Joe_Carrick

I use StruCalc for everything but trusses and I do stamp the calcs.

Ahhh.... They take my stamp and they will take the Residential Code prescriptive lateral bracing.

OK, that will be for Wind. I will make the system work for both Wind Zones and for Seismic Zones. It's just a matter of including the Code Table data.

Perry, This would be for using the requirements and allowable bracing values in the Residential Code - Chapter 6, Tables R10.3(1)(2)(3) Use of these tables eliminates the need for engineering calculations. With the CS-WSP (Continuous Sheathed Walls) you generally don't even need any HDs - Just ABs. I know that many engineers don't like using this Method but it's perfectly fine. Most large builders use it because it eliminates a lot of fussy foundation work setting HDs. Programming the requirements into a Macro Package makes it possible to automatically determine the requirements for each Continuous Braced Wall Line. Then it's a simple matter of adding the Braced Panels to meet those requirements.

Do I need to allow for: Wind Loads? Different Seismic Zones? Any Methods other than CS-WSP? Masonry veneered walls? Which adjustment factors? Anything else you can think of? All of the above require extra variables within the macros to determine the required total panel lengths. They also require a way to initialize those variables. Either macros to set them or inclusion in the BWL attributes. It's really a matter of preference as to how these things are defined.

You can resize the columns to reduce the width. Also, renaming the column headings can reduce the column widths.

I am making progress with the prescriptive method. Currently I am able to get the required data from the model (with some extra cabinet partition & shelf objects). These items have been added to my user Library for easy addition to the model in a manner very similar to Rene's example. I have been able to put that information into a Schedule. Braced Wall IDs Braced Wall Lengths Sum of Braced Wall Panels on each Braced Wall Line Floor Number Number of Stories Story Heights. My next step is to add the Residential Code requirements and values into Chief in such a way that I can retrieve them and perform the calculations to determine what the code requires to compare with the current state of the model. This will allow the model to be modified to match those code requirements. I should have a working example by next Monday.

Yep. Actually a 2.25" Radius would match the overall outside diameter of a 4" drain pipe.

You have little faith but in a way, you're right. It's going to take several macros - at least 4-5 - as a package to do the job.

FWIW, I'm working off of the 2016 IRC and will incorporate that code as much as possible. In some cases it will require setup by the user to allow proper calculations but for this exercise I'm limiting it to CBWLs.. Note that the Adjustment Factors and Loading will have to be established and specifically entered into a text file or macro depending on the job.

We used Palomar Mountain and Julian as training rides. We started in Escondido.

Hey Scott, That looks kind of like a bike trip I did in 1990 - except that we started in Bangor and ended in Washington DC. It was all along the coast until we got thru Connecticut. Then we went thru Pennsylvania to Gettysburg and down to DC. It was really great because you see a lot more from a bike than from a car. We camped almost every night except for a couple of nights in motels.

I will figure out a price - but it will take a few days because I need to outline all the needed info and devise a way to make it all work with a minimum of user input. I need to think about using Wall Types (custom named) for the BWLs and Cabinet Partitions for the BWPs. I will also need to set up a table for the Code Table Requirements and Adjustments. Unfortunately Chief doesn't provide some of the Wall Properties needed to just rely on the plywood sheathing. However, the Wall Type Name can be used to ID Shear Walls. OTOH, it might be more logical to just use 2 separate Cabinet items (Shelves and/or Partitions) due to the ability to use OIP fields to store data.

That works and it can turn corners as well. More than one way to skin a cat.

Another option would be a 2" diameter cylinder (primitive solid) rotated 90 degrees to be flat and assigned a dashed line style. It can actually be set at a z height of -36" and stretched to whatever length you need. Yes, it's really 3D but you don't need to show it in 3D Views.

Yes, this is true. Exterior Door Frame & Exterior Door Sill & Exterior Casings are all specified by the "Exterior Trim" material. I've requested separate materials for each of these items. This is not consistent with real life conditions.

To get a Braced Wall Panel length & floor number you will need to use something that has a length or width attribute. A custom Wall Type or Railing Wall or Cabinet would work for this purpose. To automate a Schedule I would suggest Cabinets Partitions with specific OIP fields. IAE, It can be done using currently available tools but it will at least 2-3 custom macros. Depending on the number of calculated fields it might require more macros.

There is no way to make a stairway down to the basement from this location while maintaining the existing structure and foundation as you show it. Several things would need to be drastically changed.in order to get access to both the basement and to the main floor. Knowing the function of the various spaces as well as the exact foundation in that area will be critical to coming up with a solution. Even then, it might be extremely expensive.

Years ago - maybe X5 or X6 - we couldn't specify the Beam size. I lobbied for this for a long time and we got it. I've been using this capability for so long that I can't remember what version of Chief it appeared in.

Adam, Use Symbol Category "Hardware". That has the correct Option: "Treat as Handle"

For some reason CA left "Embedded Geometry" out of the Import Symbol Category.

Import the symbol as "Embedded Geometry" and click "Treat as Handle" in the Options Tab

Hi Scott, It doesn't work with doors because Chief doesn't handle Door Jambs correctly. Basically, we need control of the materials for Jambs & Sills separate from the Trim - and the Jambs need to work like Window Frames. ie: The wall opening (including stucco wrapping into opening) needs to be outside of the Jambs in 3D. Currently the Stucco wrap and the Jamb face are at the same location. Additionally in 3D the Wall Framing appears at the same location so there's a lot of z-fighting going on. All these problems are tied to Door Jamb / Casing problems I've reported in other threads.

There's a rumor that it will be in X11.

Small adjustment needed. I had an exterior casing (beveled profile) and a RO 1/2" clearance all around when I took that pic. By simply eliminating the casing it's almost perfect - even in vector view. The only problem is that the stucco layer shows as separate.