Floor Information

On the Floor Information tab you can define the beam layout dimensions and loadings.

Primary, secondary and mixed primary/secondary beams can be set up quickly.

To add a new brief, click on the Add New Brief (blue +) button on the Floor Information tab or the Add Brief button on the top toolbar  (yellow +).

Secondary beam.

A simple secondary beam can be defined with the span of the beam and the distance each side to the next adjacent secondary beam being entered on the floor layout diagram. The values for the imposed live load, partitions and services and finishes are added. The type of imposed live load should be selected from the drop down list for Storage, Residential, Office, Shopping and Roof. This will affect the combination factor for the imposed load.

A title for the brief is entered at the top of the tab. Additional briefs can be added or briefs deleted and sorted from the 3 icons to the right of the brief title box. When adding a new brief, it will be a copy of the current brief. This can then be edited as desired for the new design check.

The secondary beam can be set as propped during the construction stage.

Primary with incoming secondary beams.

 When the simplified input button is selected, it will add 3 simple options to choose from.

The secondary beam weight can be selected from the section size list at the bottom of the tab.

Primary Edge beam with several secondary beams.

If you switch off the simplified input button, a table opens up enabling you to input transverse (secondary) beams at your own chosen positions along the primary beam. These will be assumed to be the same lengths as in the main diagram unless you wish to overwrite the loaded areas. This can be useful if the distance to the next primary beam is not constant, eg, at an angle relative to the beam you are considering.

To make the beam an edge primary beam, set the upper dimension to zero as shown above and the loads and concrete will only be considered from one side of the primary beam.

Mixed Primary - Secondary beam.

Ticking the box for Mixed Primary-Secondary will allow the beam to act as a mixed beam with secondary beams coming in to one side and the slab spanning directly on to the other side.