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HVAC

Overview

Version 2011 (V12)

June 2011

DPDS3-PE-200032G
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Contents
Preface PDS ................................................................................................................................................. 5

Project Engineer HVAC Overview .............................................................................................................. 7


Automating the HVAC Layout and Design Workflow .............................................................................. 7
A Brief History ......................................................................................................................................... 8
MicroStation Foundation ......................................................................................................................... 9
Automatic Level Assignments ................................................................................................................. 9
3-D Layout............................................................................................................................................... 9
Graphics Intelligence ............................................................................................................................ 10
On-line Catalogs ................................................................................................................................... 10
Referenced Floor and Ceiling Plans ..................................................................................................... 11
Devices ................................................................................................................................................. 11
Customized Graphics ............................................................................................................................ 11
Orientation Tee ..................................................................................................................................... 12
Ducts ..................................................................................................................................................... 12
Duct Sizing ............................................................................................................................................ 13
Elevation ............................................................................................................................................... 13
Routes ................................................................................................................................................... 13
Duct Attributes....................................................................................................................................... 14
Device Hookup ...................................................................................................................................... 14
Fittings ................................................................................................................................................... 14
Modelling ............................................................................................................................................... 15
Manipulating Graphics .......................................................................................................................... 15
Reviewing and Editing Design Data ..................................................................................................... 16
Miscellaneous Utilities ........................................................................................................................... 17
Reference and Project Databases ........................................................................................................ 17
Reports .................................................................................................................................................. 17
Conversion from 3-D to 2-D .................................................................................................................. 17
Annotation ............................................................................................................................................. 18
Drawing Notes....................................................................................................................................... 18
Part of an Integrated Suite .................................................................................................................... 18
Workflow ............................................................................................................................................... 19

Index ........................................................................................................................................................... 23

HVAC Overview 3
Contents

4 HVAC Overview
Preface PDS
This document provides command reference information and procedural instructions for the
Plant Design System (PDS) HVAC task.

List of PDS Documentation


 DPDS3-PB-200003 - DesignReview Integrator (PD_Review) Reference Guide
 DPDS3-PB-200004 - Drawing Manager (PD_Draw) User's Guide
 DPDS3-PB-200005 - EE Raceway Modeling Reference Guide
 DPDS3-PB-200006 - Interference Checker/Manager (PD_Clash) User's Guide
 DPDS3-PB-200010 - PDS 3D Theory User's Guide
 DPDS3-PB-200013 - PDS EDEN Interface Reference Guide Volume I : Piping
 DPDS3-PB-200015 - PDS Equipment Modeling (PD_EQP) User's Guide
 DPDS3-PB-200017 - PDS ISOGEN Reference Guide, Vol. 1
 DPDS3-PB-200022 - PDS Piping Component Data Reference Guide
 DPDS3-PB-200023 - PDS Project Setup Technical Reference
 DPDS3-PB-200025 - PDS Stress Analysis Interface (PD_Stress) User's Guide
 DPDS3-PB-200026 - Pipe Supports Modeler Reference Guide
 DPDS3-PB-200028 - Piping Design Graphics (PD_Design) Reference Guide
 DPDS3-PB-200030 - Project Administrator (PD_Project) Reference Guide
 DPDS3-PB-200033 - Project Engineer HVAC (PE-HVAC) Reference Guide
 DPDS3-PB-200034 - Reference Data Manager (PD_Data) Reference Guide
 DPDS3-PB-200035 - Report Manager (PD_Report) User's Guide
 DPDS3-PB-200041 - PDS EDEN Interface Reference Guide Volume 2 : Equipment
 DPDS3-PB-200042 - PDS EDEN Interface Reference Guide Volume 3 : Pipe Supports
 DPDS3-PE-200016 - PDS Express Project Creation Quick Start Guide
 DPDS3-PE-200052 - PDS Ortho Draw User's Guide
 DPDS3-PE-200029 - Piping Model Builder (PD_Model) Reference Guide
 DPDS3-PE-200031 - Project Engineer HVAC Getting Started Guide
 DPDS3-PE-200032 - Project Engineer HVAC Overview
 DPDS3-PE-200045 - PDS Label Library Merger Utility
 DPDS3-PE-200047 - PDS Reference Data Auditing Tool
 DPDS3-PE-200048 - Pipe Supports Explorer Utility
 DPDS3-PE-200050 - Batch Services Quick Start Guide
 DPDS3-PE-200051 - Batch Services User's Guide

