Review
Cymap 2013 AEC Magazine takes a look at the latest Building Services application from CADline and finds one of the most focussed UK compliance tools on the market. by Martyn Day
W
e have built computer systems to simulate nuclear explosions, model the Earth’s climate and break complex encryption codes. Yet in creating buildings and structures the majority of engineers and architects have mainly used computers as replacements for simple 2D drawing boards. It has only been in the last 20 years that CAD systems have started to morph from drawing board replacements to expert systems, not only assisting in detailing the design but also adding dedicated industry knowledge within the design environment. Alongside traditional CAD, there have been a number of specialist standalone engineering applications developed for number crunching. These have tended to concentrate on mechanical calculations — temperatures, air pressure, energy usage and to perhaps assist with meeting regulations such as Part-L. As CAD vendors’ aspirations have grown, and with the industry slowly moving to 3D and Building Information Modelling (BIM), they have sought to acquire many of these expert systems to include in their core offerings. For example, UK building services developer, Hevacomp was recently acquired by US-based Bentley Systems. Autodesk has its own Building Services (Mechanical Electrical Plumbing) products for Revit and AutoCAD, as well as acquiring Green Building Studio and Ecotect and is adding in additional analysis to its core products. One of the last independent specialist services design systems is Cymap from UK developer and CAD reseller CADline. Originally developed in Bristol in 1973, the software was acquired by Graphisoft in 1999 and integrated closely with its ArchiCAD products, while remaining a standalone analysis tool. The software www.AECmag.com
p15_17_AEC_JULYAUG12_CymapHK.indd 15
was then sold to CADline, DXF or GBXML from any CADline which tightly integrated it capable 2D or 3D CAD sysCymap 2013 with AutoCAD MEP in tem. Room profiles are then 2009. It has remained allocated and floors defined. A combined Cymap standalone and has seen From this, energy, pipework, Mechanical and Cymap considerable functionallighting, ducting, electrics Electrical seat is £3,500, with £690 subs. ity expansion together and wiring calculations can Cymap Mechanical or with regular updates to all be based. Electrical standalone is make it one of the most The software conforms to £2,500, with £490 subs. There is a 50% discount focussed UK compliance CIBSE, Part-L, SAP, LG7 on additional copies tools on the market. Lighting, IEE, DIN, VDI , Cymap has over 50,000 VDE and ASHRAE industry users in 20 countries, standards, with many others including the likes of Arup, Skanska and to boot. The software includes its own Buro Happold and was used on Heathrow reports generator, document management Terminal 5, the Millennium Dome and and database. within the Royal Navy Carrier Fleet.
Cymap Cymap is a standalone application that is available as a combined Mechanical and Electrical license or in single seats of either discipline. The latest release, Cymap 2013, has an updated interface and links to the TAS Building Designer developed by Environmental Design Solutions, which can accurately predict energy consumption, CO2 emissions, operating costs and occupant comfort. Cymap offers a range of calculations that cover the following key building design areas: Heating, cooling, energy consumption and psychrometric analysis, piped services covering a wide range of fluids, ducted services with noise levels at the grille and in rooms, low voltage wiring design from the transformer to whole circuits, lighting design for internal/ emergency/ external, as well as day-lighting. The software is ‘wizard driven’ so is fairly easy to learn, but still requires a certain level of knowledge — it is the system that IT experts use. The process starts off by importing a
Mechanical
Cymap Energy calculates the heating and cooling loads of designs. It can analyse the annual energy consumption as well as taking into account summertime/winter differences and partial plant conditions. The software has a powerful U-value calculator to create composite fabrics with interstitial condensation checks, all calculated to BS6946. The software comes with a large database of materials that can be mixed and matched to create the exact proposed construction type. Cymap Pipework integrates with the energy analysis to calculate the cooling band heating of pipe networks. The software will automatically place radiators in the design and provide pipe routing layouts, while providing a detailed bill of quantities too. There is also a range of Public Health utilities for potable water and gas. The software automatically connects draw offs to the pipe network and can perform tank head calculations. Cymap Lighting caters for single and multi-room analysis together with dealing with external floodlighting. Along with the July / August 2012
15
16/7/12 14:16:42
