Inputs for occupant loads are specified at the space level (see specification below). In those instances when thermal blocks contain just one space, the inputs here will be identical to the inputs for the single space that is contained within the thermal block.
For those instances when a thermal block contains more than one space, the software shall either model the occupant loads separate for each space and the heat gain for each time step of the analysis or it must incorporate some procedure to sum inputs or calculate weighted averages such that the occupant loads used at the thermal block level are equal to the combination of occupant loads for each of the spaces contained in the thermal block.
When the spaces contained in a thermal block have different occupant schedules, rolling up occupant loads from the space level may be challenging and would have to be done at the level of each time step in the simulation. See discussion above on lighting. Spaces with differences in full-load equivalent operating hours of more than 40 hours per week shall not be combined in a single thermal block.
Inputs for occupant loads are specified at the space level (see specification below). In those instances when thermal zones contain just one space, the inputs here will be identical to the inputs for the single space that is contained within the thermal zone.
For those instances when a thermal zone contains more than one space, the software shall either (1) model the occupant loads separately for each space and the heat gain for each timestep of the analysis or (2) incorporate a procedure to sum inputs or calculate weighted averages such that the occupant loads used at the thermal zone level are equal to the combination of occupant loads for each of the spaces contained in the thermal zone.
When the spaces contained in a thermal zone have different occupant schedules, rolling up occupant loads from the space level may be challenging and would have to be done at the level of each timestep in the simulation.
Additionally, for occupants, outside air ventilation is potentially impacted when the Ventilation Rate Procedure (VRP) is used accordance with ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2013 (ASHRAE 2013b) or the International Mechanical Code 2015 (IMC 2015), to determine system level ventilation rates. Demand controlled ventilation (DCV) can also affect the ventilation rates based on occupancy. Section 3.6.5.5 and Section 3.6.5.4 discuss the occupancy-based ventilation requirements for VRP and DCV controls.