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Building Systems

Building Systems

Managing Building Systems

Building Systems such as Foundations, Floor Assemblies and Wall Assemblies are managed through Setting Sets under Engine with Catalogs, Settings and by instance level when needed.

  • Catalogs establish the makeup of the assemblies so they can be assigned and conditioned.

  • Settings establish the relationship between systems.

Floor Assemblies

Floor Assemblies are created in Setting Sets under Floor Catalog. From here, floors can be created, optioned and assigned throughout the model.

Under Floor Components, Framing or Subfloor can be programmed and created for each Floor Assembly. From here, the following Framing can be chosen:

  • Joist Type

  • Joist Spacing

  • Span Direction

And the following Subfloor can be chosen:

  • Substrate Profile ID

  • Span Rating

After Floor Components are chosen, they can be programmed together to create Floor Assemblies in the menu above it.

Floor Settings

Once floor Components and Assemblies are created in Floor Catalog, the Default Floor Assembly can be chosen under Floor Settings in Setting Sets.

Override Floor by Instance

To override floors by Room Instance:

  1. Select the Room

  2. In the Inspector, Select the layout tab.

  3. Select Floor

  4. Add Framing Floor or Void Floor

  5. From here, the floor datum, span direction and floor assembly can be edited in a room by room basis.

Wall Assemblies

Wall Systems can be controlled by various settings located in Setting Sets.

Wall Catalog

Under Wall Catalog, Wall Materials can be created using types and thicknesses. Then Wall Types can be programmed using the thicknesses created in Wall Materials.

Wall Materials

First, create wall materials and program custom names and thicknesses. Wall materials must be assigned one of the following types:

  • Structural

  • Substrate

  • Thermal

  • Membrane

Wall Types:

Wall Types control Wall Assemblies. Structural and Substrate materials and thicknesses can be chosen. Custom assemblies can be created using various materials created in Wall Materials.

Wall Settings

Placement and behavior properties and conditions are controlled under Wall, such as:

  • Exterior Wall Offset Mode - determines the wall thickening behavior.

  • Exterior Wall Offset Datum - determines where walls sit relative to room edges.

  • Exterior, Interior, Garage, Plumbing and Roof wall conditions.

Specific Wall Conditions can be assigned in Wall Settings for areas around a home. These include any custom-created Wall Assemblies from Wall Catalog.

Override Wall by Instance

To override walls by Edge Instance:

  1. Select the Room

  2. Select the Edge

  3. Select Wall Assembly

  4. Under Layer 0 (STRUCTURE), the wall material thickness can be selected.

  5. Additional layers can be added using the + near Structural Layers.

Foundation Systems

Foundation Systems can be controlled by various settings located in Setting Sets. By utilizing these settings, you can achieve various foundation styles such as Slab-on-Grade, Crawlspace, and Basements. See Basement Exposures to learn more about creating different basement conditions such as full-depth and walk-outs.

Datum Settings

Some global datums, such as for Foundations and Facades, can be set up in the Datum Catalog and then referenced into multiple files.

To set up Foundation Datums:

  1. Add the Setting Set: ‘Datum Catalog’.

  2. Add a new Lateral or Vertical Datum to ‘Foundation Datums’.

  3. The new datum can be named, the anchor set and the offset from the anchor assigned.

Foundation Catalog

First under the Foundation Catalog, Foundation Components and Datums can be created to create Foundation Assemblies.

The following Components can be created with custom sizes, names and behaviors:

  • Turndown Footing

  • Strip Footing

  • CMU Stem Wall

  • CIP Stem Wall

  • Rectangular Pad Footing

  • Circular Pad Footing

  • Circular Column

  • Rectangular Column

After Components and Datums are created, Foundation Assemblies can be assembled under Foundation Assemblies, using the Components and Datums created in Datum Catalog.

Foundation Settings

When programming a Foundation System, first select the System in Foundation Settings, named Foundation in Setting Sets. These are made up of slab / stem wall conditions:

  • Slab options:

    • Slab on Grade

    • Raised Slab

    • Crawlspace

    • Basement

  • Stem wall options:

    • Monolithic

    • CMU (Concrete Masonry Unit) Stem Wall

    • CIP (Cast in Place) Stem Wall

After a Foundation System is selected, the datums, depths and offsets can be controlled in the Foundation Super System menu that appears below. The following elements can be controlled as they relate to the Foundation:

  • Garage

  • Porch

  • Brick Ledge

Under Foundation Sub System, the Assemblies created in the Foundation Catalog can be added and programmed to specific Foundation Conditions in the home.

Override Foundation by Instance

To override foundation by Edge Instance:

  1. Select the Room

  2. Select the Edge

  3. Select Foundation Pattern

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