SprinkCAD 3D Tutorial 1

Metric Edition
August 27, 2003

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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................5
CREATING A NEW PROJECT AND MODEL......................................................................................5
SPRINKCAD 3D TOOLBARS ..................................................................................................................8
OPENING MISSING TOOLBARS MANUALLY .............................................................................................10
REPRESENTATION................................................................................................................................11
INITIAL AUTOCAD SETTINGS ...........................................................................................................12
AUTOCAD SHADE SETTINGS ..................................................................................................................12
NEW CONCEPT: THE UCS SETTING ........................................................................................................12
NEW CONCEPT: THE INFORMATION LAYER ............................................................................................13
LAYING OUT SPRINKLERS.................................................................................................................14
NEW CONCEPT: 2D DRAWINGS IN A 3D WORLD ....................................................................................17
NEW CONCEPT: THE SPRINKLER DEFLECTOR IS THE INSERTION POINT .................................................19
LAYING OUT BRANCH LINES ............................................................................................................19
SPRINKCAD PROPERTIES...................................................................................................................25
VIEWING ENTITIES AS SOLIDS.........................................................................................................27
CONNECTING SPRINKLERS DIRECTLY TO THE BRANCH LINES..........................................30
NEW CONCEPT: ELEVATION FOR SPRINKLERS AND PIPES ......................................................................31
USING THE PROPERTIES DIALOG BOX..........................................................................................36
CONNECTING SPRINKLERS WITH DROPS ....................................................................................40
CONNECTING SPRINKLERS WITH ARMOVERS ..........................................................................43
CONNECTING SPRINKLERS WITH RETURN BENDS...................................................................46
MOVING DRAWING ITEMS.................................................................................................................49
DRAGGING AND SPLITTING PIPES..................................................................................................53
ARRAYING DRAWING ITEMS ............................................................................................................59
INSERTING RISER NIPPLES................................................................................................................63
BUILDING A SYSTEM RISER ..............................................................................................................67
NEW CONCEPT: SPECIFYING VALVES AND FITTINGS ..............................................................................71
SAVING THE RISER FOR FUTURE USE ......................................................................................................85
APPLYING SMART ANNOTATIONS ..................................................................................................88

HANGERS .................................................................................................................................................93
CREATING VIEWS .................................................................................................................................94
WORKING IN PAPER SPACE...............................................................................................................99
SETTING UP A PAPER SPACE TEXT STYLE.............................................................................................108
DIMENSIONING THE RISER.....................................................................................................................110
NEW CONCEPT: DIMENSIONING A 3D MODEL ......................................................................................114

Introduction
Moving from two dimensional to three dimensional layout is a large technical step. As sprinkler
designers we must now consider the Z coordinate to transform our flat drawings into actual
three dimensional objects. Until only recently, creating three dimensional objects in AutoCAD
has been tedious and difficult at best. New versions of AutoCAD have allowed software
developers to create tools for building 3D objects. These tools eliminate much of the tedium and
allow sprinkler designers to layout three dimensional systems with relative ease. SprinkCAD 3D
is the future of sprinkler design now.
This tutorial will review and reinforce the concepts that are critical to 3D design. Before starting
this tutorial you should have a good working knowledge of AutoCAD 2002 and be comfortable
working in two dimensions.

Creating a New Project and Model

Start a new SprinkCAD 3D session by double clicking on the shortcut.

The Project Manager dialog box

will open.
Set the Template Project and
Layer Helper to None.
The Project Unit will be mm.
Press the Create a new project
button.

The Create a New Project dialog

box will appear.
Enter a Project Name of
SprinkCAD 3D Tutorial 1.
The Project Path should default to
C:\Projects. The Projects folder
was created when you installed
SprinkCAD 3D.
For the Template select none. For
the Project Unit select mm. Press
OK when finished. You will return to
the Project Manager dialog box with
your new project highlighted.
Press Open.
The Project Settings dialog box will appear.

Press the Create new model button. You are going to create a model within your project. A
model is a 3D drawing and you can have a number of models within the same project. For
example, if you have a multi-story building, you can create a model for each floor.
The Create a New Model dialog box will appear.
For the Filename enter Sprinkler
Layout. Select the Use a template
model radio button. The template
drawing should default to C:\Projects\
SprinkCAD 3D Tutorial 1\
model_template.dwg.
This template file will set up your starting
drawing for you.
Press OK to finish.
The Project Settings dialog box will
appear again with your new model
shown in the list.

Make sure that it is highlighted and press the OK button. SprinkCAD 3D will open.

You will see the familiar AutoCAD drawing screen. All of your AutoCAD functionality and
commands remain with this software package. There are a few new additions that you will need
to know more about.

SprinkCAD 3D Toolbars
SprinkCAD 3D has a number of custom toolbars that are designed especially for sprinkler
system design. These toolbars are docked in the figure above.
The SprinkCAD Settings toolbar has a number of
commands for setting up your project. From here you
can open up the Properties dialog box, import and
export files, and access SprinkCAD 3D Help.

The SprinkCAD Building toolbar has

a number of commands for drawing
buildings, ceilings, obstructions, and
ductwork.
The SprinkCAD Sprinklers toolbar has commands and tools
for laying out sprinklers. There are manual and automatic
commands available.
All of the piping commands are available in the
SprinkCAD Piping toolbar. Use it to draw
branch lines, mains, riser nipples, etc. There are
also commands for editing pipes and laying out
hangers.
Label your pipes and other drawing items with the SprinkCAD Smart
Annotations toolbar.
All of the toolbar commands are also available through
the SprinkCAD 3D pull down menu.

You can quickly change your viewing perspective with the SC Views toolbar.
Select the appropriate button for isometric or orthographic
views. A tool tip will appear when you hover your mouse
over a button to help you to make your selection.
The SC Filters toolbar offers a quick alternative for
entering coordinates in all three axes.

Opening Missing Toolbars Manually

If you cant find a SprinkCAD toolbar, you can open
it manually.
If you can find an open SprinkCAD toolbar, hover
your mouse over it and right click. A menu will
appear where you can check the toolbars to open.
If you cant find any open SprinkCAD toolbars select
Toolbars from the View pull down menu. The
AutoCAD Customize dialog box will appear.

Select ScToolbar
as the Menu
Group. This shows
the SprinkCAD 3D
toolbars that are
available. Check
the ones that you
want to see on
your screen.

If you check your toolbars to be visible, and they still do not appear on your screen, chances are
that they have moved beyond the resolution of your screen. To bring them back, type toolbar
(dont forget the dash) at the AutoCAD command prompt. You will be prompted for the toolbar
name. The SprinkCAD toolbar names are SC_settings, SC_building, SC_sprinklers, SC_piping,
SC_annotations, SC_views and SC_filters. Enter the name without forgetting to include an
underscore for the space and press the Enter key. For the next option enter Float and press
Enter. Press Enter again to select the default screen coordinates of 0,0. Press Enter again to
accept the default of 1 toolbar row. The toolbar will now appear in the top left corner of your
screen.

10

Representation
SprinkCAD 3D is a true three dimensional package.
You can however, view these three dimensional
elements in different ways. You can control these
Representations by starting the command from the
Settings toolbar.
There are three Representation types that are
available to you.
The Basic mode will be the most common setting.
Pipes are displayed as lines and fittings and valves are
represented as not to scale 2D images.

