Autocad Mep 2009

AutoCAD MEP 2009
Mechanical Tutorial
April 2008
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Contents
Chapter 1 Starting An HVAC Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Using This Tutorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Lesson 1: Starting a Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Exercise 1: Specifying a Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Exercise 2: Creating a Drawing Based on a Template . . . . . . . . 8
Exercise 3: Viewing Configuration Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Exercise 4: Inserting a Reference Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Lesson 2: Determining Loads and Air Flows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Exercise 1: Creating Space Styles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Exercise 2: Modeling Spaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Exercise 3: Adding Zones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Exercise 4: Exporting and Importing gbXML Data . . . . . . . . . 31
Chapter 2 Drawing a Duct System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Lesson 3: Drawing a Supply Duct System - Lab Support Zone . . . . . . 35
Exercise 1: Adding Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Exercise 2: Drawing 1-Line Duct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Exercise 3: Sizing Duct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Lesson 4: Drawing a Supply Duct System - Lab Zone . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Exercise 1: Drawing Sized Duct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Exercise 2: Adding Sidewall Grilles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Exercise 3: Modifying the Duct System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Exercise 4: Annotating Duct Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
v
Exercise 5: Tagging Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
vi | Contents
Starting An HVAC
Drawing 1
In this tutorial, you learn how to create part of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
(HVAC) system for a research laboratory. In the process, you learn the primary concepts of
how to use AutoCAD® MEP 2009 to draw HVAC systems and produce construction documents.
In this lesson, you learn how to use project tools to start a drawing. You also learn how to
use AutoCAD MEP features to evaluate a floor plan for heating and cooling loads.
Using This Tutorial

This tutorial is divided into lessons, each of which addresses a particular task.
Each lesson contains step-by-step exercises you can perform to achieve the goal
of the lesson. Drawings, referred to as datasets, are included in the project files.
You must extract the project files in order to complete any part of this tutorial.
You can complete the tutorial from beginning to end or, if you are an
experienced user, you can proceed to a specific lesson.
The lessons in this tutorial are designed to build upon your knowledge of
AutoCAD®. If you are not familiar with basic AutoCAD functions and commands,
see the online AutoCAD® Help. These lessons also assume you are familiar with
basic AutoCAD MEP features such as tool palettes, the Properties palette, and
MEP snaps. If you are not familiar with these features, see “Getting Started” in
the AutoCAD MEP Help.
Extracting the Project Datasets
You must extract the project files in order to complete any part of this tutorial.
If you edit any of the project files, you can extract the files again to reset the
1
project to its original state. You can search My
Documents\Autodesk\MyProjects to see if the Research Laboratory dataset
has already been extracted.
NOTE This tutorial references Windows XP file paths. If you are running Windows
Vista, they may be different.
To extract the project datasets, go to

http://www.autodesk.com/autocadmep-tutorials. Locate the tutorial ZIP file for
your language; for example, the English language version of the tutorial files
is english_tutorials_AutoCAD_MEP_2009.zip. Follow the steps in the
corresponding readme.txt file to download the ZIP file and extract its contents
to your hard drive.
Working with Metric Content
This tutorial requires that the Global content pack be installed as part of the
AutoCAD MEP installation for your workstation. The Global content pack is
made up of metric content, metric templates, and an AutoCAD MEP (Global)
user profile.
While you may be accustomed to using imperial units in your day-to-day
work, the lessons in this tutorial cover all of the same tasks necessary for you
to complete designs and create construction documents using either metric
or imperial units.
Verifying the Current Profile
In order to complete the tutorial, you must have your current profile set to
AutoCAD MEP (Global). To check the profile setting, in AutoCAD MEP click
2 | Chapter 1 Starting An HVAC Drawing

Format menu ➤ Options. The name of the current profile is indicated at the
top of the Options dialog.
If AutoCAD MEP (Global) is not the current profile, select it from the list and
click Set Current. If AutoCAD MEP (Global) is not listed as a choice in the
Options dialog, this means that the Global content pack was not installed
when AutoCAD MEP was installed on your workstation.
To add the Global content pack to your AutoCAD MEP installation at any
time, rerun the installer, and select the Add or Remove Features option. To
rerun the installer, open the Add or Remove Programs dialog in the Control
Panel, and click Change/Remove. For more information, refer to the online
AutoCAD MEP installation guides.
If you installed a shortcut for the Global profile, double-click the shortcut to
launch AutoCAD MEP with the Global profile set as current.
Using This Tutorial | 3

Lesson 1: Starting a Drawing
In this lesson, you learn how to configure a project and use Project Navigator
to start a drawing. You also learn how to reference a floor plan drawing in a
current drawing.
Exercise 1: Specifying a Project

First, you specify a project using the Project Browser. Then, you use Project
Navigator to create directories for the AutoCAD MEP drawings.
Specify the current project

1 On the Workspaces toolbar, select HVAC.
2 Open the Project Browser using one of the following methods:
■ On the Navigation toolbar, click Project Browser .
■ Click File menu ➤ Project Browser.
3 In the lower-left corner of the Project Browser, click New Project
.
4 In the Add Project dialog:
■ For Project Number, enter 1.
■ For Project Name, enter HVAC Sample.
5 Click OK.
In the Project Browser, the new project is highlighted to indicate
that it is the current project. The right pane contains an HTML

page. To facilitate sharing project information, you can create
and store HTML pages in the project location.
6 Click Close.
The Project Browser is closed, but the project is still active until
you change to another project. When you start AutoCAD MEP,
the current project is the last one specified before the software
was closed.
Use Project Navigator
In the Project Navigator, the Project tab displays general information about
the project.
Exercise 1: Specifying a Project | 5

7 To add a level, click Edit Levels.
8 In the Levels dialog, click Add Level .

9 To edit values, such as floor elevation or height, click in the field,
and enter the desired value.
You assign construct drawings to floors, and then use those floor
assignments when creating view drawings.
10 Click OK.

