Many previous articles point out the need of using accurate energy simulation programme for studying the indoor climate and energy use of the highly glazed spaces. This article examines the suitability of IDA Indoor Climate and Energy (IDA-ICE) software for the glazed space energy simulation in theory and practice. The analysis of how the programme meets highly glazed space simulation needs has been done and comparison to the actual field measurement case conducted by using two different window and zone models featured by the simulation tool to examine the software function in practice. The measured data is from the two flats and attached balconies situated in Tampere (61 degrees 29'53 '' N, 023 degrees 45'39 '' E), Finland. The final outcome was that the IDA-ICE 4.61 is well suited for the glazed space studies and the most accurate results are achieved by using a detailed window and zone models. Critical input parameters were the absorption coefficient of the surfaces, the balcony's unintended ventilation, external shading and building supply air flow rate from the outside to apartment through the balcony. The results show that in design situation where attached balcony's one side is glazed and two sides opaque, the uncertainty of the input parameters can easily cause greater deviation between measured and simulated indoor temperatures than the deviation caused by the use of different zone and window models. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.