The Basic mode offers a simple

and clean view of the drawing
elements. This mode is the least
demanding of the computers
resources.

The Solid mode is the most

realistic setting. Pipes become 3D
wireframes and fittings and valves
are 3D models. The elements can
be Flat Shaded to provide a
realistic appearance. This mode
is more demanding on your
computers resources.
The Clearance mode is similar to
the Solid mode in that the
drawing elements are wireframes
or models. The difference is in the
size of the elements. Most
drawing elements such as pipe
and fittings have a Clearance property that can be set up when the object is inserted. For
example, you may be concerned that your pipes may not have enough room to pass through a
certain area. Set up the Clearance value before inserting and set the Clearance mode for
Representation. The 3D wireframe be sized to the clearance setting so that you can see if the
pipes interfere with other elements.

11

Initial AutoCAD Settings

SprinkCAD 3D will look and function better with certain AutoCAD settings. These are already
set up in the template file that loads with a new project. You may however change them and
then want to get back to the original settings.

AutoCAD Shade Settings

A new SprinkCAD 3D drawing starts in the Basic
mode. This mode is best viewed with the
AutoCAD 2D Wireframe Shade setting.
If you find that your 2D symbols do not appear
correctly, this setting may have changed.
Select View > Shade > 2D Wireframe to return to
this setting.
The SprinkCAD 3D Solid and Clearance modes
are best viewed with the 3D Wireframe and Flat
Shaded settings. These are also selected from
the View pull down menu.

New Concept: The UCS Setting

When drawing in three dimensions, the UCS becomes a critical drawing tool that you have to
consider. The Home position for the UCS is the World setting.
If you inadvertently move the UCS to another position, your symbols may not appear correctly in
the Basic mode.
To return to the World UCS, select World from the Tools > New UCS > World pull down menu.
The UCS images here are shown in the 2D Wireframe Shade
setting. The image to the right is when the drawing screen is in
the Top View. The image to the left is when the drawing
screen is in the Front Right View. Note the square at the
intersection of the axis. This indicates that the UCS is in the
World position.

12

New Concept: The Information Layer

When you insert your first drawing element, the layer _SC_Info will be created.
This layer is normally in the OFF position and holds information regarding the pipe installation
order as well as the fitting outlet numbers.
You can turn the layer ON at any time to gather this information. Do not manually adjust this
layer or the objects within it.
The figure here shows pipes with the SC_Info layer turned on. The arrows point away from the
start point and towards the end point of the pipes. This order becomes more important when
you are about to stocklist. Stocklist reports will show fittings made on to the end point of the
pipe. Note the numbers 1, 2 and 3. These are the outlet numbers for the tee. The number 1 is
shown by each of the caps. A
cap has one outlet. These
fittings are generic when in
the AutoCAD drawing screen.
They will be converted to
specific items and parts when
the job is exported to
SprinkSLIC for stocklisting.

13

Laying Out Sprinklers

You are now going to set up and layout a row of sprinklers.
From the Sprinklers toolbar, select Sprinkler Settings. This
will open the Sprinkler Settings dialog box.

You use this dialog box to set up the next sprinkler that you are going to insert. From the Type
drop down list, select Upright Head.
For the Location select Anywhere from the
drop down list. The other settings here wont
matter because there will be no ceiling grid
or obstructions.

Change the Scaling value to 0.2. This value sets the size of the sprinkler symbols.

14

Set the K-Factor to 80.7. The Finish will be

Brass and the Thread size 15. Select these
from the drop down lists.
The Temperature will be 74 C. Leave the
Rotation Tolerance at 5.0.
The Coverage will be 3000 x 3000 (3m x 3m).
The Maximum area will be 12 square meters.
The Minimum Distance between sprinklers will
be 1.8m and the Maximum Distance between
sprinklers will be 4m.
The elevation will be 6m from Absolute. Note
that you have other from options in the drop
down list.
Use the Absolute option when you have a
common benchmark elevation other than those
listed in the drop down list.
The Default Layer will be set to _SC_SPRK.
You can leave the defaults as they appear
here for now. Note however that SprinkCAD
3D is not as layer dependent as other
sprinkler software packages. You can setup
as many layers as you would like for
sprinklers and name them whatever you
want.
Check Coverage for the Halo pattern. Press
OK when your settings are finished.
Now, youre going to insert a sprinkler.
Select Manual from the Sprinklers toolbar.

15

While the command is active, a dialog box will appear showing your current sprinkler settings.
Note also that there is a
coverage halo around the cursor
to help with placement.

Pick a point anywhere on your screen with the left mouse button to insert
the sprinkler. In this case the sprinkler in plan view is represented as a
circle. Right click the mouse to exit the command or press Enter.
Start the AutoCAD Array command by typing array at the command
prompt. The Array dialog box will open.

Select the Rectangular Array radio button. The number of Rows will be 1 and the number of
columns will be 6. The Column offset will be 3m. The Row offset value doesnt matter because
there is only one row. The Angle of array should be 0. Use the Select Objects button to select
the sprinkler you just inserted. Press OK to execute the array.

16

You should end up with a row of sprinklers, 3m apart.

All of the AutoCAD Zoom commands are available. Use them now to arrange your screen as
shown here.

New Concept: 2D Drawings in a 3D World

Enter C at the command prompt to draw a circle.

With the Insertion OSNAP pick any head. Drag the mouse away from the center and pick for the
radius.

17

The size doesnt matter.

Right now you are in the top view. Select Front from the SC Views toolbar.

Notice that the sprinklers now have a different image.

Also note that the circle now appears as a line. SprinkCAD 3D has built in programming to
change to the appropriate 2D image according to the view perspective. This automatic image
selection will occur with SprinkCAD generated objects such as heads and valves. This will not
occur with generic AutoCAD objects hence the circle will appear as a line from the Front view.
Switch to the Front Left view.

The images of the heads change again and the circle now appears as an ellipse.

18

This is a new concept for designers who are used to working in two dimensions. Two
dimensional drawings will appear as lines when viewed from the side. When viewed from an
angle, a two dimensional drawing may appear distorted.
Before continuing, erase the circle that you just inserted.

New Concept: The Sprinkler Deflector is the Insertion Point

Another new concept is the insertion point of the sprinklers with respect to elevation. The
sprinkler insertion point in SprinkCAD 3D is at the deflector. This is in keeping with the Fire
Sprinkler Codes which reference the sprinkler deflector for distance criteria. Those designers
who are used to working in two dimensions commonly elevate the pipe and assume the
sprinklers to be at the same elevation. Not so in three dimensions. You must now consider the Z
coordinate with the same precision that you have given the X and Y coordinates.

Laying Out Branch Lines

Return to the Top view by pressing the Top button from
the Views toolbar.

Zoom to arrange your sprinklers as shown below.

From the Piping toolbar, select Pipe Settings.

You are going to set up your branch line pipes.

