The H-Factor

Working With Background Drawings #0 - Beginning with the Background

To be able to use HydraCAD with a background drawing, you need to do these simple steps:

Step 1 - Start a new drawing using one of the HydraCAD templates. Answer the scale question if asked. This is non-negotiable!

Step 2 - Insert the background drawing into the new HydraCAD drawing, exploded. Meaning, checking the Explode option

If you need help with the new AutoCAD 2020 Insert command, read this post: Using the AutoCAD 2020 Insert Command

That's really all you have to do to start working!

Next Steps

To convert existing sprinkler heads into HydraCAD heads, read this post: Working With Background drawings #1 - Changing Sprinkler Head Symbols

To convert existing piping into HydraCAD piping, read this post: Working With Background Drawings #2 - Changing Piping

If you are not happy with the colors or line-types of the existing steel, walls, ceilings, structures, etc - then feel free to change them. But, this does not need to be done to use HydraCAD effectively

Working With Background Drawings #2 - Changing Piping

If the background drawing has existing piping, you may be able to use that piping for HydraCAD.

The 'may' all hinges on how the original author drew the piping. Is it from center of head to center of head (or fitting)? Is it from edge of head to edge or head (or fitting). Is it simply drawn through all heads and couplings on a line or main, without stopping at each head? Are they really polylines?

If they are polylines, Explode them first. This will break them into segments.

If they drew the other ways, you can convert them like this:

Step 1: Isolate the layer of the piping by typing PC to pick the current layer, and pick one of the pipes. You can also use AutoCAD's Layer Isolate tool.

Step 2: Type in AF to turn all the layers off except for that current layer.

Step 3a: Select all of the pipe you want in the Main layer and pick SPRKDAT1 from the layer drop-down list
Step 3b: Select all of the pipe you want in the Line layer and pick SPRKDAT2 from the layer drop-down list
Step 3a: Select all of the pipe you want in the Underground layer and pick SPRKDAT3 from the layer drop-down list
Step 3a: Select all of the pipe you want in the Armover layer and pick SPRKDAT4 from the layer drop-down list

If they are only drawn edge to edge, you will have to turn on all the layer and use Grips or Extend to make the pipes reach the center / insert point of our heads and couplings.

If they are drawn through all the entities, you will have to break them up into segments. You can use AutoLine and AutoMain to do this relatively painlessly.

 

 

 

Working With Background drawings #1 - Changing Sprinkler Head Symbols

Say you have a background drawing that has sprinkler heads already laid out, but they aren't HydraCAD sprinkler heads. What to do?

Zeroth - Do what you should always do with a background drawing. That is, start a New drawing using one of the HydraCAD templates, and then insert your drawing into it, exploded.

First - you can stop laughing, because some of these backgrounds have a good quality sprinkler layout, unlike years past.

Second - it helps to know if the sprinkler heads are blocks or circles. Or something else.

If 'something else', then their isn't much we can help with other than telling you to latch onto an Osnap that is useful with the existing heads and use the Insert Multiple Sprinklers command to copy a new head to that osnap on all the existing heads, one by one.

But, if it they are blocks or circles, then we can help.

Step 1: Define the new heads you will need using the usual method - Select Sprinkler

Step 2: Insert one of each new head type to a place on the drawing that will be easy to locate when the time comes.

Step 3: Use the Change Block command! It is found in HydraTools->Modify->Blocks->Change Blocks (or type CHB) 

When that comes up,take a look at the dialog box. You can change blocks or circles using this tool:

 

For Blocks

Pick Select Existing and pick one of the existing heads. Then, pick Select New and grab one of the new heads you inserted.

If you check Do All occurrences..., then all the existing heads of the same selected existing type will get converted. Do this once for each kind of head.

 

For Circles

Pick Change Circle. Pick Select Existing and pick one of the existing heads. Then, pick Select New and grab one of the new heads you inserted.

All circles matching the diameter and layer of the circle you selected will get converted. Do this once for each kind of head.

