BISCO - Previous versions

Version 13

(Scroll down for presentation on new functionalities)

Version 13.0.07

• Automatic determination of the geometrical flow direction of ISO15099 cavities based on average surface temperature differences instead of calculated heat flow direction.
• Bugfixes:
  • Unwarranted error message in automatic preparation of models already containing boundary conditions.

Version 13.0.06

• Derived thermal properties: optional 3rd flanking element or element.
• PDF report:
  • The BC table now includes ta, tr and hc in addition to t and h.
  • Two options for NFRC report: NFRC 100 or NFRC 100/500 to include CI.
  • Single line results on front page of custom report.
• Option to include defined labels in figures in Graphic Report definition.
• View factors are automatically clustered per view factor zone (based on Calculation Parameter 'Maximum number of View Factors per zone'), which is both more accurate and faster than the previous method of neglecting very small view factors ('Smallest accepted view factor' in Calculation Parameters).
• Warning message when opening Derived Thermal Properties explaining disabled items.
• Indicate in menu when an item is not available because an add-on module is not activated.
• Use minimum and maximum cavity temperatures for the determination of the convective heat transfer in LAYER ISO15099 to better mimic the 1D logic of glazing gas space calculations.
• Direct DXF input in BISCO: DXF layer name prefix for colour number does not need to be exactly 3 digits ('80' instead of '080_' now also works).
• Condensation label in Graphic Output shows displays dew point if no condensation occurs.
• Bugfixes:
  • Visualisation of diagonal separation between frame BC and edge-of-glazing BC (NFRC) improved.
  • Automatic preparation only performs 'Split zones' for interior and exterior colour numbers, no other BC's.
  • Automatic preparation (EN 10077): don’t retreat pre-existing EQUIMAT EN10077. 
  • Include temperature factor calculation in batch and command line operation. 
  • Recalcul des dimensions de la cavité pendant le calcul du système lorsque les propriétés thermiques sont recalculées avant chaque cycle sans utiliser les températures de la solution.
  • Étiquettes de condensation également disponibles pour BC_SKY CONVEC ISO15099.
  • Une plage de validité de température comprise entre -30 °C et 100 °C est imposée pour les calculs du facteur de température et de la condensation superficielle intérieure.
  • Guard against unnecessary repetition of calculations on some machines.

Version 13.0.05

• The edge-of-glass zone lenght in function Split Interior BC and NFRC 100/500 Settings is now user-defined.
• Resolution of all PDF report figures can be defined by user in Graphic Output > Settings > Image Size.
• BC_FREE is converted into BC_FRE_S (instead of BC_SIMPL) and TRANSMAT into EQUIMAT(instead of MATERIAL) upon opening a file in BISCO without RADCON module.
• Bugfixes:
  • With calculation parameter 'Recalculate befor each iteration cycle' switched on, solution temperatures were always used, regardless of state of calculation parameter 'Use solutions temperatures'.
  • Consistent use in output of user-defined subscripts in Derived Thermal Properties.
  • NFRC 100/500 settings: sloped product positions means upward heat transfer.

Version 13.0.04

• Direct DXF import: get extent based on content instead of DXF canvas size (cfr. BiscoDxf).
• Bugfixes:
  • Command line operation.
  • Reload colour database in between batch file handling.

Version 13.0.03

• 2 new demo files (NFRC) included.
• Bugfixes:
  • Command line operation.

Version 13.0.02

• Cloud-based floating licence not released when one of multiple instances of application is closed.
• Updated Colour Database.
• Bugfixes:
  • Automatic preparation for DXF batch mode multicolor cavities.
  • Correction in calculation of lambda value in SCREW with geometrical direction Y (error since v13.0).

Version 13.0.01

• Bugfixes:
  • User-defined subscripts in PDF-report single line.
  • Correct jamb height in PDF-report.
  • Type of cavity selection in dialog NFRC 100/500 and EN ISO 10077-2 settings.
  • Demoversion error message when opening files.

