3. MagicPlan Inputs: Heating, Cooling and Ceiling Fan Objects

Heating and cooling systems, as well as ceiling fans, are added to a floor plan in magicplan as objects placed within the zones they service.  Adding these objects and completing their associated forms ensures all relevant information is captured for the NatHERS for Existing Homes assessment.

Adding a Heating or Cooling Appliance

To add a heating or cooling appliance:

1. Select the room [zone] where the appliance is located or provides service.
2. Navigate to Insert > Object.
3. Open the Home Energy Rating Heating and Cooling folder.
4. Select the required appliance type from the available options.
5. Position the object within the room. If needed, drag it to a more suitable location on the floor plan.

Completing the Appliance Form

Each heating and cooling object has an associated form that must be completed.

To access the form:

1. Select the appliance object.
2. If the object tabs are not visible, click the Information icon.
3. Open the Forms tab.

The form captures the information required to assess system performance, including:

• System type
• Efficiency details
• Year of manufacture
• Heating or cooling capacity
• Fuel type [where applicable]

Appliances Serving Multiple Rooms

If a single heating or cooling appliance serves multiple rooms, you can duplicate the object rather than creating it from scratch for each zone.

To do this:

1. Select the original appliance and ensure its form has been completed.
2. Click Duplicate.
3. Drag the duplicated object into each additional zone served by the appliance.

When an object is duplicated, all form data is copied as well.  This means you do not need to re-enter the appliance details unless they differ.

NatHERS Modelling Requirements

Under the NatHERS for Existing Homes requirements, only one fixed heating appliance and one fixed cooling appliance can be modelled within a zone.

Where multiple fixed heating or cooling appliances are present in the same zone, refer to the NatHERS for Existing Homes Technical Note and Guidance Note to determine which appliance should be modelled.

Adding Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are added in the same way as heating and cooling appliances:

1. Select the relevant room.
2. Navigate to Insert > Object.
3. Add the ceiling fan object.
4. Complete the associated form.

A ceiling fan should be added to each zone in which it is installed.

Important Notes

Ceiling Fans

Although ceiling fans can improve occupant comfort, they are not considered fixed cooling appliances under the NatHERS for Existing Homes methodology.

If a room contains both a ceiling fan and a fixed cooling appliance, such as an air conditioner, both objects must be added and completed within that zone.

Use Only Home Energy Rating Objects

Only use objects from the following magicplan folders:

• Home Energy Rating Heating & Cooling
• Home Energy Rating Other
• Windows
• Doors

Do not use standard magicplan objects for building elements or appliances. These objects are not recognised by AccuRate and can create Export issues.

Do Not Use Skylight Objects

Do not add skylights using the standard magicplan skylight objects.

Instead, open the "Skylights and roof windows [this room]" form for the relevant room and complete the required details there. This information is used by AccuRate during the assessment process.

For more information, refer to this article on modelling skylights and roof windows.

Open Plan Homes and Permanent Openings

Open plan homes that include permanent openings between zones may require specific heating and cooling modelling approaches.

Where permanent openings are present, refer to the NatHERS for Existing Homes Technical Note and Guidance Note for guidance on how heating and cooling appliances should be modelled.  Incorrect zoning or appliance placement can affect the way the dwelling's thermal performance is assessed.