Advanced Building Performance Modelling
Understand how air movement, heat and fluid flow may shape a building, space or environmental system before construction begins.
For architects, engineers, developers and project teams assessing ventilation, thermal behaviour, wind conditions, smoke movement or complex airflow across proposed designs.
Discuss Your CFD Modelling RequirementsIn Brief
Computational Fluid Dynamics, or CFD, is a simulation-based modelling method used to understand how air, heat, smoke and other fluid flows behave within and around buildings, infrastructure and surrounding environments.
Within building-performance analysis, CFD can be used to investigate airflow patterns, ventilation effectiveness, thermal comfort, pressure relationships, smoke movement, façade interactions and the influence of building geometry on local environmental conditions.
CFD is particularly valuable where simplified calculations cannot adequately represent complex spaces or localised conditions. It may support naturally ventilated buildings, atriums, basements, car parks, precincts, façade studies, smoke-control strategies and detailed occupant-comfort investigations before construction begins.
Airflow, ventilation, thermal comfort, smoke movement, pressure differences, façade effects and internal or external environmental conditions.
It is used where complex geometry, airflow or environmental conditions require more detailed analysis than simplified calculations can provide.
It helps project teams test performance before construction and make more informed decisions about comfort, ventilation, safety and environmental response.
Knowledge Navigation
Use this guide to understand what Computational Fluid Dynamics is, when CFD analysis may be useful, what project information is usually required and what can influence modelling time and cost.
Foundation
Understand how Computational Fluid Dynamics models the movement of air, heat and other fluids through buildings, rooms, façades and surrounding environments.
Project Suitability
Explore when CFD may support decisions involving ventilation, airflow, thermal comfort, wind effects, smoke movement or complex environmental conditions.
Modelling Inputs
Review the drawings, geometry, material information, boundary conditions, mechanical systems and operating assumptions typically needed to build a reliable CFD model.
Project Planning
Understand how model size, geometry complexity, simulation scenarios, available inputs and reporting requirements can influence assessment timing and cost.
CFD Computational Fluid Dynamics is a simulation method used to understand how air heat and pressure move through and around a building before it is built.
Instead of relying on assumptions or standard values CFD allows you to see how your design will actually perform in real conditions.
This provides a clearer understanding of airflow thermal comfort and system behaviour early in the design process.
CFD is not required for every project.
However it becomes valuable when building performance cannot be fully understood through standard methods or simplified modelling.
You may benefit from CFD if your project includes:
In these situations CFD provides clarity where standard approaches fall short.
CFD is commonly used to improve performance in:
By understanding these factors early you can reduce design changes later and improve overall performance outcomes.
As buildings become more complex and performance expectations increase understanding how a design actually behaves is becoming essential.

Compliance alone does not always reflect real world performance.
CFD helps bridge this gap by providing insight into how a building will function once it is built allowing design teams to make more informed decisions earlier.
A CFD analysis is typically carried out in three stages:
1 Pre processing.
The building geometry is created and key parameters such as airflow conditions materials and boundary conditions are defined.
2 Simulation
The model is analysed using computational software to simulate airflow temperature distribution and pressure behaviour.
3 Post processing
The results are reviewed and interpreted to identify performance issues and opportunities for improvement.
This process allows designers and engineers to visualise performance before construction begins.
To complete a CFD assessment we typically require:
Our team will guide you through this process and ensure the required inputs are clear from the start.
The time and cost of a CFD analysis depend on the size and complexity of the project.
Simple studies can often be completed within a few days while more detailed simulations may require additional time.
We recommend submitting your plans for review so we can provide a clear scope and timeframe based on your project.
With over 17 years of experience in building performance and environmental design our team provides practical CFD insights that support real project outcomes.
We work closely with architects designers and developers to ensure that simulation results translate into buildable solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
CFD modelling (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulates how air, heat, smoke and other fluids move through and around buildings.
It is used to understand airflow, ventilation, wind effects, thermal behaviour and environmental performance in complex building conditions.
CFD is used when airflow, temperature distribution, ventilation behaviour or wind impacts are too complex for standard assessment methods or need detailed evidence for design or compliance.
Airflow patterns, wind speed, pressure differences, temperature distribution, ventilation effectiveness, smoke movement and thermal comfort conditions.
No. CFD is only used where complexity, performance requirements or compliance pathways require detailed airflow or thermal analysis.
Energy modelling focuses on energy use over time, while CFD focuses on localised airflow, heat movement and environmental behaviour within and around spaces.
Yes. CFD can support Performance Solutions where detailed evidence is required to demonstrate compliance with NCC performance requirements.
Yes. CFD can model airflow through openings, rooms and shared spaces to evaluate cross ventilation, stack effect and mixed-mode ventilation strategies.
Yes. It can assess pedestrian wind comfort, local wind speeds, turbulence effects and how building form influences outdoor environments.
Architectural drawings, sections, elevations, 3D geometry (if available), façade details, surrounding context and any mechanical or ventilation assumptions.
Early in design is ideal, before façade, ventilation or massing decisions are locked in, so results can influence the design.
No. CFD provides a simulation based on assumptions and inputs. It is highly valuable for analysis, but not a perfect real-world prediction.
CFD is part of a broader performance ecosystem connecting airflow, comfort, ventilation, façade design and evidence-based building design decisions.
Project Review
Send the available plans, sections, ventilation strategy, mechanical information and performance requirements for an initial review. Certified Energy can help determine whether computational fluid dynamics modelling is appropriate and define the airflow or environmental performance questions the assessment should address.
Early modelling can help project teams understand ventilation effectiveness, air movement, heat distribution, internal conditions and the interaction between architectural design and mechanical systems before key decisions become fixed.
Last reviewed: June 2026. This page is maintained by Certified Energy as part of its Commercial Performance Knowledge Hub.