19

The Pipe Settings Dialog

box will open.
You can open the dialog box
with the button or at the
command line when you
start a draw pipe command.
Set the Type and Materials
to Branch Line, 40, 2440.
The Max Length will be 6m.
This is the stock length. The
Min length will be 50mm.
Any pipe less than this
length will not be stock
listed.
The start and end preps will
be T for threaded. The
Design Method will be N/O
for no outlet. Other options
are M for mechanical outlet
and W for welded outlet. In
this example, the No Outlet
option will provide threaded
fittings.
The Starting Label will be L1
and the Step will be 1. Select Number with the radio button. This will assign branch line
numbers as L1, L2, L3, etc.
The Elevation will be Offset, 5.1m from Absolute. Recall that the Sprinklers are at 6m from
Absolute. This will place the centerline of the branch line pipe 900mm below the sprinkler
deflectors.
Select the Properties defaults as shown. As with the sprinklers, branch lines or other pipes are
not layer dependent. You can assign them to whatever layer you would like. When the first pipe
is inserted, the layer is created automatically. For this example, leave the defaults as they are
shown here and press OK.
Right click on the OSNAP button at the
bottom of the screen and select
Settings.

20

Select Endpoint,
Center,
Intersection and
Insertion. These
settings should
accommodate most
of your picks.
Press OK to finish.
Ensure that the
OSNAP button at
the bottom of the
screen is pressed.
This will turn your
selected OSNAPs
on.

Select Pipe Layout from the Piping toolbar.

Select the left sprinkler with your mouse. The Insert OSNAP will snap to the center of the head.
Note that the Current Pipe Settings dialog box remains open while the command is active. This
is to remind you of your current pipe setting. You can open the Pipe Settings dialog box at any
time when the command is active by entering S (for Settings) at the command prompt. In this
way you can change your pipe settings on the fly as you layout your pipe.

21

Pick the right most sprinkler with the mouse as shown. Press the right mouse button twice to
exit the command.

The branch line pipe is inserted as shown.

If you pick the pipe the grips will become active. The entire pipe will be selected illustrating that
the pipe is not yet broken at the heads. Recall that the pipe is 900mm below the sprinkler
deflectors. The pipe is colored red as a warning because it exceeds the maximum length of 6m
that you specified in the Pipe Settings dialog box.
If you zoom in closely on the left or right end of the pipe,
you will see that a cap has been applied. SprinkCAD 3D
has a built in Intelligence that automatically repairs and
adjusts pipe connections that it thinks are incorrect. In this
case your inserted pipe had two open ends and
SprinkCAD added the caps.

22

Select Front from the Views toolbar.

Here you can plainly see that the heads are above the branch line. You should view your
drawing frequently from different perspectives to make sure that your elevations are correct and
you are drawing items as you intend. Return to the Top view again.

You are now going to connect the sprinklers to the pipe with sprigs.

Select all sprinklers with a window. It doesnt matter if you select the pipe or not.
Select Connect Heads from the Piping toolbar.
Enter S at the command prompt to change the
pipe settings. Recall that they are currently set
up for branch lines.
This will open the Pipe Settings dialog box.

23

This time the Type will be a

25mm, 2440 Sprig.
The Start and End preps will
be threaded with no outlets.
Set the Starting Label as S1
with a Step of 1.
When using the Connect
Heads command, the
elevation setting relates to
the armover. Since there is
no armover here, the
elevation setting does not
matter.
Leave the Properties area as
shown.
Set up the rest of the dialog
box as shown.
Press OK to finish.

The command line will prompt you to select the pipe.

Pick the pipe at any point.

In a few moments, the connections will be made.

24

Press the Front Right button from the Views

toolbar. Zoom in on the right end of the branch line.
The sprinklers have been connected with sprigs.
The sprigs are connected to the branch lines with tees and
90 elbows.
Details on all of the fittings, pipe and sprinklers can be
observed through the SprinkCAD 3D Properties dialog box.

SprinkCAD Properties
One of the most powerful tools in SprinkCAD 3Ds arsenal is the Properties dialog box. With it
you can observe or change drawing entities one at a time or several at once.
Select the last branch line with the mouse as shown.

Select Properties from the Settings toolbar.

25

The SprinkCAD Properties dialog

box will appear.
All of the Properties of the pipe
are displayed.
Any of the pipe criteria can be
changed with the available drop
down menus or cells.
For example, you could select all
of your branch lines, open the
Properties dialog box and change
the size and material. After
pressing OK, all of the selected
pipes will be changed.
As another example, you could
select a number of sprinklers and
change the style from upright to
pendent. You could also change
K-Factors, model number, etc.
Press OK to exit the Properties
dialog box.

26

Viewing Entities as Solids

SprinkCAD 3D allows you to view your drawing objects in Basic, Solid and Clearance modes.
This is referred to as Representation. What you have been drawing thus far was done in the
Basic mode. Here, pipes are represented as lines, sprinklers as simple line drawings, etc. You
can also draw your system using the Solid mode where the drawing objects appear as 3D solids
and shaded images.
Begin by opening the Layer Properties Manager.

Change the color of the _SC_BL, _SC_SPRIG, and _SC_SPRK layers to something that will
show up nicely on your AutoCAD screen. If you choose black or white, the rendered surface will
be too dark or light. For example, select Blue for the _SC_BL, _SC_SPRIG layers and Red for
the _SC_SPRK layer. You do this by double clicking on the color for the layer. Close the Layer
Manager dialog box.

27

Select all of your drawing entities with a window.

From the Settings toolbar, select Representation.

The Representation dialog box will appear. Change

the radio button from Basic to Solid. Press OK. Note,
with this dialog box you have the option of changing
some or all of the system entities. Setting all objects to
solid with a very large sprinkler system may slow down
your computer.

If you zoom in on one of your sprinklers, note that it has now

become a 3D wire frame object.

28

From the View pull down menu, select Shade

and then Flat Shaded.

Here is the resulting view of a sprig and branch line. You can now
zoom around your drawing without loosing the Shaded effect.
You can also continue to use SprinkCAD 3D commands to draw
and edit the system.

You can use the AutoCAD 3D Orbit command to rotate the object
in 3D space.
For now, select everything in your drawing again and
change it back to the Basic setting with the
Representation command.
You should also select 2D Wireframe from the View > Shade pull down menu. You should
always use this View setting when working in the Basic mode.

29

Connecting Sprinklers Directly to the Branch Lines

You have just connected sprinklers with branch lines through sprigs. Now, you are going to
connect the sprinklers directly to the branch lines. First, you have to remove the existing sprigs.
Change to the Front view with the SC Views toolbar.
Zoom so that you can see the entire branch line.

Pick the sprigs with a crossing window.

Make sure that you only select the sprigs and not the
heads as well. Press the Delete key to delete the
sprigs. If the heads disappear as well, press the
Undo button and carefully select the sprigs and try
again.

You will be left with the sprinklers and the pipe below. Note, you can simply move the branch
line to the correct position without deleting the sprigs. However, this example is designed to
show you how to do this as if you were starting with a new row of heads.

30

New Concept: Elevation for Sprinklers and Pipes

When connecting sprinklers directly to branch lines with most sprinkler design packages, you
elevate the pipe and disregard the sprinkler elevations. Although this is convenient, it is not
entirely correct because the sprinkler deflector position is what matters in the Fire Sprinkler
Codes. In SprinkCAD 3D you must concern yourself with the elevations of the sprinkler
deflectors as well as the pipe, even with direct connections.