HVAC Overview 5
Preface PDS

6 HVAC Overview
SECTION 1

Project Engineer HVAC Overview

Automating the HVAC Layout and Design Workflow

Project Engineer HVAC (PE- HVAC) is a comprehensive application that automates the layout
and design of air distribution systems. Appropriate for the design of both commercial and
industrial buildings, the product enables you to work interactively with architectural drawings to
accurately and efficiently place heating, refrigeration, and air distribution equipment, as well as
route complete duct systems. Placement and routing capabilities are complemented with
sophisticated analysis routines that interactively sum airflows, size ducts, and calculate duct
gauge requirements.
PE-HVAC placement commands integrate with a library of graphics symbols containing a
complete array of HVAC equipment, including grilles, registers, diffusers, fans, cooling and
heating equipment, and terminal devices. Defined in Eden parametric language, equipment
symbols integrate with online catalogs that supply device-specific intelligence. Customized with
your own information, these catalogs are freely accessible both within and outside the design
environment. You can work with multiple catalogs during a project, as well as review, report,
add, change, or delete entries at any time. In addition to Eden symbols, the software provides a
library for standard graphics cells. Using MicroStation draw commands to create your own
HVAC equipment graphics, you can quickly and easily populate this library, even with the most
unusual devices.
Unique as a modelling system, PE-HVAC extends traditional layout and design from a flat, 2-D
environment to the visually rich world of 3-D. Beyond the purely visual benefits of 3-D, the extra
dimension of intelligence opens new avenues of analysis: with elevation (z) values, you can
generate accurate equipment schedules and material takeoffs for cost estimates. As part of its
modelling routine, the software automatically places predefined fittings as it reads intelligence
from duct and equipment graphics, though you may interactively place fittings of any type where
you wish.
The software provides a flexible environment for altering HVAC designs. Manipulation
commands enable you to extend and shorten ducts, as well as specify intersections. Traditional
move-copy-delete manipulations can be invoked on single or grouped elements. Duct shapes
can be changed to rectangular, round, or oval. Insulation can be quickly added or removed for

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Project Engineer HVAC Overview

entire groups of ducts. Review and edit commands compose an open, interactive environment
for making changes to attribute data associated with HVAC graphics.
Relational databases serve as PE-HVAC’s repository of catalog and project data. Integrating
with sophisticated data management functions, the software enables you to interrelate design
information and pose complex queries to generate material reports and equipment schedules,
as well as perform analyses. Using project data, you can create annotation labels for drawings.
The software allows you to specify both the contents of labels and where they appear in
drawings. Additionally, equipment schedules created from database information can be placed
in drawings and edited to meet individual requirements. Construction drawings featuring 2-D,
top-view perspective are produced as a by-product of 3-D designs – a process requiring a single
command toggle.

A Brief History
PE-HVAC has its origins in an application called "HVAC" that premiered in 1985 as part of
Intergraph’s Engineering Production Design Package (EPDP) suite of products. HVAC was
VAX-based and designed to exploit Intergraph’s IGDS graphics environment and the DMRS
data management system as a 2-D drafting tool that tracked 3-D intelligence, but did not display
it. Modelling operations required a companion program, which ran outside the design
environment. In 1989, Intergraph began a redesign of HVAC, preserving its former heritage
while broadening its capabilities to directly embrace modelling. Intergraph also took this
opportunity to extend the product’s functionality to embrace a wider scope of HVAC engineering,
particularly with respect to design. As a result, the product emerged on a new platform with a
new definition and a new name. It became "Project Engineer HVAC," a UNIX-based product
with comprehensive functionality that encompassed not only 3-D modelling, but also analysis.
Another important feature of the new PE-HVAC was a library of components defined with Eden
parametric language.
PE-HVAC development in the early part of the 1990s refined many of the enhancements and
productivity extensions pioneered in the previous decade. The Eden component library was
enlarged to include ASHRAE and SMACNA fitting types. Additionally, the software’s analysis
routines were embellished to provide more sizing options. A duct calculator, in particular, was
added, proving an invaluable tool for optimizing duct size to design criteria. A duct gauge
calculator was also added to optimize sheet metal thickness to static pressure values. Of
particular import was the addition of the velocity pressure sizing method to duct route analysis
options. This feature, which balances static pressure distribution at duct junctions, was provided
to optimize design of industrial exhaust systems. Development effort today is focused on further
productivity-enhancing features, but with a simplified user interface. Supporting this effort,
Intergraph has widened the operating environment of the product to include Windows. By

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making PE-HVAC more accessible and widely available on both UNIX and Windows platforms,
it can be exploited more effectively by mechanical engineers, facilities managers, and other
building professionals.

