NOTICE: Due to a lapse in annual appropriations, most of this website is not being updated. Learn more.

Form submissions will still be accepted but will not receive responses at this time. Sections of this site for programs using non-appropriated funds (such as NVLAP) or those that are excepted from the shutdown (such as CHIPS and NVD) will continue to be updated.

U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

PUBLICATIONS

Enhancement of the Virtual Cybernetic Building Testbed to Include a Zone Fire Model With HVAC Components

Published

Author(s)

Cheol D. Park, Paul A. Reneke, Michael A. Galler, Steven T. Bushby, William D. Davis

Abstract

As part of a Cybernetic Building Systems project at the NIST Building and Fire Research Laboratory, a whole building emulator called the Virtual Cybernetic Building Testbed (VCBT) has been developed. The VCBT combines simulation tools with commercial building automation system products in order to emulate the characteristics of a commercial building and its various systems and controls. The VCBT simulates in real time the building envelope, weather, the heating ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, the heating/cooling plant, the fire detection system, and the security system. The simulation is linked through a data acquisition system to commercial products for HVAC control, fire detection, access control and lighting control in order to study their performance and interactions.This report describes a new simulation tool developed for the VCBT that combines a fire simulator called the Zone Fire Model with building shell and HVAC components derived from HVACSIM+. This new simulation tool is called the Zone Fire Model with HVAC components (ZFM-HVAC). Implementation of the ZFM-HVAC tool in the VCBT is described along with the results of emulation runs used to test its performance.
Citation
NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 7414
Report Number
7414
NIST Pub Series
NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR)
Pub Type
NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.7414

Keywords

BACnet, building automation and control, building management systems, cybernetic building systems, fire models, fire simulator, ZEM-HVAC
Buildings and Construction and Fire

Citation

Park, C. , Reneke, P. , Galler, M. , Bushby, S. and Davis, W. (2007), Enhancement of the Virtual Cybernetic Building Testbed to Include a Zone Fire Model With HVAC Components, NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.7414 (Accessed October 16, 2025)

Issues

If you have any questions about this publication or are having problems accessing it, please contact [email protected].

Created April 1, 2007, Updated November 10, 2018
Was this page helpful?