Lets take an example where upright heads are connected directly to threaded fittings on the
branch lines. If you elevate the pipe so that it is the sum of the sprinkler takeout plus the fitting
takeout below the deflector, the head will be precisely connected to the fitting without any sprig
required.
If you exceed this distance, a sprig
will be added automatically.

31

If you elevate the sprinklers to the same elevation as your branch lines, a connection cannot be
made.

The deflector will be at the same elevation as the centerline of the pipe and the program will be
unable to make this impossible connection. This problem will also occur if the upright head is
even further below the pipe.

The opposite is true for pendent heads. SprinkCAD 3D expects pendents to be below the pipe.
If it finds a pendent without enough clearance from the branch line, it will not make the
connection.

32

Does this mean that you have to determine the exact sprinkler and fitting take out for each
connection? Fortunately not. SprinkCAD 3D pipes have a property called Minimum Length
which makes the determination of pipe elevations much easier.
From the Piping Toolbar, select Pipe Settings.
When the dialog box opens, select Sprig as the
Type.

Note that the Minimum

Length has been set to
95mm.
What this means is that the
program will disregard any
sprig that it finds that is
95mm or less for the
purposes of stocklisting or
hydraulics.
This gives you some
tolerance when estimating
how much distance between
the sprinkler and pipe you
should allow.

For example, most standard spray sprinklers with a K-Factor of 80.7 have a takeout of about
56mm. A 40 x 40 x 15 threaded tee has a takeout of 29mm. Add these together to get 85mm
which we will round up to 90mm. Therefore you require a minimum elevation difference of
90mm between the sprinkler deflector and the 40mm pipe to have sufficient clearance. This
distance will be less for smaller pipe sizes.

33

If you set the pipe to be 150mm below the sprinkler, the program would insert a sprig with a
length of about 65mm. With the Minimum Length set at some value greater than this, the sprig
would, for all practical purposes, be ignored.
Return to your drawing. Recall that the sprinklers are at an elevation of 6m and the pipe is 0.9m
below them. You are now going to move the pipe so that it is 150mm below the sprinklers.

Select the pipe with a window. Open the Properties

dialog box.

The Properties dialog box will

show that 6 nodes have been
selected. These are the fittings on
the branch line.
Change the elevation from 5100 to
5850. Press OK to exit the
Properties dialog box.

This will move the pipe up 750mm so that the branch line is now 150mm below the heads.

34

Zoom in on the left sprinkler and pipe.

Note that there is a cap at the end of the
pipe. The sprinkler is 150mm above the pipe.

With a crossing window, select the heads.

Select Connect Heads from the Piping toolbar.
Enter S at the command
prompt to open the Pipe
Settings dialog box.
Make sure that the settings
are set up as they are shown
here.
The Type will be Sprig.
25mm 2440 pipe will be
used.
The Minimum Length will be
90mm. For this example,
you could use a smaller
Minimum Length however
this gives you even more
latitude to place your
sprinklers and pipe further
apart if you need to. They
will be considered as being
directly on the pipe as long
as the sprig doesnt exceed
90mm.
The Start and End Preps will
be threaded with no outlets.
The Elevation setting doesnt matter.
Set up the rest of the dialog box as shown and press OK.

35

Select any of the pipes in the run.

The pipes will be connected as shown.

The end sprinklers will be connected with elbows and the middle sprinklers will be connected
with tees.

SprinkCAD 3D is intelligent enough to connect the heads even though the branch pipes were
broken with threaded couplings.
Note, you used the Properties dialog box in this example to move the pipe to a different
elevation. You could have also used the AutoCAD move command to do the same task.

Using the Properties Dialog Box

The Properties dialog box is a powerful SprinkCAD 3D tool that has multiple uses. With it you
can view and change drawing object properties. For example, you might want to change an
upright head to a pendent or a 80mm pipe to a 100mm pipe.
Zoom in on one of the tees that connect your heads.
Pick the deflector as shown to select the sprinkler.

Select Properties from the Settings toolbar.

36

A portion of the Properties dialog

box is shown here.
The drop down list at the top will
show that the selected item is a
Node. Looking farther down the
list you can see that it is an
Upright Head. You could change
this to a Pendent Head or some
other fitting with the drop down
list.
The Elevation is shown as
6000mm. Change this to 9000mm
and press OK to exit Properties.

The Sprinkler will move to a higher elevation when compared to the rest. The sprig extends to
accommodate the change. Select the same sprinkler again and open the Properties dialog box.
Change the elevation back to 6000mm again and exit the dialog box. The sprinklers should all
be at 6m elevation again.

37

Use the Layer drop down list to turn the SC_Info layer ON.
Recall that this layer holds fitting outlet information as well as
pipe direction information.
Note that outlet numbers 1, 2 and 3 appear at the tees. Outlet
numbers 1 and 2 will appear at the 90 elbows.
An outlet number of 1 will appear at each head since the head
only has one outlet.

Zoom in on one of the tee connections and pick the

2. This will pick the tee at the branch line. Open the
Properties dialog box.

The Properties dialog box shows

that it is a tee at an elevation of
5850mm.
Close the Properties dialog box.

38

With a left to right window, select everything but the deflectors of the sprinklers.

Press the Delete key to remove all pipes and fittings. The Sprinklers are all that should remain.
Select them all with a window and open the Properties dialog box.

Note that Node (6) indicates that six nodes have been selected.
Using the drop down list, change
the Upright Heads to Pendent
heads.
Press OK to exit.

39

Pull down the Layer drop down list. Turn the SC_Info layer
OFF. This is the normal working setting.
Also, make sure that you have the View > Shade > 2D
Wireframe setting. This is the AutoCAD View setting that you
should use for the Basic mode.

Switch to the Top view with the Views toolbar.

Your pendents will appear as shown here.

Connecting Sprinklers with Drops

You are now going to draw a pipe to connect the heads. Recall that these are now Pendent
heads at 6m elevation.
Select Pipe Layout from the Piping toolbar.
Enter S at the command line and press Enter to
open the Pipe Settings dialog box.

40

Set up the pipe as a 50mm

schedule DIN2448 branch
line.
It will have Grooved ends
and Welded outlets.
The Elevation will be
5100mm from absolute. This
will place it 900mm below
the sprinklers.
Set up the rest of the dialog
box as shown here.
Press OK.

Draw a pipe from the left to

the right head with the
Insertion OSNAP.

Press Enter twice to exit the Pipe Layout

command. Select all of the heads with a window
and then select Connect Heads from the Piping
toolbar.
You will be prompted to Select Pipe at the command line. Pick the branch line pipe.

41

Nothing happened! Why? Because the pipe is below the pendent heads which are facing down,
the program cannot find a way to make the connection. If the heads were uprights, the
connection would be made. This demonstrates the built in intelligence of the program.
Enter M at the command line to start the Move command. When prompted to select objects,
select the pipe. Press Enter.

Select anywhere as the base point. For the second point of displacement enter @0,0,1800 at
the command line. Press Enter. This will move the pipe up 1.8m so that it is 0.9m above the
heads.
Select the heads with a window and start the
Connect Heads command again from the
Piping toolbar.
Enter S at the command line and press Enter to open the Pipe Settings dialog box.
Set up the pipe to be a
25mm DIN2440 Drop.
It is to be threaded on both
ends.
When using the Connect
Heads command, the
elevation setting relates to
the armover. Since there is
no armover here, the
elevation setting does not
matter.
Set up the rest of the dialog
box as shown and press OK.
The command line will
prompt you to Select Pipe.
Pick the branch line pipe
with your mouse.

