FNDBLOCK
Foundation blocks are materials within the two-dimensional domain beyond those defined by TOP soil properties, the parent FOUNDATION object, and floor and wall SURFACEs. Common examples of using FNDBLOCKs include representing:
- Perimeter slab insulation
- Slab gap insulation
- Partial interior wall insulation
- Exterior horizontal or vertical insulation
- Concrete footings
Each block is represented as a rectangle in the domain by specifying the X (lateral) and Z (vertical) coordinates of two opposite corners. It does not matter which of the four corners of a block are used to define the two points as long as they are opposite corners. The coordinate system for each point is relative to the X and Z references defined by the user. By convention, the positive X direction is away from the building, and the positive Z direction is down. FNDBLOCKs that overlap materials defined by TOP, FOUNDATION, SURFACE objects, or previously defined FNDBLOCKs will override the thermal properties within the extents of the FNDBLOCK.
Each corner point of a FNDBLOCK is defined relative to its reference point. The user may specify reference points to simplify the calculation of corner point coordinates. X and Z point values of zero imply that a point is the same as the reference point. The default for X and Z point values is zero since points will often align with one or both of the reference values. Options for X and Z references are illustrated in the figure below.
Foundation block reference choices
The default X and Z references for the first corner point is WALLINT and WALLTOP, respectively. The second set of references default to the same reference as the first point.
An example of defining FNDBLOCKs for a basement are shown below.
Foundation block example for a basement with partial wall insulation
The example for a slab foundation shown below illustrates how leveraging default values can simplify user input.
Foundation block example for a slab with gap and inerior perimeter insulation
fbMat
Type: matName
Name of MATERIAL of the foundation block.
| Units | Legal Range | Default | Required | Variability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Name of a Material | none | Yes | constant |
fbX1Ref
Type: choice
Relative X origin for fbX1 point. Options are:
- SYMMETRY
- WALLINT
- WALLCENTER
- WALLEXT
- FARFIELD
| Units | Legal Range | Default | Required | Variability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| choices above | WALLINT | No | constant |
fbZ1Ref
Type: choice
Relative Z origin for fbZ1 point. Options are:
- WALLTOP
- GRADE
- SLABTOP
- SLABBOTTOM
- WALLBOTTOM
- DEEPGROUND
| Units | Legal Range | Default | Required | Variability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| choices above | WALLTOP | No | constant |
fbX1
Type: float
The X position of the first corner of the block relative to fbX1Ref.
| Units | Legal Range | Default | Required | Variability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ft | 0.0 | No | constant |
fbZ1
Type: float
The Z position of the first corner of the block relative to fbZ1Ref.
| Units | Legal Range | Default | Required | Variability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ft | 0.0 | No | constant |
fbX2Ref
Type: choice
Relative X origin for fbX2 point. Options are:
- SYMMETRY
- WALLINT
- WALLCENTER
- WALLEXT
- FARFIELD
| Units | Legal Range | Default | Required | Variability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| choices above | same as fbX1Ref | No | constant |
fbZ2Ref
Type: choice
Relative Z origin for fbZ2 point. Options are:
- WALLTOP
- GRADE
- SLABTOP
- SLABBOTTOM
- WALLBOTTOM
- DEEPGROUND
| Units | Legal Range | Default | Required | Variability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| choices above | same as fbZ1Ref | No | constant |
fbX2
Type: float
The X position of the second corner of the block relative to fbX2Ref.
| Units | Legal Range | Default | Required | Variability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ft | 0.0 | No | constant |
fbZ2
Type: float
The Z position of the second corner of the block relative to fbZ2Ref.
| Units | Legal Range | Default | Required | Variability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ft | 0.0 | No | constant |
endFndBlock
Indicates the end of the foundation block definition. Alternatively, the end of the foundation block definition can be indicated by the declaration of another object or by END.
| Units | Legal Range | Default | Required | Variability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| none | No | constant |