11 Review the other tabs on the Project Navigator, which are used
to manage different types of drawings:
■ Constructs are drawings that model a unique portion of a
building system. For example, an HVAC plan for one floor can
be a construct. You create constructs of building plans, then
reference them onto views and sheets to create construction
documents. Because the views reference the constructs, and
the sheets reference the views, you only need to modify the
construct drawings. Views and sheets are updated either
automatically or by regenerating a view.
■ Views comprise one or more constructs that show a specific

view of a building. For example, you can create a view of an
HVAC plan for an entire floor. You can create general views,
detail views, and section/elevation views.
■ Sheets are construction documents or presentation documents

that contain fully-annotated views and details. They are
generally plotted or published to DWF™.
12 To minimize Project Navigator to make more room for drawing

space, click Autohide.
When you move the cursor off Project Navigator, it minimizes so

that just the title bar is visible. To open it, move the cursor over
the title bar.
Create an HVAC constructs directory
13 Click the Constructs tab.
Exercise 1: Specifying a Project | 7

14 Select the Constructs directory, right-click, and click
New ➤ Category.
15 Change the name of the new category to HVAC.
In this exercise, you learned how to create a project and use Project Navigator
to specify floor levels. You also created a new construct category.
Exercise 2: Creating a Drawing Based on a Template

A drawing template contains information such as layer settings, object style
definitions, system definitions, and display settings. Template files are specified
in the project settings.
View the default template for the project

1 In the Project Navigator, click the Project tab.
2 In the Current Project heading, click Edit Project.

3 In the Project Properties dialog, expand Templates.
4 Move the cursor over the field next to Common Model/View

Template.
A tooltip displays the complete file path. This is the default
template you use when starting a new construct drawing.
5 Click Cancel.
Create a new construct drawing
6 In the Project Navigator, click the Constructs tab.

7 Under Constructs, select HVAC.
8 Right-click, and click New ➤ Construct.
9 In the Add Construct dialog, click in the field for Name, and enter
HVAC Sample.
10 Move the cursor over the Drawing Template field to view the full
file path.
This is the default template specified in the project settings.
Exercise 2: Creating a Drawing Based on a Template | 9

11 Select Level 0 to assign the construct to the ground floor.
12 Click OK.
The new construct drawing is added to the HVAC category under
Constructs. When you create a new construct drawing, it is not
automatically opened in the software. You can open a new
drawing from Project Navigator by double-clicking the drawing
name.
TIP In addition to creating a new drawing from the Constructs tab,

you can also add an existing drawing to a project. Open the drawing,
right-click the construct category where you want to place it, and
click Save Current Dwg as Construct.
In this exercise, you learned how to use a template to create a new construct
drawing.

Exercise 3:Viewing Configuration Settings
In the Project Navigator, you viewed project settings such as building levels,
elevations, and templates. In this exercise, you view other important
configuration settings, such as preferences and system definitions. These
settings control how your systems look and function in the drawing.
Open a new construct drawing

1 In the Project Navigator, on the Constructs tab, expand HVAC.
2 Double-click HVAC Sample to open it.
Next, you view layer key settings for objects. Layer keys are used
to add layers as you draw systems. You do not need to create layers
as you draw.
View layer key settings
3 Click Format menu ➤ Layer Management ➤ Layer Key Styles.

4 In the left pane of Style Manager, click Global Descriptive (256
Color) (MEP).
5 In the right pane, click the Keys tab.
6 Scroll to Duct.
Exercise 3:Viewing Configuration Settings | 11

The layer specified is H-Ductwork-G.
The template you specified for this drawing, Aecb Model (Global),
contains a custom, descriptive layer key system.
The first part of the layer name indicates the discipline, the second
part indicates the element, and the last part indicates the data
type. For the H-Ductwork-G layer name, the H indicates the HVAC,
Ductwork indicates the part, and G indicates the data type is
graphics. Because this layer standard is descriptive, the element
is described rather than assigned a code.
Layer keys are configured for parts and systems. When you add
a part, you specify a system for it before placing it in the drawing.
The layer that the part is placed on is based on the part type and
system definition.
For example, you draw a duct system. You specify Supply - Low
Pressure for the system. The duct segments are placed on the
H-Supply-G layer, where Supply indicates supply air duct.
TIP Layer keying allows you to efficiently manage layers in your

drawing. For example, you can turn off a layer for a specific system,
or use filters to turn off specific objects on the layer.
7 Click Cancel.
Next, you view system definitions. These settings control the
appearance and function of parts in a system.
View system definitions
8 Click HVAC menu ➤ HVAC System Definitions.

9 In the left pane of Style Manager, under Duct System Definitions,
click Supply.
10 In the right pane, click the Design Rules tab.
Note the layer key. When you assign a system to a component,
this setting determines its layer and other settings, such as color
and linetype.
11 Click the Design Parameters tab.

These values are used when calculating duct sizes. Calculation
values are defined for the system definition. For example, you
can use different calculation values for medium-pressure duct
systems and low-pressure duct systems.
12 Click the Rise and Drop tab.

This tab specifies the rise and drop style used to display vertical
directions in the system.
13 Click the Display Properties tab.

This tab specifies general display settings for the system
components. You can use it to override the display properties for
objects. For example, you can turn off contour lines for duct, or
add a hatching pattern to visually enhance specific duct parts in
the drawing.
14 Click Cancel.
Next, you view settings duct preferences.
View duct preferences
15 Click HVAC menu. ➤ Duct ➤ Preferences.

16 Click the Routing tab.
When you draw duct runs, these settings control layout behavior.
17 Click the Ducts tab.

You can use these settings to add labels, such as size, to duct
segments as you draw them.
18 Click the Parts tab.

These settings are important because they specify which parts are
inserted during layout. For example, if you specify a right angle
in your layout geometry, the elbow specified here is inserted into
your duct run.
You can change these default parts at any time. You can specify
any part that is included in the current parts catalog.
19 Click the Connections tab.

These settings control how new duct runs connect with existing
duct objects. They also control how air terminals such as diffusers
are connected to a branch duct. For example, if you connect a
new run at the midpoint of an existing duct, a takeoff or tee
(whichever is specified here) is added to complete the connection.
20 Click Cancel.
In this exercise, you viewed important configuration settings for ducts. You
viewed system definitions, which control how the ducts display and function,
and you viewed duct preferences, which control how ducts behave as you
draw them.
Exercise 3:Viewing Configuration Settings | 13

Exercise 4: Inserting a Reference Drawing
In this exercise, you insert an architectural floor plan as a reference drawing.
Reference drawings are also referred to as xrefs (external references) in the
software.
Add an external reference

1 Verify that HVAC Sample is the current drawing. If not,
double-click it on the Constructs tab of the Project Navigator.
2 Open the Project Browser and select the Research Laboratory

project. Click OK.
3 In the Project Navigator, browse to
\Constructs\Architectural\Floor Plans.
4 Right-click 2nd Floor, and click Xref Overlay.
5 On the Navigation toolbar, click Zoom Extents .