 

 

Step 5: Sometimes original blocks are not inserted with a 'normal' scale factor. This is pretty easy to notice. If, after you convert your heads, some or all of them need to be re-scaled, start this command again and select Scale Block. Pick Select Existing, like before. Then choose Do all occurrences... You will be prompted for a new scale factor. Enter this.

 

That's it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Using the AutoCAD 2020 Insert Command

There are two overhauled commands in AutoCAD 2020 that are used pretty often; and that have changed considerably. One is the PURGE command, which I covered in an earlier post. The other is INSERT, which I will cover here.

Insert has changed considerably, in that it is considerably more complicated. Typing it in yields an Insert palette:

The Current Drawing tab shows all the blocks currently defined in the drawing, whether or not they have been actually inserted. From this tab, you can pick or drag and drop the blocks into the drawing.

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The Recent tab shows you the most recently inserted blocks, giving you a smaller list to choose from. however, this requires that you set up a cloud storage system to synch with. View the Help on this tab if you want to proceed

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To insert a block from another drawing, however, select the Libraries tab. The first time you use this command, the Libraries tab will be blank with a note to the effect of Open Block Libraries. 

Picking that, you will be asked to select a drawing to access, or, you can pick the Library Book symbol, below, for this same purpose:

Picking a drawing will display all of the blocks defined within that drawing. You can drag or drop these blocks into your drawing.

If you want to insert the entire drawing, such as in the case of a background to work off of, select the very first block in the upper left. This is the entire drawing. I suggest checking the Explode and Insertion Point boxes when inserting. I do not recommend the drag and drop feature for this, as the entire drawing has to get loaded in before you can 'drop' it where you want it

Finally, now that you have been forced to read all of this, if you want to use the good old Insert command from days of yore, simply type in CLASSICINSERT to do so!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting Access to AutoCAD When Invalid Serial Number Comes Up

The above error is common these days. And, it isn't you that is to blame (or us, for that matter). Who do we blame? Why, the Big A of course...

Autodesk is in the process of switching from serial number driven activation to user account (email) driven activation. The problem is that they still have their feet in two places (one in the boat and one on the shore), and they can't quite get either into the boat or out of it. This is causing many longtime AutoCAD users to run into the above problem. Users who are buying their first Autodesk product generally don't have the same problem, but may still run into a variation of it. Furthermore, some bad habits the long time users began years ago are finally coming home to roost.

Here is some background and how to 'fix' it:

Background - many companies with more than one user of Autodesk actually have only one person registered to use the software, and all others log in as that user to access Autodesk. This is what is causing the failure when an additional license is added. This situation must be corrected before proceeding. While this generally worked when AutoCAD used perpetual licenses,, it does not work with the current subscription scheme. Note: it also could send up a flag to Autodesk, resulting in an audit!

Some unbreakable rules:

• Each user must have their own Autodesk Account set up
• The contract administrator account (this is the email address on the license certificate) must be used to create these individual users
• Each user must be given rights to use the software
• AutoCAD (or whatever Autodesk product) must be activated on each registered users' machine

Here are the steps to address the problem:

1. Log into Autodesk Account using the email and password of the contract administrator. If this person should not be the admin, or no longer works there, or has changed their email address, contact us and we can change the administrator to whom you designate

2. Create a user account for each user that needs access by picking Manage Products and Downloads

3. Pick User Management from the left

4. Add a User from the options found. There are two variations of this screen. One has a list of users already there and one has small panels, one for each user. One has an entry field where you type in the email address of the user followed by a comma, firstname, lastname ([email protected],John,Doe). Multiple users can be created by this method. The other method is below. It has a line for each entry. Do not check the I'd like to assign products to the user(s) now option for this example

5. Locate the user just created. Pick Edit Access or Assign Products. Note that this user in the beginning does not have any products assigned to them

6. Check the products to Assign to this user. If no seats are available, you may have to click on one of the other users and release a seat. The other users may be company officers or purchasers or the contract administrator that do not require Autodesk software anyway

After you check the products, pick Save. The new user now has access. But their software is not yet registered

7. Close any Autodesk products you might have open

8. Locate the Autodesk Desktop App. You may have a shortcut on your desktop ad/or it might be in the Start menu. It also might already be active in the active programs panel accessed in the lower right of your screen

9. Once the app is open, pick the account name at upper right. This is probably not your user account, but the person who installed it earlier or your contract administrator. Pick Sign Out

10. Pick the same location on the dialog and pick Sign In. Enter your user credentials

This gives your access to those products to which you have been assigned. The problem is that your software doesn't yet know it. This is where things get a little crazy.

