Classification on Composite Layers and Complex Profiles

[Christian Muntean]

I would like to suggest the addition of Classifications on Composite-Layers and Complex-Profiles-Layers.

Problem:

If we imagine a Composite Wall, with 25cm of Concrete and 20cm of Insulation on the outside.

This is how it looks in the floor Plan:

I would like my Concrete Layer to have Concrete-specific Properties that I can set only for the Concrete Layer. I also would like my Insulation Layer to have Insulation-Specific Properties.
 
What are examples of such Layer-specific Properties? Here are some really common ones from the IFC Data Scheme, not necessarily bound to it though, could be any Properties that someone would want only on the corresponding Layers.

• Concrete specific Properties (Pset_ConcreteElementGeneral):
  • StrengthClass
  • ExposureClass
  • ReinforcementVolumeRatio
  • CastingMethod
  • etc...
• Insulation specific Properties (Pset_InsulationGeneral:
  • AcousticRating
  • FireRating
  • etc...

 
I do not want Concrete Properties on my Insulation Layer. Same vice-versa, I don´t want Insulation Properties on my Concrete Layer. As a matter of fact I can not allow it. For any use case within a BIM project it is just not right to have properties in places where they are not meant to be. For quantity takeoffs within external software it is an absolute nightmare. Also it absolutely stands against buildingSMART Standards just as a semi-relevant side note.
 
Also the Ifc Entity Mapping is not correct. This example Composite-Wall should have the following IfcEntities according to their Composite-Layers:

• Concrete:
  
  • IfcWall (PredefinedType: NOTDEFINED)
    
• Insulation
  
  • IfcCovering (PredefinedType: INSULATION)

 
Solution:

Have each Composite-Layer listed within the Classification and Properties tab, and allow for custom classifications for each of those Layers. This is a quick UI Design of how that could look like. Please note that there are fundamental properties that are on each Layer (ID, Structural Function, Position, Renovation Status, Show On Renovation Filter) and there are also specific Properties only for that particular Layer (see "Materail properties" tab within the UI Design)

 (This also solves another Wish which is currently on the Roadmap: Renovation status for composite walls and complex... - Graphisoft Community. That wish is though only a specific need within my bigger wish. My wish focuses on the core problem, missing classifications on composite layers.)

Feedback and Improvements to this design and functionality are always welcome!

Cheers!

[Angel Berruezo]

This should be given absolute priority.

[Christian Muntean]

Totally agree, a must-have for any BIM Project! The current solution is not precise enough and in some cases pure chaos for BIM Managers/Coordinators/Authors

[Karoly Horvath]

Nice try, but this is not quite what is missing from Archicad. Actually quite the opposite.

The layers of a composite are building materials. BMs already have access to properties, so the by layer property association is kind of dealt with.

What is missing is the ability to assign properties to the compositevas a whole.

What do I mean:

The fire rating or acoustic rating or thermal rating are properties that apply to the compositecas a whole and not a summary of the ratings of the layers. 

These ratings typically are laboratory tested values for the entire buildup.

(Ar least that's how dry wall systems work)

What we need therefore is a custom set of variables that we can assign to the composite. (Attribute level properties)

These new properties have nothing to do with the already existing property manager. These Attribute properties are independent from the "properties" they can be added at the composite manager palette.

Typicall Attribute properties would be:

Type Code

Type description

Manufacturers code

Manufacturer

Fire Rating

Acoustic Rating

Thermal Rating

etc

[Christian Muntean]

Thanks Karoly for the feedback. Actually both ideas are still missing from Archicad. What you are describing is actually composite property inheritance on each instance of that composite. My wish is about setting attributes on a composite layer, not a Building material, very big difference.

Your idea is actually really great and I already posted the same concept somewhere else if I´m not mistaken. You basically want to define properties within the composite Manager itself and just define which properties a given composite instance should inherit and therefore have. The actual set-value tho needs to be on every instance of the wall to avoid having a magnituted of every possible composite-property variation out there. Although having some sort of "default" or "linked" value within each instance of the composite is quite a good idea. That would mean that each instance could "look-up" a value that is set to "linked" where the composite structure and it´s properties were defined.

I might do a UI sketch later this week to illustrate your point better for everyone in the forum, thanks for bringing this up!