42

The heads will be connected.

Switch to the Front view.

The heads will appear as shown here.

The drops are now clearly visible.

Connecting Sprinklers with Armovers

Select everything but the sprinklers with a left to right window as shown.

Press the Delete key to remove everything but the sprinklers and switch back to the Top view.

Your screen should look like this. Start the Pipe

Layout command again and enter S at the
command line to open the Pipe Settings dialog
box.

43

Select Branch Line as the

Type to get the same
settings that you had for the
Drops exercise.
The Elevation this time will
be 6150mm from Absolute.
This will place the branch
line 150mm above the
heads.
Press OK to exit.
Draw a pipe from the left to
the right head with the
Insertion OSNAP

Enter M at the command line to start the Move command. When prompted to select objects,
select the pipe. Press Enter.

Select anywhere as the base point. For the second point of displacement enter @0,600,0 at the
command line. Press Enter. This will move the pipe 600mm in a Y direction and retain the same
elevation.

You are now going to connect these sprinklers

with armovers. Select all of the heads with a
window and start the Connect Heads
command. Enter S at the command line to open
the Pipe Settings dialog box.

44

Set up the Armover pipes as

shown here.
The Elevation will be 6150
which is the same as the
branch line.
Press OK when finished.
Select the branch line pipe
when prompted.

Select Front Right from the SC Views toolbar.

The heads will be connected as shown.

Note that the armovers are at the same elevation
as the branch line.
Any elevation difference between the heads and
the armovers is made up by drops at the heads.

45

Connecting Sprinklers with Return Bends

Use the AutoCAD Undo command to get back to the point where the heads are not connected
to the branch line.

The branch line should be 600mm away from the heads at an elevation of 6150mm. The heads
are at 6000mm elevation.
Select all of the heads with a window and start
the Connect Heads command. Enter S at the
command line to open the Pipe Settings dialog
box.
All of the armover settings
will be the same as the
previous exercise except the
elevation.
Set the Elevation to 200mm
from Pipe. This will insert a
200mm riser nipple at the
branch line before the
armover connection.
Press OK to finish.

46

Select the Pipe when prompted.

Select Front Right from the Views toolbar.

The heads will be connected as shown. Note that

the armovers are 200mm above the branch line.
This is because of the 200mm From Pipe setting in
the Pipe Settings dialog box.

If you zoom in closely and pick the riser

nipple at the branch line, the Properties
dialog box will show a center to center
length (Full length) of 200mm.

47

The Properties dialog box is shown here after selecting the riser nipple.
Note that the From Head
elevation option is also available
in the Pipe Settings dialog box.
This setting places the armover
elevation relative to the head
instead of the branch line.

48

Moving Drawing Items

When Editing your project, you still have a wide variety of AutoCAD commands at your disposal.
Along with this, SprinkCAD 3D has the ability to heal pipe and modify fittings when you make
changes to your drawing. This provides an efficient combination for making changes.
Zoom in on the right end of your branch line.
Enter M at the command line to start the
Move command.
When prompted for the objects to move,
select the head and return bend with a left to
right window as shown.
Do not pick the branch line with the window.
Press Enter.

For the Base point, click anywhere in the

drawing

49

For the second point of displacement, enter @600,0,0 at the command line and press Enter.
This moves the entire return bend and head
0.6m along the branch line. The main is
automatically healed and broken.
Keep track of your directions for movement
with the UCS Icon on your screen.

In this example, the return bend was moved

in a positive X direction.
Press the Undo button to undo the move so that the return bend goes back to
its original position.

Enter M at the command line to start the Move

command again.
For the objects to move, select the head and the
drop pipe with a left to right window as shown.
Do not pick the armover with the window.
Press Enter.

50

For the base point click anywhere in the drawing.

For the second point of displacement enter
@0,-600,0.

This will move the head 0.6m to the left.

Notice how the armover extends
automatically to accommodate the head
move.

Press the Undo button to undo the move so that the head and drop are back
to their original position.

51

AutoCAD Grip commands are also available to you for

editing.
Pick the drop pipe to enable Grips. Pick the Grip at the top
of the pipe so that it becomes red.
Enter mo at the command prompt to start the move
command.

Drag the mouse to the left and enter 600

at the command line.

The head and drop pipe will move 0.6m to the left.
The armover will extend to accommodate the move.

Press the Undo button to undo the move so that the head and drop are back
to their original position.

Pick the drop pipe again to enable Grips. Pick the Grip at
the top of the pipe so that it becomes red.
Enter mo at the command prompt to start the move
command.

52

With ORTHO off, pick a point as shown in the

figure.

The return bend will rotate where the riser nipple meets the
armover.

Press the Undo button again to undo the move so that the head and drop are
back to their original position.

Dragging and Splitting Pipes

SprinkCAD 3D has a Drag Pipe command which is more sophisticated than the generic Move
command.
Zoom in on the right end of your branch line.

Start the Drag Pipe command from the Piping toolbar.

53

You will be prompted at the command line to Select objects:

Select the last branch line piece as shown.
You will be prompted to select a start point.

With the Near OSNAP, select the branch line in

the approximate location shown here.

You will be prompted to select the End Point.

With the Near OSNAP again, select the branch
line in the approximate location shown.

54

You will be prompted to Specify point to drag pipe to:

Press the XY coordinates Filter button and pick the pipe
with the Near OSNAP in the location shown.

The XY coordinate filter takes the X and Y

coordinates of the picked point and prompts for
the Z coordinate.
Enter 7000 at the command line and press Enter.
Recall that the branch line is currently at an
elevation of 6150. The dragged branch line will
end up 850mm above this.

The branch line section is dragged to its new position

0.85m above the existing branch line. All required
fittings and pipe have been added automatically.
Recall that the original branch line was specified as
50mm DIN2448 with grooved ends. This is why
couplings appear in the new piping section.

Press the Undo button to undo the move so that the branch line is back to its
original position.

55

You can also drag entire runs of pipe. Select

Drag Pipe from the Piping toolbar.

Pick any section of the branch line

as shown.

You will be prompted: Specify Start Point or <enter to drag whole pipe run>
Press Enter. You are going to move the whole branch line.
Press the XY coordinates Filter button and pick the pipe
with the Near OSNAP as your first pick.

56

You will be prompted for the Z coordinate. Enter 3000 at the command line and press Enter.

The branch line will move down to

an elevation of 3m.
The riser nipples will extend to
accommodate the move.

Press the Undo button again to undo the move so that the branch line is back
to its original position.

Switch back to the Top view with the Views toolbar.

57

You can split pipes to cut couplings in at stock lengths.

Your drawing screen should look like the figure above. The piping is now in the Top view. Notice
that the branch line is colored red. This is because the length of the pipe exceeds the Maximum
Length. When the pipe was originally set up, the outlets were welded and the Maximum Length
was set to 6m. You can easily cut in couplings at stock lengths with the SprinkCAD 3D Split
Pipe command.
Select Split Pipe from the Piping toolbar.
Pick the branch line towards to left end.

