eQuest Multi-Level Spaces

Topic: Defining eQuest multilevel spaces is relatively simple, but there are a couple of issues to be aware of.

Rule #1: Unless your analysis specifically requires plenums, eliminate them by specifying the floor-to-ceiling height to be the same as the floor-to-floor height on Screen 1 of the shell editing wizard. This simplification will generally prove to be a big time saver going forward.

Rule #2: For atriums and multilevel spaces to be defined properly, the lowest-level shell must be unique. If the "Number of Floors" is greater than 1, you will not have the option of specifying the multilevel space height, as the inputs missing from the dialog box below illustrate by their absence.


Rule #3: Use "Number of Floors" multiplier for identical floors.

The "Zone Characteristics" dialog box above shows multilevel space editing for the multilevel shell, i.e. the "upper floors" from the second on up, which are identical. The image below illustrates how a single shell definition may be used with a floor multiplier of "8" applied. This multi-level shell has been placed "Immediately Above" the lowest level shell.


Rule #4: Elevate the roof of lowest level of the multilevel space, and delete the remaining roofs later in detailed edit mode.

The image above shows part of the roof of the unique lower-level shell, which extends underneath the upper-level shells. The part which is exposed when elevated will become the roof of the multilevel space; the remaining zone roofs for this shell should be removed later in detail edit mode.

The "Zone Characteristics" dialog box above shows multilevel space editing for the lowest level shell. When a constituent zone is specified to be a multilevel space, a shell without a floor multiplier should display a "Conditioned Height" input box. Getting it to appear may require clicking the "Zone Type" drop-down, and changing the space from "Conditioned" to "Unconditioned" and back again.


The image above shows the completed multilevel space, before the application of windows and skylights. Note that the exterior wall was automatically extruded simply by raising the roof.