HVAC User Guide PDF

HVAC
User Guide
AVEVA Solutions Ltd
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First published September 2007
AVEVA Solutions Ltd, and its subsidiaries
AVEVA Solutions Ltd, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HB, United Kingdom
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HVAC User Guide
Contents
HVAC User Guide
Contents Page
User Guide
Read This First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:1
Scope of this Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:1
Intended Audience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:1
Assumptions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:1
About the Design Example. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:1
Further Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:1
How the Guide is Organised . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:1
Further Training in the use of PDMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:2
Introducing AVEVA PDMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:1

Structure of PDMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:1
Strengths of PDMS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:1
PDMS HVAC Design Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:2
Database Hierarchy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1

How PDMS Stores Design Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1
PDMS Design Data Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:2
Logging In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:3
Exploring the HVAC Database Hierarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:4
Viewing the Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:5
Setting the Scale and Direction of the View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:5
Using the Draw List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:5
Manipulating the Displayed View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:7
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Routing a Sequence of HVAC Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1

HVAC Component Representation in the Catalogue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1
HVAC Physical Shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1
HVAC Variables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1
Starting the HVAC Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:2
Setting HVAC Defaults. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:2
Setting a Default Detailing Specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:2
Choosing the HVAC Form Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:3
Customising HVAC Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:6
Creating HVAC Administrative Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:7
Creating an HVAC System Element. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:7
Creating an HVAC Branch Element . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:7
Creating HVAC Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:9
Creating a Fire Damper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:13
Moving the Fire Damper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:13
Creating a Composite Component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:14
Adding more HVAC Components to your Ductwork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:16
Creating a Rectangular Radiused Bend. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:16
Repositioning the Rectangular Radiused Bend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:16
Creating a Rectangular Mitred Offset. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:17
Creating a Second Rectangular Radiused Bend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:17
Adding a Circular Section Silencer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:18
Adding a Three-way Component and Terminating the Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:19
Defining the Branch Tail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:20
Adding to the HVAC Model. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:1

Grid/Tiling Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:1
Creating Side Branches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:3
Completing the Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:1

Filling Ductwork Gaps Automatically. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:1
Adding Stiffening Flanges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:3
Automatic Item Numbering and Naming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:5
Calculating HVAC Component Surface Area and Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:6
Calculating HVAC Centre of Gravity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:7
Finishing off Design Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:9
Modifying Joint Types. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:9
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Inserting an Access Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:10

Changing the View Representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:11
Checking and Outputting Design Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:1

Querying Data Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:1
Checking for Design Data Inconsistencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:2
Data Check Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:3
Checking for Clashes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:5
Obstruction Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:5
Extent of Clashing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:5
Clash Detection Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:6
Generating a Data Output Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:8
Generating a Tabulated Data Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:8
Plotting the Design Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:10
Setting up a Drawing Administration Hierarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:10
Defining the Content of a Drawing Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:13
HVAC Assemblies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:1

Creating the Assembly Template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:1
Assembly Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:4
Creating an Assembly Instance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:5
Inserting an Assembly at a Split Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:6
HVAC Splitting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:1

How to use the Split HVAC Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:2
Branches to Split . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:2
Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:4
Split Branches and Move Elements into. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:6
UNDO/REDO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:7
HVAC Spooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:1

Generating HVAC Spools using the HVAC Spool Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:1
HVAC Spool Verification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:3
Modifying an HVAC Spool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:4
UNDO/REDO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:5
Creating HVAC Sketches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:1

How to use the HVAC Sketches Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:3
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Search Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:3

Search Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:4
Sketch Creation Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:5
Displaying HVAC Sketches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:6
Printing HVAC Sketches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:7
Conclusion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12:1
HVAC Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A:1
HVAC Catalogue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B:1
Basic Features of the Catalogue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:1
HVAC Branches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:1
Rectangular Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:3
Circular Components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:17
Flat Oval Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:31
Transformations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:39
Branch Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:44
Inline Plant Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:55
Extra Inline Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:67
HVAC Equipment Nozzles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:75
Types of Joint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:75
Pre-defined Joints for Components of Any Shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:75
Pre-defined Joints for Rectangular Components Only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:77
User-defined Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:77
Types of Stiffener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:77
Pre-defined Stiffeners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:78
User-defined Stiffeners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:79
Design Parameters and Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:79
HVAC Component Palettes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C:1

Other Relevant Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D:1
AVEVA PDMS Introductory Guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D:1
AVEVA PDMS Reference Manuals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D:1
General Guides. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D:2
Some Sample Plots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E:1
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Read This First
1 Read This First
1.1 Scope of this Guide

This guide introduces some of the facilities provided by AVEVA PDMS for the design and
documentation of interconnected Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) ducting
networks. It explains the main concepts underlying PDMS and its supporting applications,
and shows how you can apply these to your own design projects.
The Chapters 1 to 7 of this guide take the form of a hands-on design example combined
with frequent explanation of the underlying concepts. As you work progressively through the
example, you will gain practical experience of the ways in which you can use PDMS while
learning about the powerful facilities it provides. Chapters 8 to 10 introduce some additional
facilities which can be used once the HVAC design layout has been completed.
1.1.1 Intended Audience

This guide has been written for engineers familiar with HVAC design practices, who may or
may not have prior knowledge of PDMS.
1.1.2 Assumptions
For you to use this guide, the sample PDMS project, Project SAM, must be correctly
installed on your system, and you must have read/write access to the project databases.
It is assumed that:
you know where to find PDMS on your computer system
you know how to use the Windows operating system installed on your site
you are familiar with the basic graphical user interface (GUI) features as described in
the AVEVA document Getting Started with PDMS.
Contact your systems administrator if you need help in any of these areas.
1.1.3 About the Design Example

All the steps of the design example are numbered sequentially throughout the guide.
1.1.4 Further Reading

You can find a list of relevant AVEVA documentation in the appendices of this guide.
1.2 How the Guide is Organised

This guide is divided into chapters and appendices, as follows:
1:1 12.0
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Read This First
Read This First introduces this guide and summarises its scope.
Introducing AVEVA PDMS gives a general overview of the main design facilities provided
within the HVAC application.
Database Hierarchy explains how PDMS stores its design data, giving the logging in
procedure and shows you how to organise your data. A running design example is used
from this chapter on to illustrate essential concepts.
Routing a Sequence of HVAC Components demonstrates the key features of HVAC design
using PDMS and shows you how to build up a ductwork sequence component by
component.
Adding to the HVAC Model shows you how to extend the basic ductwork sequence by
adding side branches to form a more complex network. In doing so, it introduces a useful
facility for creating a reference grid which can be used to position ceiling tiles for locating
HVAC grilles etc.
Completing the Design explains some ways of finishing off the design details by using some
automated facilities provided by the application.
Checking and Outputting Design Data shows how to check your design for clashes, and
how to generate reports and plots directly from the design data. It concludes the worked
example.
HVAC Assemblies explains how to create HVAC assemblies.
HVAC Splitting explains how the facility of HVAC splitting is used to split the HVAC design
route into logical sections to simplify system design and manufacture.
HVAC Spooling introduces HVAC spooling, a facility used to assist component manufacture.
Creating HVAC Sketches shows how the HVAC sketch facility can be used to create
sketches of HVAC spools.
Conclusion Conclusion.
HVAC Database summarises the database hierarchy which PDMS uses to store your HVAC
design data.
HVAC Catalogue contains annotated illustrations of all of the HVAC components that are
provided in the catalogue database which forms an integral part of the product.
HVAC Component Palettes gives the range of HVAC component palettes available from the
HVAC Designer GUI.
Other Relevant Documentation identifies other sources of information which supplement,
and expand upon, the brief details given in this guide.
Some Sample Plots contains some examples of the types of HVAC layout plots that can be
produced by using PDMS.
1.3 Further Training in the use of PDMS

This guide teaches you about the key features of using PDMS for HVAC designs only.
If you wish to learn more about the wide-ranging facilities of PDMS, AVEVA provides a wide
range of training courses, covering all levels of expertise and all design disciplines. For
details of courses, and to arrange course attendance, contact your nearest AVEVA support
office.
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Introducing AVEVA PDMS
2 Introducing AVEVA PDMS
This chapter introduces:

Structure of PDMS
Strengths of PDMS
PDMS HVAC Design Features
2.1 Structure of PDMS

PDMS comprises the following functional parts:
modules
applications.
A module is a subdivision of PDMS that you use to carry out specific types of operation. This
guide covers the following modules:
DESIGN, which you use for creating the 3D design model
DRAFT, which you use for generating annotated and dimensioned drawings of your
design.
An application is a supplementary program that has been tailored to provide easy control of
operations that are specific to a particular discipline. This guide covers the following
application:
HVAC Designer, which you will use for HVAC design work.
You can switch quickly and easily between different parts of PDMS.
2.2 Strengths of PDMS

In AVEVA PDMS, you have a powerful suite of facilities for the creation, analysis and
documentation of interconnected HVAC ducting networks.
The emphasis is on maximising both design consistency and design productivity:
The design modelling functions incorporate a degree of apparent intelligence that
enables them to make sensible decisions about the consequential effects of many of
your design choices. This allows you to implement a sequence of related decisions with
a minimum of effort.
You can incorporate modifications into your design at any stage without fear of
invalidating any of your prior work, because data consistency-checking is an integral
part of the product. PDMS automatically manages drawing production, material take-off
reports, and so on, by reading all design data directly from a common set of databases,
to prevent errors from being introduced by transcribing information between different
disciplines.
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The applications let you check all aspects of your design as work progresses. This
includes on-line interdisciplinary clash detection, so the chances of errors and
inconsistencies reaching the final documented design are reduced to an exceptionally
low level.
The applications are controlled from a GUI. This means that all design, drawing and
reporting operations are initiated by selecting choices from menus, and by entering
data into on-screen forms. For ease of use, you can select most of the components you
require by picking them from a set of diagrammatic representations, and many
common actions are represented by pictorial icons.
2.3 PDMS HVAC Design Features

AVEVA PDMS has been designed by HVAC engineers for HVAC engineers. The HVAC
application offers the following key benefits:
The HVAC Designer application lets you build up and detail complex ducting networks
simply by selecting components from standard catalogues. By using standard default
settings, a conceptual layout can be created and analysed rapidly, leaving the design
details to a later post-approval stage.
The application provides facilities for creating rectangular, circular and oval cross-
sectional items. Individual design components can be selected from over 100
parametric catalogue items covering all likely requirements, including a range of
auxiliary items such as stiffening frames, access panels, splitter plates etc., all of which
will be accurately detailed in the design model. The catalogue also includes a range of
inline plant items such as centrifugal and axial fans, air handling units, silencers,
dampers etc., each ready for insertion into the design model in a single operation.
User-definable detailing specifications, such as those for construction materials,
ductwork gauge, flange dimensions etc., define precise manufacturing requirements.
User-definable default settings ensure compliance with company standards and a high
level of design consistency throughout the project.
Accurate geometric representation of all design items ensures reliable clash checking
during the design process, leading to good space management and the early
elimination of positional errors.
Explicitly positioned design components are interconnected automatically with implied
ductwork as the design of the ductwork sequence is built up. An autofilling facility is
provided which can then calculate the optimum use of standard ducting straights to
complete the material take-off list for the entire network.
Several design aids are incorporated, including a facility for creating horizontal grids
which can be used to position ceiling tiles. This can greatly aid the layout of building
services in an architectural environment. Also for systems, in either a plant or marine
environment, a facility exists for splitting the system design into logical sections to
assist design and manufacture.
HVAC elements may be named in accordance with a predefined set of rules, so that
their positions in the database hierarchy are always obvious without you having to
enter specific texts during the design process.
The applications user interface can be tailored readily to suit the level of experience of
any individual user. In particular, graphical illustrations of all catalogue items can be
displayed if required to simplify component selection and dimensioning.
You can carry out multi-disciplinary clash checks at any stage of the design, thus
avoiding spatial conflicts within the overall model which could be expensive to rectify at
the construction stage. This is particularly important where different features of the
design model are under the control of different designers.
At any stage of your work, you can create reports listing specified data from the current
database. You can specify a standard report template, so you can derive lists of
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commonly-required information very quickly, or you can design a one-off report format
to suit special needs. The resultant output, which can include data from any design
discipline, sorted in any way you require, can be either displayed on your screen or
sent to a file (for storage and/or for printing).
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Database Hierarchy
3 Database Hierarchy
Although this guide is about the design of HVAC ducting networks, in practice you will
usually route your ductwork with reference to predefined design items such as the
framework, floors and ceilings of a structure. You will therefore learn how these other items
are defined in PDMS as well as learning how to route sequences of HVAC components and
ducting within them.
In this chapter, you will:
How PDMS Stores Design Data
Logging In to PDMS and begin the design example
see how Viewing the Design and Manipulating the Displayed View.
3.1 How PDMS Stores Design Data

All PDMS data is stored in the form of a hierarchy. A PDMS DESIGN database has:
a top level, World (usually represented by the symbolic name /*)
two principal administrative sublevels, Site and Zone.
The names used to identify database levels below Zone depend on the specific engineering
discipline for which the data is used. For HVAC design data, the lower administrative levels
(and their PDMS abbreviations) are:
HVAC (HVAC)
BRANCH (BRAN)
SPOOLS (HSLIST)
Each HVAC can represent any portion of the overall ducting network.
Each Branch within an HVAC represents a single sequence of components running
between two, and only two, points:
Branch Head
Branch Tail.
The data which defines the physical design of the individual HVAC components is held
below Branch level.
Each spool within an HVAC represents a collection of HVAC components combined
together to form a single entity.
To represent the parts of the structure within which you will route your ductwork, you use an
administrative level below Zone; Structure (STRU) level.
The physical design of each part of the structure is represented by a set of basic 3D shapes
known as Primitives, held below Structure level:
Primitives are used to represent physical items
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Database Hierarchy
Negative Primitives are used to represent holes through items.