Two couplings will be cut into the pipe at 6m intervals. The pipe will no longer be red indicating
that none of the branch line pieces exceed the Maximum length.
Note, before you split the pipe, grooved couplings
appeared at the ends of the branch lines. These
are for the grooved 90 elbows. Since the pipe
was specified to be grooved at the ends, the
grooved elbows were applied along with the
grooved couplings automatically.

58

Arraying Drawing Items

At the beginning of this tutorial you arrayed the heads to form a line. You can also use the Array
command to layout entire branch lines.
Enter Array at the command prompt and press Enter.

It will be a Rectangular Array with 4 Rows and 1 Column. The Row offset will be 3300 and the
angle will be zero. The Column Offset doesnt matter because there is only one column. Press
the Select Objects button.

Select the entire branch line with a window. Press Enter. You will return to the Array dialog box.
51 objects should appear below the button. Press OK to finish.

59

Your branch lines will be arrayed.

The next step is to insert a main. Select Pipe

Layout from the Piping toolbar. Enter S at the
command line to open the Pipe Settings dialog
box.

60

The Pipe Settings dialog box

will appear:
Select the Type as a
100mm, DIN2448 Cross
Main.
The End Preps are to be
Grooved with Welded
outlets.
The Starting Label will be
M1.
The Elevation will be 5.5m
from Absolute. This will
place the main 650mm
below the branch lines.
Complete the dialog box as
shown and press OK.

61

For the Start Point pick the branch line as shown with the Midpoint OSNAP.

For the Next Point enter @0,-12000,0 at the command line and press Enter. For the Next Point
enter @3000,0,0 at the command line and press Enter. Press Enter twice again to exit the
command.

The mains should be drawn as shown here.

62

Inserting Riser Nipples

Use the 3D Orbit and other Views commands to rotate your system.
You will see that the main is located below the branch lines.

63

Select Front Left from the SC Views toolbar.

Zoom in on the area shown. Pick the end of the cross main twice so that the Grip at the end of
the pipe is highlighted in red.
You will be prompted at the
command line: Specify stretch
point or ..
Enter @0,600,0 at the
command line and press Enter.
This will extend the main
600mm so that you can cap the
end for drainage. Press the Esc
key twice to exit the Grips
mode.
Note, you could also use the
SprinkCAD 3D End Nipple
command to extend the main.
Either method is acceptable.

64

Select Riser Nipples from the Piping toolbar.

You will be prompted at the command

line to:
Select Pipes to connect:
Select objects:
Pick all of the branch line pipes that
are above the main as shown here.
There are four pipes to pick.
Press Enter.

You will be prompted at the

command line to:
Select Pipes to connect to
or [Settings] <S>
Enter S at the command line
and press Enter. This will
open the Pipe Settings
dialog box. You want to set
up the riser nipples.
Setup the Type as a 50mm,
DIN2448, Riser Nipple.
The End preps will be
Grooved with Welded
outlets. The Label will start
with R1.
The Elevation will be
Specified in the graphics
view.
When you have the dialog
box setup as shown here,
press OK.

65

You will be prompted to :

Select pipe to connect to..
Pick the cross main at any location.

The riser nipples and fittings will be inserted.

66

Building a System Riser

You are now going to build your system riser. You should still be in the Front Left View.

The riser will be built at the end of the feed main as shown. Zoom in on this area. Recall that the
feed main elevation is 5.5m absolute.
Start the Pipe Layout
command from the Piping
toolbar. Enter S at the
command line to setup the
pipe.
Setup the Type as a 100,
DIN2448, System Riser.
The End preps will be
Grooved with Mechanical
outlets. The Label will start
with ASR1.
The Elevation will be
Specified in the graphics
view.
When you have the dialog
box setup as shown here,
press OK.

67

Pick the end of the feed main with the End OSNAP.

For the next point enter @0,0,-4300 at the command line.

This will insert the first section of pipe. This pipe runs from the
top elbow to the alarm valve.

Press S to change the settings for the next piece.

The Pipe Settings dialog box will
open. Change the End EP setting
to Wf for welded fitting. The pipe
piece below the alarm valve is
grooved for the alarm valve connection and welded for the elbow at the bottom. All the other
settings will remain the same. Press OK to exit.
For the next point enter @0,0,-600 at the command line. This distance is to the bottom elbow.
Press S to change the settings for the next piece.
The Pipe Settings dialog box will
open. Change the Start EP
setting to Wf for welded fitting. All
of the remaining fittings will be
welded and flanged. Press OK to exit.

68

For the next point enter @450,0,0 at the command line. This is the distance to a flanged gate
valve on the backflow preventer.
For the next point enter @450,0,0 at the command line. This is the
distance to the first flanged check valve in the backflow preventer.
For the next point enter @450,0,0 at the command line. This is the
distance to the second flanged check valve.
For the next point enter @450,0,0 at the command line. This is the
distance to a flanged gate valve.
For the next point enter @450,0,0 at the command line. This is the
distance to the elbow.
For the next point enter @0,0,-1800 at the command line. This is a
vertical pipe.
Press Enter twice to exit the command. You should now have
what is shown to the right. Zoom in on the lower section of pipe.

Notice that SprinkCAD 3D

has inserted fittings at the
ends of the pipes. The
programs built in intelligence
attempts to find the correct
and simplest fitting to join the
pipes. Note the grooved
pipes are joined by grooved
couplings and the welded
pipe by flanges.
You can easily change these fittings to the ones you want with the Properties dialog box.

69

Pick the grooved coupling above the elbow as shown.

Pick the Properties button from the Settings dialog box.

Note that Grooved Coupling is

indicated in the dialog box. Check
the Lock box to activate the
Template internal drop down list.
You are now going to change the
fitting into an alarm valve.

From the list select Alarm GxG.

Press OK to exit the Properties
dialog box.

70

New Concept: Specifying Valves and Fittings

When you draw pipes and pipe connections, SprinkCAD 3D automatically tries to connect them
with the simplest fitting it can find. The fitting type will depend on the pipe material and the end
preparation. For example, move to a blank area of your Tutorial drawing. You should still be in
the Front Left view.
From the Piping toolbar, select Pipe Settings.
The Pipe Settings dialog box will appear.

Set up the pipe as shown

here. It is 50mm DIN2440
and is Grooved on both ends
with Welded outlets.
The Elevation will be
Specify in graphics view.
Press OK when finished.

71

Start the Pipe Layout command. For the first

point pick a point on the screen. For the second
point enter @1500,0,0 at the command line.
For the next point enter @1500,0,0 at the
command line.
Press Enter twice to finish.

Zoom in on your pipes. You will have two pipes as shown here joined by a coupling. The
program has capped the ends.

Pick the coupling with a left to right window so that the pipes will not be selected.
Open the Properties dialog box.

72

The Properties dialog box shows

that it is a Grooved Coupling.
SprinkCAD 3D detected that both
pipes were grooved on both ends
and required a fitting for
connection. It correctly chose a
grooved coupling.
Press OK to close the dialog box.

With a window, select one of the

caps. Open the Properties dialog
box.
The dialog box will show that a
Grooved Cap is required. The
program also determined that a
Grooved Coupling is required.
Press OK to exit the dialog box.

