Comparison Between the EN ISO 52016-1 Hourly Calculation Method and a Fully Detailed Dynamic Simulation

The present research proposes a preliminary investigation of the new hourly method for the assessment of building energy needs for heating and cooling introduced by the EN ISO 52016-1 standard. It was applied to a case study and compared with a fully detailed dynamic model (EnergyPlus). The comparison was performed considering two building operation modes: in a free-floating condition, the hourly differences between the indoor operative temperatures were analysed considering the different contributions to the heat balance; in an ideal heating and cooling system operation, the heating and cooling energy needs were compared on a monthly basis. The discrepancies between the calculation methods, both in the indoor operative temperature and in the thermal energy needs, were investigated and the causes of the deviations were identified.