During the design example, you will use rectangular BOX primitives for ducting, and
negative boxes, NBOX primitives, where HVAC ducting is to pass through the walls.
Together, these hierarchic levels give the following overall format:
3.1.1 PDMS Design Data Definitions

All data is represented in the database (DB) as follows:
Each identifiable item of data is known as a PDMS element.
Each element has a number of associated pieces of information which, together,
completely define its properties. These are known as its attributes.
Every element is identified within the database structure by an automatically-allocated
reference number and, optionally, by a user-specified name. Additional items of
information about an element which can be stored as attribute settings include the:
element type
element physical dimensions and technical specifications
element physical location and orientation in the design model
element connectivity.
Some attribute settings must be defined by you when you create a new element, others
will be defined automatically by PDMS.
When you are modifying a database (for example, when you are creating new
elements or changing the settings of their attributes), you can consider yourself to be
positioned at a specific point within the hierarchy. The element at this location is called
the current element (usually abbreviated to CE).
In many cases, commands which you give for modifying the attributes of an element
will assume that the changes are to be applied to the current element unless you
specify otherwise, so you must understand this concept and always be aware of your
current position in the database hierarchy. The Design Explorer displays this
information continuously.
The vertical link between two elements on adjacent levels of the database hierarchy is
defined as an owner-member relationship. The element on the upper level is the
owner of those elements directly linked below it. The lower level elements are
members of their owning element. Each element can have many members, but it can
have only one owner.
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Database Hierarchy
You can navigate from any element to any other, thereby changing the current element,
by following the owner-member links up and down the hierarchy.
3.2 Logging In
This is the first step of the design example.
Design example begins:

1. In the Login form give the name of the Project in which you want to work: enter SAM.
2. Give your allocated Username: enter HVAC.
3. Give your allocated Password: enter HVAC.
4. Give the part of the project Multiple Database (MDB) you want to work in: enter HVAC.
5. Give the name of the Module you wish to use: select Design.
Make sure that you leave the Read Only box unchecked, so that you can modify the
database as you work.
When you have entered all the necessary details, the form looks as shown:
Click OK.
When PDMS has loaded, your screen looks as shown:
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Database Hierarchy
3.3 Exploring the HVAC Database Hierarchy

The sample database provided as the starting point for the HVAC routing example, contains
a number of predefined elements that represent a simple structure constructed from sets of
box shapes.
In this section, you look at the hierarchic structure and in the following section 3D
representation of this model.
The Design Explorer holds the design element hierarchy currently present in the HVAC
multiple database. This hierarchy is collapsed by default.
Example continues:
6. In the Design Explorer, expand the elements in the HVAC database, and navigate up
and down the hierarchy by clicking on the various elements. You can see that there is
already:
a Site (HVACSITE) that owns
a Zone (HVACZONE) that owns
a number of Structures, each of which is the owner of one or more Boxes.
Together these elements represent the structure that will hold your HVAC ducting
network.
Note: If you or other users have accessed this database before, the list may also contain
other elements.
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Database Hierarchy
3.4 Viewing the Design

So that you can see what the design model looks like, you will display it in a 3D View
window, and learn how to manipulate this display.
You will:
set the scale and direction of the view
specify which design elements you want to see and how you want them to be
represented
experiment with the view.
Having your design in a 3D View window also enables you to identify design items by simply
pointing to them rather than having to navigate to them in the Design Explorer,
3.4.1 Setting the Scale and Direction of the View
Example continues:
7. Click on HVACZONE in the Design Explorer.
8. In the 3D View tool bar, click on the Limits CE button, . This adjusts the scale of
the view automatically such that it corresponds to a volume the right size to hold the
chosen element(s); in this case, the Zone.
9. To set an isometric view direction, position the cursor in the 3D View window and click
the right-hand mouse button to display the pop-up menu. Select Isometric>Iso 3 from
it.
10. If the graphical view background colour is not already black, select View>Settings>
Black Background from the 3D View menu.
3.4.2 Using the Draw List

You specify which elements of your design you wish to display, by adding them to or
removing them from the Draw List.
The sample database associated with this example represents the whole of a simple
structure. To route your ducting network, you need to be able to see the floors, walls,
columns and beams of this structure, but not the roof. You will display the required
structures in different colours.
Example continues:
11. To display the Drawlist, right-click on the Drawlist button and select Drawlist from
the pop-up menu.
12. Make sure that in the Design Explorer you have expanded HVACZONE to display the
structures below it.
13. Pick the HVACFLOOR Structure from the design element hierarchy, right-click the
mouse and select 3D View>Add from the popup menu. This adds HVACFLOOR to the
Draw List:
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Database Hierarchy
Alternatively, you can hold down the right or left mouse-button and drag-and-drop the
element into the 3D View.
14. On the Draw List, click on the HVACFLOOR element. You can now use the controls in
the Draw List to set the colour from the popup palette. Make the floor black.
15. Now pick the HVACWALLS Structure from the design element hierarchy and add it to
the Draw List in the same way. Set the colour of the walls to aquamarine.
16. Use the same method to add:
HVACCOLS (columns) in green
HVACBEAMS in blue.
Do not add HVACROOF at this stage.
Your structure now looks as shown:
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Database Hierarchy
17. Observe the effect of selecting different view directions from the Look and Isometric
menu options provided by the 3D View shortcut menu. Revert to Iso>3 when you have
finished.
3.4.3 Manipulating the Displayed View

You can manipulate the displayed model view in a number of ways. The three view
manipulation modes are:
Rotate the view
Pan the view across the display area
Zoom in or out to magnify or reduce the view.
The current manipulation mode is shown in the status line at the bottom of the 3D View
window, and is currently set to Rotate, as shown in the previous illustration.
To change the view manipulation mode, look at the Middle Button Drag options on the 3D
View shortcut menu. By pressing and holding down the middle mouse button with the
pointer within the 3D View, the view can manipulated in the selected way simply by moving
the mouse. The options of interest are Zoom Rectangle, Zoom In/Out, Pan and Rotate.
Alternatively, you can change the manipulation mode by pressing one of the function keys,
or by using the View Manipulation tool bar buttons, thus:
selects Zoom mode

F2 or
selects Pan mode

F3 or
selects Rotate mode

F5 or
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Database Hierarchy
(Try these selection options and observe the effect on the Middle Button Drag shortcut
menu; a tick appears against the selected option).
You can also choose the view manipulation mode from the options on the View>Middle
Button>Drag menu.
Example continues:
18. Select .
19. Position the cursor in the view area and hold down the middle mouse button, then
move the mouse slowly from side to side while watching the effect on the displayed
model.
The initial direction of movement determines how the view appears to rotate; starting
with a left or right movement causes the observers eye-point to move across the view.
20. Now release the mouse button, hold it down again and move the mouse away from you
and towards you; this time the observers eye-point appears to rotate up and down
around the model.
21. Repeat the rotation operations while holding down the Control key. Note that the word
Fast appears in the status line and that the rate of rotation is increased.
22. Repeat the rotation operations, but this time hold down the Shift key. Note that the
word Slow appears in the status line and that the rate of rotation is decreased.
For an alternative way of rotating the model, first press the F9 function key to display
horizontal and vertical sliders, and then try dragging the sliders to new positions along
the view borders. You can rotate the model in this way at any time, regardless of the
current manipulation mode.
23. Select .
move the mouse slowly in all directions.
Note that it is the observers eye-point which follows the mouse movement (while the
viewing direction remains unchanged), so that the displayed model appears to move in
the opposite direction to the mouse; in effect, you move the mouse towards that part of
the view which you want to see.
25. Repeat the pan operations while holding down first the Control key (to increase the
panning speed) and then the Shift key (to decrease the panning speed).
26. Select .
move the mouse slowly up and down.
Moving the mouse away from you (up) zooms in, effectively magnifying the view;
moving the mouse towards you (down) zooms out, effectively reducing the view. Note
that these operations work by changing the viewing angle (like changing the focal
length of a camera lens); they do not change the observers eye-point or the view
direction.
28. Repeat the zoom operations while holding down first the Control key and then the
Shift key.
29. Position the cursor at the top of one of the corner columns and click (do not hold down)
the middle mouse button. Notice how the view changes so that the picked point is now
at the centre of the view. Whenever you click the middle button, whatever the current
manipulation mode, you reset the centre of interest. Set the centre of interest to the
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grille in the front wall, then zoom in for a close-up view. You will find this a very useful
technique when making small adjustments to the design.
30. To restore the original view when you have finished, make sure that your current
element is HVACZONE and click on the Limits CE button, and reselect

View>Isometric>Iso 3.
In the next chapter, you will install a simple HVAC ducting network into the structure model.
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Routing a Sequence of HVAC Components
4 Routing a Sequence of HVAC Components
In this chapter you will learn:

more about how the design data is stored and accessed in PDMS;
how to route an HVAC network between the grilles in the structure walls;
how to position a selection of HVAC components within the ducting runs.
4.1 HVAC Component Representation in the Catalogue

Each HVAC component is represented in the PDMS catalogue by the following types of
data:
physical shape
variables.
4.1.1 HVAC Physical Shape

The physical shape of a component is defined by a set of geometric primitives.
So that a component can be manipulated and linked to adjacent HVAC items, all principal
points needed to define the component position, orientation and connectivity are identified
by uniquely-numbered tags.
These tags, which have both position and direction, are called p-points.
Each p-point is identified by a number of the format P0, P1, P2 and so on.
P0 always represents the components origin position.
The principal inlet and outlet points are also identified as p-arrive (PA) and p-leave (PL) P1
is the same point as p-arrive, and P2 is the same point as p-leave.
4.1.2 HVAC Variables

The settings of all variables needed to distinguish a component from others with the same
geometry and p-point sets are defined by parameters. The values of these are defined to
suit the specific design requirements.
For example, how a rectangular three-way component (or branch connector) might be
represented in the PDMS catalogue is shown:
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P0
(origin) P3
P2
(branch connection)
(P-leave or PL)
P1 (P-arrive or PA)
the two curved duct sections form the component geometry set
the four p-points form its point set
p-point, P3, enables you to control the direction of the branch connection arm when
you incorporate the component into your design.
The dimensions of the component, and other constructional details, are represented in the
catalogue by parameters whose values are set to suit the design requirements.
4.2 Starting the HVAC Application

So far, you have been working in PDMS DESIGNs General application mode, where the
menus and facilities available are common to all engineering design disciplines. You can
now start the HVAC-specific application, which tailors the functionality of the PDMS DESIGN
module to suit the explicit needs of the HVAC designer.
Example continues:
31. Change from the General application to the HVAC application, by selecting
Design>HVAC Designer.
The menu bar for the General application is replaced by that for the HVAC application.
The menu bars for both applications look very similar, but the latter gives you access to
options with specific relevance to creating and manipulating HVAC components.
4.3 Setting HVAC Defaults

To minimise the complexity of this example, you will set some defaults for your HVAC
Designer task:
a default detailing specification
the format of the HVAC form
customised HVAC forms.
4.3.1 Setting a Default Detailing Specification

The constructional details of components that you select from the HVAC catalogue are
determined by the current detailing specification, which is shown on the HVAC application
menu bar. The current detailing specification is automatically set to TUTORIAL here.
The TUTORIAL specification gives access to a range of catalogue components that are
suitable for use with this design example. Although you can, if you wish, select a different
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specification for each HVAC branch, you will use the same specification throughout the
example.
To view the current detailing specification, you can call the Detailing Specification
Generator form from Utilities>Specification Generator.
4.3.2 Choosing the HVAC Form Format

All the principal functions for creating, positioning, orientating and connecting HVAC
elements are available from within a single form, the Heating, Ventilation, Air
Conditioning (HVAC) form (generally referred to as the HVAC form).
The HVAC form has two display formats:
the brief form, the default, uses drop-down lists to show the elements available for
selection when you are creating a design.
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the full form uses scrollable lists to show the elements available for selection, and also
offers more complex positioning options.
It is preferable to use the full form while you are learning about PDMS, so this guide uses
examples of the full form only.
Brief Form (default):
Full Form:
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Example continues:
32. Display the HVAC form by selecting Create>HVAC.
33. Display the HVAC Defaults settings form by selecting Settings>Ductwork Defaults.
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34. Select Style>Use Full Form from the HVAC Defaults form menu.
4.3.3 Customising HVAC Forms

You can customise the appearance and behaviour of the forms for creating and modifying
HVAC components. This enables you to modify forms to suit, for example, your preferences,
or the type of design work you are doing.
You will apply settings that provide you with the support you need as you learn about the
HVAC application.
Example continues:
35. Select Style>Style Options from the HVAC Defaults form menu.
36. On the HVAC Form Style form:
Set the Show Local Views check box. This displays a small 3D graphical view
showing the current component in its design context.
Set the Local Views Shade check box. This shows local views in colour-shaded
(as opposed to wireline) representation.
Set the Show Pixmaps check box. This automatically displays diagrams showing
component geometries to help you select items from the catalogue.
Set the Show Forms check box. This displays a create/modify form automatically
when you add a new component to the design, so that you can adjust the default
dimensions and/or orientation as required.
Leave the OK/Cancel Forms check box unset. This gives component create and
modify forms Apply and Dismiss buttons (instead of OK and Cancel buttons), so
that they remain available for repeated use until dismissed explicitly.
37. Click Dismiss.

