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MagiCAD 2019 Update Release 1
1. Perform electrical calculations using Revit technology
[Electrical]
You can now perform integrated electrical calculations on Revit technology, complete with bidirectional flow of data between the calculations and the Revit project. MagiCAD for Revit now includes the Schneider Electric Ecodial calculation engine, enabling a wide range of electrical calculations, such as cable sizing, voltage drop, and short-circuit calculations, as well as the use of protective devices directly via the Revit project. MagiCAD automatically gathers all the relevant data from the Revit project, which means that you only need to use a single interface for entering or editing the data. All of the calculation data can be accessed from MagiCAD’s Electrical Calculations dialog, where you can modify the data and update the results to the Revit parameters quickly and easily. It is also possible to export the project to Schneider Electric Ecodial Desktop software for further fine-tuning.
2. Utilise space-bounded operation areas in electrical design
[Electrical]
MagiCAD now enables more flexible handling of operation areas in electrical design. Operation areas are now correctly limited by space boundaries in the model. Previously, the device type-specific operation area within a family was not limited by the space boundaries and was used only as a guideline when placing the device into the model. After the placement, the operation area was switched off automatically in order to prevent it from interfering with wire drawing and object selection. Now, using a new checkbox in the Product Installation dialog, you can decide whether the space-bounded operation area should be displayed after placing the device into the model. It is also easy to view and hide the operation areas in the model view when needed. And if necessary, you can also use the old unbounded operation areas which are not limited by the area boundaries. They can simply be switched on and displayed when needed.
3. Improved data handling with combination boxes
[Electrical]
You can now update circuit identifiers and object identifiers also from objects that are part of Revit assemblies to the actual assemblies that are used as combination boxes. This enables you to tag identifiers also in views where the internal components are not visible. There are separate parameters for all different connector types, which makes it possible to tag from the assembly e.g. only the identifiers of objects that include a data connector, or identifiers of objects that include a communication connector.
4. Generate clash reports in several different formats
[Common]
When analysing clashes using the BCF Manager, you can now export the selected or all clashes to several different formats. You can export the report not only in BIM Collaboration Format (BcfZip), but also as a PDF, a spreadsheet or as printouts. Just select the export format and decide whether you need a Quick report or a Full report. These new report formats make communication and coordination between the project partners tremendously more flexible.
5. Define provisions for Builders Work Openings using advanced new functions
[Common]
In addition to using fixed offset values, the Provisions for Builders Work Openings tool now allows you to define segment-specific size ranges to represent the required space around a specific duct, pipe, cable tray, conduit, and fire damper segment. When using the new size ranges, the offset value will vary from segment to segment depending on the segment type and the segment size. Different offsets can now be used for, for example, the top and the sides of rectangular segments. For example, a jalousie damper always requires additional space above, which makes this feature especially useful with fire dampers.
You can now also select an object from a linked model, a new option which makes it possible to limit the selected area and still use linked models. Selecting objects from a linked model enables a more centralised workflow, because it allows the use of a separate Revit file for the provisions, with all the other design disciplines linked to the centralised file. When the provisions are created this way, they can cover all the disciplines in a single file. The new Select Objects option enables you to select and include only the relevant areas from the linked model, making it highly practical when using multiple linked models.
6. Select shared parameters for the devices in the dataset
[Common]
It is now possible to configure the data content of your project more efficiently by selecting any shared parameters for the devices in the dataset. When the device is installed in the project for the first time, an RFA is created which automatically includes all of the selected shared parameters without having to separately select the parameters when installing the device. You can also define in the dataset whether the parameter is an instance-specific or a type-specific parameter and group it in the dataset accordingly.
7. Define IFC type and subcategory for each device in IFC export
[Ventilation & Piping, Electrical]
The new version provides you with the option to define IFC type and subcategory for each device based on the IFC standard. This enables objects to be classified more accurately for export from MagiCAD to IFC. For example, it is possible to define a fan object as a centrifugal or an axial fan. More accurate classification enables also more advanced options for third-party software when accessing and processing the information contained in the IFC model.
8. Define functional areas separately for each product
[Ventilation & Piping]
MagiCAD now enables functional areas to be defined for each ventilation and piping product separately, in addition to the previously available option to define them separately for each product type, e.g. zone valves and flow dampers. MagiCAD has previously already enabled you to limit the functional area by setting minimum and maximum values for pressure drops and throttling limits of different control device types. With this latest improvement, you can set these values also for each product separately, making it easy to define the authority of each control device more accurately.
9. Perform diversity calculations in ventilation design
[Ventilation]
Diversity factors for ventilation system enable you to estimate what the practical real flow will be when the ventilation system is taken into use. This enables you to optimise cost, energy consumption and indoor air quality. Reduce duct and fan sizes to reduce investment and to increase energy savings while maintaining a good indoor climate. When the diversity factor is set, it affects duct sizes during sizing, and pressure drops during balancing. You can also ignore the defined factors and revert to undiversified flow any time. New parameters for MC Diversified Flow, MC Diversity Factor and MC Ventilation Velocity have been added to keep track of the flow rates.
10. Detect and resolve disconnects more efficiently during sizing
[Ventilation]
MagiCAD now offers an efficient tool for detecting and resolving problem spots in ventilation systems when performing sizing. When sizing a duct network, it can be demanding to find and resolve the specific locations where the network would need to be modified in order for the network to fit the new calculated size. The Revit platform does not allow disconnects to cause a break in the duct system, which means that they are not indicated in any way in native Revit. MagiCAD now offers its own error handling function which allows you to decide whether to accept disconnects or not. If the disconnects are accepted, MagiCAD automatically generates a BCF report which enables you to quickly zoom to the problem spots and resolve them.
11. Decide whether installed symbols in schematic design inherit values from lines
[Schematics]
When you install a symbol to an existing line in the schematic drawing, the MagiCAD symbol installation tool now checks automatically the matching parameters between the line and the symbol. You can then select whether you want the symbol to inherit the parameter values from the line. In this way, the information defined for the lines can be automatically added to the symbols instead of defining the same data all over again. This streamlines the process by reducing unnecessary repetition and at the same time makes the process less prone to human error.