BISCO v13.0

• Colours window:
  • Implementation of the equivalent thermal conductivities for air cavities and glazing gas layers (with user-defined gas mix) according to ISO 15099.
  • Implementation of boundary conditions according to ISO 15099.
  • Implementation of the equivalent thermal conductivities for glazing gas layers (with user-defined gas mix) according to EN 673.
• Automatic preparation of the model for NFRC 100 calculation of U-value of window frame and edge-of-glass.
• Automatic preparation of the model returns feedback if anything went wrong.
• Option to define a default Graphic Report Definition.
• PDF-report generation added:
  • 4 types available (custom, EN ISO 10077-2, NFRC 100 and summary).
  • Customizable titel, comment, company logo.
• Derived thermal properties
  • Customizable subscripts for thermal transmittances.
  • Alternative definition of equivalent U-value (based on incoming heat flow) added.
• Batch operation reworked to allow more options on functionalities.
• Additional .csv output with derived thermal properties.
• Calculation of bitmap border U-value uses actual surface emissivities in case of BC_SKY.
• Command line:
  • Immediately save .bsc and .bmp when opening a DXF file.
  • Additional options added.
• Graphic Output:
  • Option to draw boundary conditions as line.
• Bugfixes:
  • Read ELLIPSE in BiscoDxf with negative Z direction extrusion.
  • Convert to TRANSMAT/EQUIMAT does not change BC_FREE.
  • Temperature range automatic minimum and maximum also works for BC_SKY.

Version 12

(Scroll down for presentation on new functionalities)

BISCO v12.2.03

• Bugfixes:
  • EN 10077 setting cavity type could not be set to TRANSMAT.

BISCO v12.2.02

• Warning issued if converting colours upon reading project data file created with unavailable add-on modules (RADCON).
• Bugfixes:
  • Use system font in Load Material dialog box.
  • Load colour palette every time before opening DXF file.
  • File association.

BISCO v12.2.01

• Colours window: geometric heat flow direction updated based on calculation results also for EQUIMAT EN6946 (as already implemented for EQUIMAT EN10077)
• Column and row header of active cell (in tables in windows) highlighted with changed background color instead of bold font.
• Bugfixes:
  • Initialise individual colour when reading in from BSC from older version to avoid having lingering properties from the same colour number in previously opened file.
  • Split Zones (and EN10077 Preparation) corrected for when not enough free colours are available.
  • Tooltip uses correct font in table headers.
  • Allow double clicking to edit when the cell is too small to show all contents.

BISCO v12.2

• Split Zones function:
  • Avoid skipping free colour numbers for newly created colours.
  • Possibility to reuse the current colour number (if first new colour number equals current colour number).
  • Small zones colour thermal properties automatically set.
  • Small zones defined in mm².
• EN 10077 Preparation function:
  • Includes updates from Split Zones function as described above.
  • Additional option to split zones of already present colours of type EQUIMAT and standard EN10077.
  • Cavity of window frames with only 1 cavity set to correct type.

BISCO v12.1.04

• Always use default measures (pixel size and global triangulation size) when opening DXF and BMP files (Settings > Default Measures...).

BISCO v12.1.03

• Resolution of the bitmap that is automatically constructed when opening a DXF file directly in BISCO can be increased or decreased (Settings > Default Measures...).
• Retile windows every time the main application window size changes.

BISCO v12.1.02

• Allow panning of bitmap by holding mouse wheel while drawing a line or a rectangle.
• Replace Help > How To's with link to website's Knowledge Base (which contains more information).
• Bugfixes:
  • BC_SIMPL standard NIHIL subtype HI correctly read.

BISCO v12.1.01

• Temperature initialised to 0 or 20 when toggling BC_SIMPL EN6946 HI and HE in Colours window.
• Colour > Copy Row menu function available when editing Bitmap.
• Bugfixes:
  • Command line execution without licence dialog boxes.
  • Bitmap border automatically calculated U-value also shown when enforced U-value is attributed.

BISCO v12.1

• Bitmap window:
  • Pan by holding the mouse wheel.
  • Improved zooming by mouse wheel scroll.
  • Zoom out with right mouse click when zoom in is activated.
• Improved navigation of tables in windows:
  • Mousewheel scroll.
  • Tab and arrow keys to move to adjacent table cells.
• Additional keyboard shortcuts for menu commands.
• When loading DXF file directly in BISCO, layers with fill mode 'Fill Contours' are treated before those with 'Fill Lines'.
• Additional error messages (ill-conditioned system, BMP file problems, surface condensation).
• Simplified U-value in U-value window shown also when wall includes TRANSMAT, BC_FREE or BC_SKY (using non-temperature dependent simplified radiation coefficients).
• Licence information dialog boxes not shown when calculating from command line.
• Bugfixes:
  • BiscoDxf: avoid losing layer information of layers containing only very small ellipses, circles or arcs.