38. Select Control>Close from the HVAC Defaults form menu.
After applying these settings, your screen should look like the following:
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4.4 Creating HVAC Administrative Elements

You are now ready to create administrative elements which govern the positions of
individual HVAC components within the database hierarchy. The first elements are:
an HVAC system element
an HVAC branch element (the branch head).
4.4.1 Creating an HVAC System Element
Example continues:
39. Make sure that your current element is HVACZONE.
40. In the HVAC form
From Categories, select HVAC / Branches.
From Available Types, select HVAC System Element.
41. In the displayed Create HVAC form, enter HTESTHVAC in the HVAC Name text box
and leave the Primary System text box set to No System.
42. Click OK to create the element.
4.4.2 Creating an HVAC Branch Element

There are two types of HVAC branch element:
main branch
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side branch.
These differ only in the way they are added to the design:
a main branch requires you to position and orientate its head explicitly
a side branch takes its head position and orientation from a branch connection point
(P3) on an existing three-way component.
Your first HVAC branch element will be a main branch element, the branch head.
Example continues:
43. In the HVAC form, with Categories still set to HVAC / Branches, select Main Branch
Element from Available Types.
44. In the displayed HVAC Main Branch Element form:
Enter Branch Name: HTESTB1.
Set Branch Head Shape to Rect (rectangular).
Set Head Direction to N (this is the direction looking along the ductwork run from
the head position towards the first component).
Set the Arrive A dimension, Duct width AA to 1000.
Set the Arrive B dimension, Duct depth AB to 500.
Set Insulation Thickness to 50mm (this adds 50mm of insulation automatically to
each surface of all components and ducting owned by the branch).
Select ID Design PPoint from the Head Start drop-down list.
Your last selection, ID Design PPoint, enables you to specify the position of the
Branch Head by picking a p-point. You will pick the p-point at the centre of the hole
in the front wall of the structure.
45. Leave the HVAC Main Branch Element form as it is, and go to the 3D View.
46. In the 3D View tool bar, click , and zoom in on the hole in the front wall of the
structure.
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47. Now go back to the HVAC Main Branch Element form, and click Apply.
You are prompted by the status bar to Identify design ppoint.
48. Position the cursor on the edge of the box representing the hole and press and hold
down the left-hand mouse button. The p-points appear as dots. Move the cursor around
the box, continuing to hold down the left-hand mouse button. Each time the cursor is
over a p-point, the p-point is identified in the status bar.
49. Locate p-point P5 in the centre of the southernmost face of the negative box
representing the hole in the wall, and release the mouse button over it.
50. Dismiss the HVAC Main Branch Element form.
You have now defined the branch head.
4.5 Creating HVAC Components

Starting at the branch head, you will now build up your HVAC design. You will add individual
components sequentially, and position and orientate each of these as you proceed.
You will be creating the following overall HVAC configuration:
square round
to to
round square
radiused
bend
three-way connector
circular
silencer
Branch
tail
radiused fire
bend damper
radiused
bend N
fire square bend with deflector vanes

damper
straight
Branch
head
Example continues:
51. The first component required is a rectangular straight, to be aligned with the hole in the
southernmost wall:
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Straight will be
created here N
Branch head is here

Straight will be
moved to here Branch head will be moved to here
Note: The diagrams used throughout this example are for illustrative purposes only and are
not to scale.
52. In the HVAC form, select Rectangular from the Categories list.
53. In the displayed HVAC Rectangular Ductwork form, click on the Straight diagram in
the top left-hand corner of the palette.
Note: The full range of HVAC components palettes is given in HVAC Component Palettes.
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This displays the Rectangular Straight form which has data fields for all the
parameters needed to define the component. The initial data settings on component
definition forms are determined by a set of default values.
Note: Instead of selecting from the palette, it is also possible to display the Straight form
by selecting Straight from the Available Types list in the HVAC form. This method
will be used in preference for the remainder of the design example.
54. To see what the parameters mean in terms of the component geometry, click the
Picture button on the form. This displays the HVAC Component form containing a
dimensioned and annotated diagram showing how the component is defined in the
catalogue.
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Compare the data categories on the Straight form with the diagram, to see how these
are related.
Note: There is a full set of component geometry diagrams in HVAC Catalogue.
55. Close the HVAC Component form.

56. Click Apply on the Straight form to accept the default parameters, then click Dismiss.
The rectangular straight is created and positioned with its PA at the branch head, so
that it is inside the structure.
To move the straight to the required position, you need to move it south 5000mm and
down 96mm.
57. Go to the Position:- area on the HVAC form. In the text box next to the Move by
button, enter the required displacement; S5000D96.
58. The straight is moved as soon as you press Return to confirm the data.
59. You can check that the straight is in the correct position by selecting
Query>Position>Origin from the main menu bar. The position, shown in an HVAC
Command Output window, is:
E 3048mm S 5125mm U 3300mm.
60. To reposition the branch head so that it coincides with the PA of the straight, go to the
drop-down lists in the bottom row of the Connect:- area on the HVAC form:
Set HVAC Branch to Head
Select First Member from the adjacent drop-down list.
This connects (and therefore repositions) the head of the current branch to the PA
of the first component, the straight (the only branch member so far).
Note: You could have positioned the branch head here when you first created it, but this
would have required you to calculate its coordinates explicitly. It is usually easier, as
here, to position a new item relative to an existing design point and then to move it
later.
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61. With the straight selected as the current element, it is possible to make modifications to
the component by clicking Modify CE on the HVAC form to display the Rectangular
Straight form in the Modify mode. This allows you to edit any or all of the parameter
settings as required. Dismiss the form without making any changes.
4.5.1 Creating a Fire Damper

The next step in the construction of your HVAC design is to create a fire damper at the
position where the ducting will pass through the hole in the wall.
Example continues:
62. The last operation made the branch head the current element. Each new component is
created immediately after the current component in branch list order. So to create a
component after the straight, you must navigate back to the straight. To do this, click on
the straight in the 3D View.
63. In the HVAC form:
from Categories, select Inline Plant Equipment
from Available Types, select Rectangular Fire Damper.
64. On the Rectangular Fire Damper form, name the component FD1. Leave all parameter
settings at their default values, and click Apply to create the fire damper, then click
Dismiss.
4.5.2 Moving the Fire Damper

The fire damper is automatically positioned so that its PA is coincident with the PL of the
preceding straight. You will now move it so that it fits within the wall.
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Fire damper
moved to here N
Fire damper
created here
Example continues:
65. In the Position:- area of the HVAC form, set Through to ID Element.
66. You are prompted to identify an element; pick any part of the southernmost wall.
The fire damper is moved northward along its axis until it lies in the plane of the wall,
and you are now no longer able to see the fire damper in the 3D View, because it is
hidden within the negative box that represents the hole through the wall.
The gap between the straight and the fire damper is filled automatically by a length of
implied ducting in the 3D View. Note that implied ducting is not shown as an element in
the Design Explorer.
67. Change the 3D View direction to Plan>North, so that your view appears similar to the
diagrams shown here.
4.5.3 Creating a Composite Component

The HVAC components you have created so far have each been represented by a single
PDMS element. Some HVAC components, however, are composite components,
represented by more than one PDMS element.
You must be particularly careful that you are at the correct position in the Design Explorer
when you want to refer to such a component. The next part of the example shows you how
composite components are represented within the PDMS hierarchy.
Example continues:
68. Use the HVAC form to create a Rectangular Square Bend:
set Leave Direction to W
leave all other settings at their default.
69. Click Apply.
70. A message appears warning you that the hierarchy has been affected by the creation
of this component. OK the warning message.
71. The bend is created as shown:
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PL of
bend
N
Note: Implied ducting shown by lighter

shading than HVAC components in all
diagrams
The Design Explorer now shows two new elements:

BEND 1 represents the bend ducting
SPLR 1 represents the set of air deflectors within the bend (created because a
square bend requires turning vanes).
The message you saw when creating this component was warning you to be careful when
you attempt to navigate to this component because the component itself comprises more
than one PDMS element.
If you navigate to the square bend simply by picking it with the cursor, you are almost certain
to select the element representing the outer ducting. The deflector set that also forms part of
the component, follows the bend in branch order (as you can see in the Design Explorer).
You must make sure that, if you wish to create a component to follow the bend in the branch
order, you must click on the element that represents the deflectors.
Branch members:
...
PL previous component
bend ducting (BEND)
deflector set (SPLR)
next component
PA
...
To see the deflectors inside the bend, switch the 3D View temporarily to wireline mode
(press F8, to toggle between colour-shaded and wireline views).
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4.6 Adding more HVAC Components to your Ductwork
4.6.1 Creating a Rectangular Radiused Bend
Example continues:
72. Using the Design Explorer, make sure that the deflector set of the rectangular square
bend (SPLR 1) is your current element.
73. Use the HVAC form to create a Rectangular Radiused Bend:
set Inside Radius to 100
set Leave Direction to N
leave the defaults for all other settings.
74. Click Apply.
Radiused bend
4.6.2 Repositioning the Rectangular Radiused Bend

You need to position the new bend in the plane of the westernmost wall.
Example continues:
75. Position the new bend in the plane of the westernmost wall by using Position:-
Through set to ID Element on the HVAC form. Pick the wall, or rather, because you are
using a plan view, pick the beam above it.
76. Now move the bend to fit just inside the wall, and downwards so that the ducting
leaving it passes under the beam across the structure roof. Enter Position:- Move by
E800D150. The result is:
Duct to pass
under beam
Broken line here shows

components are now misaligned
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4.6.3 Creating a Rectangular Mitred Offset

Because you have moved the radiused bend downwards, its inlet (PA) is not vertically
aligned with the outlet (PL) of the preceding component. This is indicated in the 3D View by
a broken line between the components, rather than implied ducting. To correct this problem,
you will insert a mitred offset section between the two components.
Example continues:
77. Remember that a new component is always added immediately after the current
element, so navigate back to the deflector set (SPLR1) of the square bend.
78. Create a Rectangular Mitred Offset.
79. PDMS has a powerful facility that can calculate the length and amount of offset needed
to fit the new component automatically into the available space. Simply click the Fit
button on the Mitred Offset form. The calculated data is entered into the parameter
data fields: note, for example, that the A Offset is now set to 150.
You may wish to zoom in close to the mitred offset and view it from different angles to
see how it has been adjusted to fit between the two bends.
4.6.4 Creating a Second Rectangular Radiused Bend
Example continues:
80. Navigate back to the last component in the branch, the radiused bend.
81. Create a second radiused bend with:
the default Inside Radius (0.5 means 0.5 x duct width)
Leave Direction E, in the following position:
New bend
here
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82. Position the bend in the plane of the northernmost wall (use Through : ID Element and
pick the wall or beam above it).
83. Move the bend South by 1500mm (use Move by : S1500).
4.6.5 Adding a Circular Section Silencer

To include a circular section silencer in your rectangular ductwork, you need a
transformation piece either side of the silencer.
Example continues:
from Categories, select Transformations
from Available Types, select Square to Round
In the Square to Round Transformation form:
set Duct Diameter to 750.
85. Position the transformation piece in line with the first beam reached in the branch-
creation direction, shown striped in the preceding diagram
86. Move the transformation piece 300mm East.
87. Back in the HVAC form:
from Categories, select Inline Plant Equipment
from Available Types, select Circular Silencer
In the Circular Silencer form:
name the component SILE1
set Outer Diameter to 950.
You will now add another transformation piece to revert back to rectangular
ducting. However, instead of specifying this from first principles, you will create
a copy of the existing transformation piece, and reverse it to achieve the desired
round-to-square result.
88. On the HVAC form, click the Copy ID button. When prompted, pick the square-to-round
transformation that you want to copy.
89. On the Square to Round Transformation form, set the Flip Circ/Rect option to Yes.
This interchanges the PA and PL points reversing the components direction.
Your HVAC layout now looks as shown:
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Round to
square
Square Circular
to round silencer
4.6.6 Adding a Three-way Component and Terminating the Branch

A three-way component enables you to connect one branch to another. You will need a
three-way component so that you can connect a side branch into your existing main branch
later in the design example.
Example continues:
To create a three-way component:
from Categories, select Rectangular
from Available Types, select Square Threeway
In the Square Threeway form:
set Duct Width LA (leave A dimension) to 800
set Second Width (for the branch connection) to 800
set Leave Direction to S.
You require a gap of 1500mm between the three-way component and the
preceding component (the round-to-square transformation). The Distance
operation on the HVAC form enables you to do this by allowing you to specify
the gap between the PL of one component and the PA of the next, thereby
avoiding the need for you to calculate the movement required to reposition it.
91. Move the three-way component along the branch axis by setting Distance to 1500.
92. You can make sure that the gap is correct; navigate back to the round-to-square
transformation and select Query>Gap to next from the main menu bar.
93. Return to the square three-way component and create a Rectangular Radiused Bend
with default dimensions and Leave Direction East.
94. Align the bend with the hole in the easternmost wall using the Through : ID Element
option. Pick the edge of the box outline on this wall.
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Note: The current branch direction (the PL direction of the previous component) was
changed to South by the three-way item, so the bend moves south until it is aligned
with the picked element.
95. Create a second Rectangular Fire Damper, give it the name FD2, and position it
through the hole in the easternmost wall.
4.6.7 Defining the Branch Tail

You complete the definition of your main branch by defining the branch tail.
Example continues:
96. Connect the Branch Tail to the fire damper (the last member of the branch):
Select Tail from the HVAC Branch drop-down list in the Connect:- area at the foot
of the HVAC form.
Select Last Member from the adjacent drop-down list.
This uses the same method that you used to connect the branch head.
The final HVAC configuration is shown:
square round unconnected P3

to to ready to attach a
round square side branch
radiused
bend
threeway
connector
1500
circular
silencer
Branch
tail
radiused fire
bend damper
vertical
offset
radiused
bend N
fire square bend (inc.

damper deflector vanes)
straight
Branch
head
97. Save your design changes.