MicroStation Foundation
PE-HVAC is based on MicroStation and incorporates all its 2-D and 3-D drafting features. These
embody numerous graphical elements, such as lines, shapes, arcs, circles, and curves. Each
element is displayed with a line weight and style (solid, dashed, etc.), as well as a color that you
select. Element modification commands are also incorporated, including copying, deleting,
moving, rotating, and scaling. Cell libraries, which store graphical symbols, can be reused within
and across projects. Display commands let you zoom in and out on screens, as well as shift
views in various ways. Further, the software implements reference file capabilities, which enable
you to partition large files and implement parallel workflows across disciplines.

Automatic Level Assignments


The software automatically defines discrete levels and line features (colors, line weights, and
line styles) for the various aspects of HVAC systems. Registers, diffusers, and grilles, for
example, are each placed on a separate level, with a distinct line color and style. To help control
graphics density and conserve computer resources, levels can be turned on or off to display
only the elements needed. The software provides flexible control over level and symbology
assignments; for instance, you can customize levels and line colors to differentiate proposed
renovations from existing facilities. Plots can be generated from individual or collective data
sets.

3-D Layout
While Eden equipment symbols appear in 3-D as they are placed, ducts are laid out in
single-line mode. When initially placed, they appear as single lines terminated with appropriately
shaped cross sections. After layout, a one-step modelling routine quickly redraws duct graphics
in full 3-D perspective according to the shape specified. In addition to 3-D display, the modelling
process also generates intelligence that is integral to analysis operations.

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Graphics Intelligence
Tightly integrated with the PE-HVAC command environment is a comprehensive attribute
system that links user-definable parameters to HVAC features. Called userdata, this intelligence
proves invaluable to the software’s analysis and reporting functions. It is tracked by means of
relational databases. Database manipulations are carried out in conjunction with Intergraph’s
relational database system, RIS. This system provides a generic, syntax-free gateway to
industry-leading relational database management systems, including Oracle and MS SQL.
Attribute data can be defined and recounted easily by means of intuitive, forms-based
interfaces. As elements are placed, only minimal data is required. More attribute information can
be added at any time – the environment for editing is equally flexible. It is possible to use
PE-HVAC in a purely drafting capacity to rough-in designs quickly without assigning attribute
information.

On-line Catalogs
On-line catalogs provide HVAC equipment selections that may be placed in designs. Catalogs
represent a combination of Eden symbols and attribute information, which is contained in
reference databases. The software is delivered with a variety of default database entries for
various equipment types. These entries can be used unaltered or easily customized to reflect
specifications from vendors of your choice. You can review, add, or remove database entries at
any time, either inside or outside the graphics environment. Additionally, you can assemble
multiple catalogs, organizing each to meet specific requirements. For instance, you might create
catalogs containing discrete equipment like diffusers, coils, and dampers, or catalogs containing
an amalgamation of equipment used for a specific project.

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Referenced Floor and Ceiling Plans


To speed layout and improve design accuracy, PE-HVAC references floor plans and reflected
ceiling plans from architectural applications. Design files from third-party applications can be
translated using Intergraph’s DXF translation software. For even greater productivity, you can
benefit from the seamless integration between PE-HVAC and other members of Intergraph’s
building design and management suite of applications. Intergraph’s unique reference file
capabilities support concurrent workflows among related architectural disciplines, enabling
members of project teams to view each other’s drawings over the network while work is in
progress.

Devices
Placing devices in PE-HVAC centers on an intuitive, forms-based interface that provides fields
for selecting devices from on-line catalogs, defining their attributes, orienting them in 3-D space,
and placing them in a layout. Catalog selection queries a reference database, allowing you to
specify search parameters. The software generates a list of devices that satisfy your search
criteria. It also delivers default userdata profiles for each equipment type. You can edit these
profiles or use them unaltered. You can also copy profiles to new database records and edit
them appropriately. Userdata profiles include information such as device type, airflow rate and
range, width-depth-length values, and model number. You can define additional attributes for
equipment takeoffs, such as manufacturer, system ID, and cost.

