While BRE made Part L 2013 SBEM data available in December 2013, this was largely for testing purposes and for software developers of SBEM interfaces such as Hevacomp. As the actual switchover date to the 2013 regulations is not until April 2014 we do not have an estimated delivery date for the relevant updates to Hevacomp as of yet. At the moment we do not know how the changes to SBEM will affect the formatting of the relevant SBEM input files and the Hevacomp code will need to be updated to incorporate these changes.
Please refer to the following website for further information: http://www.2013ncm.bre.co.uk/
At this point if you are looking to assess the impact of the new regulations then you will need to use BRE's iSBEM tool. You can download this at: http://www.2013ncm.bre.co.uk/download.jsp
It is now 1st April 2014, and the new 2013 Part L regs come into effect in 5 days on 6th April 2014.
When will the update for the new part L be available? No updates are currently shown in the support area.
While the new 2013 Reg's will indeed be coming into effect on the 6th, there is a change-over period of 1 month in which both 2013 and 2006 calculations can be used. Please see the following from The Dept. for Communities and Local Government:
"EPCs for existing non-domestic buildings that are lodged on or after 6 April 2014 should be prepared using SBEM 5.2.b. There will however be a transitional period of one month from April 6 2014 when it will be permissible to use SBEM version 4.1.e for EPC lodgements."
Meanwhile, our developers are continuing to work on the update to incorporate SBEM 5.2.b into Hevacomp. Should you need to run any Part L calculations or submit any EPC's before its release, then please use SBEM 4.1.e.
Shane Regan | Principle Building Performance Support Engineer
Shane,
Can you please confirm the date when the 5.2.b update will be provided.
As a business we need to carry out our own workings on the new software model to ensure we are compliant and understand the revisions to the software.
To be left in a situation where after the implementation date of the new regulations, we are still to receive the relevant software update is disappointing, especially when you are using this month overlap for the 2 regulations to finalise the update.
Stuart - All the information we have on the new release is being posted in the stickied article at the head of this forum. As soon as any new information on the release is available to us it will be posted there.
Duncan Brown
Duncan / Shane,
I have a meeting this week with a client, where I will be asked when we can run the latest SBEM to L2 2013.
Please can you advise the date when the update will be available.
Stuart - I can only re-iterate my earlier post. As soon as I have further information it will be posted there. I have no further information at this time.
Stuart,
I am in exactly the same position as you and many others who use Hevacomp and expect the software to maintain pace with current regulation.
I'm not sure what the problem is at Bentley but given the lack of urgency and attention given to Hevacomp since they acquired the software i suspect that it is being phased out.
I am extremely frustrated having invested in software, training and certification with software that i am left with out of date software that can't be used for current projects, no confirmed date as to when an update will be issued and repeated brush off from the technical staff as if it's not their problem.
My firm is so fed up that we are looking to change software completely. The other major HVAC software providers all seem to have released Part L 2013 updates well before April.
Please note: The change over period has been increased by a further month. Information available in the stickied article, above.
Duncan,
Now the period has been extended by another month should we assume Bentley plan to delay releasing the updated Hevacomp software?
Assuming that the new extension period isn't due to BRE finding an issue with the SBEM calculation engine which might result in ourselves having to address code changes, our intention is to release the update as soon as we are able.