4.1 Downloading DEAP

The DEAP download is available under http://www.seai.ie/Your_Building/EPBD/DEAP/Download/. Before downloading the software, please read the terms and conditions shown. Once you have accepted these, enter your email address and click the Download button. The download is approximately 8 MB. The first option you will be presented with is Do you want to Run or Save this file?". Please select Save as it will then allow you to select the destination folder on your computer in which you would like to save the DEAP310ZIP.exe file. The default location is the PC desktop. After running the downloaded file, unzip the installation files in the download by selecting unzip. Once the unzip process has finished please click "Close". To proceed with the installation, go to the extracted folder located on the PC desktop.

DEAP Version 3.1.0 release notes

August 2010

.4.2 Installation
Installing DEAP V3.1.0 does not require uninstalling previously installed versions of DEAP. Before installation of DEAP V3.1.0, ensure that the PC is connected to the internet and that there are no instances of the DEAP software open on the PC. The time required for the installation to complete will vary based on the speed of the PC and the internet connection bandwidth available. To commence the installation, click on the setup icon as per the following diagram:

Depending on the PC operating system, the installation may request permission for the installation to proceed. To allow the installation to proceed, select Yes.

Depending on files already installed on the operating system, DEAP V3.1.0 installation may request to install .NET Framework 3.5 as shown below. This must be accepted for the DEAP installation to proceed. If this screen does not popup it means that the PC already has the correct .NET Framework version installed for DEAP V3.1.0 to run on the PC and requires no further action for this step on the part of the user.

DEAP Version 3.1.0 release notes

August 2010

Select Next to continue with the installation.

The installation process will display the default folder in which DEAP is installed. The location of this folder is dependent on the operating system. Select Next to proceed with the installation.

Once the installation is finished, select Close.

DEAP Version 3.1.0 release notes

August 2010

.4.3 Launching DEAP V3.1.0

DEAP V3.1.0 is launched from the SEAI DEAP III icon on the PC desktop or from within the PC start menu. Where DEAP V3.1.0 is first being launched on a PC on which DEAP V3.0.0 or DEAP V3.0.1 were previously installed, then DEAP offers to upgrade the DEAP database in which records from the previous version of DEAP are held. Selecting Upgrade as shown below allows this to proceed. At this stage, DEAP V3.1.0 is ready for use on the PC. This upgrade will only occur the first time DEAP V3.1.0 is launched on the PC.

This database upgrade will not be required on subsequent uses of DEAP V3.1.0.

DEAP Version 3.1.0 release notes

August 2010

5 Further Details on New DEAP V3.1.0 Features .5.1 Uploading assessments to NAS
DEAP allows BER Assessors to log into the NAS from within DEAP. However, as well as performing the BER/MPRN search on NAS, you can upload ratings to NAS from within DEAP V3.1.0.

XML files can be exported locally to the users PC network. In addition to this, once logged in using your BER Assessor number and NAS password the completed rating can be uploaded directly to NAS.

As the upload is processed by NAS, the following window appears1 (asking that the user waits for NAS to complete processing).

Users of Internet Explorer 7 or earlier may experience difficulty with the webservices in DEAP and are advised to upgrade to Internet Explorer 8 in the event of any difficulty using the following link: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/default.aspx

DEAP Version 3.1.0 release notes

August 2010

The following window is then shown along with any NAS validation rules appropriate to the uploaded assessment.

The BER Assessor may then choose to either: 1) Publish the rating. This is only to be done once the BER Assessor has followed all the relevant requirements for publishing a rating. 2) Discard the rating. 3) View NYP (Not Yet Published) ratings. The newly uploaded rating is included in this list unless it is published or discarded. 4) Close the window (which leaves the newly uploaded rating as NYP).

DEAP Version 3.1.0 release notes

August 2010

.5.2 Viewing NYP ratings using DEAP

Once logged into DEAP, it is possible for the BER Assessor to view any NYP ratings that the BER Assessor may haves using the NYP Screen (NAS) option in DEAP V3.1.0:

.5.3 Downloading assessments from NAS directly to DEAP

As was the case in DEAP V3.0.0 and V3.0.1, DEAP users can import XML assessment files stored on the users local network. In addition to this the registered BER Assessor can download assessments directly from NAS to DEAP provided that the following conditions are met: 1) The BER Assessor is logged into NAS from within DEAP using their BER Assessor number; 2) The rating they wish to download was uploaded under the same BER Assessor number; 3) The rating is published. To download the rating using a 9 digit BER assessment number select Import or Download and choose the Download from NAS option:

Secondly, the rating can be found using the MPRN lookup facility and then downloaded (provided the conditions above are met):

DEAP Version 3.1.0 release notes

August 2010

The other option for downloading ratings directly from NAS is using the BER number validation facility in DEAP:

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DEAP Version 3.1.0 release notes

August 2010

.5.4 Working on lower screen resolutions

DEAP now allows all areas of the DEAP screens to be visible on screen resolutions as low as 800x600. This is generally done using slider bars such as the following:

In addition, the menu and more options sections in DEAP can be expanded or minimised by the user as the need arises:

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DEAP Version 3.1.0 release notes

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DEAP Version 3.1.0 release notes

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.5.5 TGD L 2008 reporting

As well as the detailed report, DEAP now allows the user to generate a report specifically for the purposes of TGD L 2008 compliance demonstration. The report is accessed under Detailed Report by selecting Part L Specification and clicking Generate on the reporting screen:

The TGD L 2008 report can be output as a PDF, Microsoft Word document or Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. It consists of the following information: Name and address details for the client; Summary information for the property, assessment and BER Assessor; Details of dwelling dimensions, ventilation parameters, building elements and heating system; Details from the Building Regulation Part L 2008 Conformance screen in DEAP. TGD L 2005 conformance demonstration is not supported in this report. An extra field called Total compliance with Part L in DEAP. This field is set to Pass when each of the following conditions are met: o All of the Conformity with Maximum Avg U-value requirements values are Pass or are met using TGD L 2008 Section 1.3.2.3 as outlined below; o All of the Conformity with Maximum U-value requirements are Pass; o EPC is Pass; o CPC is Pass; o Overall renewables requirement is Pass. Note that this field does not indicate that other requirements in TGD L 2008 have been complied with.