The floor plan displays in the drawing window. All elements in
the xref floor plan drawing are screened as gray.
When you add an xref drawing, you can attach it or overlay it.
For construct drawings, overlays are recommended. If you attach
a drawing as an xref, you add all of the reference drawing data to
the current drawing. An overlay does not add its drawing data to
the current drawing, which can help minimize file sizes. For view
drawings, however, it is recommended that you attach xrefs if
you want the reference drawing geometry to display on the sheet.
It is recommended that you use 0,0,0 for the XYZ insertion
coordinates. As you develop construct drawings based on this
floor plan, you can xref them into views and other constructs by

inserting them at 0,0,0. This maintains accurate locations for each
subsequent system designed around the floor plan.
NOTE When you are working with a Drawing Management project,

add an xref by dragging it from the Constructs tab of the Project
Navigator onto the current drawing. Xrefs that are not added in this
way are lost when the project is refreshed. When you add an xref by
dragging it from the Project Navigator onto a drawing, it is attached
instead of overlaid, referenced using its full file path, and placed at
the X,Y coordinates of 0,0. Its elevation (Z coordinate value) is also
updated to a value relative to the host drawing, and it is determined
using the elevations of the levels to which the 2 drawings are assigned.
In later lessons, you add duct systems to the west side of the building. Next,
you clip the reference drawing to display only the west side in the drawing,
making it easier to work on this specific portion of the building.
Clip the reference drawing
6 To select the floor plan, place the cursor over any linework, and
click.
The floor plan is selected.
7 Right-click, and click Clip Xref.

8 On the command line, enter n for New boundary.
9 Enter r to define a rectangular boundary.
10 Click outside the lower-left corner of the building to specify the
first point of the rectangular boundary.
11 Move the cursor to the second point as shown, and click to specify
the opposite corner.
Exercise 4: Inserting a Reference Drawing | 15

The west side of the floor plan is visible, and the east side has
been clipped from view.

13 Close the current drawing, and click No when prompted to save
the drawing.
In this lesson, you created a project and created a new drawing based on a
template. You then viewed settings that affect the construction and appearance
of your systems. You also added an architectural floor plan drawing as a
reference and clipped it so that you could focus on the portion of the drawing
you will be working on.
Next, you evaluate the floor plan to determine heating and cooling loads.
Lesson 2: Determining Loads and Air Flows

In this lesson, you learn how to model interior spaces for a building plan. You
use spaces to model rooms, and then you assign engineering data necessary
for determining heating loads, cooling loads, and air flow requirements. You
export space data in Green Building XML (gbxml) format that can be used in
an external analysis program. You import a gbXML file with analysis results.
Exercise 1: Creating Space Styles

In this exercise, you create space styles. Space styles define the room type, or
classification, for a space.

Specify the tutorial project
1 On the Workspaces toolbar, verify that HVAC is the current
workspace.
When the HVAC workspace is active, the HVAC menu is available

from the menu bar, and the HVAC tool palettes group opens.
2 Open the Project Browser using one of the following methods:
■ On the Navigation bar, click Project Browser .
■ Click File menu ➤ Project Browser.
If you are prompted to repath, click Yes.
3 In the Project Browser, double-click Research Laboratory to specify

it as the current project.
If the Research Laboratory is not displayed, browse to My
Documents\Autodesk\My Projects. The Windows default location
for My Documents is C:\Documents and Settings\<user
name>\My Documents. If the Research Laboratory project is not
in this location, it may not have been extracted. See Extracting
the Project Datasets on page 1.
Exercise 1: Creating Space Styles | 17

4 Click Close.
Open the dataset drawing
5 On the Project Navigator, click the Constructs tab.

6 Under Constructs, expand HVAC ➤ Lesson 2.
7 Double-click HVAC_L02_E01 to open it.

The current display configuration for the drawing is MEP Design. The ceiling
grid displays. Next, you change the display configuration to MEP Basic 2-Line.
In this configuration, spaces are visible in top view, and ceiling grids are turned
off in top view.
Change the display configuration
9 On the application status bar, click MEP Design, and select MEP
Basic 2-Line.

The drawing updates to the current display configuration settings.
TIP MEP Basic 2-Line is a good display configuration to use for fast
layout. Hidden lines are not used, so drawing performance is
enhanced. For views and sheets, however, you may want to use other
display configurations that use hidden lines or display only certain
systems as non-screened.
Create a space style for the laboratories
10 Click Format menu ➤ Style Manager.

11 In Style Manager, under the current drawing name, expand
Architectural Objects ➤ Space Styles.
12 Right-click Space Styles, and click New.
13 Change the name of the new style to Laboratory. You can change
the name on the General tab, or by clicking the name twice.
Add property sets for lighting and equipment loads per area
14 In the right pane, on the General tab, click Property Sets.
15 In the Edit Property Set Data dialog, click Add Property Sets
.
16 In the Add Property Sets dialog, verify that SpaceEngineeringStyles
is selected, and click OK.

Note that the property sets are added to the style and displayed
in the Edit Property Set Data dialog.
17 In the Edit Property Set Data dialog:

■ For GbXmlSpaceTypeOverride, select LABORATORYOFFICE.
■ For AreaLightingLoad, enter 20 W/SM.
■ For AreaEquipmentLoad, enter 40 W/SM.
18 Click OK.
Specify a classification based on a mechanical standard
19 In the right pane of Style Manager, click the Classifications tab.
20 For Space Occupancy, click .

21 In the Select Classification dialog, expand ASHRAE 62.1 -
2004 ➤ Educational Facilities, and select Science laboratories.
Specifying a classification for a space style assigns the required
outside air flow values for that room type based on the applicable
standard. The values for all room types are included in the
software.
22 Click OK.
Create another style for laboratory support rooms
23 In the left pane of Style Manager, right-click Laboratory, and click

Copy.
24 Right-click Space Styles, and click Paste.
25 Select Laboratory (2) and change the name to Laboratory Support.
26 Using the same method, configure property sets and a
classification for Laboratory Support:
■ For GbXmlSpaceTypeOverride, select OFFICEENCLOSED.
■ For AreaLightingLoad, enter 15 W/SM.
■ For AreaEquipmentLoad, enter 0.2 W/SM.
■ For Classification, specify ASHRAE 62.1 2004 ➤ Offices

(ASHRAE 2004) ➤ Office Space (ASHRAE 2004).
27 Click OK to close Style Manager.

28 Close the drawing, and click No when prompted to save the
drawing.
In this exercise, you learned how to create space styles. The classification and
load settings are used to calculate outside air flow, and lighting and equipment
loads. Next, you add spaces to the floor plan.
Exercise 2: Modeling Spaces

In this exercise, you generate spaces to model the interior spaces of rooms in
the xref. You specify space styles for the appropriate rooms as you add the
spaces.
Dataset
On the Constructs tab of the Project Navigator, double-click HVAC_L02_E02
under Constructs ➤ HVAC ➤ Lesson 2.
Generate spaces for labs

1 On the HVAC tool palettes, open the Analysis tool palette.
2 Click the Space tool.

3 On the Design tab on the Properties palette:
■ For Style, select Laboratory.

■ For Tag, select Aecb_Space_Name_Tag.
■ For Offset Boundary, select By style.
■ For Geometry Type, select Extrusion.
4 In the drawing area, move the cursor over Lab 247.

