Category tree

On the left is a tree showing the categories of available items. They are as follows:

• Walls and partitions (Façades, Curtain walls, Party walls, Basement walls, Partition walls, Retaining walls)
• Structural slabs (Roofs, External slabs, Floor slabs, Suspended ceilings, Floor screeds)
• Openings (External doors, Internal doors, External windows, Internal windows, External skylights, Internal skylights)
• Stairs and ramps (External stairs, Internal stairs, External ramps, Internal ramps)
• Thermal breaks

The tools at the top of the tree allow you to "Search" for categories using text snippets, "Expand all" in the tree or "Collapse all" in the tree.

When you select each category, the program displays a list on the right showing the structural systems defined within that category. Further to the right, where applicable, a viewer displays a detailed cross-section of the structural solution selected from the list, along with a descriptive box containing information on the layers and the values of the solution’s key characteristics.

Management of manufacturers' catalogues

The "Catalogues" button in the top-left corner allows you to import information from manufacturers’ catalogues via the connection to the Open BIM Database for the following types of elements, making it easier to enter data into the program for project development:

• Materials (Solid)
• Materials (Vapour barrier)
• Construction systems
• Windows
• Glazing
• Fittings

Clicking on any of these options opens a window displaying the manufacturer's catalogues available for those items.

Using the "Applied filters" option, you can apply filters by item "Category", "Language" and "Country" to display only those manufacturers that offer product catalogues with these characteristics.

Download catalogues

The following options are displayed for each manufacturer:

• Download
  Download the catalogue for the selected manufacturer. The products in the catalogue will be available in the project.
• Update
  Updates the catalogue for the selected manufacturer to the latest version, deleting the version previously downloaded to the project.
• Delete
  Deletes the catalogue for the selected manufacturer. The products in the catalogue will no longer be available in the project.

Other catalogues

This option allows you to download and update other available manufacturer catalogues.

Connection to the Open BIM Database

At the bottom of the dialogue box, the program allows you to log in using an Open BIM Database account and password.

Import and direct download of products from catalogues

Products from catalogues can be imported using the "Catalogues" button, which is available both on the top toolbar of the construction solution lists and in the editing panel for each construction solution. For material, glazing or joinery catalogues, this button appears in the relevant editing sections.

You can also download and update catalogue products for each type of element directly from each of these editing panels, using the option marked with the Open BIM Database symbol, which is available on all of them.

Unit settings

The "Units" button in the top-left corner allows you to configure the units, the label and the number of decimal places for each of the following quantities:

• Basic dimensions (Length, Thickness)
• General properties (Density)
• Thermal properties (Thermal resistance, Thermal conductivity, Specific heat, Linear transmittance, Thermal transmittance, Heat capacity)

If you use the "Import one of the predefined unit systems" option, available on the right-hand side of the panel, you can import one of the following:

• International System
  Allows you to import units from the International System.
• I-P System
  Allows you to import units from the I-P (Inch-Pound) system or the imperial system.

General information and features

When creating a structural solution in the relevant list, the program allows you to enter the following data and general characteristics:

• Reference
• Description
• Design features
• Height (at the railings)
• Width, Height (in "Openings" such as doors, windows and skylights)
• Colour
• Insulation thickness, Height (floor slab thickness), L-value, ψ (under "Thermal breaks")

General technical specifications

The "Technical data" button opens a dedicated window for configuring the general technical data associated with the structural solution, organised into the following tabs:

• "Thermal insulation" tab
  • Simplified thermal characterisation of the element (optional)
    • Thermal transmittance
    • Thermal capacity
  • Absorptance (optional) (for exposed elements)
    • Absorption coefficient
  • Soil thermal conductivity (optional) (for elements in contact with the ground)
    • Thermal conductivity of the ground
  • With perimeter insulation (optional) (in "Slabs-on-ground")
    • Type of insulation (Vertical / Horizontal)
    • Thermal resistance
    • Thickness
    • Width or depth
  • Localised thermal bridges (per m^²)
  • Linear thermal bridges
  • Additional details (Reference, Value, Unit)

• "Soundproofing" tab
  • Acoustic performance of the element (optional)
    • Acoustic test report number
    • Rw
    • C
    • Ctr
  • Include only the inner layer of the façade in the acoustic calculation of lateral transmission (optional)
    • Rw, used in edge-transition transmission
  • Additional details (Reference, Value, Unit)

• "Fire resistance" tab
  • Fire resistance time (optional)
    • EI
  • Additional data (Reference, Value, Unit)

• "Other technical data" tab
  • Technical data
    • Reference, Value, Unit

Specific options for glazed openings

Glazed openings, such as windows and skylights, offer the following options for defining their technical properties:

• "Glazing" tab
  • Generic
    • Reference
    • Thermal transmittance
    • Sun protection factor
  • Manufacturer
    • Catalogue / Reference

• "Fittings" tab
  • The opaque portion of the opening
  • Generic
    • Reference
    • Thermal transmittance
    • Absorption coefficient
  • Manufacturer
    • Catalogue / Joinery
      In the manufacturer’s joinery selection window, which appears when you click the "Import data" button on the right, you can select the manufacturer and product code, as well as the window finish, if the catalogue includes a range of finishes.
    • List of nodes
      This list shows the nodes that make up the selected joinery and their "Area". Each node has an associated thermal transmittance and thickness, which can be viewed by selecting the joinery in the catalogue.
      • "Analysis" option:
        This tool, which appears at the top of the list, allows you to automatically calculate the area of the joints that make up a window or door unit based on the "Number of leaves" it comprises. This makes it easy to obtain the thermal transmittance of the unit, optimising its integration into the building’s energy model. This feature is available exclusively for manufacturer-supplied joinery, for both internal and external windows.
    • Finish
      Allows you to specify the finish of the window frames.
      • General
        By selecting this option, you can manually set the “Absorption coefficient” value for the joinery, customising the material properties.
        • Absorption coefficient
      • Manufacturer
        This option allows you to select available finishes directly from a manufacturer’s catalogue. The absorption coefficient value will be calculated automatically based on the reference for the selected finish, which simplifies the specification process and ensures that the values are accurate and consistent with actual commercial products.
        • Reference

• "Fittings" tab
  • Reference