Overview of the MDS Application

The MDS application allows the user to create standard supports for the pipework, cable trays, (Both piping based cable trays (BRAN) and cable trays (CTRAY) created by the Cabling System) and HVAC model objects. The application is highly interactive, enabling the user to design supports with the minimum of effort. The MDS application is also highly configurable allowing the administrator to define project related defaults, to control the design of supports, and to determine the range and types of ancillary support components that can be used on the project.

The standard supports in this application are designed using structural sections and are template driven, so in essence the template reflects the Standard. A default set of structural templates based on British Standard Steelwork Sections is supplied with the application. All of the supplied templates may be configured by the office or project to adopt any relevant national or regional standard for steelwork sections. For further information see Framework Template Administration.

Ancillaries are the items that are attached to the supported object such as a u-bolt, bolt-on shoe, anchor, and slip-unit. The ancillaries associated with the template reflect those available with, or, suitable for, the Standard. If the available templates do not reflect what you want to build, either ask your administrator to work with AVEVA Solutions to get your requirement designated as a new Standard (and hence a new template) or create as a special. A good example of a special would be the need to add an additional brace to an existing template. This would have to be designed as, or converted to, a special with the extra brace added in using the standard Beams and Columns application. Otherwise a new template/standard is required.

Vessel Supports are identified as template/standard driven.

Ancillaries for cable tray and HVAC, sometimes referred to as fixings, are deemed to be the responsibility of the relevant contractor and are not dealt with in this application.