Customized Graphics
Complementing the library of Eden-defined devices bundled with PEHVAC are commands for
creating your own graphics. You can use Eden utilities to create graphics with parametric
definition or MicroStation draw commands to create basic 3-D cells. MicroStation graphics can
be converted to PE-HVAC elements with userdata cell structures. Central to userdata
intelligence are place points, which track information about the size, shape, and air flow direction
of inlet and outlet connections, as well as device orientations. You can set the symbology of
these cells to mirror that of Eden-defined graphics. Placement strategies for both types of
graphics are identical.

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Orientation Tee
Beyond selecting devices and defining their attributes, the device placement interface features
an orientation tee that enables you to place devices so that airflows are in the right direction and
ducts can hook up properly. The tee defines three axes: primary, secondary, and normal. The
primary axis defines airflow direction, the secondary defines device width, and the normal
defines device depth. To situate devices at appropriate angles, the tee provides rotation around
each axis. Also featured with the placement interface is a reference plane form, which sets
placement elevation. Actual placement is interactive. You can place devices individually or in
matrices (by defining x and y directions and spaces between devices). You can also connect
devices to existing ducts, fittings, or other devices.

Ducts
PE-HVAC places rectangular, round, flat-oval, or flex ducts in single-line mode. The single-line
graphics track userdata that is elemental to a variety of operations, including placement, sizing
calculations, surface modelling, reporting, labeling, and drawing extraction. Route lines can be
specified to represent the corner, top, bottom, or center of a 3-D duct model. They appear in
dynamic mode, allowing you to visually verify their path before actually placing them.

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Duct Sizing
Integrated with the software’s duct placement interface is a powerful duct sizing calculator that
presizes new ducts or resizes existing ones. Sizing calculations are based on airflow values,
maximum and minimum velocities, and maximum friction loss rates, which are extracted from
device userdata. You can further optimize sizing computations to specific design conditions by
defining numerous constraints. The most common sizing methods include equal friction and
static regain. For removal of fumes, vapors, and particles, PE-HVAC is equipped to place hoods
and collectors. An industrial ventilation routine calculates duct sizes for these systems. By
default, computations are based on ASHRAE calculation methods, though you can implement
any standards you like. The calculator generates a report file containing recommended duct
sizes for a given set of design criteria.

Elevation
Beyond device placement, the reference plane form also has important uses in placing duct
systems. Allowing you to establish auxiliary coordinate systems, the form can be used to set
elevations for any of the three available planes (xy, xz, and yz), providing both vertical and
horizontal control. As a result, you can ensure that devices and duct systems are placed at
appropriate levels with respect to ceilings, floors, or walls.

Routes
Much like the orientation tee that accompanies device placement commands, the duct
placement interface features a route control form that defines routing parameters. In addition to
allowing you to route freely in 3-D space, the form enables you to force duct routes to specific
angles and change routing orientations. For example, you can set angles to specify bends or
change orientation to route along angled walls. Another routing aid is the dynamic axis lock,
which constrains duct routes to specific xy axes. With this lock activated, you can snap to points
in a design to determine the path or terminus of route lines. This function is particularly useful for
precision routing where you need to route parallel to or on top of design elements, or perhaps
route to a certain point.

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Duct Attributes
Beyond defining routes, the placement interface also defines duct attributes. Functioning as a
catalog entry form, it allows you to copy, modify, or create reference database records
pertaining to ducts. The form features numerous attribute fields. You can define the size and
shape of ducts, as well as the service condition (supply or return). Additionally, you can specify
a pressure class of high, medium, or low to regulate the software’s automated fitting placement
and sizing operations. Also, you can indicate system status to distinguish whether ducts are
proposed, existing, or to be removed. Further, you can define duct and insulation material, as
well as material thickness.

Device Hookup
The software’s hookup operations require minimal input – a simple selection of device, duct
system and shape, and airflow direction. The software automatically projects an orthogonal
route between ducts and devices. The command sequence operates on a device-by-device
basis. It reads dimensional information off device place points. For instance, if a device has a
round neck, the software routes a round connecting duct that matches the device’s neck
dimensions.

