This new tool allows providers to independently manage their own building material database and does not require a central database. The building physics software can access the various decentralised databases via a DLL (Dynamic Link Library).
The xml file delivered by the providers contains two sets of data: a list of materials and a catalogue of pre-calculated elements. It contains all the information required by building physics software, i.e. geometry, thermal properties, acoustic properties, life cycle energy and emissions data, etc. The format developed is flexible enough so that it is not necessary for providers to provide the full set of data.
The next figure explains the approach used for the management and the exchange of the files.
The xml format is open source (Extensible Markup Language).
An example of the xml format developed:
See the download page for more information.