That completes the creation of your main branch. In the next chapter, you will add some side
branches and employ a convenient utility for representing ceiling tiles which incorporate
ventilation grilles. You will also replace all of the implied ducting with appropriate standard
straights.
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Adding to the HVAC Model
5 Adding to the HVAC Model
In the last chapter you created a sequence of components to form the main branch of your
HVAC ductwork. In this chapter you will:
learn how to position tiles using a working grid
extend your model by adding some side branches.
5.1 Grid/Tiling Utility

You begin by using some facilities for setting out a working grid and positioning ceiling tiles
within it, so that you can then use these tiles as references for positioning HVAC grilles.
With reference to your existing design model, the next part of the HVAC ducting network
which you are going to design will feed two ceiling grilles above the small room in the north-
east corner of the structure. In order to position these grilles, you will use a facility which lets
you set out a horizontal grid and a ceiling tile layout based on a specified datum point.
There are three stages to tiling:
Specify a setting-out point (SOP) to represent the datum from which grid line
positions are to be calculated.
Create grid lines at specified intervals, referenced from the SOP, in a horizontal plane.
Add tiles at specified positions in the plane of the grid.
Example continues:
Note: If your screen is cluttered, you may wish to dock the HVAC form to one side of the
window and then unpin it.
98. Navigate to the zone which owns the design model, HVACZONE. The grid/tiles are
created below this hierarchic level.
99. From the main menu bar, select Utilities>HVAC Tiles/Grid Layout>Setting Out
Point. This displays the HVAC Grid Setting Out Point form:
Enter S.O.P. Name: HTESTSOP1.
Enter Setting Out Point Height: 2700 (the elevation of the ceiling in which you will
eventually position the grilles).
Click OK.
You are prompted to pick the SOP position using the cursor in a plan view.
You want to position the SOP at the exact centre of the rooms ceiling. Rather than
trying to pick this point precisely, you will pick a random point in the ceiling plane as
the SOP, and then move this point to the exact position required.
100. Pick a point.
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101. To move this point to the centre of the room, select Position>Explicitly (AT) from the
main menu bar. Enter the coordinates E15000 N9000 U2700 on the Explicit Position
form.
The SOP appears in the 3D View as a small sphere, and is represented by a DISH
element in the PDMS hierarchy.
102. You next define a grid in the plane of the ceiling (a horizontal reference grid) through
the SOP datum, with the grid lines spaced out from the SOP in both directions.
Select Utilities>HVAC Tiles/Grid Layout>Grid from S.O.P.. This displays the HVAC
Layout Grid from SOP form.
Leave the East/West and North/South Grid Spacing separations set to the default of
600.
103. Click OK. You might be prompted to identify the SOP from which the grid line positions
are calculated (unless it is already the current element): if so, pick the SOP which you
have just created. You must now define the horizontal rectangular area which
represents the grid boundaries. You are prompted to pick first the south-west corner
and then the north-east corner in a plan view. Pick the corresponding corners of the
room (the intersections of the beams at these corners).
Since your room is 6000x6000mm, the 600mm grid line spacing gives you 10 grid
squares in each direction within the ceiling area.
Pick NE
corner
second
= S.O.P.
= Tiles to
be added
Pick SW
corner first
Note: If the room was not rectangular, you could build up an overall grid by using abutting
rectangles based on separate setting-out points. Also note that in reality the ceiling
grid will probably be modelled by another discipline using the latest PDMS
accommodation ceiling grid functionality. The same applies to any structure created
in the model, where the structure in a real model would be modelled not as primitives
but as walls, floors and steel sections etc.
To complete this part of the example, you create two tiles in the ceiling grid where you
want to install HVAC grilles (as shown by the shaded and striped grid squares in the
preceding diagram).
104. Select Utilities>HVAC Tiles/Grid Layout>Apply Tiles in Grid. This displays the
HVAC Apply Tiles in Grid form.
Leave the East/West and North/South Tile Width dimensions set to the default of
600. (They do not have to be the same size as the grid squares, but are usually so in
practice.)
105. Click OK.
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You are prompted to identify the SOP with the grid for to positioning the tiles. Even
though there is only one, pick the SOP to confirm your intentions.
You are now prompted to identify the locations at which you want to insert tiles.
106. Pick the grid squares marked and in the above diagram (the picked points
snap to the nearest half tile, so you dont need to be too precise). Then press the
Escape key to indicate that you have finished adding tiles.
5.2 Creating Side Branches

You next want to create a side branch which runs from a start point on the main branch and
which passes between the tile positions. You then add two more side branches, each
running from a point on the first side branch to the tile positions (remember that you need a
separate branch for each length of ducting between two points).
The ducting network is completed by adding a fourth side branch, leading to an angled
outlet mesh, from the unconnected arm of the square three-way component.
To start with, you must insert a suitable connector into the main branch so that you have a
point to which you can connect the side branch head.
Example continues:
107. Navigate to the existing three-way item. You will insert another branch connector
immediately after it in the branch sequence.
108. If you unpinned it earlier, re-display the HVAC form by hovering over the HVAC tab.
109. Use the HVAC form to create the next component:
from Categories, select Branch Connectors
from Available Types, select Flat Oval A Boot.
set Boot Width to 610
set Boot Depth to 152
set B Offset to 100
set Boot Direction to E.
110. Click Apply.
P3
P3 of boot connector
Boot connector with aligned with SOP
flat oval side outlet P3
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You want the oval ducting to pass along the centreline of the ceiling, so position the
current component so that its outlet is aligned with the SOP datum at the ceilings
centre.
(using the Through : ID Element facility on the HVAC form):
from Categories, select HVAC / Branches
from Available Types, select Side Branch (off main).
112. In the HVAC Side Branch form:
Set Branch Name to HTESTB1.1 (showing that it is a side branch of main branch
HTESTB1)
Leave Specification set to the current default (the same specification as the main
branch)
Set Insulation Thickness to 50mm
Leave Insulation Spec set to the current default (CADCHVACISPEC)
Because you are creating a side branch, it is assumed that you will connect its head
to a free P3 point on an existing component. Set the Connect Head to option
button to Branch Connector to show the type of component to which this connection
is made.
Click Apply. When prompted, pick the flat oval boot connector.
Note: You can pick any part of the component; the new branch head will always be
connected to its P3 point.)
113. Create a Flat Oval Straight as the first member of the new side branch. Set its Width
Direction to N.
You are now going to create two circular boot connectors from which to route outlets to
the two tile positions. You create these and position them before you create the second
straight to which they are connected, so that the boots can be positioned relative to the
tiles and the length of the straight can then be adjusted to suit the boot positions.
114. Make the oval straight as current element.
from Available Types, select Circular Boot
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In the Circular Boot form:

set Boot Diameter to 150
set Inner Extension to 76
set Dist from Leave to 100
leave Boot Direction set to N.
This boot is positioned 100mm back from the PL of the straight on which it is
mounted (which is only implied at this stage).
116. Move the boot so that it is aligned through the northernmost tile (shown as in the
diagrams).
117. Create a second circular boot as follows:
from Available Types, select Circular Boot
set Boot Diameter to 150
set Inner Extension to 76
set Dist from Leave to 700
set Boot Direction to S.
This Dist from Leave dimension positions the boot 700mm back from the PL of the
previous boot. Since the previous boot was set back 100mm from its PL, the
difference between the boot positions corresponds to the 600mm offset between
the two tile positions. The result is as follows:
tile
main 100
branch
straight first circular boot
side PLs of both

branch
circular boots
oval are here
second circular boot
boot 700
tile
You can now replace the implied ducting between the circular boots with a straight
component. Because the boots are subcomponents, you must first navigate back to
the existing straight in this side branch.
118. Navigate back two positions (to STRT1 in HTESTB1.1) in the Design Explorer.
119. Create a second Flat Oval Straight, and use the Fit button to achieve the required
length between the PL of the first straight and the PL of each circular boot.
The calculated Length is 2525.
120. To complete this first side branch, add a cap to close the end of the last straight;
navigate to the last component of HTESTB1.1 in the Design Explorer (the
southernmost circular boot) and create a Flat Oval Cap End.
(Remember that the PL of this boot is as shown in the above diagram, and not within
the boot volume itself, so that the cap should be positioned correctly and appear in the
correct list order.)
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121. Connect the HVAC Branch Tail to the Last Member of the branch (the cap).
Your second side branch will run from the northernmost circular boot to a grille in the
adjacent tile.
122. Navigate to the first side branch (HTESTB1.1) and create a new side branch named
HTESTB1.1.1 with 50mm insulation thickness. Connect the head of the new side
branch to the circular boot connector.
123. Create a Circular Straight with Length set to 750.
124. To see what types of leave joint are available, click the Choose button next to the
Leajoint field. From the resulting Choose Joint form, select Male Socket & Spigot
Joint and click OK. The Leajoint field is updated to show MALE.
125. Create a Circular Internal Damper with default settings.
126. Create a Circular Flexible Bend with its Leave Direction set to D (down). Position the
bend so that it is aligned through the appropriate tile. (You will adjust the dimensions of
this bend later in the example.)
127. Use the HVAC form to create a circular to rectangular spigot box:
from Categories, select Transformations
from Available Types, choose a circular to rectangular spigot box by selecting
Spigot Box.
Set the following parameters:
Duct width LA = 300
Duct depth LB = 300
Rectangular Box Height = 75
Circ Extension = 50
Circ Jnt = MALE.
128. From the Inline Plant Equipment category, create a Rectangular Grille in line. Set the
parameters as follows:
Name = GRIL1
End width = 400
End depth = 400
Grille Length = 50
A Extension = 0
You want the grille to fit within the tile volume, so from the Position:- At drop-down
list on the HVAC form, select the option ID Element and, when prompted, pick the
tile. The origin of the grille is positioned at the origin of the tile.
Note: At this stage the PL of the spigot box and the PA of the grille have become
misaligned, so you see a broken line between them rather than a length of implied
ducting.)
Having positioned the grille correctly, you will now go back along the current side
branch and adjust the other components to fit, starting with the spigot box, which you
will position directly on top of the grille.
129. Navigate to the spigot box (PLEN 1 in the Design Explorer).
130. Select Position:- At : Next from the HVAC form positioning options.
131. Navigate to the flexible bend and click the Modify CE button on the HVAC form so that
you can adjust the dimensions of the flexible bend so that it fits correctly between the
internal damper (at its PA) and the spigot box (at its PL).
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132. Click the Fit button on the Circular Flexible Bend form to recalculate the dimensions
necessary for a correct fit. (The calculated Arrive Extension becomes 120 and the
Leave Extension 225.)
133. Complete the definition of the side branch by connecting its tail to the grille.
Looking towards the west, the side branch HTESTB1.1.1 now looks like this:
134. Use the method given above to create a similar side branch, named HTESTB1.1.2,
from the second circular boot to a grille (GRIL2) positioned in the other tile. (Remember
to navigate up to the level of branch HTESTB1.1 first.)
The overall layout of the HVAC ducting in the vicinity of the room now looks like this
(the different shades in this diagram show the branch hierarchy):
fourth side branch will go here
side branch side branch

/HTESTB1.1
/HTESTB1.1.1
main branch
/HTESTB.1
side
/HTESTB1.1.2
You can now complete the network by connecting an angled outlet grille to the side arm
of the square three-way component (top left in the preceding diagram). To do so, you
must create a fourth side branch.
135. Navigate to the three-way connector.
136. Create a side branch named HTESTB1.2 with insulation thickness 50mm. Set the
Connect Head to option button on the HVAC Side Branch form to Threeway Item and,
when prompted, pick the three-way component.
137. Create a Rectangular Radiused Bend.
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138. Because you want the bend to turn in the B direction (click the Picture button for
clarification), click the Transpose width/depth button. The Duct width AA becomes
500 and the Duct depth AB becomes 800.
139. Set the Angle to 135, the Inside Radius to 100, and the Leave Direction to D.
140. Create a Rectangular Radiused Splitter which fits inside the bend (it is a subcomponent
of the bend). Set the Splitter Radius to 200. If you are using a colour-shaded view,
switch to wireline mode (F8 key) to see the splitter.
141. Create a Rectangular Mesh End, using default settings, to complete the branch.
Connect the branch tail to the last member in the usual way.
This side branch now has the following configuration (looking towards the East):
135 square
radiused threeway
bend main branch
radiused
splitter Head
Tail
mesh end
To complete the network, you insert two sets of air turning vanes into the square three-
way component to control the air flows (similar to those which you saw in the square
bend).
142. Navigate to the square three-way component and switch to wireline view (if not already
set) so that you can see what happens next.
143. Create the first set of Rectangular Turning Vanes. Change the Duct Width AA to 500
and leave the other settings at their defaults. Note in particular that the Leave Throat is
150 and that the Direction towards leave option button is selected.
144. Create a second set of Rectangular Turning Vanes. This time set the Duct Width AA to
500, the Leave Throat to 650 and select the Direction opposite leave option button.
The result, and the significance of the settings used, are illustrated.
P3 of three-way
Direction opposite leave

(second set)
650 from leave throat

Direction towards leave
(first set)
150 from leave throat
PA and PL of both deflectors
This completes the conceptual design of the basic HVAC network. In the next chapter you
look at some ways in which you can enhance this design further.
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Completing the Design
6 Completing the Design
In this chapter you look at some facilities for enhancing the basic HVAC design model. The
main features described are:
Automatic replacement of implied ducting in gaps by catalogue straights.
Automatic addition of stiffening flanges to ductwork items.
Automatic item numbering of HVAC components.
6.1 Filling Ductwork Gaps Automatically

When you created the main branch, HTESTB1, you concentrated on specifying components
with specific functions, such as bends, side connection points, silencers and dampers. Most
of the gaps between these components were left undefined and were filled by lengths of
implied ducting to complete the representation shown in the 3D View.
To enable the design to be prefabricated, it is necessary to specify the fixed lengths of
ductwork (ductwork straights) required between these components, so that a full material
take-off list can be generated. The HVAC application is able to calculate the optimum
combination of standard and non-standard straights needed to fill each gap and then create
the corresponding components in the Design database automatically.
Example continues:
145. Navigate to the main branch HTESTB1.
146. To identify what gaps exist in the branch, select Utilities>Autofill with
Straights>Show Gaps.
147. Click Apply on the Highlight Implied Ductwork form.
For each gap in the named branch, the scrollable list area of the form shows the:
location (the preceding component)
length
calculated combination of straights needed to fill it.
All corresponding lengths of implied ducting are highlighted simultaneously in the
3D View.
The HTESTB1 list shows seven gaps:
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Compare this list with the items highlighted in the 3D View:
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148. Make sure you are still at HTESTB1, then select Utilities>Autofill with Straights>Fill
Gaps.
This displays the Autofill with Straights form.
149. Click Apply.
A list of all identified gaps, is again displayed as before, but this time the specified
straight lengths are created automatically to replace the implied ducting. Look at the
Design Explorer to see the new elements.
150. To make sure that the autofilling operation was carried out correctly, repeat the
appropriate previous steps to display the Highlight Implied Ductwork form.
The message No Gaps To Show confirms this. There is no need to dismiss the form
immediately because you still need to make sure that there are no gaps in any of the
four side branches.
151. To do so, navigate to each in turn, click the CE button at the top of the Highlight
Implied Ductwork form, then click the Apply button. In each case you should see the
No Gaps To Show message. (If not, go back and correct any errors in your design
before proceeding.)
6.2 Adding Stiffening Flanges

PDMS provides a utility for calculating the optimum numbers and positions of stiffening
flanges needed to support ductwork items. The configuration of the flanges is tailored to suit
the component geometry in each case. You can then create and position such flanges
automatically.
Note that, in the branch membership hierarchy, they are treated as subcomponents of the
straight.
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Example continues:
152. Add flanges to your ductwork in branch order, starting at the branch head; navigate to
the first straight in the main branch (the southernmost straight) to make it the current
element.
153. Use the HVAC form to calculate the number of stiffeners needed for this length of
ducting:
from Available Types, choose Stiffening.
The stiffening requirements are calculated, and displayed in the Rectangular
Stiffening form. As you can see, PDMS calculates that this component has a Spec
Requirement of 5 stiffening flanges.
154. To create all five stiffening flanges, click the Apply the Spec Requirement button. The
flanges are created and positioned automatically.
155. Navigate to the next straight and stiffen it in the same way; this straight is shorter, and
requires only four flanges.
156. Proceeding along the branch, add stiffeners in turn to the:
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square bend
mitred offset
radiused bend.
The stiffening flanges are configured to suit each different component shape.
mitred vertical offset