73

Select the two pipes without selecting the fittings.

Open the Properties dialog box

and change the End Preps to T for
threaded.
Note that two pipes are shown as
selected in the top cell.
Press OK to exit.

74

Note that the coupling image has changed.

Select the coupling with a window and open the Properties dialog box. The fitting is now shown
as a threaded coupling. This is correct because the pipes were changed to have threaded ends.
If you select the end caps and open the Properties dialog box, they will be changed to threaded
as well. Select the coupling and open the Properties dialog box.
Note the Lock option check box.
Since it is not checked,
SprinkCAD 3D is free to choose
the fitting that it thinks is correct.

75

When you check the box, you are

able to force the fitting by
selecting from the drop down list
that becomes active.
For example, check the Lock box
and select OS&Y Gate TxT from
the list.
Press OK to exit.

The coupling has now changed to become a gate valve.

76

Select the gate valve and open

the Properties dialog box.
Change the Threaded OS&Y Gate
valve to a OS&Y Gate FxF valve.
Press OK to exit.

The Flanged Gate valve appears. But how can this be? You chose threaded end preps for your
pipes.

77

Select the gate valve and open the

Properties dialog box.
SprinkCAD 3D has added Thread
x Flange adapters so that the
connection can be made.

SprinkCAD 3D will automatically add fittings that are available in the database to make
connections.
Change the Flanged OS&Y Gate valve to a Copper Coupling and press OK to exit.

A question mark appears at the position of the fitting. This indicates that SprinkCAD 3D cannot
determine how to make the connection. This is not surprising because you are trying to use a
copper coupling on steel pipe. When you encounter question marks like this, check your pipe
and fitting setups to ensure that you have done what you intended. Also, make sure that the
fittings you are using are available in the database.
Most of the fittings that are installed are initially unlocked. That is, SprinkCAD 3D is free to
choose fittings as you draw your pipes. In the vast majority of cases, the correct fittings will be
selected. Sprinkler heads are always installed as locked. If they were not, caps would be
chosen instead!
Note that when you observed fittings and valves in the dialog box there were no details such as
part numbers, sizes, etc. The fittings and valves in the AutoCAD screen are generic in nature.
More specific descriptions will be made when you export the file to SprinkSLIC for stocklisting.
And now, back to the Tutorial. Erase the two pipe lengths and fittings and return to the Riser
Detail.

78

The Riser will appear as shown here.

The Grooved Coupling now changes to an Alarm Valve symbol.

Next, you will change the elbow into a flanged 90 elbow.
Select the elbow with a left to right window
so the pipe is not selected also.

Pick the Properties button from the Settings

dialog box.

79

Check the Lock box and select

Flanged 90 from the drop down
list.
Press OK to exit.

Select the next flange as shown.

Open the Properties dialog box again, check the

Lock box and select OS&Y Gate FxF from the
drop down list. Press OK to exit.

The flange will turn into an OS&Y Gate Valve

symbol.

80

Select the next two flanges after the gate valve and change them into Swing Check FxF
valves.

Select the flange after the second check valve and change it into a OS&Y Gate FxF valve.

Finally, select the right most elbow and change it into a Flanged 90.

At this point the valves would look better if they were larger. The current Symbol Scale Factor
for these is 0.2. Select all of the valves and fittings in the riser detail and open the Properties
dialog box. Set the Symbol Scale Factor to 0.4. Close the dialog box.

81

This completes the Backflow Preventer. Now, you will build a Fire Department Connection.
Select Pipe Settings from the Piping toolbar.

The Type and Materials

setup will remain the same
as for the system riser.
Setup the end preps to be
Grooved.
The Label will start with
FDC1.
The Elevation will be
Specified in the graphics
view.
Press OK to exit.

Select Pipe Layout from the Piping toolbar.

Press the XY Coordinates Filter button.

Pick the riser with the Nearest OSNAP

as shown.
You will be prompted for the Z
coordinate.
Enter 1800 and press Enter. This will
place the Fire Department connection
600mm above the alarm valve.
For the next point, enter @-300,0,0 at
the command line and press Enter.
This will be the location of the check valve.

82

For the next point, enter @-900,0,0 at the command line and press Enter. This will be the
location of the first 90 elbow.
For the next point, enter @0,0,-900 at the command line and press Enter. This will be the
location of the second 90 elbow.

Enter S at the command line

and press Enter.
Change the Material to 2440
for this last piece. You
require DIN2440 pipe to be
threaded for the Fire Hose
Connection.
Also change the End EP to
be Threaded.
Press OK to exit.

Enter @900,0,0 to draw the

last piece of pipe.

83

Press Enter twice to exit the pipe drawing command. You should have what is shown here. Pick
the first fitting closest to the riser and make sure that it is a Grooved Tee Mechanical with the
Properties dialog box. Pick the second coupling and change it into a Swing Check GxG valve.

Pick the end cap and change it to a FDC. You should now have what appears here.

84

Saving the Riser for Future Use

You can now save this riser for use on future drawings.
First, create a folder where you can save your details.
For example, the Risers folder was created in the
C:\Projects folder here.

Use the AutoCAD Copy command to make a copy of your riser.

Include the vertical pipe in the copy but do not include any of the fittings at the top. In this way
the vertical pipe will be automatically capped by SprinkCAD 3D and the riser assembly will be a
complete entity.

85

Next, enter wblock at the command line and press Enter to start the AutoCAD Write Block
command.
The Write Block dialog
box will open.
Enter a File Name of:
100mm Wet Riser with
Backflow.dwg.
For the Location, navigate
to the Risers folder that
you just created.
Press the Select Objects
button.

Pick the copy of the riser

with a window and press
Enter.

The Write Block dialog box will return.

Press the Pick Base Point button.

86

Pick the upper end of the vertical pipe.

The Write Block dialog box will return. Press OK to finish.
To recall this detail on another drawing, type Insert at the
command line to open the Insert dialog box. Browse to your
detail and press OK. Pick on your screen to insert.
You can also use the AutoCAD Design Center.

Select AutoCAD Design Center from the AutoCAD Standard toolbar.

The Design Center window will appear on the left. Navigate to your Details folder. Your 100mm
Wet Riser will appear in the list. A preview is available which is useful if you have a number of
different details. Simply drag the filename over to the drawing area to insert the detail into your
drawing.
You can now finish your main piping by using the Split Pipe command on all main pieces to cut
the pipe into stock lengths.

87

Applying Smart Annotations

Smart Annotations are sophisticated labels that you can apply
to your drawing. For example, a Smart Annotation can be a
pipe size or length. The first thing you have to do is to set up
your Annotation Layer. Open the Layer Properties Manager.

Create a new layer called Pipe Size and Exit. From the Annotations
toolbar, select Templates.
The Templates dialog box will
appear. The drop down list is used to select the category
for the Annotation. The choices are Pipe, Head, Fitting,
Valve and Hanger.
For this exercise you are going to set up pipe labels. Select
Pipe from the drop down list. Press the New button to
create a new template.