Fittings
PE-HVAC provides two methods for placing fittings: they can be placed automatically in
modelling operations based on duct layout intersections, and you can also place them manually
at specific locations and orientations. Automatically placed fittings have the same size and
shape as underlying ducts. The software extracts fitting intelligence from duct userdata; relevant
attributes include size, shape, service type, pressure class, and airflow rate. Fitting type is
determined from a default table, which includes ASHRAE and SMACNA fittings. This table is
easy to reconfigure, allowing you to specify the default fittings of your choice. You can also
specify transitions and reducers for automatic placement where necessary.

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For special conditions or locations, you can individually create and place fittings using manual
placement commands. As with devices and ducts, user-placed fittings are cataloged in
reference databases. Standard definitions, bundled as part of the product’s default reference
entries, can be copied or modified as necessary for your own design purposes. The software
also provides fitting graphics in both Eden and cell libraries. In addition, you can create your own
graphics using PE-HVAC’s Eden utilities or MicroStation draw commands. Each fitting has place
points that carry the width, depth, shape, orientation, and direction (inlet or outlet) of its
connections. Orientation is controlled with an orientation tee.

Modelling
Featuring a straightforward interface, modelling commands are simply invoked and quickly
executed. The software reads shape and dimensional information off duct userdata and
constructs 3-D duct surfaces appropriately. It also evaluates intersecting ducts and places the
correct type and size fittings at intersections. Models can incorporate centerlines, insulation, and
linings. Further, they can be generated in design mode as permanent fixtures in a file or in draft
mode for temporary display.
As part of the modelling process, the software evaluates design data and senses error
conditions. It flags questionable elements with error markers. A show errors command reports
the nature of errors, allowing you to quickly review and edit design inconsistencies.

Manipulating Graphics
PE-HVAC provides a flexible environment for manipulating graphics. You can manipulate duct
route lines, cross sections, and the ducts themselves, as well as fittings and devices. You can
also change duct surface graphics. Manipulation commands provide basic copy-move-delete
operations for individual elements or groups of elements. These operations apply not only to
graphics, but also to associated userdata. Groups consist of individually identified components,
components in a fence, components in a view, or all components in a design file. In addition to
basic manipulations, the software provides specialized commands that join and break ducts, as
well as extend existing duct routes to new locations or to specified intersections. Also available
is a command to reverse the airflow direction of duct routes.

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Project Engineer HVAC Overview

Reviewing and Editing Design Data


With PE-HVAC, you can always look at your databases to review and edit userdata. You can
selectively review and edit single elements or groups of various elements. With groups, you step
through each component’s userdata one sheet at a time. Selective group functions are applied
collectively to elements of one type, such as ducts or default fittings. Unlike selective edit-review
functions that apply to one element at a time, group edit functions effect changes in one sweep
– a particularly powerful tool for edits of system-wide scope.

The dynamics associated with changes to userdata are varied – some graphical elements
automatically reflect userdata changes, while others require remodelling. For instance, duct
cross sections automatically reflect dimensional changes. Duct surfaces and default fittings, on
the other hand, must be remodelled to reflect changes.
To maintain continuity and integrity between graphics and project data, the software performs
quick and easy updates. Review and edit operations make changes to userdata
instantaneously, while database load functions update project database records. If you choose,
you can have analysis operations update userdata by means of remodelling.

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Miscellaneous Utilities
PE-HVAC provides a suite of basic utilities that control general design file manipulations, such
as saving parameters, turning levels on and off, and setting symbologies. There are also utilities
for defining active libraries and labeling designs. Assigning standards is another utility provided.
It essentially allows you to define and apply standards to duct userdata structures. Also included
is a utility that moves PE-HVAC design files to Intergraph’s ModelView software for
photo-realistic rendering.
The software further includes a suite of engineering utilities that provides basic dimensioning
and coordinate measuring functions. Grid utilities retrieve grid lines and annotation from master
files or reference files, as well as define auxiliary grid systems. A variety of locks is available to
control placement techniques. The drawing lock, for example, controls placement elevation.
Numerous snap features define placement points.