(1 stiffener)
square bend
(4 stiffeners)
radiused bend
(2 stiffeners)
fire damper
second straight
(4 stiffeners)
N
first straight
(5 stiffeners)
Note: Different shading identifies individual components; heaviest lines show flanges
joining components together.
6.3 Automatic Item Numbering and Naming

The item numbering facility automatically allocates sequential item numbers to all HVAC
components and gives each item a name of the format /PREFIXnumber, where /PREFIX is
a user-definable string and number is the allocated number. Subcomponents (air deflectors,
stiffening flanges and so on) are numbered as decimalised subsets of their owning
components.
Inline plant items, which are usually named, do not have their names changed.
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Example continues:
157. To autonumber all HVAC items in your current design model, navigate to the owning
HVAC element, HTESTHVAC.
158. Select Utilities>Automatic Itemising from the main menu. This displays the HVAC
Itemising form:
enter Naming Prefix: /HTEST/ITEM
leave Start Number set to 1
Click Apply.
The HVAC Command Output window that is displayed, lists all HVAC items and
their allocated numbers.
When you compare the entries in this itemising list with those in the Design
Explorer, you can see that each item (except any inline component) is now named
in the Design Explorer using the specified prefix /HTEST/ITEM suffixed by the item
number. For example, the first two straights in the main branch, and their stiffening
flange subcomponents, appear as shown (the numbers like =15312/160 and so on
are internal database reference numbers, which you can ignore).
6.4 Calculating HVAC Component Surface Area and

Weight
The surface area and weight is calculated each time an HVAC component is created or
modified.
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Example continues:
159. To see the calculated surface area and weight of a particular component, navigate to
the first component in the HVAC design layout, a rectangular straight.
160. Select Utilities>Surface Area & Weight. The Surface Area & Weight (HVAC) form
displays:
161. Click the CE button to make the straight the current element, then click Apply.
All calculated results are listed in the HVAC Command Output window. The exact data
headings shown will depend on the type of element from which the results are derived.
6.5 Calculating HVAC Centre of Gravity

To calculate the collective centre of gravity of a specified group of ductwork items, it is
necessary first to create the group, which can be any combination of HVAC elements,
branches and components. Consider the section of the system which includes the first
bend, as shown:
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Example continues:
162. Select Create>Group to display the Group Creation form.
163. In the Group Creation form:
Enter Name : bendGroup
Enter Function : HVAC
Click Apply to create the group
The Group Modification form is displayed ready for you to add design element to the
new group.
Note: All Group elements must be owned by a Group World (GPWL). A new GPWL will be
created automatically if a suitable one does not exist when you create your first
Group.
164. In the Group Modification form use the scrollable Members List, with its associated
Goto button, to navigate to that part of the hierarchy containing the bend group.
165. In the Members list select HTEST/ITEM3 and click Add. This action adds the bend
element to the Group Members list.
166. Continue adding elements using the same method until the required group of elements
is shown in the Group Members list.
Note: Elements can be removed from the Group Members list by selecting the element
and clicking Remove.
167. Select the bendGroup in the Members list to display the Attributes of bendGroup
form. The Description and Purpose fields are currently unpopulated.
168. At the bendGroup, select Utilities>Surface Area & Weight. With CE set to the Group
name in the Surface Area & Weight (HVAC) form, click Apply to calculate the total
weight of the ductwork items.
169. At the bendGroup, now select Utilities>Centre of Gravity. The Centre of Gravity
(HVAC) form displays with CE set to bendGroup.
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170. Click Apply.

An HVAC Command Output window displays showing a Total Weight of 495.743 kg
with C of G at East 2107.7 North 713.784 Up 3234.84 wrt/*.
The Description field in the Attributes of bendGroup form is also populated with the
same information and the Purpose field is now set to COFG. In addition an axes
symbol is displayed at the calculated centre of gravity in the 3D View. The elements
included in the calculation are highlighted. Click the Unhighlight button on the Centre
of Gravity (HVAC) form to remove this effect.
6.6 Finishing off Design Details

You can now complete design details for the ductwork straights you have recently created to
replace implied ducting. To do this, you will:
modify joint types to suit the final design
insert an access panel into the side of a length of ducting.
6.6.1 Modifying Joint Types

When the lengths of implied ducting leading to the two fire dampers were replaced with
straight components, the connecting joints will have been assumed to remain as default
flanged joints. In fact, the fire dampers require raw edge joints, such that the ducting simply
fits over the damper inlet and outlet.
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Example continues:
The inlet joint for the damper is, in both cases, the leave joint for the straight that precedes
the damper.
171. To modify either one of these joints, navigate to the preceding straight.
172. On the HVAC form, click the Modify CE button. On the resulting Rectangular Straight
form (in Modify mode), click the Leajoint Choose button and, from the Choose Joint
(HVAC) form, select Raw Edge Joint, slip over 40mm. The leave joint field is now set to
RE40.
173. Click Apply.

174. Use the same procedure to modify the inlet to the other fire damper.
175. To modify the outlet joint between the first damper and the square bend (the arrive joint
of the bend), navigate to the bend and click Modify CE. On the resulting Rectangular
Square Bend form, click the Arrjoint Prev button. The arrive joint field is set to RE40
by automatic reference to the previous component, namely the fire damper. Apply the
change.
6.6.2 Inserting an Access Panel

The final component of your HVAC ducting network is an access panel in the end straight of
the main branch.
176. You now insert an access panel, whose catalogue definition includes a predefined
working volume, into the side of the last straight. (The reason for doing this will become
clear when you look at clash checking in the next chapter.)
177. Navigate to the appropriate straight. (This is the one named HTEST/ITEM21 by the
itemising utility, and connected to fire damper FD2.)
178. Use the HVAC form to create the access panel:
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from Available Types, choose Access Panel
from Select Size options, which show all panel sizes available in the catalogue,
select 400x350
click the Transpose width/depth button to give the required configuration (350 W x
400 H).
179. Click Apply.
When created, the panel appears in the 3D View as a rectangular plate standing
slightly proud of the ducting surface. In the next section you will look at its hidden
geometry in more detail.
180. Run the automatic itemising utility again so that the access panel is included in the item
list.
6.7 Changing the View Representation

You have already seen how to control which design elements appear in the 3D View by
using the Draw List to add or remove items as required. You have also seen how to control
the viewable volume and the viewing direction by using the options from the 3D Views
shortcut menu. You will now see how you can further refine the view by specifying different
levels of detail for the items being displayed.
Example continues:
181. The amount of detail shown in the 3D View for different types of component is
controlled by the current representation settings. To see what these settings are, select
Settings>Graphics>Representation from the main menu. This displays the
Representation form. You look at just two of its options here.
The geometric representation of a catalogue component can include, in addition to its
normal physical shape, an obstruction volume which represents the space around the
component needed for maintenance or operational access. The access panel
previously created is an example of such an item. To see what the obstruction volume
looks like, set the Obstruction option to Solid on the Representation form and click
OK.
Zoom in close to the access panel and see how its appearance has changed. The
effect, exaggerated here for emphasis, is as shown:
access
panel
obstruction
volume
To reset the normal view, redisplay the Representation form and set Obstruction to
Off and click OK.
182. The holes through the walls, where the fire dampers are situated, may be shown either
as boxes (specially shaded to show that they represent negative boxes, holes) or as
true holes. So far you have used the shaded box representation so that you could pick
the holes graphically to identify them. To switch to a more realistic representation,
select Holes Drawn and click Apply.
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Look carefully at each hole in turn. You are now able to see the ducting and fire
dampers where they penetrate the walls.
Drawing Levels
Each component has a drawing level defined in the catalogue. Some of the drawing levels
available are shown here.
That completes the introduction to the basic HVAC routing operations. In the following parts
of the design example you will look at some ways of checking the design model and
outputting some design data derived from the database settings.
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Checking and Outputting Design Data
7 Checking and Outputting Design Data
In this chapter you learn about:

methods of checking for errors and inconsistencies in the HVAC layout
checking for clashes (spatial interferences) between design elements
how to output a design data report derived from the design model
how to generate an isometric plot.
Note: Most of these facilities are available from all Design applications, so you can readily
check and output data from any combination of design disciplines.
7.1 Querying Data Settings

First, you look at some ways in which you can query specific data settings as you build up
the design model, so that you can check detailed design points at any stage.
Example continues:
183. Navigate to the square three-way component and then select Query>Item
Details>Brief Description from the main menu. This displays the summary showing
the components type, key dimensions and joint specifications, in an HVAC Command
Output window.
Repeat this operation for some other components (and subcomponents).

184. Navigate to the first (southernmost) straight and select Query>Item Details>Item
Number. The resulting output, labelled Item Number 1, is appended to the output from
the previous query.
185. At any component, select Query>Item Details>Insulation Depth. The resulting output
should always say Insulation 50mm, since you specified this insulation thickness when
you created each branch.
186. Use the following Query options for several different types of component:
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Query>Position>Origin
Query>Position>Position PA
Query>Position>Position PL
Compare the results with the catalogue definitions for the corresponding components,
as illustrated in HVAC Catalogue.
7.2 Checking for Design Data Inconsistencies

The Data Consistency Checking Utility reports the following types of occurrence (and
other similar errors) in the design:
Branch head or tail reference not set
Branch head or tail reference type not valid
Adjoining components have incorrectly ordered PA and PL points; for example, one
component may have been flipped while its neighbour was not
Distance between a component and a connected neighbour, or between a component
and the branch head or tail, is not valid
Neighbouring connected components, or a component and the branch head or tail,
have their PA/PL misaligned
Arrive or leave joint has wrong connection type
Alignment of rectangular and flat oval duct
Transposition of rectangular duct height and width
Rotation angle of circular duct is within acceptable bounds.
Example continues:
187. To check your design for data consistency errors, select Utilities>Data Consistency.
This displays the Data Consistency Check form. Use the default settings for all data
checking operations.
The error report can be sent either to your screen or to a file. You will view it on screen,
so select Output: Screen.
The Check list lets you specify how much of the design model you want to check in a
single operation. You will check each branch separately, so select Branch from the list.
188. Navigate to any component in the main branch HTESTB1 and click Apply to initiate the
data checking process.
The resulting diagnosis is shown in the scrollable text area at the bottom of the form.
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These two messages remind you that the head and tail of the branch have not been
explicitly terminated and are not connected to any external items. (Each branch end
would normally be connected to, say, an air handling unit or to some other ductwork in
an adjacent design zone.)
189. Repeat the check for each of the side branches in turn.
Note: For the purposes of this example, you can ignore any messages that may appear.
It is good practice to run a data consistency check whenever you have created or modified
any significant amount of the design, typically before you choose Design>Save Work.
7.3 Data Check Functions

Further checking can be carried out using the Data Checker Utility which includes a
customised class of checks specific to the HVAC function. Also any additional check can be
user defined in PML.
You will now apply a set of checks to the three branch connectors included in the HVAC
ducting network and shown highlighted in the 3D View.
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Example continues:
190. Select Utilities>Data Checker to display the Checker form.
191. In the Checker form:
Enter Check Items: /HTESTHVAC
From Classes drop-down list, select HVAC
From Groups drop-down list, select Branch Connectors
Three checks specific to branch connectors are shown.
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192. Click the Check button to display the Checker Results form. The form shows the
passed and failed items for the designated branch connector checks.
You can extend/change these functions using AVEVAs PML2 facilities, see the Plant Design
Software Customisation Reference Manual for a full description of PML2.
7.4 Checking for Clashes

The types of clash identified depend on two factors:
The obstruction levels of the clashing elements
The current touch and clearance tolerances.
7.4.1 Obstruction Levels

All design primitives and all catalogue primitives have an obstruction attribute (OBST) which
defines the physical type of obstruction which the primitive represents:
A hard obstruction (OBST=2) represents a rigid and impenetrable object, such as a
steel beam.
A soft obstruction (OBST=1) represents a volume which is not solid but which needs to
be kept clear for access.
Any primitive with OBST=0 represents a freely accessible volume and is ignored for
clash checking purposes.
7.4.2 Extent of Clashing

As well as distinguishing between hard and soft clashing items, the checking utility
recognises three categories of clash between them, depending on how far the two primitives
intrude on each others allocated space. These categories are:
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A physical clash: the primitive volumes overlap by more than a specified amount. This
usually means that a definite interference exists.
A touch: the primitives either overlap by less than the amount needed to cause a clash
or are separated at their closest point by less than a specified distance. This may
simply mean that one item is resting upon another as intended, or it may indicate a
problem.
A clearance: the primitives are separated at their closest point by more than the
amount necessary to constitute a touch but less than a specified clearance distance.
This represents a near miss, which you may want to investigate.
These three classes are illustrated below for the clash specifications:
Touch limits: 5mm overlap to 2mm gap
Clearance limit: 8mm
so that the following criteria apply:

If the items overlap by more than 5mm, a clash is reported
If the items overlap by less than 5mm, a touch is reported
If the items do not overlap but are separated by less than 2mm, a touch is reported
If the items are separated by more than 2mm but less than 8mm, a clearance is
reported
If the items are separated by more than 8mm, no interference is found
overlap > 5mm overlap < 5mm gap < 2mm 2mm < gap < 8mm
a physical clash touches a clearance
7.4.3 Clash Detection Process