The room perimeter is detected by the space tool.
5 Click inside Lab 247 to add a space.
Exercise 2: Modeling Spaces | 23

6 Press Enter.
Generate spaces for lab support
7 Using the same method, add spaces to the following rooms; use
the Laboratory Support style for all spaces.
■ Lab Support 221, 222
■ Lab Hood 247
■ Common Space 223 and 224
8 Press Enter.
Add names to the spaces
9 Select the space for Lab 247.

10 On the Properties palette, click the Design tab.
11 Under Basic ➤ General, for Name, enter Lab 247.
12 Press Esc to deselect the space.
13 Using the same method, rename each space with its corresponding
room name.
The lab rooms have open ceilings, so you configure the spaces to match.
Change space heights to match the building plan

15 On the Properties palette, click the Design tab and scroll to
Component Dimensions.
16 Specify the following values:
■ For Overall space height, enter 3960 mm.
■ For Ceiling height, enter 3660 mm.
■ For Floor thickness, enter 300 mm.
■ For Ceiling thickness, enter 0.
■ For Height above ceiling, enter 0.
■ For Height below floor, enter 0.
■ For Default surface height, enter 3660 mm.
■ For Justification, select Top of floor.
17 Press Esc to deselect the lab space.

Because the other rooms have suspended ceilings, they require different
settings.
18 Select the other spaces, and specify the following values:
■ For Overall space height, enter 3960 mm.
Exercise 2: Modeling Spaces | 25

■ For Ceiling height, 2600 mm.
■ For Floor thickness, enter 300 mm.
■ For Ceiling thickness, enter 50 mm.
■ For Height above ceiling, enter 1010 mm.
■ For Height below floor, enter 0.
■ For Default surface height, enter 3660 mm.
■ For Justification, select Top of floor.
19 Press Esc to deselect the lab support spaces.

View space engineering data for gbXML export

21 On the Properties palette, click the Extended Data tab.
Under Classification, note the classification defined for the space
style. You can manually specify another room type here if you
want to override the style setting.
Under Property Sets ➤ SpaceEngineeringObjects, note the property
sets. The default lighting and equipment loads are calculated based
on room area and the load per area values specified in the space
style.
You can manually specify values for OutsideAirFlow, LightingLoad,
and EquipmentLoad to override these calculated values. If you
do not override any values, then the calculated values will be
exported when you export the building data to gbXML. At this

point, you do not need to specify any other information for the
gbXML export.
22 Press Esc.
23 Using the same method, review the settings for the lab support
space.
24 Click File menu ➤ Close, and click No when prompted to save
the drawing.
In this exercise, you learned how to generate spaces. You also viewed the
engineering data for the spaces, which was calculated using the room area,
space classification, and loads defined in the space style. Next, you add zones,
and attach spaces to zones.
Exercise 3:Adding Zones

In this exercise, you add zones and attach spaces to the zones. You must attach
spaces to zones prior to exporting to gbXML.
Dataset
On the Constructs tab of Project Navigator, double-click
Constructs ➤ HVAC ➤ Lesson 2 ➤ HVAC_L02_E03.
Exercise 3:Adding Zones | 27

Add zone markers
1 On the HVAC tool palettes, open the Analysis tool palette.
2 Click the Zone tool.

3 In the drawing area, specify the insertion point for the lab zone
marker outside of the floor plan as shown, and press ENTER.

4 Specify the insertion point for the lab support zone marker as
shown, and press ENTER.
Rename the zone markers
5 Select the first zone marker.

6 On the Properties palette, click the Design tab.
7 Under Basic ➤ General, for Name, enter Lab Zone.
8 Press Esc to deselect the zone marker.
9 Using the same method, rename the second zone as Lab Support
Zone.
Specify design temperatures for zones
10 Select both zone markers.

12 Click Add Property Sets .

13 In the Add Property Sets dialog, select ZoneEngineeringObjects,
and click OK.
14 With both zone markers still selected, on the Extended Data tab
of the Properties palette, for both DesignTempCooling and
DesignTempHeating, enter 22 degrees.
Exercise 3:Adding Zones | 29

15 Press Esc to deselect the zone markers.
Attach spaces to zones
16 Select the Lab Zone marker.

17 Click the Attach Space or Zone grip.
18 Select the space in Lab 247, and press Enter.

Lines connecting the zone to the attached space are displayed.
19 Using the same method, attach the remaining spaces to the Lab
Support Zone.
Review space and zone configuration
20 Select one of the zone markers.

21 Right-click, and click Space/Zone Manager.
NOTE You can also open the Space/Zone Manager from the Design
tab on the Properties palette.

22 In the Space/Zone Manager, verify that Show All Zones and Spaces
and Show Space Surfaces are selected in the lower-left corner.
You can use Space/Zone Manager to review space and zone
configuration. You can expand spaces to view surfaces and
openings associated with the space.
23 Click OK.
the drawing.
In this exercise, you learned how to add zone markers and attach spaces to
zones. Next, you export the zone and space data using gbXML.
Exercise 4: Exporting and Importing gbXML Data

You can use gbXML files in external analysis tools to calculate heating and
cooling loads for a building plan. In this exercise, you export space and zone
data using gbXML. You import an analyzed gbXML file that includes calculated
load and air flow values.
Exercise 4: Exporting and Importing gbXML Data | 31

Dataset
On the Constructs tab of Project Navigator, double-click
Export data to gbXML
1 Click File menu ➤ Export to gbXML.

2 In the gbXML Export dialog:
■ For File name, browse to My Documents\Autodesk\My
Projects\Research Laboratory\Constructs\HVAC\Analysis,
enter Research_Lab_export.xml, and click Save.
■ For Select Objects, select 2 Zones. The zones are detected by

the gbXML Export dialog.
■ For Building type, select Office.
■ For ZIP Code, enter 5-digit postal ZIP code. Some analysis
packages use a ZIP code for specifying psychrometric data.
3 Click Start.
4 When the export is complete, click Close.
NOTE The export file and the import file with the calculation results
must have the same filename, since the filename is referenced in the
gbxml file.
Importing an analyzed gbXML file
5 Click File menu ➤ Import from gbXML.

6 In the Import gbXML dialog, browse to My
Documents\Autodesk\My Projects\Research
Laboratory\Constructs\HVAC\Analysis, select
HVAC_L02_E04.xml, and click Open.
The calculation results are applied to the appropriate spaces and
zones as property sets.
7 To view zone calculations, select the Lab Zone marker.