11. Open AutoCAD. You will get a splash screen asking you to use the software for 30 days (or whatever is left of your trial, unregistered version) or Activate. Pick Activate

The activation will most likely fail. You will then be asked to enter a serial number. When you do, you will be told Invalid Serial Number entered. Even though your were given this serial number by Autodesk itself. Yep. This is why we had to create this blog post...

Here is the workaround:

12. Cancel the activation

13. When you get back to the AutoCAD activation screen, pick Run (if necessary, reopen AutoCAD) to get into the software

14. Once in AutoCAD, locate your user account in the upper right. Pick Manage License

15. Pick Activate. Pick Single User. Your activation should now be completed and you will be allowed into AutoCAD. To test, close AutoCAD and re-enter it

Two previous blog posts discussed Giving Users Rights and Navigating Autodesk Account. Read these for further information.

Turning off Riser Nipple Text when Plotting

Want to keep riser nipples from showing both center and cut length when plotting? Tried to freeze or turn off layers?

AutoCAD has a newish feature that will help you do just this. Its call VP Freeze for Viewport Freeze.

Open the Layer palette. Find the HPipesCGen layer. Click the Square Sun icon in the New VP Freeze column. This will freeze this layer in viewports!

This modification has been added to HydraCAD V56.04 and V55.05. A change made to HydraCAD templates and layer script so that the HPipesCGen layer is set to default this way.

 

Using Copy and Paste in AutoCAD

Many of us use Copy and Paste in AutoCAD. Often when using Paste, we try to eyeball and line up the block we are pasting, or use OSNAPS.

But there are better ways!

The Edit drop down menu in AutoCAD has more than one command to copy and paste:

 

Cut is cut

-but-

Copy is copy without a specific base point. This makes it hard to align and place properly

Copy with Base Point allows you to select a base point, making it easy to line up the block between sheets or other objects

Paste asks for a placement point, you have to eyeball it or make sure you used Copy with Base Point so you can line up properly

Paste as Block brings in all that was Cut or Copied as a single entity

Paste to Original Coordinates is handy, as it does not require that you specify a base point. Say you need to copy the plan view of a stairway detail from one drawing to another, and naturally, you want to keep the valve and piping arrangement in the same relative position on each drawing. This is where Paste to Original Coordinates comes in handy

Note: You can also use the Copy with Base Point command from the same drop down. Select a common reference point, like the corner of the stairway. Then use the Paste command and you will see that your cross-hairs reflect that point.

Creating an Inventory Deduction File for Transfer to an External Program

Some customers need to produce a modified Raw Materials List to send to their accounting department so the items can get inventoried and/or billed. Here is how you do that:

*Note: These steps are outlined in the HydraLIST manual in the How Do I? section*

When the user processes a job, they need to check the Create Inventory Transfer File (ITF) option

This will create a small file in their \HES\Hydlist\Ver50\Data\Inven folder, that matches the Job Name and has an extension of ITF. This is an ASCII text file and can be opened in whatever you like.

Here is how you read that file

From the HydraLIST Manual, pages 8-283 through 8-285

 

Making Mains and Branch Lines Stand Out - LWDISPLAY

In even a regular-sized drawing it can be hard to determine what is a main, what is a wall, what is a partition, etc. Some people use the Pretty Pipes command to help with this, but that has a few drawbacks, especially when it makes it hard to select objects.

Lineweights can make that easier, it updates automatically as new piping is drawn and it does not add any drawing elements, making selection easier.