Reference and Project Databases


PE-HVAC makes use of two types of databases – a reference database and a project database.
Reference databases, as discussed previously, comprise the various catalogs you might use at
a given time. You will recall that this store of information represents the potential of everything
you might place in your design. You can populate reference databases at any time, either inside
or outside the graphics environment, adding single or multiple records in each session. The
project database, conversely, represents an extraction of things from the reference database,
since it contains only the information you actually use. It is populated using batch processes,
which run outside the graphics environment. You can have these processes run as background
operations while you proceed with design work on other files.

Reports
Because graphics and userdata are linked, reports are generated as a by-product of HVAC
designs. The software’s reporting functions draw from database information, so they enlist RIS
utilities, which can be complemented with DBAccess software to produce customized templates
for a variety of formats. The software is delivered with basic templates for generating bills of
materials and material takeoffs for each HVAC element. Reports can relate information across
an entire project, individual systems, or portions of systems. You graphically identify areas to
report on by simply drawing fences.

Conversion from 3-D to 2-D


PE-HVAC makes it easy to generate production drawings from 3-D models. An extract drawing
command projects a 2-D image of modelled designs at specified elevations. Additionally, it
converts 3-D PE-HVAC elements to 2-D symbols that are consistent with industry conventions.
These symbols can be customized as necessary to suit unique requirements. Further, the
software changes the symbology for ducts that are routed under other ducts to clearly delineate
the difference. Flex ducts are routed as single-line arcs, though you may pattern them according
to your choosing. A cleanup utility allows you to clean up overlaps that are not properly
projected when routing is performed after drawing extraction takes place.

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Project Engineer HVAC Overview

Annotation
PE-HVAC provides a flexible environment for annotating designs. You can label elements within
the graphics environment as you create them or use editing functions to label them after layout.
In addition to choosing when and how you will label, you can also define the contents of labels.
You can select solely from userdata or supplement with additional details. The software also lets
you create template cells for each of the various elements in a design. Further, you can define
the location of labels within designs, as well as specify leader display attributes.

Drawing Notes
PE-HVAC further provides various methods and styles for placing notes, change indicators, and
various symbols, such as targets and north arrows. You can easily customize these features to
meet unique specifications. The software defines rectangular and orthogonal areas for enclosing
notes, automatically attaching symbols for detail and sheet numbers. Notes with leader lines can
be drawn, including centerlines, match lines, and break lines. You can place text in a layout to
identify areas and equipment. Target symbols can be added to indicate work points and
reference points. Addenda and bulletin notes can be displayed within clouds. And finally,
drawing scales and north arrows can be designated.

Part of an Integrated Suite


In addition to PE-HVAC, Intergraph offers a sophisticated architectural design application,
Project Architect. These applications share a common database of information that can be
seamlessly accessed. It is important to note that while each of these disciplines can reference
graphics information among these applications, they can also reference attribute data. Yet
another benefit of this integration is the parallel communication of design data across a
multidisciplinary workflow. Since files are not copied, but referenced, shared information is
accurate up to the minute.

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Project Engineer HVAC Overview

Workflow
The following flowchart exemplifies a PE-HVAC workflow built around major features of the
product that are appropriate to a typical design task. Please note, however, that numerous
additional commands are available with PE-HVAC. For more information on these, consult the
Project Engineer HVAC Reference Guide.

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20 HVAC Overview
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HVAC Overview 21
Index

3 P
3-D Layout • 9 Part of an Integrated Suite • 18
Preface PDS • 5
A Project Engineer HVAC Overview • 7
A Brief History • 8
Annotation • 18 R
Automatic Level Assignments • 9 Reference and Project Databases • 17
Automating the HVAC Layout and Design Referenced Floor and Ceiling Plans • 11
Workflow • 7 Reports • 17
Reviewing and Editing Design Data • 16
C Routes • 13
Conversion from 3-D to 2-D • 17
Customized Graphics • 11 W
Workflow • 19
D
Device Hookup • 14
Devices • 11
Drawing Notes • 18
Duct Attributes • 14
Duct Sizing • 13
Ducts • 12

E
Elevation • 13

F
Fittings • 14

G
Graphics Intelligence • 10

M
Manipulating Graphics • 15
MicroStation Foundation • 9
Miscellaneous Utilities • 17
Modelling • 15

O
On-line Catalogs • 10
Orientation Tee • 12

HVAC Overview 23

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