FAQs | Sommer Informatik GmbH

Which calculation standards are supported by WINISO®?

With WINISO®, it is possible to perform calculations in accordance with the following standards:

EN ISO 10077-2
EN 673
EN ISO 6946
ISO 15099
DIN 4108 Beiblatt 2

What materials are available in WINISO®?

WINISO® provides you with a wide range of material data and boundary conditions. The database can be customized to meet your specific needs.

Is it possible to calculate the Ucw value using WINISO®?

With WINISO®, you can calculate all the detailed values for the facade (U-values for profiles, Psi-values for glass edges, Psi-values for all-glass corners, Psi-values for mullion-to-door transitions, etc.), as well as the isotherm profiles of the connections. The values determined in this way are then summed by area and length for a Ucw calculation and applied to the total area of the facade. The latter is usually done using Excel or other tools.

How is the equivalence verification performed in accordance with DIN 4108 Beiblatt 2?

The equivalence verification is based on the calculated psi (Ψ) and fRsi values. The calculations are based on ISO 10211 and EN ISO 10077-2. WINISO® automatically determines the psi (Ψ) and fRsi values in accordance with the requirements of DIN 4108 Beiblatt 2.

Is it possible to use WINISO® to model the temperature in glazing caused by solar radiation?

Yes. In WINISO®, absorbed solar radiation can be defined as a boundary condition of the type “surface power” in W/m² applied to the surface of a material.

How can products that are not stored in the sound insulation database be added?

You can save your own glazing configurations in the sound insulation database and add the corresponding sound insulation values.

How can special glazing configurations containing polycarbonate be entered?

Spectral measurement data for special materials, such as laminated glazing containing polycarbonate, can be easily imported into WINSLT® as user-defined data sets and used to calculate complex glazing configurations.

What is the difference between the Uw value and the Ug value, and what influence does a coating have?

The Uw value describes the thermal transmittance of the complete window, while the Ug value describes the thermal transmittance of the glazing. The Ug value is calculated in accordance with EN 673. Glass coatings influence the emissivity of the glass surfaces and therefore also affect the Ug value.

Which SommerGlobal® application can be used to calculate the optical performance characteristics of insulating glass?

WINSLT® calculates optical, radiative, and thermal performance characteristics of glazing in accordance with EN 673 and EN 410, as well as the performance characteristics of glazing combined with solar shading in accordance with EN ISO 52022-3.

Is it possible to calculate external slats?

Yes. Internal and external slatted solar-shading systems can be calculated with the slat calculation module in WINSLT®. Slat geometry, opening angle, and solar position can be specified. The ventilation conditions in the cavity between the glazing and the solar-shading device can also be defined in detail and taken into account in the energy calculation of the total solar energy transmittance (gtot).

Do the values calculated with WINSLT® meet the requirements of DIN EN 1279-5, in particular the calculation requirements according to EN 673 and EN 410?

The requirements of DIN EN 1279-5 are fully met. The calculations performed with WINSLT® have been validated and certified by ift Rosenheim in accordance with EN 673 and EN 410. They are based on product properties and spectral data declared by the manufacturers.

Can a company logo be added to the earnings report?

Can a company logo be added to the results printout?

How can I import the spectral data for a specific type of glazing?

Spectral data can be imported into WINSLT® using a sample Excel file. This file is already located in the WINSLT® installation directory.

Is the glass database in WINSLT® compatible with the international glass database IG(S)DB?

The “Optical Berkeley” add-on integrates access to spectral data from the IGSDB directly into the SommerGlobal calculation process.

The interface was developed as part of the EQWIN-P research project in collaboration with Fraunhofer ISE and is available as an add-on for the following modules:

WINSLT®
WINSLT® 15099
WINTHS

What standards and calculation methods does WINTHS® use for verification?

WINTHS® automatically calculates thermomechanical stresses in glass panes on the basis of the recognized French standard NF DTU 39 P3.

How accurately can complex shading scenarios be modeled?

Very accurately. WINTHS® simulates spectral solar radiation in accordance with VDI 3789 for any geographic location worldwide. The software accounts for shading caused by the building itself and external objects (e.g., neighboring buildings, roof overhangs, pilasters) as well as interior or exterior sunshade systems. This allows for the determination of critical, uneven temperature gradients at the edges of the glass, calculated to the hour, throughout the entire year.

Does the software also support modern, complex glazing configurations?

