Introduction to main features
This excludes items that have been updated in the latest version, see also the next video as well.
What’s new in 2.28/2.29?
Microsoft have had the facility to add custom buttons on a ribbon (toolbar) in Excel for some time. Tim Martel and the AECB have teamed up to create one for PHPP which speeds up common tasks and extends what PHPP can do. No special PHPP is needed. PHribbon v2 is now released with the February update of Full LCA Cradle to Grave Embodied CO2:
| Features Beginners might like | Features Advanced PHPP users might like | |
|---|---|---|
| Climate | easier selection of climate region using a more detailed map | map shows what counties are in what region, the address of the site defines the region |
| U-values | library of typical constructions to start from (R-values for the US version) |
library of typical constructions that you can copy from previous projects and edit |
| Lambda values | list of common lambda values (R-values/inch for the US version) |
lambda 90/90 vales & link to BBA certificates useful for certification |
| Orientation tool | very simple way of entering bearings of each wall | Draws outline of building as a crosscheck (if you have entered wall lengths) |
| Wall Shading | quick to enter, this part of PHPP easily missed | gives absorbtivity and emissivity of a range of common materials |
| Window tool | enters different window styles quickly, in mm or m, calculates the d-reveal, and enters the other info |
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| D reveal tool | an alternative to the window tool, calculates the d reveal and d over if you have already filled out the Windows and Components tabs |
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| CheckPHPP | runs through a standard check for PHPP and gives you a list of what is OK and what needs attention | you can customise the checks you do, add your own checks, remove them or just temporarily ignore some |
| Summarise PHPPs | List results for recent PHPPs you have done | useful to summarise a large development where you have many individual PHPPs for different blocks. |
Build PHPP
Climate Select the climate region using county boundaries
U-values Enter U-value assemblies and refine with λ-values. Both with editable libraries and links to BBAs.
Areas Enter the orientation of walls, draws the outline of your building to check your wall entries (if you’ve included wall lengths), second tab with further wall info.
Window Tool Enters the dimensions, ‘1’s and ‘0’s, and enters dreveal and shading
Ventilation Enters the sheltering info from a menu
Protect Sheets Protects all the heat loss sheets, use if you unprotected them while editing
Check PHPP Takes you to cells with common items to check, keeps a record of your response, customisable
Window Tool
The window tool helps you add windows by entering much of the data for you. On the windows tab it enters the dimensions, ‘1’s and ‘0’s and name and quantity. On the Shading tab it puts together a specific formula for the d reveal, and d over. You can now choose, for example, a 3 pane window and change the quantity of the middle pane to 10, if they are all the same, to get a 12 pane window. The d reveal will still be correct if you change the quantity of any pane.
A new D reveal tool calculates the d reveal (and d over) where you already have the window tab and frame information entered.
Daylight Factor
This exports window information to a daylight factor spreadsheet by Mark Siddall of LEAP. It helps you plan window sizes which give enough daylight without over-provision. Good windows have 5x the heat loss of a good wall so it is important not to over size them.
Embodied CO2
The PHPP already has quantities of 75% of the materials of the building, this button makes it relatively straightforward to obtain lifetime CO2 using an extensive list of hundreds of EPDs. The calculation is for the full lifetime Embodied CO2 suitable for design stage estimates of RIBA 2030 challenge (though an official RICS calculation requires more). Read more
- US Imperial Units version – a version that can be used with PHPP 9.7IP is being tested
- PHribbon in different languages – PHribbon can now work on French, German and Spanish PHPPs automatically, more languages available on request. It’s already possible to show the ribbon itself in different languages and in time the dialogues will also be translated.
- Compatibility – all tools are compatible with earlier versions of PHPP: 9.3, 9.1 and 8.5 as well as 9.6. Copy constructions from older projects, estimate retrofit costs or Embodied CO2
- Retrofit Costing – links to rates of master PHribbon list, allowing you to update results automatically if you change the rates in the master list. Read more
- Certifier Export – a new button creates the summary certifiers need to send to the Passivhaus Institute
What’s Popular?