The total air flow, cooling load, and heating load for the zone are
displayed under Property Sets ➤ ZoneEngineeringCalculatedData.
NOTE Note that the calculated zone data is not optimal. For training
purposes, you only analyzed only a portion of the building.
Exercise 4: Exporting and Importing gbXML Data | 33

9 Deselect the zone, select the Lab 247 space, and view the
calculated data on the Properties palette.
You can use tags to show calculated airflow values on spaces. You
can also use schedules to show calculation results in a table. For
more information, see “Using Space and Zone Calculated Data”
in the AutoCAD MEP online help.
For reference, a completed drawing named Completed_Spaces is
included in the project datasets in the Constructs\HVAC\Lesson
2 directory.

the drawing.
In this lesson, you learned how to use spaces and zones to configure data used
for load and airflow calculations. After you modelled and configured spaces,
you exported the data in gbXML format. You imported calculation results,
and viewed them for spaces and zones. You can use this information when
designing HVAC systems.

Drawing a Duct System
2
The lessons in this chapter show how to use the features of AutoCAD MEP to draw a duct
system.
Lesson 3: Drawing a Supply Duct System - Lab

Support Zone
In this lesson, you learn how to draw a 1-line duct system and convert it to
sized 2-line duct using a duct calculator. You also learn how to modify a duct
system.
Exercise 1:Adding Equipment

In this exercise, you add ceiling diffusers and VAV boxes for the Lab Support
zone. You add flow values to the ceiling diffusers so that you can calculate duct
sizes later.
Dataset
On the Constructs tab of the Project Navigator, double-click HVAC_L03_E01
under Constructs ➤ HVAC ➤ Lesson 3.
Set up the drawing

1 On the Workspaces toolbar, verify the current workspace is set to
HVAC.
35
In the drawing, the floor plan is referenced, and portions of 2
main supply ducts are also referenced. The oval duct is part of a
medium pressure system that supplies a mixture of outside air
and return air. The round duct is part of a medium pressure system
that supplies 100% outside air to the laboratories.
The current display configuration is MEP Design No Spaces.

Ceiling grids are visible in this display configuration. You use the
ceiling grid to place diffusers.
Add ceiling diffusers
2 Pan and zoom so that Lab Support 221 is centered in the drawing
area.
TIP An efficient way to navigate the drawing area is to use the scroll
wheel on the mouse. Turn the wheel to zoom in or out, hold down
the wheel and drag to pan, or double-click the wheel to zoom extents.
You can use these features even if a command is active. For more
information, see “Pointing Device Buttons” in the online AutoCAD
help.
3 On the application status bar, verify that Object Snap is selected.
4 Right-click Object Snap , and click Settings.

5 In the Drafting Settings dialog, click the Object Snap tab.
36 | Chapter 2 Drawing a Duct System

6 Select Node, and click OK.
7 On the HVAC tool palettes, open the Equipment tool palette.
8 Click the Diffuser tool.
Exercise 1:Adding Equipment | 37

9 On the Part tab in the Add Multi-view Parts dialog, scroll to 600
x 600 mm Square Faced Ceiling Diffuser, and select it.
10 For Part Size Name, select 600 x 600 mm Square Faced Ceiling
Diffuser - 250 mm Neck.
You do not need to specify elevation. The diffuser will snap to
the ceiling grid (2600 mm).
11 Click the Flow tab.

12 For Flow (Each Terminal), enter 120.
TIP To minimize the dialog while the command is active, click the
pushpin in the upper-right corner. When you move the cursor

off the dialog, it minimizes so that just the title bar is visible. To restore
it, move the cursor over the title bar.
NOTE If you are running Windows Vista, the pushpin is not available.
13 In the drawing area, specify the insertion point in the location

shown. Note the node snap displays at the ceiling grid
intersections.

14 Use the compass to rotate the diffuser 90 degrees as shown, and
click to complete the part insertion.
15 With the Add MvPart command still active, specify the insertion
point for the second diffuser in the location shown.
16 Use the compass to rotate it 90 degrees, and click to add the

diffuser.

17 Press Enter to end the command.
18 Select one of the ceiling diffusers.

19 Right-click, and click Add Selected.
The Add Multi-View Part dialog displays, and it is configured with
the settings for the selected diffuser.
20 Add ceiling diffusers to Lab Support 222, Common Space 223,

and Common Space 224 as shown.
If you insert a diffuser in the wrong location, you can select it,
right-click, and use the Basic Modify Tools on the right-click menu
to move or rotate the part.
Modify diffuser flow values
21 Select the diffuser in Lab Support 222.

Because Lab Support 222 has a small airflow requirement, you change the
diffuser from a 250 mm neck to a 200 mm neck. You also specify a lower flow
value.

22 Right-click, and click MvPart Modify.
23 In the Multi-view Part Modify dialog, for Part Size Name, select
600 x 600 mm Square Plaque Face Ceiling Diffuser - 200 mm Neck.
24 Click the Flow tab, enter 70 for Flow, and click OK.
Next, you modify the flow for the Common Space diffusers.
25 Select the diffusers (3 total) in Common Space 223 and Common

Space 224.
26 Right-click, and click MvPart Modify.
27 In the Multi-view Part Modify dialog, click the Flow tab.
28 Enter 150 for Flow, and click OK.
Add VAV boxes
29 On the application status bar, deselect Object Snap so that

your VAV boxes do not snap to the ceiling grid.
30 On the Equipment tool palette, click the VAV Box - Shut-Off tool.
31 In the Add Multi-view Part dialog, for Part Size Name, select 200
mm Shut Off VAV Box.

32 For Elevation, enter 3000 mm.
33 In the drawing, specify the insertion point in the upper-left corner

of Common Space 223 as shown.

34 Use the compass to rotate the VAV box 90 degrees, and click to
insert it.
35 With the command still active, add another VAV box to Common
Space 224 in the approximate location shown.
36 On the application status bar, for current display configuration,

click MEP Design, and select Mechanical - Duct 2-Line from the
list.