BISCO v12.0.05

• Increased calculation speed due to improved neighbouring nodes algorithm for viewfactor zones (RADCON)
• DXF extension adjusted to actual information in DXF file (minus ignored layers) in BiscoDXF
• Bugfixes:
  • Automatically switch Tmin and Tmax in Temperature Range dialog box if Tmin > Tmax

BISCO v12.0.04

• Bugfixes:
  • DXF with mirrorred drawing extents (Xmax < Xmin) correctly read when imported directly in BISCO
  • Error message shown when meshing fails because triangle pixel size is too large

BISCO v12.0.03

• Bugfixes:
  • BC_SIMPL HI_CAV_E and HI_CAV_I not split in EN 10077 preparation
  • Opening DXF files in BiscoDXF from BISCO
  • Saving BMP files in BiscoBMP when closing windows
  • Application settings cannot change after opening DXF file or colour database
• Cloud-based licences automatically activated when opening application

BISCO v12.0.02

• Bugfix: insulation panel length in automatic preparation EN10077 when grooves at the surface are detected
• Small bugfixes in converting colours from BISCO v11 files
• Off line activation of software licence keys added
• Cloud-based licences have the option to release the licence or not

BISCO v12.0.01

• Various trivial bugfixes (not related to functionality)
• Network floating licence viewer
• Major versions can coexist on computer
• Additional How To's

BISCO v12.0

• Graphic output of surface condensation and high relative humidity zones.
• Visualisation of radiative heat fluxes in cavities and at surfaces with RADCON.
• New feature to label output images with: colour name, thermal properties, X/Y dimensions, node temperature, min/max temperature, temperature factor, internal surface condensation, internal surface humidity, heat flow through polyline.
• Revised legend with indication of material names and clustered cavities per EN ISO standard. The colour for each cluster of cavities can be defined by the user.
• New parameter for automatic selection of boundary condition temperatures.
• Triangulation mesh only visible when image has relevant scale.
• Faster image processing algorithm for complex files.
• Revised Colour window to allow conformity with different EN standard. A new column ‘Standard’ is replacing the former columns ‘C1’, ‘C2’ and ‘C3’.
• Introduction of Colour database allowing to quickly adjust frequently used materials and boundary conditions (File → Open Colour Database…).
• New function to cluster type EQUIMAT with a user defined cluster resolution for thermal conductivity.
• Implementation of the equivalent thermal conductivities for screws according to ANNEX E of EN ISO 12631.
• Implementation of the equivalent thermal conductivities for air voids and layers according to EN ISO 6946.
• EN ISO 10077-2
  • Automatic detection and handling of surface grooves < 2mm;
  • Conversion of TRANSMAT to EQUIMAT (Colours → Convert TRANSMAT To EQUIMAT).
• Option to save Text Output in CSV format for post processing (e.g. MS Excel).
• Automated ‘Make report’ function copies and opens the report template in the current folder.
• Option to add 2 distances for calculation of derived thermal properties
• BiscoDXF:
  • Accessible from BISCO (File → Open DXF…).
  • Improved algorithms to avoid mirrored extrusion directions.
  • Error warning for open line ends and duplicates.
  • Option for layer selection when loading DXF files.
• Bitmap editing:
  • Drawing tool BiscoBmp accessible from BISCO (Bitmap → Editing using BiscoBmp…).
  • Snap to pixel when in ‘selecting’ or ‘drawing’ mode.
  • New drawing functions: rectangles and lines.
  • Cursor colour adjusted for background colour.
  • Pan: drag mode changed to ‘drag object’.
  • Function ‘Clean Colour…’ to delete pixel noise.
• Feature 'Unlimited nodes' replaces old 64-bit version.
• Documentation accessible from the BISCO menu ‘Help’: Manual, How to’s and Tutorials.
• More documentation (example projects, validation projects and training material) available via the online Physibel Portal (www.physibel.be/en/knowledge)
• Extended software protection options:
  • Hardware licence key (USB): stand-alone
  • Software licence key: stand-alone, network floating and cloud-based floating.