 

In this small drawing, note the unremarkable look of the Lines and Mains at left:

With Lineweights turned on, it looks like this:

The lines and mains pop out and are easy to recognize. Underground and Armovers also stand out, if present.

Lineweights are defined by layer. Opening up the Layer palette, note the Lineweight column.

These are the default HydraCAD layers, as defined in our templates and layer scripts. If you do not see the Lineweights defined, you may be using an old template.

 

The LWDISPLAY command applies these Lineweights to the drawing elements.

Type it in, and answer ON to see the lineweights, or select the Show / Hide Lineweight button on the bottom of the AutoCAD screen.

If you do not see this option, select the Customization button at far right and select LineWeight to turn it on

 

 

 

 

Shortcuts / Aliases - AutoCAD vs HydraCAD

HydraCAD and AutoCAD both have methods of creating typing shortcuts/aliases to commands. HydraCAD does not (usually) use the same key sequences as the AutoCAD does. I say usually, because sometimes AutoCAD adds new commands, and therefore new shortcuts, and we don't go back and change ours just to stay out of their way. HydraCADs aliases take precedence over AutoCADs because of the way both programs are loaded.

The AutoCAD aliases can be changed easily. Many people (including myself) change 'C' to be COPY instead of the default CIRCLE, for example.

The AutoCAD aliases are stored in the ACAD.PGP file in the \Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20##\UserDataCache\en-us\Support folder, where ## is the last two digits of the version of AutoCAD you are using. You can edit this file using a plain text editor, or by using the AutoCAD Express tool Command Alias Editor, which is far easier.

HydraCAD does not overwrite the ACAD.PGP file. Instead, the HydraCAD aliases are in a different file. HydraCADs aliases are stored in a file named HC_ALOAD.LSP, located in the \HES\HydraCAD\Ver50\Programs\Version## folder, where ## is the version of HydraCAD you are using. It can also be customized by using a text editor (like NOTEPAD), but you must be more careful when editing this file than with the ACAD.PGP.

Opening HC_ALOAD.LSP, you will see how we define aliases. We actually use LISP functions to create them.

Example:

Let's say you want to use the key sequence RT for an AutoCAD command. This will require two steps. You will need to add RT to the AutoCAD alias list (ACAD.PGP) and either remove it from the HydraCAD list (riskier), or rename the existing HydraCAD sequence to something else (easier).

Before you open the HC_ALOAD.LSP file, save a backup copy of it, in case something goes wrong.

Locate the RT alias in the HydraCAD list. Now, change RT to be RMT. Save the file

Open the ACAD.PGP file using the express tool mentioned above.

Scroll down to the Rs. Notice that RT is not being used. That is good.

Pick the Add button. Type in RT. In the AutoCAD Command filed, either type in ROTATE or scroll through the list of commands available.

Pick OK. Pick OK again. Close AutoCAD/HydraCAD and reopen. Your alias should work now.

PS - A complete list of HydraCAD aliases can be found by picking the List of HydraCAD Shortcuts command from the HydraCAD pulldown menu. You can edit this file to update this list to reflect your changes. Future updates will probably replace this file and the HC_ALOAD.LSP file, so make sure you have copies of your work to bring back if necessary.

Modifying a Sprinkler Head to Display Differently in Navisworks

A Customer asked me the following question (paraphrased):

Q: I am currently designing an apartment bldg using sidewall sprinklers for the top level. And this is also a BIM project so our piping is imported into Navis Works. If you look at the attached sidewall 2D photo. You will see that I have the sidewall attached to piping inside of the wall. (this is so HydraLIST will list the fitting as a 1 x ½ CPVC sprinkler elbow). However in my model the piping and sprinkler are hidden inside of the wall. ... (I would like to) make the sidewall sprinkler protrude from the wall so it is visible in the Navis Model.