Each element which is to be checked for clashes has its own geometry checked against that
of all other elements which are specified by a current obstruction list. Items which are not in
the obstruction list are ignored during the clash checking operations. By default, the
obstruction list includes all elements in the database, so that each element to be clash
checked is tested against every other element. To control the amount of checking carried
out in a large database, you can restrict the obstruction list to a few specific elements and/or
you can specify a 3D volume (the clash limits) within which the clash checking is to be
confined.
To highlight the locations where clashes are found, the clashing and obstruction items are
shown in contrasting colours in the graphical view (two shades of red, by default).
Example continues:
193. Use the default values for all clash checking settings. To see what these are, select
Settings>Clasher>Defaults to display the Clash Defaults form. Think about the
meaning of each setting shown (refer to the preceding introduction); then Cancel the
form.
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194. Check all your HVAC components for clashes against the initial structure. The default
obstruction list (all elements in the current Design database) includes both structural
and HVAC items. To edit this, select Settings>Clasher>Obstruction>List. This
displays the Add/Remove Obstruction Items form. Remove all current entries (if any)
from the Obstruction List by selecting All from the Remove list and then clicking
Remove. Then Add the structural design data only (HVACFLOOR, HVACROOF,
HVACWALLS, HVACCOLS and HVACBEAMS). (To see these first click HVACZONE in
the left-hand list).
195. Navigate to the element holding all the HVAC design data which you want to check (/
HTESTHVAC) and select Utilities>Clashes. This displays the Clash Display form.
The left-hand side of this form controls the clash checking process; the right-hand side
consists of a 3D view in which you can look in detail at any clashes diagnosed. Select
Control>Check CE from the forms left-hand menu bar to run the clash checking
process and, when completed, study the Clash List which shows any clashes found.
In your case this should show one clash only, with the description
1 SH CLASH HTEST/ITEM21.1
This identifies a soft-hard (SH) clash between the obstruction volume associated with
the access panel and the adjacent wall. To see this properly in the forms 3D view, set
the graphics representation to show obstruction volumes and zoom in close to the
access panel. Notice how the clashing items are highlighted in shades of red (if they
are not, repeat the Check CE operation to regenerate the clash data).
196. To see more information about the clash, select Query>Clash>Detail from the Clash
Display forms menu bar. This displays the Clash Detail form as shown.
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Obstruction volume Location of clash Adjacent Wall

for Access Panel
Note: If the Auto Clash button (in the main menu bar) is in the on state ( ), each new
element that you create is checked immediately for clashes as the design is built up.
This can slow down progress when you are adding many new elements, but is very
useful when you want to add a few new items to an existing design which has
already been checked for clashes.
7.5 Generating a Data Output Report

This section describes two ways of outputting design data derived from your design model.
generating a tabulated report showing the material required to build the design
creating an isometric plot showing the design layout and associated manufacturing
data.
7.5.1 Generating a Tabulated Data Report

The reporting utility lets you read selected information from the database and present the
output in a tabulated format. Each report can be customised by specifying some or all of the
following:
Where the output is to appear (on the screen or in a file ready for printing).
An introductory header which is to appear at the beginning of the report.
The page length (if the report is to be paginated).
The page layout, including number and positions of columns, column headings, and so
on.
Any headers and footers which are to appear at the top and bottom of each page.
The selection criteria which define which data settings are to be included in the report.
Once such a report has been designed, its specification can be saved for future use in the
form of a report template file. The ways in which you define how a given report is to be
generated and presented are beyond the scope of this example, but you will look at the
results of the process by using a pre-prepared template which outputs a material take-off list
showing the length of tube needed to build your design. (You will probably use your
companys standard templates for most reports anyway, in which case this is the method
you would normally use in practice.)
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Example continues:
197. Select Utilities>Reports>Run to initiate the reporting process. This displays the File
Browser listing all files in the current reporting directory (specified by your System
Administrator as part of the project setup procedure).
198. Navigate to the ...\REPORTS\TEMPLATES directory by clicking on it in the Sub-
directories window. All files with a .tmp suffix are report templates.
199. Select hvac_list.tmp, which has been designed to produce a list of the principal
components (omitting subcomponents and branch connectors) in the HVAC design.
200. Click OK on the File Browser.
The Report Details form that appears requires you to specify:
where the report is to appear
what part of the database hierarchy is to be read when extracting the required types
of data.
201. Complete the Report Details form as follows:
Leave the Filename text box empty (this sends the report automatically to the
screen).
In the Hierarchy text box, enter HTESTHVAC (this lists the components for the
whole of the HVAC network).
Click OK to run the report.
A tabulated report output is displayed in a Command Output window which is
opened automatically.
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The report lists all principal components in the specified network (the whole of your HVAC
design model) in branch head-to-tail order. The type and key dimensions for each
component are tabulated as predefined by the template.
Note: Your report may differ from the example shown above. Your template has been
predefined by your template designer, who may have included other properties, or
sorted the sequence into a different order of priority.
7.5.2 Plotting the Design Model

The drawing module PDMS DRAFT provides powerful facilities for generating annotated
and dimensioned plots of all or part of your design model. You use DRAFT to produce an
isometric plot of your HVAC layout using default settings only.
7.5.3 Setting up a Drawing Administration Hierarchy

You need an administrative hierarchy to define how plots are to be stored. This is in the
format shown.
DEPARTMENT
(DEPT)
REGISTRY LIBRARY
(REGI) (LIBY)
DRAWING LIBRARY
(DRWG) (LIBY)
SHEET Standard symbols, annotations etc.

(SHEE)
VIEW
Design database elements to be drawn
Note: In a real project, the administrative hierarchy would probably have been set up for
you already.
You set up your administrative hierarchy within the PDMS drawing module, PDMS DRAFT.
Example continues:
202. Switch from PDMS DESIGN to, PDMS DRAFT by selecting:
Design>Modules>Draft>Macro Files.
PDMS DRAFT application loads, and the screen changes to show the DRAFT -
General menu bar and an empty 2D view window, the Main Display (which is
analogous to the 3D View window in PDMS DESIGN):
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203. Create a Department element:

Select Create>Department.
Give the Department the name HVACDEPT.
Click OK.
This displays the Department Information form. Attributes set at Department level
are cascaded down to all lower levels.
204. Click Attributes on the Department Information form.
205. On the displayed Department Attributes form:
Select A4 drawing sheet size (this sets Width and Height automatically).
Leave all pen definitions, hatch patterns and terminators at their default settings.
From the Ruleset Reference options, select /DRA/PRJ/REPR/GEN/HVAC.
Set Backing Sheet to Reference
Select /DRA/MAS/BACKS/MET/A4_Land from the adjacent drop-down list. This
applies standard borders and data areas to all drawings created in this Department.
The settings now look as shown:
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206. Click Apply on the Department Attributes form, then Dismiss.

207. Back in the Department Information form, make sure that the Create Registry button
is set to On and OK this form.
208. In the Create REGI form now displayed, name the Registry HVACREGI and click OK.
This displays the Registry Information form.
All attribute settings for the Registry have been copied from the owning Department.
Note: You can, if you wish, overwrite any cascaded attribute.
209. In the Registry Information form:

Select Create Drawing.
Select Explicitly.
Click OK.
210. In the Create DRWG form now displayed, name the Drawing HVACDRWG and click
OK.
211. In the displayed Drawing Definition form, enter the Title: HVAC View. The Date and
Drawn By entries are derived automatically from your system log-in data.
212. Click Apply, then Dismiss.
Your drawing administration hierarchy is now complete.
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7.5.4 Defining the Content of a Drawing Sheet

When you have a drawing administration hierarchy available, you can define the content of
a drawing sheet ready for viewing and plotting. To do this you will:
create a sheet
create a single view on your sheet
resize the default view area to fill the sheet
add to the draw list the part(s) of the design model you want to plot
set the drawing scale so that the plotted model representation fits sensibly into the area
available on the sheet
Example continues:
213. To create a sheet, select Create>Sheet>Explicitly, and OK the displayed Create
SHEET form.
The Main Display view shows the backing sheet specified earlier.
214. In the Sheet Definition form now displayed, all attribute settings have been cascaded
down from Department level. Click Apply, then Dismiss.
215. Detailed design data from the Design database is applied to the sheet in the form of
individually-defined Views, of which you require just one. To create your first, and only,
View select Create>View>User-defined and OK the resulting form.
A User-Defined View form is displayed, and a default rectangle is added to the Main
Display to show where the design data for this view is plotted.
216. To resize the default view area, select Frame>Size>Cursor from the User-Defined
View form menu.
Use the Point Construction Option form now displayed to identify the extremities
of the required area. Choose the 2D Cursor Hit method, and pick points just inside
the top-left and bottom-right corners of the drawing area within the backing sheet
layout.
217. Back in the User-defined View form:
Enter Title: ISO3 View
Set View Type: Global Hidden Line
Select Direction: ISO3 (using the middle Direction option list).
218. From the User-defined View form menu, select Graphics>Drawlist. Go to the
Reference List Members list of the displayed Drawlist Management form, select
HTESTHVAC, and then click Add.
219. Again, back in the User-defined View form, click on Auto Scale. The scale is precisely
calculated and displayed in the adjacent text box.
220. Now modify this value to the nearest smaller standard scale, by clicking the Nearest
button.
221. The chosen standard scale is now displayed (for example 1/150). Click Apply to
implement the new scale calculation.
222. The final settings in the User-defined View form should look similar to that shown.
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Select the Update Design button and click Apply to plot the drawlist element(s) in the
Main Display at the chosen scale:
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This is as far as you go with this design example. The full range of 2D drafting facilities
available is extensive, allowing you to add dimensioning and labelling data derived directly
from the design model, and to add any other specific 2D annotation which you require.
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HVAC Assemblies
8 HVAC Assemblies
An HVAC assembly is a collection of connected HVAC components that can be copied and
placed into any part of the HVAC network.
The example shown consists of a collection of five connected HVAC components.
8.1 Creating the Assembly Template

In the HVAC Designer application, select Utilities>HVAC Assemblies from the main menu
bar.
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HVAC Assemblies
The HVAC Assembly Manager form will be displayed.
Note: The following form, displays the Assembly Template already created.
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HVAC Assemblies
To create an Assembly Template, a new Assembly World and Assembly Area needs to
be created to store the Assembly Templates, which are organised in a structured way in
the database.
To create an Assembly World select the New World button to display the Create
Assembly World form.
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HVAC Assemblies
Name Name to be assigned to the new Assembly World.
Purpose Purpose of the Assembly World.
Description Description of the Assembly World.
To create an Assembly Area select the New Area button to display the Create Assembly
Area form. The form displayed is the same format as the Create Assembly World form.
After creation, an Assembly Worlds Name and Description can be modified or the
Assembly World can be deleted. Right click on the HVAC Assembly Manager form to
display the options available.
To create a New Assembly, select the components to be included into the assembly and
then click the New Assembly button. The form displayed is the same format as the Create
Assembly World form.
When the elements are created they are stored in the database as Application data, as seen
in the explorer.
To include Design elements into the Assembly Template, make a graphical selection and
select Copy Design.
A message is output Copy Complete At this stage the whole application data appears in
the explorer with an accompanying 3D view.
8.1.1 Assembly Rules

Its possible to set Rules on either the Assembly Template:
Form
Function
Primary Origin
or an individual element of the HVAC branch created:
Position
Orientation
The example shows that any Ppoint on the Assembly Template can be selected as the
origin of the template.
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HVAC Assemblies
Form As an alternative to creating a Copy Design Template it is

allowed that a Form can be shown on selection of a
Assembly Template which would create a number of
elements to represent an HVAC Assembly. All creation and
positioning would be done from the form.
Function As an alternative to creating a 'Copy Design' Template it is

allowed that a Function can be run which would create a
number of elements to represent an HVAC Assembly. All
creation and positioning would be done by the function.
Primary Origin Allows the user to select a Ppoint element as the primary
origin.
Note: An assembly can be modified as usual by using the standard HVAC modification
forms to fine tune the design.
8.1.2 Creating an Assembly Instance

To create an instance of the Assembly in the HVAC design, select Create>HVAC from the
main toolbar to display the HVAC form. Select Assemblies from the Categories pull-down
menu to display the HVAC Assembly Creation form.
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HVAC Assemblies
Select the required Template from the Assemblies pane and position it by clicking the
Create connected to element or Create at tube position buttons.
Create connected to element Requires the user to select an HVAC element.
Create at tube position Requires the user to select a point on the implied
tube.
8.1.3 Inserting an Assembly at a Split Point

HVAC Assemblies can be inserted at a split point using the HVAC Splitting Utility. One
branch is split into two branches at a marked point and the HVAC assembly is created in the
second branch.
Select Modify>Split HVAC from the main toolbar to display the Split HVAC form. Refer to
How to use the Split HVAC Form for further information. Select the radio button, Assembly
from the Insert pane and click the Select Assembly button to display the Select HVAC
Assembly form.
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HVAC Assemblies
Select the required HVAC Assembly from the Assemblies pane and click the Select as the
Splitting Assembly button. The HVAC Assembly is inserted at the split point.
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HVAC Splitting
9 HVAC Splitting
HVAC systems are created as a series of branches and components along the full length of
the structure. When the HVAC route is well defined and stable, the HVAC Splitting utility
allows the user to split the HVAC system at either logical breaks based on topographical
features or at specific points along the HVAC route.
To display the Split HVAC form, in Design - HVAC Designer Application select
Modify>Split HVAC
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9.1 How to use the Split HVAC Form
The Split HVAC form consists of three sections - Branches to Split, Details and Split
Branches and Move elements into.
9.1.1 Branches to Split

This section allows the user to define a list of HVAC branches to be split. It consists of a list
pane with a popup menu of options, a drop-down list of options and an Add button.
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The drop-down list has the following options to be selected in conjunction with the Add
button:
1. CE Adds to the list the HVAC branch element if the CE (Current Element) is an HVAC
branch, or adds the owning branch if the CE is an HVAC branch member, or adds all
the HVAC branches if the CE is an HVAC main element
2. List Adds all the HVAC branches from the active list
3. Graphical Pick Prompts the user to pick an HVAC element using graphical pick and
adds the owner branch to the list
4. Window Selection Allows the user to add HVAC branches from the elements
selected using Window selection in graphical window. Only HVAC branches in the
selection are added to the list. The user will have to first do the window selection and
then select this menu.
The list pane, as well as having similar options as the four above, has the following
additional options all available from a right click popup menu:
Remove Selected Removes selected elements from the list. Single or Multiple
selection is possible
Remove All Removes all the elements from the list
Highlight Selection Toggle menu used to specify whether the selected branch in the
list needs to be highlighted or not. Default option is toggle ON. Highlight colour is
WHITE.
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9.1.2 Details
This section allows the user to define and modify a plane, at which to split the branches, and
create and position split markers.
Plane Size
The Plane Size text box is used to set/modify the size of the plane
The Fill toggle is used to set/modify the plane filling.
Define Plane using
The Define Plane using drop-down list has the following options in which a plane can be
created:
DB Planar Element PDMS Database element which can be translated into a plane,
e.g., panel.
Ppoints Standard ppoint
Pline Standard pline
Reference Grid Grid Section
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Explicitly - Allows the user to create a plane explicitly using graphical plane edit
form.
Modify Plane
The Modify Plane drop-down list has the following two options to modify a defined plane:
Definition The system prompts the user to pick the plane to be modified. When a
plane is picked the system displays the Modify Plane form for the user to the plane
definition.
Position Prompts the user to pick the plane to be modified and the new position of
the plane.
Insert
Two radio buttons allows the user to toggle between Create Marker and Select Assembly
options.
Create Marker
The Create Marker button creates the split markers at the intersection points between the
defined plane and the implied tubes of the HVAC branch elements that are added in the
Branches to Split list
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Reposition Marker
The Reposition Marker drop-down list has the following two options, Explicitly At... and
Relatively By... each displaying a standard Position form to reposition the created split
markers.
Select Assembly
The Select Assembly button displays the Select HVAC Assembly form, allowing the user
to select an assembly for insertion. The Selected Assembly name will be displayed on the
Split HVAC form.
9.1.3 Split Branches and Move Elements into
This section allows the user to specify the hierarchy into which the split elements will be
placed. It consists of the following options:
1. Current HVAC Creates new branch for each split marker under the HVAC system
where the branch to be split is located.
2. New HVAC Creates a new HVAC system and a branch under it for each split marker.
3. Existing HVAC Creates new branch under the HVAC system specified in the
adjacent text. The existing HVAC system can be specified by typing the name in the
text box, or by navigating to the HVAC system and typing ce (case insensitive) in the
text box, or by copying and pasting the name of the HVAC system into the text box.
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Flip Head Tube

