Version 4.2 Build 01

ATHENA Impact Estimator for Buildings 4.2.01 (Version 4.2 Build 0134) was released in September 2012.

Changes & Issues Addressed:

1. Bill of Materials Import Utility : The Bill of Materials import utility and its supporting "helper" utilities now make it possible for users to import material take-offs in a variety of file formats directly into the Impact Estimator as an "Extra Basic Materials" assembly. 
2. Assembly - Extra Basic Materials : The manner in which Extra Basic Materials is handled has been completely rewritten from the ground up. The 8 independent input forms that have traditionally been used to manage Extra Basic Materials, have been replaced by a single form that now uses searchable drop down lists of materials and material types.
3. Assembly - Extra Basic Materials - Construction Effects : Until now, the environmental effects due to those materials in the construction phase (e.g., the energy needed for a crane lifting those materials on the construction site) is not included.   This omission is relatively small; construction effects typically represent only about 5% of the total life cycle effects for a structure. Construction energy consumption is now included for Extra Basic Materials by assuming that a crane is used to move all material through a distance equal to half the building height.
4. Assembly - Extra Basic Materials - Copy to Project : The "Copy to Project" feature does not work for Extra Basic Material assemblies. This feature was disabled in version 4.1 build 10.
5. Assembly - Replacement Material Quantity Calculation : The formula for calculating Material replacement quantity is the next replacement cycle to be pro-rated during the current replacement period, but only after the first material replacement event has occurred.
6. Project - Building Height : The new "Building Height" input field was added so that Construction Effects could be calculated for Extra Basic Materials.
7. Project - Add/Modify Project - Synchronize Assembly Display Units : The new "Synchronize Assembly Display Units" check box was added so that users choose to have the Project Units cascade for all assemblies owned by the project.
8. Material Mapping Library : This Bill of Materials "helper" utility permits users to permanently capture and manage an unlimited number of relationships using the material names as exported from their CAD (or other) tools and mapping them to the material records for which the Impact Estimator has LCI data. When a Bill of Materials file is imported and the columns containing BOM data have been mapped, the imported material name is automatically checked against the Material Mapping Library for each imported data row (line). All imported material names that have matches in the Material Mapping Library are automatically mapped, thereby reducing the effort and time that the user spends on importing subsequent project bill of materials files.
9. Unit of Measure Mapping Library : This Bill of Materials "helper" utility permits users to permanently capture and manage an unlimited number of relationships using the unit of measure names as exported from their CAD (or other) tools and mapping them to the units of measure records that correspond to those associated with the Impact Estimator material records. When a Bill of Materials file is imported and a material record is mapped, the imported unit of measure name is automatically checked against the Unit of Measure Mapping Library for each mapped material. If a match is found, the Unit of Measure Conversion Factor that converts the imported material quantity from the imported unit of measure name to the Impact Estimator Unit of Measure is automatically populated.
10. Assembly - Mixed Columns and Beams - Precast Concrete : Precast Concrete Perimeter and Interior Columns and Beams has been added as a variant of the Mixed Columns and Beams assembly. Construction energy consumption is calculated by assuming that a crane is used to move all material through a distance equal to half the building height.
11. Assembly - Mixed Columns and Beams - Concrete: The concrete volume was being calculated using the "Supported Area" instead of the "Bay Area" for assemblies using concrete for columns and/or beams. Construction energy consumption is now included for Extra Basic Materials by assuming that a crane is used to move all material through a distance equal to half the building height.
12. Assembly - Mixed Columns and Beams - Concrete - Construction Energy : Construction energy consumption was previously not calculated for this assembly variant, but is now included by assuming that a crane is used to move all material through a distance equal to half the building height.
13. Assembly - Floors - Steel Joist - Construction Energy : Construction energy consumption was previously not calculated for this assembly variant, but is now included by assuming that a crane is used to move all material through a distance equal to half the building height.
14. Assembly - Roofs - Steel Joist - Construction Energy : Construction energy consumption was previously not calculated for this assembly variant, but is now included by assuming that a crane is used to move all material through a distance equal to half the building height.
15. Assembly - Walls - Curtain - Construction Energy : Construction energy consumption was previously not calculated for this assembly variant, but is now included by assuming that a crane is used to move all material through a distance equal to half the building height.
16. Assembly - Walls - Insulated Concrete Form - Construction Energy : Construction energy consumption was previously not calculated for this assembly variant, but is now included by assuming that a crane is used to move all material through a distance equal to half the building height.
17. Assembly - Composite Metal Floor : Added a new Composite Metal Floor assembly.
18. Assembly - Composite Metal Roof : Added a new Composite Metal Roof assembly.
19. Assembly - Concrete Hollow Core Floor and Roof Assemblies : replaced 60 MPa concrete with Precast Concrete.
20. Assembly - Precast Double T Floor and Roof Assemblies : replaced 60 MPa concrete with Precast Concrete.
21. Reports - Summary Measure - Smog Potential : The US EPA TRACI Smog Potential measure has been changed to an ozone equivalent basis. Smog Potential is now presented as "Smog Potential (kg O3 eq)" instead of "Smog Potential (kg NOx eq)"
22. Reports - Summary Measure - Human Health Criteria : The US EPA TRACI HH Criteria measure has been changed to a PM10 equivalent basis. HH Criteria is now presented as "HH Criteria (kg PM10 eq)" instead of "HH Respiratory Effects Potential (kg PM2.5 eq)"
23. Reports - Summary Measure - Weighted Resource Use : this report has been retired.

Database Updates

The following database updates have been made in the Version 4.2 Build 01 release:

• Added new Material : "Precast Panel"
• Added new Material : "Insulated Precast Panel"
• Added new Material : "Insulated Precast Panel with Stone Veneer"
• Updated Material : "PVC Membrane 48 mil "
• Updated Material : "Polyisocyanurate Foam Board", renamed to "Polyiso Foam Board (unfaced) "
• Updated Material : "1/2" Regular Gypsum Board"
• Updated Material : "5/8" Regular Gypsum Board"
• Updated Material : "1/2" Fire Rated Type-X Gypsum Board"
• Updated Material : "5/8" Fire Rated Type-X Gypsum Board"
• Retired Material : "Isocyanurate" (Isocyanurate Spray Foam)
• Added new Material : "Glass Reinforced Facer" - in support of Glass Reinforced Facer Polyiso Foam Board envelope material.
• Added new Material : "Foil Facer" - in support of Foil Facer Polyiso Foam Board envelope material.
• Added new Assembly : "Composite Metal Floor"
• Added new Assembly : "Composite Metal Roof"
• Updated "Electricity Breakdown by Energy Source" - the contribution of some energy sources were being underestimated.
• Updated Envelope Material: for relevant roof envelopes, replaced all occurrences of "Isocyanurate Spray Foam" with "Glass Reinforced Facer Polyiso Foam Board"
• Added new Envelope : "Glass Reinforced Facer Polyiso Foam Board"
• Added new Envelope : "Foil Facer Polyiso Foam Board"
• Added new table : "MaterialType"
• Added new table : "Material_MaterialType_XRef"
• Added new table : "UnitOfMeasure"
• Added new table : "UnitOfMeasureMapping"
• Added new table : "MaterialDefaultUnitOfMeasureMapping"