Yes. WINTHS® provides an extensive database of manufacturer spectral data and supports single glazing as well as double- and triple-glazed insulating glass units. Coated glass (Low-E, solar-control), highly absorbing glass, laminated safety glass, and gas fills in the cavities are also taken into account accurately in the thermal analysis.

What direct economic benefits does WINTHS® offer during the planning phase?

WINTHS® prevents costly planning errors. Instead of specifying heat-strengthened glass (TVG) or thermally toughened safety glass (ESG) across the board, WINTHS® determines the actual stresses. You can immediately see where less expensive float glass is sufficient and where TVG or ESG is technically required. This optimizes material costs while also reducing the risk of claims resulting from glass breakage after installation.

Can WINTHS® be integrated into existing glazing design workflows?

Yes, via a direct interface. WINTHS® integrates seamlessly with WINSLT® (for determining the spectral properties of glass and solar shading) and GLASGLOBAL® (for structural verification in accordance with DIN 18008). Project data can be transferred directly, minimizing manual data entry and reducing potential errors.

General

What materials are available in GLASGLOBAL®?

All glass types defined by the applicable standards (EN 1279, DIN 18008), such as float glass, heat-strengthened glass (TVG), thermally toughened safety glass (ESG), wired glass, etc., can be verified in GLASGLOBAL®. Specific glass products from the SommerGlobal® manufacturer database can be included in the verification report. The “Product-Specific Shear Modulus” add-on contains shear stiffness values for specific interlayer products, differentiated by load type according to the manufacturer’s data sheet.

Can GLASGLOBAL® also be used to perform calculations for sunrooms or mullion-transom glazing?

Yes. GLASGLOBAL® can perform these calculations. The support conditions of the glazing (line-supported, point-supported, supported on all sides, or with free edges) are taken into account independently of the frame or supporting structure.

Are the printouts from GLASGLOBAL® verifiable?

The verification report generated in GLASGLOBAL® is suitable for review when used together with the expert printouts “GZT – Ultimate Limit State” and “GZG – Serviceability Limit State”. The expert printouts provide clearly structured, detailed information on the load-case combinations for stress and deflection.

What criteria are used for calculations in GLASGLOBAL®?

GLASGLOBAL® is software for the structural verification of single glazing and insulating glass units. Based on DIN 18008 and the partial safety factor concept according to EN 1990, the software evaluates the risk of breakage and the deflection of glazing under wind, snow, climatic loads, differences in elevation, and live loads. For panes supported on all sides, the membrane stress effect can optionally be taken into account.

How are load assumptions for Switzerland handled?

In GLASGLOBAL® Switzerland, loads are determined according to SIA 2057 or entered manually. Snow loads according to SIA 261 are determined using the “GLASGLOBAL® Snow Load Module Switzerland” add-on. If you do not yet have this add-on, please contact vertrieb@sommer-informatik.de.

Is GLASGLOBAL® software used for structural analysis verification or for preliminary structural design?

GLASGLOBAL® generates review-ready structural verification containing the information required for technical review. Whether a formally checked structural calculation is required depends on the applicable project requirements and approval procedure. Where such verification is required, it must be reviewed or prepared by an appropriately qualified structural engineer.

GLASGLOBAL® 18008

Is it possible to calculate a barrier clamped at the bottom that is subjected to a vertical load?

Yes, this is possible in the GLASGLOBAL® Standard module.
To do this, select vertical glazing in the geometry and set an installation angle of 90°. Now set the mounting to “clamped at the bottom.”

How is glazing supported on three sides calculated?

Glazing with three-sided support is calculated in the same way as glazing with two-sided support (in the Standard and Fall Protection modules).
If you analyze a glazing assembly in the Point Support module and select “Three-sided” as the support type, the FEM core calculates the utilization for the actual three-sided support (for single-pane glazing).

How is the partial safety factor γm calculated in the program, and can it be changed?

The partial safety factors are specified in DIN 18008, Part 1.

Can the Point Support module be used to perform calculations for dimensions smaller than 50 mm?

No, DIN 18008, Part 3, Section 5.3 only allows a radius of >= 25 mm in this case.

How is barrier glazing verified in the program?

Verification is performed in accordance with DIN 18008 Part 4.

When can the membrane stress effect be taken into account?

The membrane stress method is limited to linear support on all sides, surface loads, and rectangular plates. There is no distinction or restriction between horizontal and vertical directions.

What load is applied in the case of "glass installed in a lower-level structural element"?

In the calculations, the maximum snow load is assumed to be distributed across the entire glass pane.

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General

GLASGLOBAL® 18008