I removed a wall panel in Navis so you can see the pipe and sprinkler in the attached sidewall model photo:

A: The solution here is not to modify the piping arrangement in 2D so that the 3D model looks the 'right' way. The key is to instead modify the 3D Sprinkler Head Block. When you define a sprinkler head, one is already chosen for you as a default. You have the option to specify which 3D head will be used:

If you pick 'Choose 3D Head Block <', you will be directed to the \HES\HydraCAD\Ver50\Programs\HEADS\3dHeads folder. There, you will find two or three dozen 3D heard representations. These are assigned to each defined sprinkler head type when created. They show in the 3D model generated when you raise the building up.

Find the representation closest to the head style you want and then open that drawing directly in HydraCAD. Modify it as you see fit and do a SaveAs to give it a new name (so you don't replace any of our default values).

Using The AutoCAD 2020 Purge Command

There are two overhauled commands in AutoCAD 2020 that are used pretty often. One of the is the PURGE command. The other is INSERT, which I will mention in a future post.

A customer had trouble getting the rings and other elements of hangers to show up properly when they ran 3D Hangers. I am still not sure how the problem occurred, but the gist is the hanger rings were somehow defined as other objects. My co-worker, Bill McKenna, my suggested that might be the problem, so I used the new Purge command to track them down. Here is how I figured out which blocks were mis-defined and fixed them.

In the drawing, I typed in PURGE. It takes a little while to load up, because it does a great deal of drawing scanning

Note the selection tree that shows up. Kind cool.

I picked Find Non-Purgeable Items to see what Blocks might be candidates 

I then picked the + next to Blocks. 

Many of the first few defined blocks really stand out. Why? Because 60 is the part number category for Hangers, making these likely candidates.

Picking the first one shows what is wrong right away. The hanger ring (10 being 1 inch) is somehow defined as a ski-pole. The solution is to erase all seven '60' blocks (one for each size) and purge them out. Except, they cannot be purged because they are inserted in the drawing.

So, I turned all the layers on using the AO (all on) command. I then type in DL for Delete Layer and selected one of the ski-poles inserted where the 3D hanger ring should be. This deleted over 4000 items from the HCAD-3d_Hangers layer.

Now I could to a PURGE again and be able to select the mis-defined blocks and purge them.

i checked each of the seven 'bad' blocks and picked Purge Checked Items. I was now able to create the 3D Hangers properly.

Installing Hydratec Software Silently

Revised 7/6/22

Many IT professionals like to 'push' installs onto user machines, as they don't want to sit on each user's machine and click the Next and OK buttons repeatedly.

There is a way to record the steps used to install our software, and replay those steps on each user's station.

The Silent Install options for InstallShield installer

Switch	Notes
/s	Silent mode. For an InstallScript project, the command Setup.exe /s runs the installation in silent mode, by default based on the responses contained in a response file called Setup.iss in the same directory
/r	Record mode. In order to run an InstallScript project installation program in silent mode, you must first run Setup.exe with the /r option to generate a response file, which stores information about the data entered and options selected by the user at run time. Running an InstallScript installation program with the command Setup.exe /r displays all the run-time dialogs, and stores the data in a file called Setup.iss, created inside the system’s Windows folder. response file name and location, use the /f1 option, described below.
/f1	Specify alternative response file name and path Using the /f1 option enables you to specify where the response file is (or where it should be created) and what its name is, as in Setup.exe /s /f1"C:\Temp\Setup.iss". Specify an absolute path; using a relative path gives unpredictable results. The /f1 option is available both when creating a response file (with the /r option) and when using a response file (with the /s option)
/f2	Specify alternative log file name and path When running an InstallScript installation in silent mode (using the /s option), the log file Setup.log is by default created in the same directory and with the same name (except for the extension) as the response file. The /f2 option enables you to specify an alternative log file location and file name, as in Setup.exe /s /f2"C:\Setup.log". Specify an absolute path; using a relative path gives unpredictable results.