.5.6 Mandatory data requirement

DEAP checks that the relevant fields for NAS are filled out on export/upload. Note that this check now includes the relevant data in the solar water heating tab where solar water heating is present in the dwelling. Included in this requirement are the Solar panel manufacturer and Solar panel model fields. While these fields do not directly influence the numerical fields related to solar panels in DEAP (such as aperture area and zero loss collector efficiency), BER Assessors are advised to fill these fields out as follows: Where the Solar panel manufacturer and model name are available, these fields should be filled out with that information. Where the manufacturer/model are unknown and the solar panels are evacuated tubes, then the text unknown evacuated tube should be entered in each of these fields. 13

DEAP Version 3.1.0 release notes

August 2010

Where the manufacturer/model are unknown and the solar panels are glazed flat plate, then the text unknown flat plate, glazed should be entered in each of these fields. Where the manufacturer/model are unknown and the solar panels are unglazed flat plate, then the text unknown flat plate, unglazed should be entered in each of these fields.

.5.7 TGD L 2008 section 1.3.2.3

DEAP now caters for dwellings which are to comply with TGD L 2008 which are not meeting the values required in Table 1 column 2 of TGD L 2008 for Area Weighted Average Elemental U-value (Um). In this case, TGD L 2008 Section 1.3.2.3 can be used to allow compensation between walls, floors and roofs which do not meet the requirements in Table 1, Column 2. The technical detail related to this is shown in the August 2009 BER Technical Bulletin Section 3.1(c) under http://www.seai.ie/Your_Building/BER/BER_FAQ/FAQ_BER/Assessors/SEI_BER_Reports.html The following sample screenshots from DEAP represent dwellings which have either passed or failed the fabric U-value compliance requirements for TGD L 2008: PASS: The following screenshot passes the TGD L 2008 requirement as the average and maximum elemental U-values for all fabric types are below the limits set in TGD L 2008 table 1 (as indicated by the green tick marks).

PASS: The following screenshot passes the TGD L 2008 requirement despite the ceilings average U value exceeding the 0.16W/m2K requirement in TGD L 2008. As indicated on the DEAP screen (in red text), the guidance in TGD L 2008 Section 1.3.2.3 allows for compensation between roofs, floors and walls.

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DEAP Version 3.1.0 release notes

August 2010

FAIL: The following screenshot fails the TGD L 2008 requirement as the maximum elemental U-value requirements are not met. In this case, part of the roof U-value exceeds the value of 0.3W/m2K on an individual section.

FAIL: The following screenshot fails the TGD L 2008 requirement as the average elemental U-value requirement for roofs exceeds the requirement by a large amount. In other words even though the walls and floors meet the requirements, they are unable to compensate for this large difference.

FAIL: The following screenshot fails the TGD L 2008 requirement as only walls, roofs and floors may use the allowance under TGD L 2008 section 1.3.2.3. Windows and doors may not.

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DEAP Version 3.1.0 release notes

August 2010

.5.8 Table 4 Water Heating Efficiency Adjustment Factor

When using the Table 4 lookup function under the DEAP Distribution System Losses and Gains tab, if the space heating also supplies DHW is not selected, then the water heating efficiency adjustment value is not changed by this lookup when Apply is clicked.

In other words the efficiency adjustment factor for water heating as determined by the Table 4 lookup is not applicable (or N/A). When the apply button is clicked this no longer blanks out the value contained under Energy Requirements -> water heating -> Efficiency adjustment factor as shown in the following screen shot:

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DEAP Version 3.1.0 release notes

August 2010

6 Terms and Conditions

1 By installing and using the Software you signify your acceptance of these terms and conditions of use of the Software. 2 SEAI is licensing you to use the Software for the purpose of carrying out assessments using the DEAP method. 3 The Software is provided as is, which means that SEAI takes no responsibility for the Software or its performance or non-performance. 4 No warranty of any kind is expressed or implied and to the extent permitted by law all statutorily implied warranties are hereby excluded. 5 You use and rely on the Software at your own risk. 6 SEAI will not be liable for data loss, loss of profits or any other kind of loss, whether direct or indirect, suffered by you or any third parties, while using or misusing this Software howsoever caused, whether by breach of contract, tort or otherwise. 7 If SEAI is held by a court of competent authority to be liable under these terms and conditions of use, such liability shall not exceed 100 (one hundred Euro) only. 8 You shall not modify, copy, duplicate, decompile, reverse engineer, reproduce, license or sublicense the Software, or transfer, assign or convey the Software or any right in the Software to anyone else without the prior written agreement of SEAI. 9 Any form of commercial use and distribution of the Software is not authorised without the prior written agreement of SEAI. 10 Technical support in the installation or use of the Software is only available to registered BER Assessors. 11 These terms and conditions of use will be governed by Irish law and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Irish courts.

7 Contact Information
DEAP is the property of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). DEAP software is unsupported for persons not registered as BER Assessors. If you have any queries please contact us: http://www.seai.ie/Your_Building/BER/BER_Contact_Info/

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