1

PrecisionPlus LiteBuilding Input Tutorial

This PrecisionPlus Lite tutorial will demonstrate how to create a new structure, add a new building to thestructure, input building code information, load information, building geometry, openings, overhangs, and otherinput. It will also show how to view the DWG output drawings in AutoCAD LT and show how to view the Quotereport, Shipper, Punching Diagram, Frame Design, and other reports.

Begin by launching PrecisionPlus Lite and opening the inventory file (MBCIBXFX.INV).

Now we will create a new structure (job / project file) named Sample_PrecPlusLT.STR, which will hold all of thestructure and building input.

To do this, click File from the menu, then click New Structure.

This will bring up the New Structure screen. This contains all of the available structure templates. PrecisionPlusLite has one default structure template named NOBLDGI.STT which is a structure with no buildings. You havethe ability to create as many custom structure templats as you desire, and any that you create in the future willshow up here.

2

Select NOBLDGI.STT from the list and click OK.

That will bring up the New Structure dialog screen for you to enter the name of your structure file. Type inSample_PrecPlusLite and click Save. This will create a new structure file with that name and allow you to begin

3

the structure and building input.

To add a new building, go to Structure, New Building (from Template).

This will bring up the New Building screen. This contains all of the available building templates. PrecisionPlusLite has several default building templates (leanto, clear span, single slope, etc.). You have the ability to createas many custom building templates as you desire, and any that you create in the future will show up here.

4

Choose the tapered column clear span building template (tccleari.blt) from the list, and click OK.

PrecisionPlus Lite will begin drawing the building, and you will see a calculations screen for Building 1. Click‘Next’ to continue.

Then you will see a calculations screen for Frame Number 1. Click ‘Finish’ and the sketch for a 50’ wide by 100’long building with a 12’ sidewwall height (1/12 slope) will draw on the main screen.

5

Now, click Structure, Setup to adjust the building code and other building code related parameters.

6

7

The default building code for the structure we’ve created was IBC 2000. Change the building code from IBC2000 to IBC 2009. Then change the Mainframe Design Specification toAISC 360-05.

Then click on the IBC 2009 tab at the top right part of the screen.

8

For Lincoln County MS, the seismic acceleration values are 0.146 for Ss and 0.069 for S1. These values camefrom the MBMA 2006 manual. You would need to confirm these values with your local building officials.

Click OK to save the changes. After any change to geometry or loading, you will get the building calculationsand frame calculation screens.

Click Next (on the Building Calculations) and Finish (on the Frame Calculations).

9

Next Click Structure, Loads to adjust the structure loads.

For this building, the Live load to frames would be 12 PSF and Live load to purlins would be 20 PSF so nochange is required.

10

For Lincoln County MS, the wind load is 96 MPH and the ground snow load is 0. Again, these values came fromthe MBMA 2006 manual and should be confirmed with your local building officials.

Click OK to save the changes, then click Next (on the Building Calculations) and Finish (on the FrameCalculations).

11

Now, we will change the building geometry.

Go to Building, Geometry from the Building menu.

12

Change the building width from 50’ to 40’. Change the building length from 100’ to 80’ Click OK to save thechanges.

Note: from this point on in the sample, we will not duplicate the calculation screen shots, but they will appearwhen you click ok on any screen.

13

As you can see, the building sketch updates with any change to geometry, building configuration, openings, etc.Now click Building, Setup.

14

Here you can change the Snow related building code factors that relate to the Ground Snow to Roof Snow loadreduction from the building code. You can also adjust the Enclosure Condition (Enclosed, Partially Enclosed,Open), which will affect the buildings application of wind shape coefficients. For this sample, we will not changeany values, so click Cancel.

15

Now click Building Loads.

16

On this screen you can adjust your Roof Snow load and input a roof collateral dead load (for suspendedceilings, sprinkler systems, etc) if desired. For this sample, we will not change any values, so click Cancel.

