ISO 52010-1:2017

Overview

ISO 52010-1:2017 - "Energy performance of buildings - External climatic conditions - Part 1: Conversion of climatic data for energy calculations" defines a standardised procedure to convert climatic data into the forms needed for building energy and daylighting calculations. The standard’s central function is the calculation of solar irradiance on a surface with arbitrary orientation and tilt and a simple method to convert solar irradiance to illuminance. It provides a consistent, single source of converted climatic inputs for the suite of EPB (energy performance of buildings) standards.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Solar irradiance on inclined surfaces: Methodology to compute total solar irradiance for any tilt and orientation (including sun path, direct/diffuse split and ground reflectivity).
• Illuminance conversion: A simple conversion approach from solar irradiance to daylight illuminance for use in lighting and daylighting assessments.
• Shading and geometry: Procedures for assessing shading from external objects and the geometrical parameters required (orientation, tilt, obstructions).
• Input/output handling: Definition of input climatic datasets, time intervals, constants and physical data; converted outputs intended for hourly energy calculations.
• Integration and consistency: Non-solar climatic parameters (wind, temperature, moisture, long-wave radiation) are passed through unchanged from ISO 15927‑4 to keep a single consistent source for EPB standards.
• Quality control and compliance: Sections on quality control and compliance checks to ensure reliable conversions.
• Annexes: Normative template (Annex A) for specifying choices and informative default options (Annex B) for national or project-level adaptation.

Practical applications and users

ISO 52010-1:2017 is intended for practitioners who need standardized climatic inputs for energy performance modelling and daylight analysis:

• Architects and building designers using dynamic thermal and daylighting simulation tools.
• Building services engineers sizing or assessing thermal solar collectors, PV panels, glazing, façades and roofs.
• Energy assessors and regulators establishing consistent inputs for compliance, certification and policy (national annexes can define mandatory choices).
• Software developers implementing EPB-compliant weather conversion modules.

Typical uses include preparing hourly input weather files, computing incident solar gains on building elements, and supplying illuminance or irradiance inputs for lighting control and PV yield models.

Related standards

• ISO 15927‑4 - Hourly climatic data for annual heating and cooling assessments (used for wind, temperature, moisture, long-wave radiation).
• ISO 52000‑1 - Overarching EPB assessment framework.
• ISO 7345, ISO 9488 - Definitions and solar energy vocabulary.
• ISO 52016‑1 and ISO/TR 52010‑2 - Related calculation methods and technical reports supporting EPB methodology.

Keywords: ISO 52010-1:2017, energy performance of buildings, external climatic conditions, solar irradiance, illuminance, climatic data conversion, EPB standards, building energy calculations, PV, thermal solar collectors.