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CYPEFIRE Hydraulic Systems

Long access paths

In previous versions, file paths used by applications were limited to a maximum length of 256 characters. This restriction is not specific to CYPE tools but is set by default in the Windows file system. As of version 2024.b, CYPE applications can bypass the restriction and allow the use of an extended path length for a maximum total path length of 10,000 characters. This eliminates the problems caused by the default limit and allows users to work with long access paths.

This improvement is particularly useful when working on projects with a complex directory structure or with long file names. By allowing longer paths, CYPE applications offer greater flexibility in file organisation.

Classic menu of CYPE programs

As of version 2024.b, the classic menu of CYPE programs has a downloadable version available from the BIMserver.center platform Store.

This new classic menu downloaded from BIMserver.center includes the same applications and layout as the version available from the download area of the CYPE website, but with some differences.

When installing the BIMserver.center menu, only those applications that are not available for individual download in BIMserver.center will be included in the installation. The other applications in the BIMserver.center menu (those that can be downloaded individually from the BIMserver.center Store) can be downloaded and installed when they are opened for the first time from this new menu.

Emitters

As of CYPEFIRE Hydraulic Systems version 2024.a, emitters can now be entered.

Emitters allow the hydraulic analysis and hydraulic check to be carried out on any fire extinguishing elements found in a system (sprinklers, fire hose reels, fire hydrants, etc.) without depending on the geometric and hydraulic restrictions of the sprinklers and hydrants that already exist in the program.

To enter an emitter, simply enter the following:

The “Reference”
A tag to identify the element entered in the list.
The "K-Factor"
K-factor of the emitter for analysing the flow.

CYPEFIRE Hydraulic Systems does not carry out any checks on the emitters but, thanks to the EPANET calculation engine, it can carry out the hydraulic analysis of the designed system and, on the program interface itself, it allows users to view the flow and pressure data obtained for each of the emitters entered.

With this new feature, CYPEFIRE Hydraulic Systems becomes more versatile. Now, as well as being able to continue to use the predefined elements such as sprinklers or fire hose reels, the emitters can be used to carry out only the hydraulic justification of the desired element.

Cost databases and mapping files, and sets of measurement rules

As of version 2024.a, users can manage the "Cost databases" and "Mapping files" databases (in applications with a "bill of quantities" tab), and the "Sets of measurement rules" databases (for Open BIM Quantities) in two different locations, which can be toggled via a drop-down menu:

Database directory
A directory containing the databases is indicated. This makes it easier to use databases shared by several users. This option was used in previous versions.
Project databases
The databases are saved together with the project in the application. When it is compressed from the "File" menu in the application, the databases will be included in the CYP file generated. This way, the project can be shared with the databases used to obtain the bill of quantities.

Exporting "BIM model element identifiers" to FIEBDC-3 (.bc3)

The "BIM model element identifiers" option has been added to the bill of quantities export panel to FIEBDC-3 format (.bc3). When activated, the IDs of the elements in the BIM model will be added to the comments of the quantity detail lines, as indicated in the code from version FIEBDC-3/2016. In previous versions, these fields were always added to the file, but to ensure compatibility with other applications that are not able to work with them, the export of these fields can now be controlled.

This option is activated by default. Furthermore, the FIEBDC-3 files included by the "Bill of quantities" tab in the contributions for the BIMserver.center platform always contain the identifiers of the BIM model elements.

New method for connecting applications to the BIMserver.center platform

The mode of communication between Open BIM applications and the BIMserver.center collaborative work platform has changed. In previous versions, the applications used the "BIMserver.center Sync" tool to upload and download the files of the contributions associated with the project from the platform. This tool was downloaded from the BIMserver.center platform or installed together with the installation of the platform applications if users so desired.

From version 2024.a onwards, applications are now able to work directly with BIMserver.center without an intermediary. That is, without the need for the "BIMserver.center Sync" tool.

This modification will improve the performance and efficiency of Open BIM applications significantly. By removing this dependency, the applications have more autonomy and the waiting times for communication between BIMserver.center Sync and the program have been considerably reduced. The process of downloading contributions has also been optimised, as users no longer need to obtain the entire content of a project from BIMserver.center in order to work, but only the contributions to be read.

The way of authenticating a BIMserver.center user in the applications has also been modified. Now, this process is carried out within the BIMserver.center web platform. To do this, the application with which the user is working will run the user's default browser when the "Login" button is pressed. When the credentials are entered, or after opening the browser if the user is already connected to the platform, an authorisation page will be displayed. This page details the resources the application is requesting access to and two buttons for granting or denying this access.

The authorisation must be carried out for each application. Once access has been granted, it is saved for the next time the program is run and there is no need to perform this process again for that application.

As well as performance improvements, changes have been made to the user interface of the Open BIM applications regarding the connection to BIMserver.center.

The "Connect to BIMserver.center" window now includes a "Configuration" button. Clicking it launches a menu from which you can edit the "File directory stored in local cache". This is the path where the files that make up the contributions will be downloaded when working with them from the applications. In previous versions, this location could be selected from the BIMserver.center Sync tool.

The appearance of the "Project selection" window has been modified.

In the "Select project" list, the "View only my projects" option has been added to show only the projects where the connected BIMserver.center user is the owner. Icons have also been included for the "Type of project" column in order to make it easier to identify them. The detailed data of a project now shows the image of each contribution, the description and the tags.