Now click Building, Endwalls.

17

This will bring up the Endwalls Screen. On this screen you set your endwall type. Standard end frame is atypical standard endwall (or light endwall / post & beam endwall). Expandable MF at EW will place a rigid,expandable mainframe at the endwall. The Endwall Framing choice will tell the program, for standard endwallswhether to use cold-formed C-sections or Mill sections for the endwall. For an expandable endwall, it will use theendwall framing for determining the type of interior columns. This screen also allows you to adjust the endwallcolumn spacing. There is a front and back tab to allow input for both endwalls. The Typical button copies allinput to the opposite tab.

Change the endwall type to Expandable (Exp MF at EW – fully paneled). Then Click Ok .

18

Now go to Building, Purlin / Girt Support Conditions.

19

On this screen (for each tab) you set the purlin or girt lateral stability options for the inside and outside flange.Fully Braced outside and Laterally Braced inside is the typical choice, so set them all to Fully Braced outside,Laterally Braced inside on all tabs for this sample. You can find more information about this in the Users Guide.This screen also allows for input of the girt type (flush / exterior) for sidewall girts.

Click OK to save.

20

Now click Building, Roof & Sidewall Diagonal Bracing.

21

This screen allows you to locate the X bracing in your desired bay and also adjust the diaphragm panel lengths.The program uses the allowable lengths to determine if the panel diaphragm strength is sufficient to handle thelongitudinal loads. If so, the X bracing would be removed.

We will accept all defaults on this screen so click OK.

22

Now click Building, Panels.

23

Input your desired panel type (R C 26 is an MBCI R panel, color, 26 gauge). Chose your fasteners and if youwant insulation. Adjust this for each wall (or click Typical to copy this screen’s input). The Base Support taballows you to specify base angle, base girt, etc.

Click OK to save changes.

Now click Building, Trim and Ridge Condition.

24

Input your desired trim fasteners and color. Adjust this for each wall (or click Typical to copy this screen’s input).The gutters tab allows you to specify the # downspouts and spacing. Ridge Condition tab allows you to chooseridge cap or ridge roll.

Click OK to save changes.

Now click Building, Girt Locations.

25

This screen allows you to input your desired girt spacing (from floor to first girt, first girt to second, etc.).Separate input is allowed for each wall. Click Typical to copy the current wall’s girt spacing to other wallsurfaces.

The Sidewall tab also allows for specifying input of flange bracing at each girt.

26

For this sample we will accept the defaults, so click Cancel to exit without changes.

27

Now click Building, Overhangs. This screen allows you to input Overhangs (roof extensions) for each roofsurface. Click in the first row of the grid, and click the red graphic at the bottom labeled “Front”. Then input 0 forlocation (to start at the left wall), 40 for the length (for a full width overhang), 2 for the width (extending out 2’), 0for Dead Load.

Click Ok to save the changes.

28

The building sketch is redrawn to reflect the front overhang.

29

Now click Building, Openings. This screen allows you to input framed openings for each wall surface. Click inthe first row of the grid, and click the red graphic at the bottom labeled “Right”. Then input 10 for location (tostart 10’ from the front wall), 8 for the length (for an 8’ opening), 8 for the header, and 0 for the sill. Click theFactory Located button at the bottom of the screen and Standard for cover. This will input a factory locatedopening. You can find more information about the opening types, indicators, etc in the Users Guide.

Click Ok to save the changes.

30

The building sketch is redrawn to reflect the opening on the right sidewall.

31

Now click Building, Accessories. This screen allows you to input accessories for pricing on the bill of materials.Click in the first row of the grid, and click the red graphic at the bottom labeled “Right”. Then click the + symbolto expand the Door accessories. Click Overhead door 8x8 to input this accessory into the grid. Input a quantityof 1.

Click Ok to save the changes.