The ceiling grid is turned off to improve visibility for drawing
duct.

the drawing.
In this exercise, you placed equipment for a duct system. Next, you connect
the equipment with 1-line duct.
Exercise 2: Drawing 1-Line Duct

In this exercise, you draw 1-line ducts to connect the main supply duct to the
VAV boxes. You also connect the diffusers to the VAV boxes. Although 1-line
duct has an unspecified size and shape, and you can convert it to sized 2-line
duct.
Dataset
On the Constructs tab of the Project Navigator, double-click
Add duct from the main supply to VAV boxes

1 You specify duct and drawing settings to help draw duct more
efficiently.
On the application status bar, for current display configuration,
click MEP Design, and select Mechanical - Duct 1-Line from the
list.
2 Click HVAC menu ➤ Duct ➤ Preferences.
3 In the Duct Layout Preferences dialog, click the Connections tab:
■ Under Connect with Duct, verify that Use Takeoff is selected.
Exercise 2: Drawing 1-Line Duct | 45

■ Under Terminal-Duct Connection, select Flexible.
4 Click OK.
5 On the application status bar, select Ortho Mode an d Object
Snap Tracking . Ortho Mode restricts ducts to horizontal or

vertical orientation as you draw. Using object tracking, you can
line up ducts with other objects in the drawing.
6 Right-click Object Snap , and click Settings.

7 In the Drafting Settings dialog, click the Object Snap tab and scroll
down to AutoCAD MEP.
Using AutoCAD MEP snaps, you can snap to AutoCAD MEP
objects; you will use them extensively when drawing the duct
systems in this tutorial.
8 Verify that Duct Curve and Duct Connector are selected, and click
OK.
9 Make sure Object Snap is selected.

10 On the HVAC tool palettes, open the Duct tool palette.
11 Scroll to By Shape, and click the 1-Line tool.
12 In the Add Ducts dialog:
■ For System, select Supply - Medium Pressure.
■ For Elevation, enter 3150 mm.
13 In the drawing area, move the cursor over the 1-line takeoff on
the vertical supply duct as shown.
A duct end connector snap displays.
14 Click to start the duct run, and click to specify the next point in
the location shown below. You do not need to match the

dimensions shown; you only need to approximate the layout
location.
15 Click to specify the next point in the approximate location shown.
16 Before specifying the next point, move the cursor over the VAV
box to display the duct end connector snap. Move the cursor
horizontally away from the VAV box, and note the tracking line.

Specify the next point on the tracking line so that the duct
endpoint is aligned with the center of the VAV box.
17 Specify the last point on the duct end connector snap of the VAV
box as shown.
18 Press Enter to accept the connection.

19 With the command still active, move the cursor over the top end
of the second VAV box to display a duct end connector snap as
shown.
20 Click the snap, and draw a right-angle run to the other 1-line duct
as shown. Click the duct curve connector snap.
21 The software automatically generates routing solutions to connect

the VAV box to the duct.

22 On the command line, enter n to preview the next routing
solution. Repeat until you see a 90-degree joint previewed, and
enter a to accept that routing solution.

Add duct from VAV boxes to diffusers
You hide the floor plan so that you can preview routing solutions in 3D.
24 Select any part of the floor plan, right-click, and click Isolate
Objects ➤ Hide Objects.
25 On the Duct tool palette, click the 1-Line tool.
■ For System, select Supply - Low Pressure.
■ For Elevation, enter 3150 mm.
27 Select the end snap on the VAV box outlet, and use tracking to
align the end of the duct with the diffuser as shown.

28 Click to specify the next point just before the diffuser.
29 Click to specify the last point on the end snap of the diffuser.
Flexible duct is inserted from the point before the diffuser to the
end snap of the diffuser.
30 On the command line, enter a to accept the routing solution.

32 On the Duct tool palette, click the 1-Line tool. Verify that System
is Supply - Low Pressure, and elevation is 3150 mm.
33 Move the cursor over the approximate location on the duct as
shown, and click the curve snap.

34 Click to specify the next point as shown.
35 Click to specify the next point just before the diffuser.

36 Move the cursor directly to the diffuser as shown, and click the
end snap.
37 On the command line, enter a to accept that routing solution.

38 With the command still active, using the same method, connect
the other diffuser as shown.

40 Pan and zoom to display the other VAV box and diffusers.
41 Select the VAV box.
42 Click the Add Duct grip on the outlet.
43 In the Add Ducts dialog, verify that System is Supply - Low

Pressure, and elevation is 3150 mm.

44 Use tracking and routing solutions to add duct from the VAV box
to the diffuser as shown.

46 Select the next diffuser to the right, and click the Add Duct grip.
47 Move the cursor to the duct, and click the curve snap.
48 Press Enter to accept the connection.

49 Using the same method, connect the other diffuser to the duct.
When completed, your system should look similar to the one
shown.

50 To show the floor plan, right-click anywhere in the drawing, and
click Isolate Objects ➤ End Object Isolation.
the drawing.
In this exercise, you connected equipment with a 1-line duct system. Next,
you use a duct size calculator in the software to convert the 1-line duct to
sized 2-line duct.
Exercise 3: Sizing Duct

In this exercise, you use a duct size calculator in the software to convert 1-line
duct to sized 2-line duct. You also modify the ducts to change sizes, add
transitions, and move locations.
Dataset
Check connectivity
1 Select the duct connected to the main supply duct.
Prior to calculating duct sizes, check connectivity to ensure all
ducts and equipment are connected. If parts are not connected,
they are not considered when calculating sizes.
2 Right-click, and click Connected Objects ➤ Show Connected Run.

All ducts and equipment are highlighted to show that the system
is connected.
3 Press Enter.
4 Select the same duct again, right-click, and click Calculate Duct
System Sizes.
Exercise 3: Sizing Duct | 59

5 In the Duct System Size Calculator dialog, configure the settings
in sections 1, 2, and 3 as shown.
NOTE The calculation parameters are specified in the duct system

definition in Style Manager. Because there are 2 system definitions
used in this system (low pressure and medium pressure), the
calculation parameters for each system are applied to the appropriate
parts of the system being sized.
6 In section 4, click Start.

7 If prompted by the Save to Xref dialog, click Yes.
8 When the duct calculations are complete, click Close.

Note that all 1-line duct has been converted to 2-line duct with
the calculated dimensions.
Move transitions to see associative movement
9 Pan and zoom to Common Space 224.

Next, you move transitions to more appropriate locations. You
can use associative movement to move parts of the duct system
without breaking connectivity.
10 Select the transition just before the elbow in the location shown
below, click its top location grip, and move it straight up to just
below the takeoff as shown.

A duct segment is automatically added to connect the elbow with the
transition.
11 Press Esc to deselect the transition.

12 Using the same method, move the other 2 transitions to the
locations shown.

Move VAV box to see associative movement for equipment
13 Select the VAV box in Common Space 223, and move it straight
up as shown.
14 Click to place it close to the wall as shown, and press Esc to

deselect it.
Note how the runouts stretch to the new location without
breaking connectivity.
Modify runout diameters
15 Pan and zoom to Common Space 224, and select the duct shown.

The duct sizes calculated for the runouts do not match the neck
diameters on the diffusers.
16 Right-click, and click Duct Modify.

