Steel Frame

[Anonymous]

Hy I am absolutely new to Archicad, I need to know if there is any chance that Steel Framing is included as part of the program, and if so where should I look for it?

[Anonymous]

Howdy,

There are a couple of techniques available for creating steel frames in ArchiCAD.

The least favourable of the two is using various complex profiles shaped to the steel sizes in combination with the beam and column tools. This has several downsides, the main being that it is a pain setting up every combination of beam sizes you will think to will ever need.

The option I would go for is to use the Steelwork library parts (access them using the button with a chair on!)

They have far more adjustable settings, each object has the entire range of standard sizes built in already and they schedule better with more information available.

Hope that helps!

[Anonymous]

Thank You Peter Clark!

[Ignacio Azpiazu]

In Argentina the English words 'Steel Framing' are often used to mean light gauge steel framing. If that is the case here, you might take a look at these if you are OK with generic rectangular (wood) sections:

http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=28029
http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=20537
http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=218

I don't know if there is any specific LGSF add-on or solution. I guess the curtain wall tool might work too.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the clarification on the terminology, Ignacio. I was referring to structural steel in my recommendations, not the light gauge stuff.

I have never used light gauge steel, so I can't say the best method to model it, but I do notice there is some LG library parts too which may be useful.

[Anonymous]

You can get a wall framing add-on from cadimage tools. It does steel and timber framing.

[Anonymous]

Andrew wrote:
You can get a wall framing add-on from cadimage tools. It does steel and timber framing.

It does timber framing too? Or do you mean what we call stud or stick framing here in the states? Over here timber framing refers to post and beam construction with heavy wood members.

For those who are interested this add-on is quite impressive. I have been testing it on a very large project . The smallest floor of the building has over 1000 steel frame partitions and it has generated detailed models with elevations and stock lists. There is quite a bit of work to get the details all correct but that has more to do with the scope of the project than any limitations in the software.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for clearing up that terminology, Matthew. You are quite right, it does stud and stick rather than timber framing.