Clicking the Flip Head Tube button corrects the graphical error shown if the head of the
branch is drawn with the wrong orientation.
Apply
The Apply button actions the splitting.
9.2 UNDO/REDO
Changes made by any of the operations detailed can be undone or redone using the
standard undo and redo buttons in the tool bar.
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HVAC Spooling
10 HVAC Spooling
The HVAC Spooling utility allows the user to split the HVAC design into logical sections
(spools) to facilitate component fabrication. Hence an HVAC Spool is a collection of HVAC
elements to be manufactured as a single entity.
10.1 Generating HVAC Spools using the HVAC Spool

Manager
The following shows how the HVAC Spool Manager enables the user to generate HVAC
spools automatically. The HVAC Spool Manager is available in Design-HVAC Designer
Application by selecting Utilities>HVAC Spooling...
When the Spool Manager is selected either a blank form will be displayed
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HVAC Spooling
or a populated form will be displayed.
The blank form is displayed when the current element is not an HVAC element. To display
the populated form, select an HVAC element and click the label Set HVAC.
The populated form is displayed automatically when the current element is an HVAC
element when loading HVAC spooling.
HVAC Spool List Name

The name of the current HVAC is appended with -Spools as the suggested name. This can
be over written.
Auto Name
When the toggle is unchecked, spools will be named in sequence with the name given in the
HVAC Spool List Name text box.
When the toggle is checked, auto naming rules apply.
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Generate
Generates the spools and populates the HVAC Spool Manager form with a Spool list.
When the HVAC Spool list name has been entered in the text box, clicking the Generate
label displays a list of spools as shown below. Selecting a spool, e.g. Spools/HS3, in the list
highlights that particular spool in the accompanying graphical representation.
Delete Spools Delete all the Spools
Regenerate Regenerates the Spool list.
10.2 HVAC Spool Verification
Verify HVAC Verifies the Spool list.
Verify HVAC Spool Verifies the Spools selected.
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The verification results are listed in two columns:
Verification Status Shows whether the Spool is Successful or Failed
Failure Details Lists error messages.
Results Summary Displays the verification result for the Spool list and
indicates modification required to make the list valid.
10.3 Modifying an HVAC Spool

The spool content can be modified using the two options:
Add Spool Elements Adds element(s) to a spool in the list.
Remove Spool Elements Removes element(s) from a spool in the list.
The spool to which an element(s) is to be added or removed, is selected in the list,

highlighting the current spool in the graphical representation. The Add or Remove option is
selected and the user is prompted to select an item(s) graphically to either add to or remove
from the current spool. Only adjacent, contiguous items should be selected in order to
ensure that the resulting spool remains valid. The system will attempt to maintain the
existing adjacent spools automatically, however, it is important that the spools are reverified
and if necessary regenerated.
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10.4 UNDO/REDO
Changes made by any of the operations detailed can be undone or redone using the
standard undo and redo buttons in the tool bar.
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Creating HVAC Sketches
11 Creating HVAC Sketches
Consider the following HVAC elements.
The HVAC design is split into HVAC spool pieces, consider the centre spool as highlighted
above.
In Draft-General, select Draft>Auto Drawing Production.
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In Draft-Automatic Drawing Production use the Explorer to navigate to the HVAC system
and select:
Create>HVAC Sketches
The HVAC Sketches form is displayed in Draft - Automatic Drawing Production and
docked to the right-hand side of the window by default.
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11.1 How to use the HVAC Sketches Form
11.1.1 Search Criteria

In the HVAC Sketches form, the search criteria are entered for the spool using any or all of
the following:
Design Element to search under
This is the name of the design element. You can populate the field using the CE button
or by typing in the name.
Filter the spools using
Allow the user to filter the spools.
All or part of the spool name
Enter the spool name, either wholly or partially in the text box.
Production Status
Offers three options in a drop-down list:
Any - Matches all spools, both validated and not validated
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Valid - Matches HVAC spools valid for production

Not Valid - Matches only spools not valid for production.
Sketch Status
Offers three options in a drop-down list:
Any - Matches all spools, both with and without HVAC sketches
Created - Matches only HVAC spools with HVAC sketches
Not Created - Matches only HVAC spools without HVAC sketches
Search
Click to action the search. The results obtained using the search criteria will be displayed in
the Search Results pane.
11.1.2 Search Results

Lists all the HVAC spool elements.
The list has four columns:
1. Name The name of the HVAC spool
2. Valid True or False, depending on whether the spool has been

validated.
3. Sketch If a sketch has been created, this field displays the name of
the resulting drawing, if a sketch has not been created, this
field displays FALSE.
4. Drawn This field gives the date the drawing was created. If no
drawing exists the field displays -
The Search Results pane has a popup menu which can be accessed by right-clicking.
The options are:

Select All - Selects all Spools in the list
Clear Selection - Unselects all Spools in the list
Print Sketch - Print dialog to print all selected Spool sketches
Delete Sketch - Deletes each selected Spool sketch
Any number of HVAC spools can be selected from the list for sketch creation. In the
example only Spool3 is selected.
Now it is necessary to select the template to be used for the sketch, a storage area for the
created sketch and a log file name. This is done by using the Sketch Creation Options part
at the bottom of the form.
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11.1.3 Sketch Creation Options

This part of the form has the following:
Sketch Template - This must be an existing DRWG element that can be used as a
template for the HVAC sketch drawings.
CE button - This top CE button (denoted DRWG) allows for quick capture of the
current drawing.
Create Sketches in Registry - The named element must be an existing REGIstry
element into which the system puts all new HVAC sketch drawings.
CE button - This bottom CE button (denoted REG1) allows for quick capture of the
current registry.
Log File - The system records progress of the creation process as text that can be
written to file. This field shows the file name the system will write to. The system
overwrites this file if it already exists.
Browse - Invokes a standard browse form to let you select a log file.
When the options have been entered, the sketches can be created and displayed by:
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Create Sketches - Actions the sketch creation, refreshing the Search Results pane to
show the spool sketch has been created and the date on which it was drawn.
Display - Displays the selected spool sketch and adds it to a working list of sheets for
display, although it is only possible to display one sheet at a time. The up and down
arrow icons can be used to navigate up and down the list.
11.2 Displaying HVAC Sketches

Selecting the created sketch of HVACSpool3 in the list and clicking the Display button,
displays the sketch in the Main Display area.
A high-level 3D view of the spool can be displayed by selecting the popup menu 3D view
option available from the 3D sketch area in the Main Display.
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11.3 Printing HVAC Sketches

To print an HVAC spool sketch, the Print option available from the Search Results pane
popup menu is selected.
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Example of the Final Sketch
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Conclusion
12 Conclusion
This concludes this introduction to some of the ways in which PDMS and AVEVA
applications can help you in your HVAC design work. You should now have an insight into
the potential power of PDMS and sufficient confidence to explore some of the more
advanced options on your own.
For further technical details, refer to the sources of information listed in the appendix Other
Relevant Documentation.
If you have not already done so, you are strongly advised to attend one or more of the
specialised PDMS training courses, which will show you how to get the maximum benefits
from the product in your own working environment (see Further Training in the use of
PDMS).
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HVAC Database
A HVAC Database
The part of the Design database hierarchy which holds elements specific to HVAC design is
as follows:
AHU Air Handling Unit

BATT Battery (heater, cooler)
BRCO Branch Connector (boot, square, fish, angled, tapered, mitred etc.)
COWL Roof Cowl
DAMP Damper
FLEX Flexible Tube, flexible bend, material connection
GASK Gasket
GRIL Grille
HACC Access Panel
HFAN Centrifugal Fan
HSAD Saddle
IDAM Internal Damper
MESH Mesh End
OFST Offset (cranked, mitred, radiused)
PLAT Spigot Plate
PLEN Spigot Box, Plenum
SILE Silencer
SKIR Skirt
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SPLR Splitter (flow splitters, deflecrol, air turning vanes)

STIF Stiffening Flange
STRT Straight
TAPE Taper
THRE Threeway (radiused, twin bend, breeches etc.)
TP Test Point, test holes
TRNS Transformation (square to round, square to flat oval, oval A to oval B etc.)
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B HVAC Catalogue
This appendix gives an introduction to the way the HVAC catalogue is used in creating the
design model and lists the principal features of some standard catalogue components to
which you may want to refer when creating your design model. (For full details of the way in
which the catalogue is built up and used, see the AVEVA PDMS PARAGON Reference
Manual.)
B.1 Basic Features of the Catalogue

All HVAC components used in the design are selected from the Catalogue database by
setting the Specification Reference for the corresponding design element so that it points
to the required catalogue entry.
Each catalogue item is defined in terms of two subsidiary sets of data:
A Geometry Set, which defines the overall physical shape of the item in terms of a set
of 3D basic shapes (known as primitives). A geometry set can include negative 3D
primitives to represent holes.
A Point Set, which defines a number of reference points and directions superimposed
on the geometric shape so that individual parts of that shape can be identified and
manipulated. These reference points, each of which represents a 1D point position, are
called p-points.
A range of catalogue components with similar overall geometry will all reference the
same geometry set and point set, so that the amount of data needed to represent all
possible items is kept to a minimum. The dimensions of the items are not fixed in the
catalogue but are expressed in terms of Design parameters. Values are allocated to
these parameterised dimensions when the item is used in a specific part of the design
model: they may either be set explicitly or derived from associated dimensions of other
design components to which the item is to be connected.
The following sections illustrate the components in each general category, showing the
details of their parameterised geometry.
B.2 HVAC Branches

Main Branch
Side Branch
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B.3 Rectangular Components

Straight
Taper
Square Bend
Radius Bend
Mitred Elbow
Crank Offset
Mitred Offset
Radius Offset
Radius Threeway
Two Bend Threeway
Square Threeway
Cap End
Material Connection
Weather Skirt
Two Bend Setfill
Stiffener
Access Panel
Mesh End
Test Holes
Radius Splitter
A Plane Splitter
B Plane Splitter
Deflectrol
Single Blade Damper
Gasket
Turning Vanes
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B.4 Circular Components

Straight
Male Coupling
Taper
Mitred Offset
Mitred Elbow
Radius Bend
3 Segment Bend
4 Segment Bend
5 Segment Bend
Radius Threeway
Cap End
Material Connection
Flexible Tube
Flexible Bend
Roof Cowl
Two Bend Setfill
Two Bend Flexfill
Stiffener
Access Panel
Saddle
Mesh End
Test Holes
Single Blade Damper
Gasket
Breeches
Angled Breeches
Tee Piece
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B.5 Flat Oval Components

Straight
Male Coupling
Taper
Cap End
A Plane Offset
B Plane Offset
A Plane Mitred Elbow
B Plane Mitred Elbow
A Plane 3 Segment Bend
B Plane 3 Segment Bend
Gasket
Stiffener (same as for circular components)
Access Panel (same as for circular components)
Saddle (same as for circular components)
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B.6 Transformations
Square to Round
Square to Flat Oval
Flat Oval to Round
Oval A to Oval B
Circular to Rectangular Spigot Plate
Circular to Rectangular Spigot Box
Circular to Linear Plenum
Oval to Rectangular Spigot Plate
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B.7 Branch Connectors

Rectangular Boot
Rectangular Square
Rectangular Fish
Rectangular Angled
Rectangular Tapered
Circular Boot
Circular Square
Circular Fish
Circular Angled
Circular Conical
Circular Square Round
Circular Mitred
Flat Oval A Boot
Flat Oval B Boot
Flat Oval A Square
Flat Oval B Square
Flat Oval A Fish
Flat Oval B Fish
Flat Oval A Angled
Flat Oval B Angled
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B.8 Inline Plant Equipment

Rectangular Fire Damper
Rectangular Flanged Fire Damper
Rectangular Control Damper
Rectangular Motorised Damper
Rectangular Heater Battery
Rectangular Cooler Battery
Rectangular Silencer
Rectangular Attenuated Bend
Rectangular General Plant Item
Rectangular Grille Off Branch Connector
Rectangular Grille In Line
Circular Fire Damper
Circular Flanged Fire Damper
Circular Control Damper
Air Handling Unit
Centrifugal Fan
Circular Axial Flow Fan
Circular Silencer
Circular General Plant Item
Circular Grille Off Branch Connector
Circular Grille In Line
Flat Oval Fire Damper
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B.9 Extra Inline Equipment

Flat Low Velocity Terminal
Semi Circular Air Displacement Unit
Circular Air Displacement Unit
Low Velocity Terminal for Corner Mounting
Rectangular Air Displacement Unit:
Circular Connection
Rectangular Connection
Connection Box: Circular Inlet-Circular Outlet
Connection Box: Circular Inlet-Rectangular Outlet
Circular Diffuser: Circular Inlet
Rectangular Diffuser: Circular Inlet
Rectangular Grille: Rectangular Inlet
Air Intake Hood
Air Extract Hood
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B.10 HVAC Equipment Nozzles
B.11 Types of Joint