 

Example: Start the installer silently

Setup.exe /s

 

*Note* - The HydraCAD for AutoCAD and Hydratec for Revit installations actually install three major products. The HydraCALC program is found in a folder in the packet of install files, as the HydraLIST is also found in its own folder. For now, three scripts will need to be recorded and run, one for each. These steps will outline the process:

1. As always, extract the contents of the installation package (.ZIP) to a folder on your hard drive
2. Move the HydraCALC folder out of that folder into another folder
3. Move the HydraLIST folder out of that folder into another folder
4. Run each of the three SETUP.EXE programs (inc. HydraCAD in the original folder) with the proper command line switches and record each one individually
5. Run each of the three SETUP.EXE programs independently with the proper command line switches to install per the recorded file
   
   

Much more information here: 

Running Installations in Silent Mode

Toolbar/Ribbon Button Sizes and Colors

AutoCAD 2015 introduced a Dark Color theme to add to what is now called a Light theme. In all, there are four (or six!) basic configurations. Dark and Light, regular and large buttons. These are accessed via the OPTIONS command and found on the Display tab of that command.

The default is the dark theme with regular buttons, which many find hard to read. Many also find the large buttons to help considerably, or choose the Light theme with either large buttons or not. This is what the four can look like:

Light Theme / Large Buttons

Light Theme / Regular Buttons

Dark Theme / Large Buttons

Dark Theme / Regular Buttons

Furthermore, AutoCAD 2020 changed the Dark theme to be dark blue instead of the dark grey of earlier versions, in acknowledgement of the difficulty of seeing the button pictures clearly

Dark Theme 2020 / Large Buttons

Dark Theme 2020 / Regular Buttons

The regular buttons are still too small in my opinion, but the large dark looks better. A future update will make our button images transparent so they present better - right now they have a shadow around them of the dark grey color.

Also notice the Ribbon buttons do not get larger by selecting Large. Will they change that in the future? Who knows...

Adding or Removing Inch Marks on Pipe Diameters; or Changing Drawing Setup

From a Customer: "Where is the setting to get the inch prefix when I am using the change pipe diameters?  Every time I have used this command with 2019 it takes away the inch suffix when I select a pipe size to change."

Answer: The place to set it is there when you start a new drawing. You can also access it by picking HydraTools->Options->Access Drawing Unit Setup:

Note: This does not have anything to do specifically with 2019, but it can be easily changed, more or less permanently.

Put a “ in the Suffix field

The next time you go up to 3D and back to 2D, the suffixes will be updated to reflect your choice.

Note: The Prefix option is more or less only used by our Metric friends in Europe. They sometimes use it to put a nominal diameter symbol in front of the pipe diameter, i.e. ø25

Also: This command can also be used to change the drawing scale if you set it up wrong

Moving Multiple Riser Nipple Tags Together Using Grips

You might be in a situation where you want to move some riser nipple tags and want to keep them together, so that they line up nicely. There is a tool to do this with pipe tags and hanger tags, but not with riser nipple tags. Which is where Grips come in. Grips have dozens of uses, but most people only use them for one or two things. Here is how to use them to move multiple items together.

Example - Move three riser nipple tags together

Step 1: Select riser nipple tags. You can do this one at a time or by using any selection method:

Step 2: Hold the SHIFT key down and pick the grip associated with the text of each riser nipple. The grip will turn Red after selection. This i known as a 'hot' grip. Release the SHIFT key after you have selected the three grips:

Step 3: Pick any one of the hot (red) grips. You will notice that all three riser nipple tags move in unison with the one selected:

Step 4: Pick the new placement point. Note in the example that the tag is being moved to the other side of the main:

Step 5: Hit the ESC key to cancel the grips. You are done!

 

Creating Your Own Templates

A customer contacted me today about having trouble using our commands. The cause was that he was using a template that someone else in his company had made, and it wasn't compatible with our program.

