Thermal building simulation for the Regional Council of Westphalia-Lippe

How can we ensure that modern school buildings maintain a comfortable indoor climate even on hot summer days – even when ventilation options are limited?

This was the question facing the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) during the construction of the new school at Heithof in Hamm. Using a thermal building simulation, the building’s actual temperature behaviour was analysed and targeted measures were developed to improve thermal protection during the summer.

Customer

The Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) is a local authority association with over 20,000 employees, serving around 8.4 million people in the region. It runs schools, hospitals, museums and social services, and is one of the largest public providers of support for people with disabilities in Germany. The nine independent cities and 18 districts in Westphalia-Lippe are members of the association and work together to shape its activities.

Project / Initial situation

Improving the indoor climate

The “Schule im Heithof” in Hamm was newly built in 2017 and is attached to a clinic for child and adolescent psychiatry. For security reasons, the windows on the upper floor can only be opened in a tilted position – a challenge for the indoor climate in summer.

Despite the existing ventilation system and external shading, temperatures in the classrooms rose noticeably. To analyse the causes and take targeted countermeasures, the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) commissioned a thermal building simulation.*

The aim was to model the actual temperature behaviour over several summer days and to identify which structural or technical measures have the greatest impact on thermal protection during the summer.

Challenges & Solutions

Digital analysis

In order to carry out a thorough assessment of the building’s summer heat protection, a digital model of the building was created in Simcenter Amesim. The simulation model took into account all key influencing factors – from solar radiation and heat conduction, through heat storage, to ventilation and internal heat sources.

Several classrooms were modelled in detail and compared with measured temperature profiles. The simulation showed how heat is distributed, stored and dissipated within the building over several days – a significantly more realistic picture than that provided by conventional static calculations.*

The study focused on the following measures:

    • Green roofs to improve the microclimate and provide additional thermal insulation
    • Landscaping of the outdoor area to provide additional shade and reduce heat build-up
    • Optimisation of the ventilation system by adjusting operating times and temperature control
    • A combination of various measures designed to bring about a noticeable improvement in the overall indoor climate

Results & Achievements

  1. A reliable basis for decision-making: Close correlation between simulation and measurement data builds confidence in the results
  2. Clear comparison of options: Objective evaluation of various structural and technical alternatives
  3. Practical recommendations: Concrete approaches for planning, operation and potential retrofits
  4. Clear visualisation: 3D representations of temperature profiles facilitated interpretation and fine-tuning
  5. Forward-looking methodology: The simulation can be applied to other construction projects to assess energy efficiency and indoor comfort at an early stage

“Communication was always friendly and professional. Our project was handled efficiently. The results of the thermal building simulation were presented in a clear and comprehensive manner, which made it much easier for us to proceed. We look forward to working together on future projects.”

Sandra Kindervater

Regional Association of Westphalia-Lippe (LWL)

*Image credit: The models and 3D visualisations shown are taken from a comparable Amesim model developed by the d.u.h.Group and are intended to illustrate the simulation methodology.

Consultancy

Thermal building simulations using Simcenter Amesim provide insight into the actual behaviour of buildings and offer a reliable basis for informed decisions regarding design and operation.


With our consultancy expertise in thermal simulation and modelling, we help to effectively combine energy efficiency, comfort and sustainability.

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