HVAC Distribution

In HPXML multiple HVACDistribution elements can be associated with a heating or cooling system. For the purposes of this translator, it is required that only one HVACDistribution element be linked. That element can then describe a ducted system, a hydronic system, or an open ended other system. For the translation to HEScore, only HVACDistribution elements that are ducted are considered.

Duct Location Mapping

For each Ducts element in each air distribution system, the location of the duct mapped from HPXML enumerations to HEScore enumerations according to the following mapping.

Duct Location mapping (HPXML v2)
HPXML HEScore
conditioned space cond_space
unconditioned space not translated
unconditioned basement uncond_basement
unvented crawlspace unvented_crawl
vented crawlspace vented_crawl
crawlspace not translated
unconditioned attic uncond_attic
interstitial space not translated
garage unvented_crawl
outside outside
Duct Location mapping (HPXML v3)
HPXML HEScore Hierarchy
living space cond_space
unconditioned space uncond_basement, vented_crawl, unvented_crawl, uncond_attic
under slab under_slab
basement uncond_basement, cond_space
basement - unconditioned uncond_basement
basement - conditioned cond_space
crawlspace - unvented unvented_crawl
crawlspace - vented vented_crawl
crawlspace - unconditioned vented_crawl, unvented_crawl
crawlspace - conditioned cond_space
crawlspace vented_crawl, unvented_crawl, cond_space
exterior wall exterior_wall
attic uncond_attic, cond_space
attic - unconditioned uncond_attic
attic - conditioned cond_space
attic - unvented uncond_attic
attic - vented uncond_attic
interstitial space not translated
garage unvented_crawl
garage - conditioned cond_space
garage - unconditioned unvented_crawl
roof deck outside
outside outside

Warning

If an HPXML duct location maps to not translated above, the translation for the house will fail.

Duct Fractions

For each Ducts element with the same insulation level in an air distribution system the FracDuctArea is summed by HEScore duct location.

Duct Insulation

If the any of the Ducts elements in a particular location have a DuctInsulationRValue or DuctInsulationThickness that is greater than zero or have a DuctInsulationMaterial that is not None, all of the ducts in that location are considered insulated.

Duct Leakage Measurements

Duct leakage measurements are associated with an AirDistribution element. It can be specified quantitatively or qualitatively.

To quantitatively specify the duct leakage to outside in CFM25 of an AirDistribution system (e.g., duct blaster measurement), the translator expects to find the following elements:

  • DuctLeakageMeasurement[not(DuctType)]/DuctLeakage[TotalOrToOutside="to outside" and Units="CFM25"]/Value element with the numeric value
  • If the above element is not found, the values of the elements DuctLeakageMeasurement[DuctType="supply"]/DuctLeakage[TotalOrToOutside="to outside" and Units="CFM25"]/Value and DuctLeakageMeasurement[DuctType="return"]/DuctLeakage[TotalOrToOutside="to outside" and Units="CFM25"]/Value will be summed and used.

If quantitative duct leakage measurement is not specified, the translator expects to find either of the following qualitatively specified duct leakage measurement elements:

  • DuctLeakageMeasurement/LeakinessObservedVisualInspection element with the value of “connections sealed w mastic”.
  • HVACDistribution/HVACDistributionImprovement/DuctSystemSealed element with the value of “true”.

If neither qualitative nor quantitative element is specified, it will result in an “unsealed” designation.