Create Floor Slab + Screed Component

Referring to the hierarchy, a slab + screed element must reside below an existing floor slab element.

From the Select Structural Element pane of the Building Applications window, make sure that the Floor Slab element is the CE.

On the Building tab, in the Create group, by default Slab + Screed is displayed in the Create Element drop-down list.

Click Create Element to display the Create Slab + Screed window.

In the Naming part of the Create Slab + Screed window, the application automatically populates the Name field with a name based on the project or company autonaming rules.

By default, the Use gaps in naming sequence checkbox is selected, the user can select which name is to be used. To select the:

• first available name, click Use first available name.

• previous available name, click Use previous name.

• next available name, click Use next available name.

• last available name, click Use last available name.

The user can change the name, to do this, type in a new name in the Name field. If this name already exists, an Error window is displayed. If the name does not conform with the autonaming rules, Apply remains greyed out as long as the name is not properly entered.

The Screed Material drop-down list by default is set to None, the screed material can be changed to another suitable material. From the Screed Material drop-down list, the user can select from a list of suitable materials.

The Slab Material drop-down list by default is set to Pyrocrete, the material can be changed to another suitable material. From the Slab Material drop-down list, the user can select from a list of suitable materials.

The material is used to calculate the weight. The density of the material selected is shown in a tooltip.

The Screed Thickness and Slab Thickness can be populated in several ways:

• Enter the absolute finished level (wrt World) in the Top Level field.

• Select the top level, click Pick Screed Level. The Positioning Control window is displayed. Follow the prompt Pick Top Level (Snap) Snap: and select the top level in the graphical view.

• Enter the finished thickness in the Screed Thickness field. If the thickness is locked, click Other level changes to suit thickness to unlock it.

• Click Measure Height to measure the screed thickness. The user is prompted to Height:Pick Start (Snap) Snap:, Height:Pick Start (Snap) Snap: and select two graphical picks.

• Enter the absolute slab level (with respect to the world) in the Slab Level field.

• Select the slab level using a position in the graphical view and click Pick Slab Level. The Positioning Control window is displayed. Follow the prompt Pick Bottom Level (Snap) Snap: and select the slab level in the graphical view.

• Enter the slab thickness in the Slab Thickness field. If the thickness is locked, click Other level changes to suit thickness to unlock it.

• Click Measure Height to measure the slab thickness. The user is prompted to Height:Pick Start (Snap)Snap:, Height:Pick Start (Snap) Snap: and select two graphical picks.

• Enter the absolute bottom level (wrt World) in the Bottom Level field.

• Select the bottom level, click Pick Bottom Level. The Positioning Control window is displayed. Follow the prompt Pick Bottom Level (Snap) Snap: and select the bottom level in the graphical view.

• If the user does not want the thickness to adapt to level changes, click Thickness changes to suit levels to lock the thickness.

• The default finished level is zero with respect to the level. The default screed thickness is zero. The default slab thickness is 300.

The Position section of the window is used to establish the centre position of the slab. It can be populated several ways:

• Enter the values in the fields for east, north and up in the Position frame. The reference can be changed by entering the name of an existing element in the Wrt field. If the field is greyed out, click Coordinates locked to unlock it.

• Select the position in the graphical view using Select Structural Element in the Position frame. To avoid changing a desired value in a field, click Coordinates unlocked to lock it.

The default position is at the origin of the level. By default, the position is the origin of the slab. For rectangular and circular shapes, the origin is at the centre. To select a reference point to position the slab click the Reference drop-down list.

The Orientation section of the window is used to establish the Direction and Rotation angle of the slab.

The Direction textbox displays the direction of the slab (defined from the start to the end positions).

The direction may be changed using a number of methods.

• The direction can be re-established by typing a new direction (for example: U, N, N45E, S30W15D) then click Enter.

• Clicking Pick surface or edge to define direction allows the user to select an existing edge or surface in the model. Where a surface is selected then direction is set perpendicular to it. Where an edge is selected the direction is aligned with the edge.

• Click Rotate angle using two picks the user is prompted to Pick first point to define rotation, Pick second point to define rotation to graphically pick the rotation angle using the Positioning Control window. Two graphical picks are required. A graphical aid line is displayed showing the angle of rotation created by the picks. Alternatively the user can type in an angle using a format of degrees, minutes, and seconds.