The "Review new contributions" and "Review updated contributions" options have been added to the "Create new project" window.

The list for selecting contributions ("Import BIM models") now includes the images of the contributions and the tags. The name of the contribution will be displayed in blue to indicate that the owner is the logged-in user.

When sharing a contribution or selecting contributions during the process of linking to a BIMserver.center project, a progress window will appear during the upload or download process.

To work in BIMserver.center with versions of Open BIM applications prior to 2024.a, users must continue to use the BIMserver.center Sync tool. This is still available for download from the platform and was included in the installation packages of the CYPE Open BIM applications prior to 2024.a.

Design scenarios

CYPEFIRE Hydraulic Systems version 2023.g allows different design scenarios to be generated and analysed simultaneously.

With this feature, the program is much more versatile. For example, sprinkler installations can now be analysed by simulating the most unfavourable and the most favourable area at the same time and the most unfavourable area can also be determined by entering different operating areas.

When designing the pipes of the installation, users must select the scenarios to be used by the program to determine the appropriate size.

New 3D work environment

CYPEFIRE Hydraulic Systems has upgraded from a 2D work environment to a new 3D work environment.

Thanks to the new 3D working environment, users can achieve the following:

Greater geometric precision when placing pipes, sprinklers, hangers, valves, etc.
All elements and pipes in the different views (3D views, plan views, elevation views, etc.), mainly vertical pipes, are now easier to generate.
Greater geometrical precision when placing and checking the elements of the system.

This new version of CYPEFIRE Hydraulic Systems allows any jobs carried out with previous versions of the program to be read and analysed.

The program's edit menu has also been updated. The default receiver is now the select receiver and not the edit receiver.

Two new tools have also been added to the editing menu:

Extend/trim element
Extend/trim to intersection

Applications with a 3D environment. Level management

As of version 2023.g, applications with a 3D work environment can include a new feature that allows users to associate the elements of their model with levels (the programs that have this utility in version 2023.g are listed at the end of this new feature). The levels can correspond to the floors of a building or any other reference plan required for the model.

The level management menu is included in the applications by means of a dockable window. In this panel, there is a drop-down list with the buildings and levels defined in the model, as well as the available options (create, edit, delete, assign, etc.).

The options in the "Levels" window allow new buildings and levels to be entered in the model. Levels must be defined within a building. Next to each level, we can see its elevation and, shown in brackets, the number of associated model components. Their visibility in the work area can also be activated or deactivated.

Using the "Assign elements to a level" option, we can select components of the model from the work area and associate them with the level selected in the list. The "Unassign elements to a level" option allows the reverse operation to be carried out. To help users when using these tools, the elements that belong to the selected level will be shown in green and those that belong to another level will be shown in red. The "Information on the level of an element" option is also available, with which it is possible to inspect an object from the work area and obtain its current level. Finally, the "Automatic level assignment" option associates the components of the model to the defined levels automatically. To do this, the geometry of the element is analysed and the level immediately below it is searched for.

When linking to a BIM project, the application can read the buildings and levels of the contributions. These will be listed in the "Levels" window in blue and we can assign model components to them. To avoid congruence issues between contributions, buildings and levels that have been read from the BIM project cannot be edited.

The levels are exported in IFC format via the "IfcBuildingStorey" entity. As this is an entity included in the standard, applications from other manufacturers that work with IFC files can read the levels and their relationship with the components of the model.

In this 2023.g version, the level management window has been included in the following applications:

CYPEFIRE
CYPEFIRE Hydraulic Systems
CYPEHVAC
CYPELEC Distribution
CYPELEC Electrical Mechanisms
CYPELEC PV Systems
CYPEPLUMBING Water Systems
Open BIM Analytical Model
CYPE Lightning
StruBIM Rebar

Status bar

The "Bill of quantities" tab now includes a status bar at the bottom of the main window that displays contextual information about what is being carried out in the application.

Graphical representation

As of version 2023.g, the bill of quantities data can now be displayed graphically. For this purpose, the "Graphs" window has been added to the "Bill of quantities" tab. This window contains a drop-down list for selecting the graph to be displayed. In this version, the graphical representations (columns, circles, lines, etc.) of the following concepts are available:

Bill of quantities
Breakdown
Breakdown (with/without BIM link)
Energy cost
CO2 emissions
Waste mass (Type)
Waste volume (Type)
Waste mass (Code)
Waste volume (Code)
Certificates (Amount)
Certificates (Quantity)

The graph generated depends on the component of the bill of quantities table that has been selected. It is important to note that the available graphs depend on the type of element (work section, item or quantity detail line). By hovering the cursor over a section of the graph, a box will appear with the parameter reference and its value, allowing users to have a better understanding of the data shown.

Graphs with a key allow data sets to be hidden by left-clicking on their reference. When a set is not visible, its reference is crossed out and can be reactivated by clicking on it.

"Breakdown" tab in work sections

The "Breakdown" tab has been included in the "Data" window for the work sections of the bill of quantities. In previous versions, the "Breakdown" tab was only available for the items, where a table with their breakdown into resources is shown.

Now, the work sub-sections or items that are part of a work section can be displayed in this table.

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