Design Master Wish List
Welcome to the Design Master Wish List, where you can submit your ideas for improvements to the software.
39 results found
-
Import Ductwork from Past Project Databases
Import ductwork and equipment from other databases. This facilitates additional projects at the same location. The thought is that if we can import the ductwork as existing from old projects, it would allow us to add/remove/modify ductwork much easier and quicker then re-drawing the existing ductwork from the previous project.
1 vote -
Net Occupiable Floor Area
Most codes determine ventilation air based on "Net Occupiable Area" and not the actual room area. It would be nice to have a feature added that would allow for the net occupiable area be added at the room dialogue level (either by inputting the value or setting it as a percent of the room area) and be utilized in calculating the ventilation air.
2 votes -
"Match Room Properties" for Load Calculations
When doing room definitions for load calculations there are some properties that pertain to many or all other rooms in the building like "ceiling height" and the "roof properties."
I think it would be useful to have a command like match wall properties for the room properties so I can set up the roof (which almost always applies to the whole building), ceiling height, ventilation requirements, etc. and copy from one room to any others that have the same properties.
2 votes -
HVAC Load Calc Graphics for Windows/Glass
Provide a graphic for windows/glass located on walls so you can see easily and quickly figure out which windows have been entered into the load calculation.
Additional idea: Make it a dynamic block so that when you change the width (using a grip) you can stretch the window to change the actual width. The width x height would display above this graphic.
2 votesThis idea is one we’ve had for probably 15 years. It would be really cool to add, but it has never quite made it to the top of the list of things to do.
-
Make duct centerlines independent of DIMSCALE
When working at a smaller scale (ie. 1/8th"), make it so the duct center lines always appear the same size. The duct center lines are drafting tools only and do not appear on the drawing therefore having them adjust with the DIMSCALE is not neccesary. When the DIMSCALE is changed to 96 or higher, drafting in tight spaces can be difficult when the duct centerlines are large because the arrows are too large to work with and tend to overlap others.
1 vote -
Labeling diffuser cal louts with (TYP 2) if they are in the same room or near each other.
When the same diffusers are located in the same room, it would be nice if there was an option to label one diffuser and then (TYP and then the quantity it applies to) as opposed to labeling each individual grille/diffuser. This would help clean up the drawings quite a bit from unneeded notations.
2 votes -
Add option for multiple neck sizes under one diffuser tag in the schedule
In the diffuser tag, add a spot to list the diffuser neck size (so the duct runout doesn't need to be labeled and will clean the drawings up). It would be nice if one diffuser tag can be used for various diffuser neck sizes, for instance, a CD-1 is more of a description of the diffuser type and model and a pull down with diffuser neck size would be input, then the schedule can list CD-1 with a line for quantity of each diffuser size. This would make creating a master schedule much simpler.
2 votes -
Equipment Schedules
Allow for equipment schedules to be created by use, such as chiller, air handlers, pumps, etc. The schedule would be populated with equipment that is drawn by DM equipment command
3 votes -
Duct and pipe demolition
Convert existing ductwork and piping layer to demolition.
1 vote -
System capacity for mechanical equipment
It would be great if when entering the equipment you could enter system capacity; then when running the load calc, similarly to what DM offers for CFM, you could have Current BTUs and Required BTUs. This could be per zone.
4 votes -
Transfer Grilles for Air Balance Report
Add a transfer grille option for return air so that you can use the balance report function on projects which use transfer grilles.
9 votes -
Equipment in takeoffs
Display equipment information in takeoffs. (Currently the equipment blocks are graphical only, mainly for 3D drafting).
2 votes -
Color code room outlines by wall type.
So for example when modifying walls during a load calc. Exterior walls might be red, partitions blue, and interior walls (no heat transfer) green. This could even be expanded to visually shows with color walls that have windows or doors.
There have been many times when I've had to back check walls that were inadvertently called out as partitions instead of exterior. Color coding would give an instant visual clue where mistakes might have been made.
12 votes -
Right click when entering Duct Labels to Rotate Label
Similar to how you can right click to add leader lines when labeling diffusers, it would be helpful to be able to right click duct labels to rotate them instead of making this a two step process. Also, rotating it would remove the arrow that sometimes accompanies the duct label.
1 vote -
Compare Number of Balancing Dampers with Diffusers
A simple command that checks the number of volume dampers to the number of diffusers/grilles/registers in the database.
2 votes -
Actual Tonnage for HVAC Equipment
Add an option to specify the actual tonnage for HVAC equipment in the zone dialog. Use this value to display actual CFM / ton and other values.
3 votes -
Duct Continuation
There may already be an option (please inform me as I am not aware) for a 'duct continuation symbol/fitting'. Currently I have to go back and Pline a goofy looking thing to indicate continuations in the ductwork. Any thoughts?
3 votes -
Add capability to have separate two line callouts for supply and return diffusers.
Add capability to have custom two line callouts for supply, return and exhaust diffusers as there is currently for one line callouts. Allow the second line to be blank for the return callout as there is often no need for cfm on the return callout. Same as a two line callout for supply diffusers and one line for return grilles.
2 votes -
Duct Size Preview
I would like to be able to have the duct size update on the plans (like a preview) without closing the dialog box.
3 votes -
Equipment Database
Allow us to create an Equipment Database similar to the diffuser database which would include dimensions, and notes such as: electrical requirements, efficiency, performance data at design conditions, etc. The equipment should also be included in the takeoff report.
1 vote
- Don't see your idea?