You can easily make your templates to work with our program. Here are the simple steps:

1. Type in Open and Drawing Template (*.dwt) from Files of Type at the bottom of the window. Pick the template of ours that you want to use for a base (this is usually the HydraCAD Imperial Default)

2. When it opens you will be asked to pick a Drawing Scale. If you want to lock in a scale for your template, then pick it here. If you want to be asked every time you start a new drawing using this template, then pick Cancel

3a. After dealing with the above dialog box, immediately type in SaveAs. Type in the name you want to save the template as. We do this right away so you don't accidentally overwrite ours

3b. Type in a new Description for your template. Note the suggested description, below

4. Open up your company template (.dwt) or drawing (.dwg) and select all the objects in it. Copy and paste these into the template you just made

5. Save your new template

 

Note: This should be done after every major release of HydraCAD (i.e. V55, V56, etc)

Autopeaking a Grid

Tutorial #5 in the HydraCALC manual explains how to use HydraCALC-Sizer to automatically build a grid based on some simple inputs. The grid it builds is ready to be AutoPeaked. Aside from that, how does AutoPeaking work in HydraCALC? And what is AutoPeaking?

NFPA-13 Section 22.4.4.4 addresses gridded systems. It states that the designer must verify that the hydraulically most demanding area is being used. Further, it states that at least two immediately adjacent areas on either side along the same branch lines be calculated to prove that the one of them is that hydraulically most demanding area. Third, it states that a computer program that shows the peaking is acceptable based on a single set of calculations. This is where the term 'AutoPeaking' comes from.

In the days before AutoPeaking, (and still, sometimes), we would pick a remote area on a plan. We would then calculate it. We would then shift the remote area one head 'left' along the branch line and calculate that area see if the safety margin shrinks. If it did, we would keep going left until the safety margin stopped shrinking, or we ran into a main. If the safety margin stopped shrinking, then we knew which area was the remote area. If it never shrunk while moving left, we would shift the remote area one head to the right and check that one, and so on. The picture below illustrates this point. Please note that the terminology Left and Right mostly applies because it is an easy way to explain this concept, but Left and Right are are arbitrary and can be interchanged as long as the use is consistent along all the branch lines.

If the grid is non-typical, we still calculate additional areas manually in HydraCALC to this day.

With HydraCALC, AutoPeaking must only be used on 'typical' grids. That means the gridded branch lines:

1. The spacing between each head in the remote area must be the same
2. Must not have any elbows or tees between the heads in the remote area
3. Must not be on arm-overs
4. Must be labelled with Left and Right markers (L and R)

If these conditions are not satisfied, you will need to perform separate calculations for each remote area and print and submit them to the AHJ. You cannot use the AutoPeaking report in HydraCALC under these conditions.

Why? Concerning Condition #1: Because in a non-typical situation (heads spaced differently along branch line, for example), the number of heads that must be calculated along a single branch line may change as the remote area shifts one head at a time. Remember, the NFPA rule is that the length of the branch line to be calculated be at least 1.2 times the square root of the remote area. This calculates out to 46.5 +/- ft with a remote area size of 1500 sq. ft. In the example below, the heads are spaced 12 ft. apart, requiring the calculation of four heads per line. If the spacing were, say, 12' / 12' / 12' / 12' / 10' / 10' / 10', four heads would not be sufficient when the area was shifted 12' towards one head or the other. Thus, the shape of the remote area would change and possibly the number of heads calculated in it.

Conditions 2 and 3 are listed because the AutoPeak feature in HydraCALC requires that none of the points in between flowing heads have any fitting on them. Condition #4 allows the program to recognize the remote area points to be shifted. This will be explained later.

Example:

Each area contains the same amount of heads; spacing is 12' between heads along the branch lines.

Scenario 1: Area 1a (red area) is the first area placed and calculated. Area 1b (purple, one head or 12' 'left' of Area 1a) is then calculated and found to be less remote than Area 1a. Area 1d (green, one head or 12' 'right' of Area 1a) is then calculated and found the be less remote than Area 1a, meaning Area 1a is 'most' remote.

Scenario 2: Area 1a (red area) is the first area placed and calculated. Area 1b (purple, one head or 12' 'left' of Area 1a) is then calculated and found to be more remote than Area 1a. Area 1c (blue, one head or 12' 'left' of Area 1b) is calculated and determined to be less remote than Area 1b, making Area 1b the most remote. Area 1d (green, one head or 12' 'right' of Area 1a) is never calculated as the remote area consistently marched to the left.

