Bentley has acquired Hevacomp, Ltd., a Sheffield, England provider of building services design software. Included in its portfolio is software for energy analysis, heating and cooling load calculations, pipe and duct sizing, and electrical system design and product catalogs.
This acquisition should help Bentley regain some lost momentum in the market. AECnews is aware of several Bentley accounts that have been testing and deploying Autodesk Revit specifically because of its tight links to the "green" analysis products from IES (Integrated Environmental Solutions).
Hevacomp solutions use the EnergyPlus engine, developed by the U.S. Department of Energy. It also has software certified to perform CO2 emissions calculations required under Part L of the U.K. building regulations. Hevacomp’s simulation software helps engineers and low-carbon consultants carry out complex energy analyses to examine room heat losses and gains, summer overheating, peak design months, overheating frequency, and building energy. It also produces 3D external shading graphics and internal solar penetration graphics that show moving sunshine patches within rooms.
Hevacomp building services offerings also include mechanical design packages for load calculations, pipe and duct sizing, and mechanical CAD; electrical design applications conforming to international wiring regulations, including lighting systems design applications and electrical CAD.
--RSN