17 In the Modify Duct dialog, change Diameter to 250 mm, and click
OK.
18 When prompted by the Maintain Connection dialog, select Modify
to next junction/transition, and click OK.
19 If prompted by the Custom Size dialog, click Yes.

The runout is resized.
20 Using the same method, resize all runouts to match diffuser neck
diameter. All diffuser necks are 250 mm except for the diffuser in
Lab Support 222, which is 200 mm.

the drawing.
In this exercise, you calculated and sized the duct system. You used associative
movement on transitions and equipment, and you modified duct sizes. Next,
you complete this duct system by connecting flexible duct to the diffusers.

Lesson 4: Drawing a Supply Duct System - Lab
Zone
In this lesson, you learn how to draw and modify sized duct by creating a duct
system for the Lab zone. You also annotate both duct systems, and you tag
equipment for scheduling.
Exercise 1: Drawing Sized Duct

In this exercise, you draw sized duct, and connect it to a main supply duct.
Dataset
Add a VAV box

1 Pan and zoom to the area outside of the Lab Support 228 room.
2 On the Equipment tool palette, click the VAV Box - Shut-Off tool.
3 In the Add Multi-view Parts dialog, for Part Size Name, select 300
mm Shut Off VAV Box.
4 For elevation, enter 2900 mm.
Lesson 4: Drawing a Supply Duct System - Lab Zone | 67

5 Place the VAV box in the approximate location shown, and use
the compass to rotate it 90 degrees so that its outlet is facing into
Lab 247. Click to insert it.

Add duct to Lab 247
7 Select the VAV box, and click the Add Duct grip on the outlet.

■ For System, select Supply - Low Pressure.
■ For Shape, select Round.
■ For Connection Type, select Slip Joint.
■ For Diameter, enter 500 mm.

9 Pan and zoom so that you can see Lab 247, and specify the
endpoint for the duct just before it reaches the wall, as shown.

11 To finish this duct, you add an end cap to the open end.
Open the Fitting tool palette, and click the Endcap tool.
12 In the Add Duct Fittings dialog, expand Round ➤ Endcaps, and
select DW144 Round Duct Endcap.
Exercise 1: Drawing Sized Duct | 69

13 For Part Size Name, select 500 mm Diameter DW144 Round Duct
Endcap.
14 In the drawing area, pan and zoom to the end of the duct.
15 Click the duct end connector snap to place the endcap, and press
Enter twice.
Connect VAV box to main supply duct
16 Pan so that you can see the VAV box and the main supply duct.
17 Select the VAV box, and click the Add Duct grip on the inlet end.
18 In the Add Duct dialog, verify that System is Supply - Medium
Pressure, and Diameter is 300 mm.

19 Lay out the first part of the run as shown.
20 After you specify a point inside Lab Support 227 as shown, move
the cursor to the supply duct, and click the end snap.
Exercise 1: Drawing Sized Duct | 71

21 Preview the routing solutions, and accept the one with 45-degree
angles for both joints.
Note that, because the main supply duct fitting is at a different

elevation than the duct run, the software automatically rotated
the 45-degree elbows to connect parts at different elevations.
Front view with all other objects hidden

the drawing.
In this exercise, you added 2-line duct, and connected to the main supply
duct. Next, you add grilles to the duct in Lab 247.

Exercise 2:Adding Sidewall Grilles
In this exercise, you add sidewall grilles to the duct servicing Lab 247.
Dataset
Add a grille
1 Open the Equipment tool palette, and click the Air Terminal -
Grille tool.
2 In the Add Multi-view Parts dialog, select Sidewall Grilles.
3 For Part Size Name, select 300 x 100 mm Sidewall Grille.
4 For elevation, enter 3150 mm.
Exercise 2:Adding Sidewall Grilles | 73

5 Click the Flow tab, and for Flow (Each Terminal), enter 100 l/s.
6 In the drawing area, click to place the grille just below the duct
as shown.

8 Select the grille, click the Add Duct grip, and move the cursor to
the main duct to display a curve snap.
9 Click the curve snap to connect the grille to the duct branch. Press
Enter to end the command.
The takeoff is oriented in the wrong direction.

10 Select the takeoff to activate the grips.
Exercise 2:Adding Sidewall Grilles | 75

11 Click the flip grip (blue arrow) to orient the takeoff properly, and
press Esc to deselect the part. The takeoff should be positioned as
shown.
Use the array command to add more grilles
12 Select the takeoff, the grille, and the duct between them.
13 Right-click, and click Basic Modify Tools ➤ Array.
14 In the Array dialog, specify the settings as shown, and click
Preview.

15 Click Accept.
16 To check connectivity between the new grilles and the duct, select
the duct, right-click, and click Connected Objects ➤ Show
Connected Run.
The arrayed grilles are connected.
17 Press Enter.
the drawing.
In this exercise, you added grilles to the duct. You used the array command
to add multiple instances of the same grille. Next, you add transitions to the
branch duct.
Exercise 3: Modifying the Duct System

In this exercise, you break the branch duct so that you can reduce the run,
and you resize the duct from the main supply to the VAV box.
Dataset
Break the branch duct

1 Pan and zoom to view the branch duct in Lab 247.
2 On the command line, enter break.
Exercise 3: Modifying the Duct System | 77

3 Click once just beyond the fifth grille as shown.
4 On the command line, enter @ to specify the second break point

in the same place as the first.
5 To resize the duct downstream from the break, select the

downstream duct.
7 In the Modify Duct dialog, note the downstream grille airflows
detected in the Capacity field. To calculate the duct diameter
based on this capacity, click the Calculate Size button next to the
Diameter field.
8 Click OK.
to maintain connection to next part, and click OK.
10 Using the same method, add another break just beyond the eighth
grille, and resize the duct using the instant duct size calculator.
Resize VAV box supply duct
11 Pan and zoom to the duct between the main supply duct and the
VAV box.

12 Select the duct shown.

14 In the Modify Duct dialog, for Diameter, enter 630 mm.
This is the size of the main supply fitting.
Click OK.
to maintain connection to next part.
For this joint, a transition will be added so that the elbow diameter
remains the same.
Click OK.
16 When prompted by the Maintain Connection dialog for the other
end, select Modify to next junction/transition, and click OK.
This resizes the duct all the way to the main supply fitting.

the drawing.
In this exercise, you learned how to modify duct by adding breaks and
calculating duct sizes. This completes the duct system design. Next, you
annotate the duct systems.
Exercise 3: Modifying the Duct System | 79

Exercise 4:Annotating Duct Systems
In this exercise, you add duct size labels to ducts. You also add flow arrow
symbols to the grilles.
Dataset
Construct ➤ HVACs ➤ Lesson 4 ➤ HVAC_L04_E04.
Add labels to ducts

1 Pan and zoom to the Lab Support zone.
2 Open the Annotation tool palette, and click the Add Label tool.
3 On the Design tab of the Properties palette:
■ For Style, select Standard.
■ For Layout Method, select One by one.
4 On the Properties palette, click Select Objects .