The joints available for use on the HVAC components are listed below.
B.11.1 Pre-defined Joints for Components of Any Shape
MALE or M Socket and spigot male connection
FEMA or F Socket and spigot female connection
FJ25 25x25x3 (1x1x1/8) equal angle section joint
FJ303 30x30x3 (11/4x11/4x1/8) equal angle section joint
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FJ6550 65x50x6 (21/2x2x1/4) unequal angle section joint
FJ7550 75x50x6 (3x2x1/4) unequal angle section joint
FJ8060 80x60x6 (31/4x21/4x1/4) unequal angle section joint
FJ10065 100x65x6 (4x21/2x3/8) unequal angle section joint
FJ10080 100x80x8 (4x31/4x3/8) unequal angle section joint
FB253 25x3 (1x1/8) flat bar joint
FB304 30x4 (11/4x5/32) flat bar joint
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CH7638 76x38 (3x11/2) rectangular channel section joint
CH10251 102x51 (4x2) rectangular channel section joint
CH12763 127x63 (5x21/2) rectangular channel section joint
CH15276 152x76 (6x3) rectangular channel section joint
RE Raw edge
SF25 Self flange 25mm (1)
SF40 Self flange 40mm (11/2)
SF50 Self flange 50mm (2)
WELD or W Welded joint for branch connector or attachment fixed to a duct
B.11.2 Pre-defined Joints for Rectangular Components Only
RE25 Raw edge, longitudinal seam notched back 25 (1)
RE40 Raw edge, longitudinal seam notched back 40 (11/2)
RE50 Raw edge, longitudinal seam notched back 50 (2)
DM30 Ductmate 30mm (11/8) flange
DM40 Ductmate 40mm (11/2) flange
IDC Integral duct connector
IDF Integral duct flange
VM20 Verromez 20mm (3/4) flange
FLAT For spigot plates only
B.11.3 User-defined Joints

It is possible for the user to define the joints for rectangular, circular and flat oval ductwork.
For further information see the HVAC Administrator Guide.
B.12 Types of Stiffener

The stiffeners available for use on the HVAC components are listed below:
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B.12.1 Pre-defined Stiffeners
25 25x25x3 (1 x 1 x 1/8) angle stiffener
30 30x30x4 (11/4 x 11/4 x 3/16) angle stiffener
6550 65x50x6 (21/2 x 2 x 1/4) angle stiffener
10065 100x65x6 (4 x 21/2 x 3/8) angle stiffener
10080 100x80x8 (4 x 31/4 x 3/8) angle stiffener
253 25x3 (1 x 1/8) flat bar stiffener
304 30x4 (11/4 x 5/32) flat bar stiffener
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HVAC Catalogue
8012 80x12 (31/4 x 1/2) angle stiffener
7638 76x38 (3 x 11/2 ) channel stiffener
10251 102x51 (4 x 2 ) channel stiffener
12763 127x63 (5 x 21/2 ) channel stiffener
15276 152x76 (6 x 3 ) channel stiffener
B.12.2 User-defined Stiffeners

It is possible for the user to define the stiffener sizes and codes. For further information see
the HVAC Administrator Guide.
B.13 Design Parameters and Properties

This section lists the Design parameters allocated to the catalogue components, with their
corresponding property code and a brief description. You may find this data useful when
compiling reports etc.
Des. Param. Property Description
DESP[1] DESC Description (Word)
DESP[2] AARR Ductsize A of arrive
DESP[3] BARR Ductsize B of arrive
DESP[4] ALEA Ductsize A of leave
DESP[5] BLEA Ductsize B of leave
DESP[6] LENG Length
DESP[7] BRLE Branch length
DESP[8] ANGL Angle
DESP[9] RADI Radius
DESP[10 AOFF A offset
DESP[11] BOFF B offset
DESP[12] ATHR Arrive throat
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HVAC Catalogue
DESP[13] LTHR Leave throat
DESP[14] SEGS No. of segments
DESP[15] AEXT Arrive extension
DESP[16] ANOT Arrive notch
DESP[17] LEXT Leave extension
DESP[18] LNOT Leave notch
DESP[19] BEXT Branch extension
DESP[20] BNOT Branch notch
DESP[21] AJA A of arrive joint
DESP[22] AJB B of arrive joint
DESP[23] AJC C of arrive joint
DESP[24] LJA A of leave joint
DESP[25] LJB B of leave joint
DESP[26] LJC C of leave joint
DESP[27] BJA A of branch joint
DESP[28] BJB B of branch joint
DESP[29] BJC C of branch joint
DESP[30] FACE Face (RECT, CIRC, OVAL)
DESP[31] ITEM Item Number
DESP[32] MATL Material
DESP[33] GAUG Gauge
DESP[34] SEAM Longitudinal seam (Word)
DESP[35] STOC Stock number
DESP[36] WKSF Works fitted (TRUE, FALS)
DESP[37] SPLI Splitters
DESP[38] SEAL Sealant (Word)
DESP[39] SWAG Swage (TRUE, FALS)
DESP[40] SHAP Shape (RECT, CIRC, OVAL, TRAN)
DESP[41] ABRA Ductsize A of branch
DESP[42] BBRA Ductsize B of branch
DESP[43] BRAD Radius B
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HVAC Catalogue
DESP[44] ATRN Airturns
DESP[45] ATSI Airturn size
DESP[46] REXT Rectangular extension
DESP[47] CEXT Circular extension
DESP[48] FEXT Oval extension
DESP[49] CLHE Centreline height
DESP[50] STAT Status
DESP[51] MANU Manufacturer (Word)
DESP[52] TEXT General text (Word)
DESP[53] NOTE Note (Word)
DESP[54] HEIG Height
DESP[55] WR Width Right
DESP[56] WL Width Left
DESP[57] BOTT Bottom
DESP[58] ARRJ Arrive joint (Word)
DESP[59] LEAJ Leave joint (Word)
DESP[60] BJNT Branch joint (Word)
DESP[61] CRAD Radius C
DESP[62] DRAD Radius D
DESP[63] BANG Angle B
DESP[64] FJNT Fixing joint (Word)
DESP[65] FVAL Fixing joint size
DESP[66] TYPE Item type (Word)
DESP[67] SUBT Item subtype (Word)
DESP[68] AVAL Arrive joint size
DESP[69] LVAL Leave joint size
DESP[70] BVAL Branch joint size
DESP[71] Clash volume to outer limits
DESP[72] Clash volume to PA
DESP[73] Clash volume to PL
DESP[74] Clash volume Y
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HVAC Catalogue
DESP[75] Clash volume -Y
DESP[76] Miscellaneous
DESP[78] AHOL No of holes in arrive flange
DESP[79] LHOL No of holes in leave flange
DESP[80] BHOL No of holes in branch flange
DESP[81] ISRF Internal surface area (m2)
DESP[82] ESRF External surface area (m2)
DESP[83] TSRF Total surface area (m2)
DESP[84] KGMC Mass density (kg/m3)
DESP[85] SWEI Sheet weight (kg)
DESP[86] FWEI Flanges weight (kg)
DESP[87] TWEI Total component weight (kg)
DESP[88] Surface Units
DESP[89] IWEI Insulation weight
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HVAC Component Palettes
C HVAC Component Palettes
The following HVAC Component palettes are available from the HVAC Designer GUI.
C:1 12.0
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C:2 12.0
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C:3 12.0
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C:4 12.0
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C:5 12.0
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Other Relevant Documentation
D Other Relevant Documentation
This guide is intended only as an introduction to those parts of AVEVA PDMS most relevant
to HVAC design. As such, it describes only the main concepts needed to get you started.
Should you need more detailed information about any topic, the HVAC Administrator Guide
and the following documents are available.
D.1 AVEVA PDMS Introductory Guides

The following guides introduce the principal AVEVA PDMS facilities to new users (this HVAC
guide forms part of the set):
Getting Started with PDMS
Introduces PDMS and related products
Pipework Design User Guide
Structural Design Using PDMS User Guide
Introduction to Templates
Drawing Production User Guide
Introduces the range of facilities available in the DRAFT module.
Reporting
Introduces the database reporting utility available from within most AVEVA PDMS
applications, including the use of expressions to select relevant data.
D.2 AVEVA PDMS Reference Manuals

The full AVEVA PDMS documentation set includes a number of reference manuals which
give detailed explanations of all the technical concepts involved. These manuals also
describe the underlying command syntax which can be used to control AVEVA PDMS
directly (thus bypassing the forms and menus interface).
Those particularly relevant to HVAC design work include:
DESIGN Reference Manual
Covers concepts and commands for all design disciplines.
DRAFT Reference Manual
Explains the commands for the PDMS 2D drafting facilities.
Catalogues and Specifications Reference Manual
Explains how to set up a PDMS Catalogue and create tabulated specifications.
D:1 12.0
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Other Relevant Documentation
D.3 General Guides

The following guides are intended for use only by experienced PDMS users who want to
write their own applications:
Software Customisation Guide
Explains how to write your own application macros using PML (AVEVAs
Programmable Macro Language) and how to design your own forms and menus
interface.
Software Customisation Reference Manual
Supplements the Customisation Guide. Includes a list of PML 2 Objects, Members
and Methods. For forms and Menus objects, the command syntax relating to the
objects is included.
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Some Sample Plots
E Some Sample Plots
This appendix comprises some examples of typical (though relatively simple) plots showing
the sorts of HVAC design outputs which may be created using AVEVA PDMS with the HVAC
Designer application. (Obstruction volumes shown.)
E:1 12.0
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Some Sample Plots
E:2 12.0
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Index
A C
Access panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:10 CE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:2
Air turning vanes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:8 Clash
Application definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:6
definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:1 Clash checking
loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:2 checking process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:6
Assemblies clash limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:6
HVAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:1 extent of clash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:5
Assembly obstruction levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:5
rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:4 obstruction list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:6
Assembly Instance Clash limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:6
Create . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:5 Clashing extent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:5
Assembly Manager Clearance
form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:2 definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:6
Assembly Template Copying existing components . . . . . . . 4:18
Create . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:1 Current element
Attribute definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:2
definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:2
D
B
Data consistency checking
Branch principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:2
definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1 Database hierarchy
main and side branches . . . . . . . . . . 4:7 Design data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:2
side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:3 Database hierarchy:Draft data . . . . . . . 7:10
Branch Head Default specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:3
definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1 Design data:checking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:2
Branch head/tail Design database hierarchy . . . . . . . . . . 3:2
connecting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:12 Design parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4:1, B:1
Branch Tail Designer application:loading . . . . . . . . . 4:2
definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1 Detailing specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:2
Draft applications
loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:10
Draft database hierarchy . . . . . . . . . . . 7:10
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HVAC User Guide
Draft module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:10 N

Ducting:implied . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:14
Naming:automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:5
Numbering:automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:5
E
Element O
definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:2
Obstruction levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:5
Obstruction list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:6
G Obstruction volume
Gaps between components representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:11
filling automatically . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:3 Owner
Gaps between components:measuring 4:19, definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:2
6:1
Geometry set . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4:1, 4:2, B:1 P
Grid for tiling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:2
Panning view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:7
Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:1
H catalogue components . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1
Hard obstruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:5 Physical clash
Holes:representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:11 definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:6
HVAC designer application:loading . . . . 4:2 Plotting facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:10
Point set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4:2, B:1
Position:querying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:1
I
Primitive
Implied ducting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:14 definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1
Insulation:querying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:1 geometry set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1, 4:2
Isometric view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:5 Primitive:geometry set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B:1
Item details Project selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:3
querying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:1
Item naming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:5 R
Item numbering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:5
Item numbers Reports
querying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:1 generating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:8
Itemising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:5 principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:8
templates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:8
Representation
J
holes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:11
Joints obstruction volumes . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:11
specifying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:9 Rotating view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:7
L S
Limits Setting out point (SOP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:1
setting for view . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:5, 3:9 Side branch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:3
Site
M definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1
Soft obstruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:5
Member Specification
definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:2 default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:3
Module:definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:1 detailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:2
Specification reference (SpecRef) . . . . . B:1
Split Point
inserting an assembly . . . . . . . . . . . 8:6
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Stiffeners
adding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:3
Structure
definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1
T
Tile:positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:2
Touch
definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:6
V
View
3D/graphical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:5
centre of interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:8
panning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:7
rotating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:7
zooming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:7
View direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:5
W
World
definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1
Z
Zone
definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1
Zooming view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:7
Index page 3 12.0

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HVAC

First published September 2007

AVEVA Solutions Ltd, and its subsidiaries

HVAC User Guide

Introducing AVEVA PDMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:1

Database Hierarchy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1

Routing a Sequence of HVAC Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1

Adding to the HVAC Model. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:1

Completing the Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:1

Inserting an Access Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:10

Checking and Outputting Design Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:1

HVAC Assemblies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:1

HVAC Splitting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:1

HVAC Spooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:1

Creating HVAC Sketches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:1

Search Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:3

HVAC Component Palettes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C:1

Some Sample Plots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E:1

1 Read This First

1.1 Scope of this Guide

1.1.1 Intended Audience

1.1.3 About the Design Example

1.1.4 Further Reading

1.2 How the Guide is Organised

1.3 Further Training in the use of PDMS

2 Introducing AVEVA PDMS

This chapter introduces:

2.1 Structure of PDMS

2.2 Strengths of PDMS

2.3 PDMS HVAC Design Features

3.1 How PDMS Stores Design Data

Negative Primitives are used to represent holes through items.

3.1.1 PDMS Design Data Definitions

Design example begins:

3.3 Exploring the HVAC Database Hierarchy

3.4 Viewing the Design

3.4.1 Setting the Scale and Direction of the View

3.4.2 Using the Draw List

3.4.3 Manipulating the Displayed View

selects Zoom mode

selects Pan mode

selects Rotate mode

element is HVACZONE and click on the Limits CE button, and reselect

4 Routing a Sequence of HVAC Components

In this chapter you will learn:

4.1 HVAC Component Representation in the Catalogue

4.1.1 HVAC Physical Shape

4.1.2 HVAC Variables

4.2 Starting the HVAC Application

4.3 Setting HVAC Defaults

4.3.1 Setting a Default Detailing Specification

4.3.2 Choosing the HVAC Form Format

4.3.3 Customising HVAC Forms

37. Click Dismiss.

4.4 Creating HVAC Administrative Elements

4.4.1 Creating an HVAC System Element

4.4.2 Creating an HVAC Branch Element

4.5 Creating HVAC Components

fire square bend with deflector vanes

Branch head is here

55. Close the HVAC Component form.

4.5.1 Creating a Fire Damper

4.5.2 Moving the Fire Damper