32

Now click Building, Purlin Spaces. This screen allows you to adjust the purlin spacing, individually in the grid, orto adjust the common space and have the program recompute the spaces for you. For example, if the buildinghas high loads and the purlin design is not sufficient, you can decrease the common space from 60” to 48” andtry again.

For this sample we will accept the defaults, so click Cancel to exit without changes.

33

Now click Building, Additional Loads. This screen allows you to input additional loads to your frames, purlins,and girts. You can input uniform loads, concentrated loads, joint loads, or trapezoidal loads. The additionalloads that are included are program added loads for seismic, so leave them as they are.

For this sample we will accept the defaults, so click Cancel to exit without changes.

34

Now click Building, Additional Parts. This screen allows you to add extra parts to the bill of materials. Theadditional parts can be added from the inventory, or you can add non-inventory parts.

For this sample we will not add any additional parts, so click Cancel to exit without changes.

That concludes the building input. Now we will discuss frame input.

35

Click General Frame, Frame.

36

Here, you will input the frame member types, adjust the symmetry indicator, input frame collateral dead load,adjust steel yields, and add interior columns to the frame.

Change the Exterior column member type to Mill. Do the same for the interior columns, and rafters.

Click Ok to Save.

Now click General Frame, Setup

37

This screen allows you to adjust seismic factors, and wind zone for the frame.

For this sample we will accept the defaults, so click Cancel to exit without changes.

Now click General Frame, Purlin Flange Brace Locations.

38

This screen allows you to turn on or off the flange braces for each purlin location.

For this sample we will accept the defaults, so click Cancel to exit without changes.

39

At this point, we have completed the structure, building, and frame input for this demonstration structure. We areready to run the structure to design, detail, cost, and plot the building.

40

Click Structure, Run Structure.

41

Accept all defaults on this screen (we want to design the entire building).

Click OK.

The program will display the following screen showing the progress of the design.

42

When the design, costing, plotting, etc is complete, it will show you the building status, displaying any errors orwarnings. There are no errors, so we will begin by looking at the output DWG drawings.

Click Launch CAD to launch AutoCAD LT.

43

AutoCAD LT opens with a blank screen. Click File, Open to open a PrecisionPlus Lite output drawing. It maydefault to the “my documents” folder. If it does, browse the PrecisionPlus Lite working directory (c:\winbldg) andchoose the desired drawing. See the Users Guide for a list of drawing names.

Lets start by looking at the anchor bolt setting plan (anchor01.dwg). Click it and click Open.

44

It opens the Anchor Bolt setting plan for this building.

45

Do the same to view the mainframe left column drawing (mflc0101.dwg).

46

Do the same to view the mainframe cross section drawing (plotxs01.dwg).

Then close out of AutoCAD LT (or whatever CAD program you are using) and return to PrecisionPlus Lite.

47

Now, we will view a sampling of the PrecisionPlus Lite output reports (costing, detailing, and design).

Go to Reports, Output, Quote Confirmation to view the quote report.

48

This will launch the Quote Confirmation report in Adobe Reader.

Close the Quote Confirmation, then go to Reports, Output, Shipper to view the Shipper report.

49

Close the Shipper report and go to Reports, Output, Special Punching Diagram - MBCI format to view the punchreport.

50

Close the Special Punching Diagram, then go to Reports, Output, Frame Summary to view the Frame Summaryreport.

51

Close the Frame Summary report and repeat the steps above for any other report you wish to view.

This concludes this demonstration. You have all of the PrecisionPlus Lite design reports required to send to yourengineer for a stamp, as well at the shipper / cut lists, punching reports, and drawings (manufacturing / shopdrawings and erections drawings).

52

If you would like to save this building as a template, to save these settings as a default building so that you havea starting point for future buildings, go to Structure, Save Structure as Template.

Enter a filename (up to 8 characters with no spaces) and a description and click OK to save.

53

Go to File, Close Structure, then exit PrecisionPlus Lite.

This concludes this PrecisionPlus Lite demonstration.