5 Select the ducts shown as shown.
6 Press Enter.

7 Specify the location on the duct for each label.
8 With the command still active, pan and zoom to the Lab zone.
9 Add labels to the ducts as shown, and then press Enter to end the
command.

Add custom flow arrows
11 On the command line, enter symboladd.

12 In the Properties palette, click the Design tab.
13 For Style, click the style name.
■ In the Select a style dialog, for Drawing file, select <Current
Drawing>.
■ Select Arrow - Supply.
■ Click OK.
14 In the drawing area, pan and zoom to the first grille on the right.
Exercise 4:Annotating Duct Systems | 81

15 Use tracking to align the endpoint of the arrow with the duct end
snap on the grille, and click to place the arrow as shown.
16 Enter 270 for rotation angle, and press Enter twice.
17 Use the array command to add arrows to the rest of the grilles.
Use the same settings you used in Exercise 2 for the grilles.

the drawing.
In this exercise, you added annotation to the duct systems. Next, you tag
equipment for scheduling.
Exercise 5:Tagging Equipment

In this exercise, you add tags to the sidewall grilles. This adds property sets to
the grilles. You can specify property set values, and use them in schedules.
Dataset

Create a new tag tool
1 You make a copy of the tag tool.
On the HVAC tool palettes group, open the Tag and Schedule
tool palette.
2 Right-click the Air Terminal 1 tool, and click Copy.

3 Right-click in the tool palette, and click Paste.
4 Scroll to the bottom of the list where the new tag tool was pasted.
Right-click the new tag tool, and click Rename.
5 Enter Tutorial Air Terminal for the name of the new tag tool.
Modify the new tag tool
Next, change the tag tool properties to a tag style that only displays a tag ID
and airflow value.
6 Open the Tag and Schedule tool palette.
7 Right-click the Tutorial Air Terminal tool, and click Properties.
8 In the Tool Properties dialog, under Tag, for Tag name, select
Aecb_Mechanical_Air_Terminal_Device_III_Tag.
9 Click OK.
Exercise 5:Tagging Equipment | 83

10 On the Tag and Schedule tool palette, click the Tutorial Air
Terminal tag tool.
11 Pan and zoom to the first sidewall grille on the right, and select
it.
12 Specify the tag location as shown.
13 In the Edit Property Set Data dialog, click OK.

You will edit property sets after you place the tags.
14 On the command line, enter m to tag multiple objects.
15 Select the rest of the grilles, and press Enter. You can pan and zoom
to select the grilles without exiting the command.
16 In the Edit Property Set Data dialog, click OK. Press Enter.
Select the tags so that you can edit the property set values.
17 Select a tag, right-click, and click Select Similar.

19 Specify the property set values as shown.
20 Scroll to Property Sets From Referenced Style, and click Edit.
21 In the Edit Referenced Property Set Data, specify the settings as

shown.

These values are used in the diffuser schedule.
22 Click OK.
23 On the Tag and Schedule tool palette, right-click the Tutorial Air
Terminal tool and click Delete.
Prepare construct for view drawings
24 Check to make sure that the Automatically add scales to

annotative objects when the annotation scale changes icon is
enabled .

25 On the application bar, select 1:25 for the Annotation Scale.
The labels scale accordingly.
26 Change the annotation scale back to 1:100.

Now the annotation will be visible in the plan views (scaled 1:100)
and detailed views (scaled 1:25).

the drawing.
For reference, a completed drawing (Completed_HVAC_Plan) is included in
the Constructs\HVAC\Lesson 4 directory of the project dataset.
In this lesson, you learned how to draw sized duct. You added grilles by using
the array command. You modified duct using the instant duct sizing calculator.
You also tagged equipment, and configured property set values that can be
used in schedules.

88

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Chapter 1 Starting An HVAC Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Chapter 2 Drawing a Duct System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Using This Tutorial

Extracting the Project Datasets

To extract the project datasets, go to

Working with Metric Content

Verifying the Current Profile

2 | Chapter 1 Starting An HVAC Drawing

Using This Tutorial | 3

Exercise 1: Specifying a Project

Specify the current project

2 Open the Project Browser using one of the following methods:

■ On the Navigation toolbar, click Project Browser .

■ Click File menu ➤ Project Browser.

3 In the lower-left corner of the Project Browser, click New Project

■ For Project Name, enter HVAC Sample.

4 | Chapter 1 Starting An HVAC Drawing

Use Project Navigator

Exercise 1: Specifying a Project | 5

8 In the Levels dialog, click Add Level .

6 | Chapter 1 Starting An HVAC Drawing

■ Views comprise one or more constructs that show a specific

■ Sheets are construction documents or presentation documents

12 To minimize Project Navigator to make more room for drawing

When you move the cursor off Project Navigator, it minimizes so

Create an HVAC constructs directory

13 Click the Constructs tab.

Exercise 1: Specifying a Project | 7

Exercise 2: Creating a Drawing Based on a Template

View the default template for the project

8 | Chapter 1 Starting An HVAC Drawing

4 Move the cursor over the field next to Common Model/View

6 In the Project Navigator, click the Constructs tab.

Exercise 2: Creating a Drawing Based on a Template | 9

TIP In addition to creating a new drawing from the Constructs tab,

10 | Chapter 1 Starting An HVAC Drawing

Open a new construct drawing

View layer key settings

3 Click Format menu ➤ Layer Management ➤ Layer Key Styles.

Exercise 3:Viewing Configuration Settings | 11

TIP Layer keying allows you to efficiently manage layers in your

View system definitions

8 Click HVAC menu ➤ HVAC System Definitions.

11 Click the Design Parameters tab.

12 Click the Rise and Drop tab.

12 | Chapter 1 Starting An HVAC Drawing

13 Click the Display Properties tab.

View duct preferences

15 Click HVAC menu. ➤ Duct ➤ Preferences.

17 Click the Ducts tab.

18 Click the Parts tab.

19 Click the Connections tab.

Exercise 3:Viewing Configuration Settings | 13

Add an external reference

2 Open the Project Browser and select the Research Laboratory

5 On the Navigation toolbar, click Zoom Extents .

14 | Chapter 1 Starting An HVAC Drawing

NOTE When you are working with a Drawing Management project,

7 Right-click, and click Clip Xref.

Exercise 4: Inserting a Reference Drawing | 15

12 On the Navigation toolbar, click Zoom Extents .