QC-06-034 - Model Validation and Testing: The Methodological Foundation of ASHRAE Standard 140 PDF

Ideally, whole-building energy simulation programsmodel all aspects of a building that influence energy use andthermal and visual comfort for the occupants. An essentialcomponent of the development of such computer simulationmodels is a rigorous program of validation and testing. Thispaper describes a methodology to evaluate the accuracy ofwhole-building energy simulation programs. The methodologyis also used to identify and diagnose differences in simulationpredictions that may be caused by algorithmicdifferences, modeling limitations, coding errors, or inputerrors. The methodology has been adopted by ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 140, Method of Test for the Evaluation ofBuilding Energy Analysis Computer Programs (ASHRAE2001a, 2004). A summary of the method is included in the2005 ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals (ASHRAE 2005).This paper describes the ASHRAE Standard 140 method oftest and its methodological basis. Also discussed are possiblefuture enhancements to ASHRAE Standard 140 and relatedresearch recommendations.