BIM: Duct Sizing

How can HVAC software that offers building information modeling help the HVAC engineer? One feature that Design Master HVAC is able to offer as a result of BIM is automatic duct sizing.

In DM HVAC, the model that we create contains all of the information necessary to automatically size ducts. All diffusers have an associated CFM value. This value is set when the diffuser is inserted. All ducts know to which ducts and which diffusers they are connected. Using the specified CFM values and the duct connections, DM HVAC can calculate the CFM in each duct.

Once the CFM in each duct is determined, DM HVAC can calculate the size of the ductwork. We offer three sizing methods: constant pressure drop, constant velocity, and static regain. These calculations are helpful to all HVAC engineers. They do not require that the architect also be using BIM in order for them to be useful to the engineer.