Constructions Defaults

The Defaults Manager: Constructions panel contains controls used to set material construction defaults for building elements such as walls, partitions, floors. ceilings, roofs, windows and doors and to set default dimensions for plenums, windows, doors and surface components.

The defaults set here are used for either the active project if they are made in Defaults Manager’s Project mode, or on all new projects if they are set in Defaults Manager’s Application mode.

Setting	Description
CIBSE – Constructions	This Constructions panel sub-panel contains building constructions default definitions for projects which use the CIBSE calculation standard. If the CIBSE calculation standard is the active standard, the CIBSE – Constructions sub-panel is highlighted and expanded while the ASHRAE - Constructions sub–panel is not highlighted and collapsed. Note: The default Calculation standard for all new projects is set using the similarly named option in Regional Defaults. Tip: The active project calculation standard can be changed at any time by changing the Standard property in Project Properties.
ASHRAE – Constructions	This Constructions panel sub-panel contains building constructions default definitions for projects which use the ASHRAE calculation standard. If the ASHRAE calculation standard is the active standard, the ASHRAE – Constructions sub-panel is highlighted and expanded while the CIBSE - Constructions sub–panel is not highlighted and collapsed. Note: The default Calculation standard for all new projects is set using the similarly named option in Regional Defaults. Tip: The active project calculation standard can be changed at any time by changing the Standard property in Project Properties.
Wall	Walls added to a room will default to the construction selected here. The selected construction will be automatically applied to walls created when using the two room defining tools Trace (Room) and Define (Room) .
Partition	Partitions will default to the construction selected here. The selected construction will be automatically applied when a wall is added and changes an exposed wall into a partition.
Window	Windows added to walls will default to the construction selected here. The selected construction will appear in the Add Window tool’s Fabric type setting by default.
Door	Doors will default to the construction selected here. The selected construction will appear in the Add Door tool’s Fabric type setting by default.
Internal ceiling	Internal ceilings will default to the construction selected here. The selected construction will be automatically applied when a floor is added above an exposed roof, changing it into an internal ceiling.
Exposed floor	Exposed floors will default to the construction selected here. The selected construction will be automatically applied when a floor is added that is exposed to the ground.
Internal floor	Internal floors will default to the construction selected here. The selected construction will be automatically applied when a floor is added above an internal ceiling, changing it into an internal floor.
Roof	Roofs will default to the construction selected here. The selected construction will be automatically applied to roofs that are setup on a floor.
Rooflight	Rooflights will default to the construction selected here. The selected construction will be automatically applied to rooflights defined with the Add Opening tool.
Floor height	The floor to floor height of rooms will default to the height defined here. Floor height is distributed between the room height and plenum heights. The sum of the plenums and room heights must equal Floor height, however Room height can exceed Floor height for rooms that span multiple stories (atria).
Room height	The height of the rooms will default to the height defined here. Room height can be equal to (no plenums specified), but can exceed Floor height for rooms that span multiple stories (atria).
Plenum heights	Ceiling — The height of ceiling plenums will default to the height defined here unless overridden. Underfloor — The height of ceiling plenums will default to the height defined here unless overridden.
Wall height	The height of walls will default to the wall height defined here. The entered wall height value will appear in the two room defining tools Trace and Define.
Partition height	The height of partitions will default to the partition height defined here. The entered partition height value will be automatically applied when a wall is added and changes an exposed wall into a partition.
Opening heights	Window height — Where windows with enclosing walls are defined, windows will have a vertical height defined by the default window height entered here. The entered window height value will appear in the Add Window tool’s Height setting. Sill height — Where windows with enclosing walls are defined, window sills will be located at the sill height (measured from the floor) value defined here. The entered sill height value will appear in the Add Window tool’s Sill height setting. Door height — Where doors with enclosing walls are defined, doors will have a vertical height defined by the default door height value entered here. The entered door height value will appear in the Add Door tool’s Height setting. Door base height — Where doors with enclosing walls are defined, doors will have a door base height (measured from the floor) value defined here. The entered door height value will appear in the Add Door tool’s Base height setting.
Surface component size	All surface components graphics are placed with the height and width dimensions defined here. Surface component graphics are mainly used to create the hierarchical relationship with their parent surfaces (walls, ceilings, floors or partitions). The surface component’s associated data depends upon its surface component type. These data are then considered during energy simulation and calculation. Height — Sets surface component graphics’ default height dimension. Height is always measured relative to the Y axis (up/down in a plan or top view) regardless of the AccuDraw Compass orientation. Width — Sets surface component graphics’ default width dimension. Width is always measured relative to the X axis (left/right in a plan or top view) regardless of the AccuDraw Compass orientation.

Tip: Units Display – Units are displayed using the default system of units that was defined for the project, but can be changed to display using alternative units.