There are other scenarios, but these are the two used here for illustration.

Left and Right markers

Left and Right markers act as 'bookends' which border the area to be calculated in HydraCALC. These can be typed in manually when inputting a calculation yourself. The AutoCalc process from within Hydratec for AutoCAD or Hydratec for Revit will add the appropriate left and right markers on grids that satisfy the four conditions listed above. They will also be added automatically by the HydraCALC-Sizer program, if the job is a grid and if it is transferred to HydraCALC using the Build Hydraulic Input function.

As mentioned above,Left and Right applies because it is an easy way to explain this concept and Left and Right are are arbitrary and can be interchanged as long as the use is consistent along all the branch lines.

From Tutorial #5: The L and R markers are added before the length automatically. Note in this example that L6 and R78 are used as the bookend lengths.

The common length between heads is 12 (ft). Given this situation, HydraCALC will shift the area being calculated by 12 each time. Since there is no room to take 12 away from (L)6, the process will instead calculate the first area and then march 12 feet each time to the right. After the area shifts to the right one time, the L6 will become L18 and the R78 will become R66. This will not be noticed in the input unless you choose an option to do so when you calculate it. Speaking of which, here are the Options:

The AutoPeak Grid Calculation option tells HydraCALC that you want to peak the calculation. If this is checked, the second option is available, Auto change peak lengths (L&R values). This option is the one referred to above. It will alter the L# and R# values to reflect the location of the remote area. This will make the calculation faster the next time, ans it may not have to shift the area as much. If the L and R markers are not added to the calculation, these options will not be selectable.

When you print out the final (submittal) calculations, you will be able to select the AutoPeaking Sheet for printout.

 

The AutoPeaking Sheet:

The List of Pipes for Area Calculated section reports where the remote area ended up after it was shifted automatically in the calculation. This is so the user can mark the remote area properly on their plan.

In the report above, the distance between reference points 2 and 3 is listed at 38.170 (feet). In this example, 2 is the branch line connection at the cross main and 3 is the first flowing head in the remote area. The other side is 30.830 ft. The fourth line, right side, from 54 to 55 is 66.830 ft due to that line having less flowing heads operating.

The next section of this report shows the demands associated with the remote area. The most remote area is the one listed as AREA CALCULATED. This area is the one referenced in the List of Pipes for Area Calculated. The Flow Required and Safety Margin are reported for this location.

The LEFT listing reports on the demands of the area if shifted one head left, at the distance seen (12.000). The one head RIGHT listing is also reported. These directions are consistent with the note above. If the remote area calculation had to ‘move’ the remote area more than one head in a given direction, you will see multiple LEFT entries, each one one head further along the grid line, until the pressure starts to drop, and the peak is found.

The Typical Distance Between Heads is reported. The Split Point Used in Area Calculated refers to the reference point name designated to the most remote head.

 

Using a Tank as a Water Supply

HydraCALC is set up to use either a city supply or a pump. There is currently no provision to choose use a tank or cistern, but there is a way to do it.

From a Customer: I have a 42 foot tall water tank. How do I use this supply in HydraCALC

Answer: You must first ascertain the elevation level of the tank that you are able to use per NFPA. For argument sake, lets assume 42 feet is the level allowed. That would give Static of 18.19 psi. Make the Residual slightly smaller (as it will error is the same as Static)

Put it in your city supply like this:

The flow used is not really relevant, as the slope is so gradual. But, it should be big enough to supply a pump if needed.

 

 

Setting Your Workspace to be the one that Shows up When you Open HydraCAD

From a customer: I updated my HydraCAD to V56 and I set my workspace as current but every time I open HydraCAD it opens with HydraCAD Standard.  I have been in the customize area and set my personal cui as current but it doesn’t start up with that. How do I make it show up every time?

Answer: You need to set your workspace to be the default one, so it loads when you open cad. Type in CUI and enter. Then, note your workspace in the list that will appear. Right-click on it and pick Default. Next time you open cad, it will default to yours.