Inside the System

BIM Café – Architect Driven Changes

2011-11-28T08:00:00-05:00

A new 4 part video series has launched introducing the value of BIM for MEP and structural engineers. Watch episode one of four today! In this episode of “Cafe BIM – Architect Driven Changes” watch what happens when Greg’s hospital project runs into a mechanical design challenge.

AU Virtual 2011

2011-11-26T21:24:21-05:00

Join us for the premier virtual conference dedicated to the worldwide Autodesk user community. This online event delivers on-demand technical classes on the newest releases of Autodesk products and the latest trends and challenges facing the design industry—right from your desktop.

Plan now to attend this worldwide virtual event November 29–30, 2011. More than 150 more classes go live on November 29.

Register for Free

AU Virtual is free to everyone.

Select from 200 classes in English, Spanish, and Portuguese on a wide range of topics.
Network with other virtual attendees and your friends and followers via Facebook and Twitter.
Post questions to class speakers.
Watch key AU 2011 Las Vegas presentations and insider videos.
Visit online exhibits.

After the event, AU Virtual classes will continue to be available on the AU website.

AU Virtual Preview Classes Are Available Now

More than 45 previews classes are now available on AU Virtual, including technical and certification preparation classes—especially helpful if you plan to take a free certification exam at AU in Las Vegas.

What does the 'Use Load Credits' option in Heating / Cooling Loads do?

2011-11-03T06:10:10-04:00

From the help file, it states: accounts for heating or cooling “credit” loads that take the form of negative loads. For example, heat that leaves a zone through a partition into another zone can be a negative load/credit.

To exapnd on this, look at a couple of fundamental examples.

In the case of a heating load, it is common to not include internal gains, such as people, power, and lights. The basic assumption being that these things may not actually be on or in the space to provide the gain.

However, if you want to consider the internal gains in a heating calculation, the ‘Use Load Credits’ option will do this for you.

For example, looking at a single zone, in the Use Load Credits case, you see the heating load is less due to the credits from the internal gains:

Click to enlarge image.

Taking a look at a cooling load case, in the image below, the two zones have different set points. Zone 1 is kept cooler; therefore, heat will “flow” from Zone 2 to Zone 1 (indicated by arrow 1). In other words, there is a load on Zone 2 due to Zone 1. Conversely, this means there is an internal loss from Zone 2 to Zone 1. However, if you don’t ‘Use Load Credits’ you don’t see this in your cooling load calculation. Arrow 2 on the tables below show the partition load, without the credit in Zone 2. Using load credits allows the reduction of the load in Zone 2, as shown by arrow 3.

Click to enlarge image.

Keeping Label Text Readable in a Nested Annotation Family

2011-10-27T03:56:28-04:00

Here's a quick demo of how to keep the text in a device symbol readable.

Autodesk Revit MEP 2012 Update 2 is now available

2011-10-04T16:43:19-04:00

All,

I am pleased to announce the release of Web Update 2 for Autodesk Revit MEP 2012, which is available via Live Update in the product or on Autodesk.com at http://www.autodesk.com/revitmep-download.

The update can be applied to all languages of Autodesk Revit MEP 2012. We are still in the process of updating the various download pages for each language, but you can download the update from the English page in the meantime.

A list of the enhancements can be found on the download page.
http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/Enhancements_List_RME_2012_UR2.pdf

Regards,
David Pothier

Revit MEP Product Manager

Lighting Analysts releases ElumTools for Revit 2012

2011-09-22T15:22:43-04:00

Yes, that's right, the folks behind AGI32 have done it... get more info here: http://www.elumtools.com/

ASHRAE Viewer Available in Labs

2011-09-15T02:10:00-04:00

There is a simple tool available on Labs to help you select duct fitting tables, and to help you 'see' the information the tables are based on. Download here: http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/AshraeViewer/

Autodesk Revit IFC Exporter Code

2011-09-13T16:11:37-04:00

Autodesk Revit IFC Exporter Code is now available as Open Source software; supporting greater Interoperability with compliant software! Read more on the BIM Apps blog

Documenting Multi-Section Panels

2011-09-12T09:13:00-04:00

For electrical users, a somewhat common inquiry is how to document multi-section panels. Please watch the video below for a method that lets you utilize circuit numbers over 42, and clearly document that the panel represents a multi-section installation.

Please provide any comments to let your fellow users know if this method is suitable... and if not, cite any applicable regulatory requirements that make such a method invalid.

Relationship Between System Inspector and System Schedules

2011-09-12T02:02:00-04:00

Did you know? The Static Pressure reported in a Duct System Schedule reports the same value that the System Inspector reports as the Static Pressure at the duct section closest to the inlet to that system. This value is the sum of all the losses along the critical path for that system, including losses in duct segments, fittings, air terminals, and other accessories.

The Pressure Loss value you see in the inspector is the sum of the losses only in that section (which generally includes ducts and fittings of the same flow and size).