Version 11.0w

• Direct input of a DXF file in BISCO (without preparation in BiscoDxf).
  The bitmap is automatically created using the (default) layer definitions.
• A layer name in a DXF file starting with a number of 3 digits (000 up to 255) sets this number as colour number of the layer (also in BiscoDxf).
  A layer name of format “xxx_y_name” sets the colour number (3 digits xxx) and fill type (digit y, from 0 up to 3).
• New parameter “Use border colours” in function Bitmap > Size…
• Improved detection of grooves and interconnections in function Bitmap > Split Zones…
• Faster triangulation of bitmap (as initial step of thermal system calculation), because of elimination of graphic feedback.
• The radiation simulation in a TRANSMAT cavity at the bitmap border is improved.
• Graphic output of single isothermal line.
• Batch calculation starting from DXF files with included EN 10077 preparation.
• Creation of graphic report files also possible in batch calculation (from either BSC or DXF files).
• Show left top point coordinates of current colour from Measures window in status bar (to facilitate its location in the bitmap).
• New tool BiscoBmp to edit and prepare BMP files (containing move/copy of selection within bitmap).
• Multiple BISCO simulation results can be imported in one step in the Word report template.
• Word report template with improved style control of imported report items.

Version 10.0w

• Automatic preparation of the bitmap to minimise the user intervention for the calculation of the thermal transmittance of a window frame according to EN ISO 10077.
• New rules for type EQUIMAT (rules CEN_DIR_I and CEN_DIR_E), TRANSMAT (rule CEN_DIR_I) and BC_FREE (rule CEN_DIR_I) to calculate the thermal conductivity and convective heat transfer coefficient from the real heat flow direction.
  These extensions are in line with the standard EN ISO 10077-2:2017.
  The RADCON module needs to be installed to use these new rules.
• Distances and U values can be defined in a slanted direction (using Distances window).
  The Derived Thermal Properties dialog box is adapted to include possible references to those (slanted) distances and U values.
• Current split zone parameters can be set as default parameters (saved in the BISCO parameter file).
• Batch calculation and command line program execution with automatic report text and report index files generation.
• 64-bit option:
  With the 64-bit option the 2 Gbyte RAM limit of the standard 32-bit BISCO version can be exceeded.
  Bitmaps of up to 32767 x 32767 pixels are possible.
  The maximum number of nodes depends on the RAM installed.

Version 9.0w

• BiscoDxf: conversion of DXF file to BMP file
  • Bitmap size, placement and resolution can be modified at any timE
  • Load layer definition file of other data
• Read/write compressed 256-colours BMP files
• Faster response times when using drawing tools
• New bitmap editing functions:
  • Crop bitmap borders to remove border margin around drawing
  • Import BMP file into current bitmap
  • Delete colour preserves adjacent hard materials and expands adjacent soft materials (based on thermal conductivity)
• View/impose U values at bitmap borders
• Calculation of equivalent thermal conductivities of air cavities:
  • Optimisation of air cavities by detecting grooves and interconnections (smaller than 2 mm or 10 mm)
  • Editable surface emissivities
  • Automatic adjustment of heat flow direction
  • Use solution temperatures or default temperatures
  • Cavity at bitmap border mirrored or not (i.e. bitmap border is axis of symmetry or not)
• Thermal transmittance of window frame:
  • Frame with two glazings (i.e. two insulation panels)
  • Detect zones of reduced heat transfer (at internal boundary condition)
  • Initialisation of distances (based on window frame colour number)
  • Adjustment of distances with resize of bitmap or pixel
• Additional BISCO data template with more colour numbers for air cavities
• Text output: relative humidity for surface condensation
• Report generation:
  • Free definition of graphic report files (PNG or BMP)
  • Function "Make Report" generates text files and graphic files
  • MS Word template document with macro to import report files at bookmark locations

Version 8.0w

• More bitmap functions:
  • Insert/delete pixel band (e.g. to modify the width of a material layer)
  • Resize pixel without modifying the bitmap size (e.g. to get a rounded pixel size)
  • Delete colour in bitmap (e.g. to clean up the bitmap)
  • Merge colours (to reduce the number of colours having the same thermal properties)
  • Zoom in/out via mouse wheel
• More graphic output functions:
  • Automatic labelling of colour numbers in bitmap
  • Fill heat fluxes (to show the magnitudes of the local heat flow vectors)
• BiscoDxf: tool for fast conversion of DXF drawing (R14) to BISCO bitmap
  • Benefits: free definition of pixel size and bitmap size
  • Interesting for productive input of large amounts of well prepared DXF drawings
  • BiscoDxf only supports a limited set of DXF commands (e.g. 2D polyline)
  • No support is given (only resources are BiscoDxf manual and R14 DXF Reference)