We are mindful that for a very long time Hevacomp has been central to the work of many Design Engineers - more so now than ever, as dependence on such design tools has increased to take advantage of the efficiencies and capabilities on offer.
So we can certainly understand that any change to something that became core to the working day of many, may seem a daunting prospect at first.
This article is intended to offer clarity on what exactly the move to OpenBuildings Designer entails, and to help provide resources for Hevacomp users so they can successfully migrate to the new software.
1 - OpenBuildings Energy Simulator - Building Performance Software with Hevacomp Capabilities
We are mindful that design engineers want a quick and concise method to run their calculations. Under pressure for results, they don't want to have to draw an entire BIM model to get their CIBSE Gain or Heat Loss reports.
It is true that OpenBuildings Designer is BIM software with a very wide range of capabilities. However, alongside this, OpenBuildings Energy Simulator is included as standard.
OpenBuildings Energy Simulator is independent software dedicated solely to energy modelling and building performance, based entirely on the capabilities of Hevacomp Design Database and Simulator.
It is easy to use, and modelling a building takes a matter of minutes. The familiar workflows from Hevacomp are at the core of this, now streamlined into a more intuitive, modern, user-friendly interface.
You can trace your rooms in 2D via floor plans, and import projects via Hevacomp, GBXML or OpenBuildings Designers ASM.
All capabilities such as the Load Calculations, Dynamic Simulations, Part L, and Radiance Daylight Simulation are included as standard as part of your license.
- To get started with OpenBuildings Energy Simulator, follow our simple guide by following the steps shown on our Energy Simulation Wiki here .
2. Duct & Pipe Sizing - just like Netsys
Within OpenBuildings Designer there are different workflows for each design discipline, such as Structural and Architectural. The Netsys capabilities can be found within the Mechanical discipline.
We are pleased to announce that with the release of OpenBuildings Designer 2024.2 (v24.00.02.45) , all piping and duct sizing capabilities are now available.
All the familiar Hevacomp workflows are now present, where you can easily trace single-line schematics, or import a floor plan to trace your routing in 2D, just like in Netsys.
In addition, OpenBuildings now opens up multiple new modelling options to choose from to best suit your needs, e.g.:
- The capability of modelling duct/pipe routes directly in 3D in your OpenBuildings Designer model or Energy Simulator model, or;
- Promoting your completed 2D pipe/duct system to 3D - then modifying, printing, or referencing into other drawings to form your complete building model.
- For further information on pipe sizing, please find video below demonstrating the new capabilities.
3. Free Training and Resources
All OpenBuildings training courses have been made freely available to users:
- OpenBuildings Designer – our duct sizing course shows how the 2D single-line workflows familiar to Hevacomp users can now be implemented in OpenBuildings: QuickStart ES104: Duct Sizing Workflow.
- OpenBuildings Energy Simulator – course material can be found on our LearnServer, and on YouTube.
These training resources should cover all the major topics you need, with additional guidance on our Energy Simulation Wiki .
4. Part L Energy Assessors
Our Part L Energy Assessor course has been made freely available on our LearnServer, and can be accessed by clicking here.
Registration for the related Energy Assessor examination is very straightforward as all exams are now online. Exams are announced on our Forum - see here for example.
5. Hevacomp – supported until January 2026
We are aware that becoming familiar with new software can take time for some, and many will have ongoing Hevacomp projects. With this in mind, throughout this transition Technical Support has remained available to help with any Hevacomp issues.
This will remain the case until Jan 1st 2026, when Hevacomp will become unsupported.
For further details regarding this timeline, along with licensing details and FAQ, please find guidance in this announcement.
6. Here to help
If there is anything you need help with, be it guidance on how best to migrate to OpenBuildings, technical support, training, or any other guidance, we are here to help.