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Enter Pipe Size as the

Template.
There will be No Border
and No Leader.
The Center Offset X will be
0 and the Center Offset Y
will be 2.
The Relative to UCS value
will be Local. You have
the option of World or
Local. Local will align the
Annotation with the
selected object. For
example, if you want your
pipe size text to be parallel
to your pipes in the plan
view, select this option.
World will align the
Annotation relative to a
preset coordinate and
disregard the orientation of
the selected object. For
example, if you wanted all
of your pipe sizes to be
horizontal on the drawing,
regardless of the pipe
direction, select this
option.
Setup the values as shown
for the Text. The Text
Height will be 100.
Select Pipe Size as the layer.
Press the Contents tab at the top.

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Use the Contents window

to select the data to be
shown for this template.
Double click on Pipe Size
to add it to the list on the
right.
You can add as many
properties as you like to
the list.
You can also type in
letters and symbols which
will appear as is in the
annotation.
To remove an item,
highlight it with your
mouse, right click and
select cut.
For this template though,
you only require the Pipe
Size.
Press OK to finish.

You will return to the Templates dialog box.

Press the Close button.

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Switch to the Top view of your system.

Select Insert SA from

the Annotations
toolbar.
The Smart Annotation
dialog box will
appear.
Set the Template to
Pipe Size. Leave the
defaults for the Text.
These settings are
from the Template.
The layer will be Pipe
Size.
Select Cross Main
and Branch Line as
the pipes to apply the
sizes to.
Press OK.
Select all branches and mains and press Enter.
The sizes will be inserted.
When you change view perspectives, the
Annotations will remain at the previous
perspective.

To correct this, select

Turn SA to View
from the Annotations
toolbar.

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Another Template you can

setup is for pipe lengths.
Open a New SA Template.
The Template Name will
be Pipe Lengths.
There will be No Border
and No Leader.
The Center Offset X will be
0 and the Center Offset Y
will be 2 (negative to
place it under the pipe).
The Relative to UCS value
will be Local.
Setup the values as shown
for the Text. The Text
Height will be 100mm.
Select Pipe Size as the
layer.
Press the Contents tab at
the top and select CenterCenter Length.
Press OK to exit.

Select Insert SA again and select pipes for lengths.

You can use Grips to move Annotations around to avoid clutter. The Annotations will remain
connected to the object. Any changes to the object will be automatically reflected in the Smart
Annotation. For example, if you used Properties to change the pipe diameter to 40mm from
50mm, the size label would automatically change to 50.

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Hangers
Select Hangers from the Piping toolbar to insert
hangers. The Hangers dialog box will appear.

Select the Type from the drop

down list.
The Offset is the hanger
connection point relative to the
top of steel. If you are hanging
from the top of steel, leave this
value at zero. In case you
havent specified Roof surface
the TOS elevation is set to zero
by default.
Set your properties and press OK to begin inserting hangers.

Pick your pipes with

OSNAPs.
The command will
continue so you can
pick as many pipes
as you like.
The program detects
pipe and TOS
elevations to
determine hanger rod
lengths.
The hangers appear
as slash marks on
your pipes. You can
select them and use
the Properties dialog
box to change
specifications.
You can create custom
hanger annotations
with the SA Template dialog box. You can include the hanger type, rod length, part number, etc.

93

Creating Views
Select Top from the Views toolbar.

Zoom so that you can see your entire system in the plan view.
The first step in preparing for a plot is to setup the views you want to see in the plot. You can
setup these views using the AutoCAD View command.

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Type View at the command line or you can select Named Views from the View pull down
menu. The View dialog box will appear.

You create your views in the Named Views window. The Orthographic & Isometric Views
window contains preprogrammed views in a list. Select one with your mouse and press the Set
Current button to change your current view in Model space. For now though, you are going to
create some views. Press the New button.
The New View dialog box will appear.
Enter System Plan View as the View
Name. Select the Define window radio
button and press the Define View
Window button.

95

Pick a window around your system.

The New View dialog box will return. Press OK.

The View
dialog box will
appear again
with your new
view appearing
in the list.
Press OK to
exit.

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Now, you are going to create a riser detail view.

Select Front from the Views dialog box.

Zoom to get a view of your riser as shown. Type View at the command line or select Named
Views from the View pull down menu. The View dialog box will appear.

Press the New button again.

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Enter Riser Elevation for the View

Name. Select the Define window radio
button and press the Define View
Window button.

Select the riser elevation with a window as shown. You will return to the New View window
again. Press OK to exit.
The View dialog box will appear again. Your two new views will appear in the list. Press OK to
exit back to the drawing screen.

98

Working in Paper Space

You work on your piping plan while in Model space. You prepare different views of your 3D plan
in Paper space for plotting.
You switch between Paper and Model space using the tabs at the
bottom of the screen.
The A0 sheet was set up for you. It contains the SprinkCAD 3D title block and one viewport.
Press the ISO A0 Titleblock tab to take a look at the window.

The Paper button at the bottom of the screen should be

depressed indicating that you are currently in Paper space.
Note that you can move your cursor all over this sheet including into the title block.
Press the Paper button and it will become Model. This
indicates that you are now in Model Space. Notice how your
cursor movement is now restricted to the area above the title block. This is the viewport area
where your 3D drawing can be displayed in different views and at different scales. Note also
that you can switch between Paper and Model space by double clicking on the screen. While in
Model space, double click outside of the viewport to enter Paper space. While in Paper space,
double click inside the viewport to enter Model Space.

99

Make sure that you are in Paper space now. Double click on the title block to open the
Enhanced Attribute Editor.

Select an attribute from the list and enter a value. For example, JOBNAME was selected here
and Lumber Manufacturing was entered as the value. When you press OK, the new Job name
will appear in the title block. There are several attributes in the list that you can enter values for.
With the Text Options tab you can change the text properties for the attributes. Press OK to
exit the Attribute Editor.

Double click inside the drawing area of the title block.

100

The border around this area will darken indicating that you are now in Model space. This
thickened border is the viewport. You can have one or many viewports on the same sheet. Type
Z at the command line and press Enter to start the zoom command. Enter E at the command
line and press Enter to zoom to extents.

The plan view of your system will fill the viewport. This view appears because it is the current
view in Model space.

101

You can also retrieve this view by entering View at the command line to open the View dialog
box.

Select System Plan View from the list and press the Set Current button. Press OK to exit.
Double click outside of the drawing area to enter Paper space.

102

Pick the viewport border with your mouse so that the grips appear. Right click your mouse and
select Properties. This will open the AutoCAD Properties
dialog box.
For the Standard Scale value select 1:50 from the drop
down list. Note that there are several scales that you can
choose from in the list. Exit the dialog box.

The drawing will appear smaller but will scale to 1:50 when
plotted.

103

With the viewport grips still active, drag the viewport to the left to make it smaller.

You can then double click inside the viewport to switch to Model space. Use
the Pan Realtime command to center the piping plan in the viewport.

104

The sheet should now look like this.

Double click outside of the viewport to enter Paper space. You are now going to define a
viewport for your riser view.
Set the current layer to Viewport. It is best to draw your viewports in a known layer that you can
turn off before plotting.

105

From the View pull down menu, select 1 Viewport.

Draw a viewport in the upper right of the sheet as shown.

106

Double click inside the new viewport to make it active and to enter Model space. Enter View at
the command line and press Enter. The View dialog box will appear.

Select your Riser Elevation view from the list and press the Set Current button. Press OK to
exit.
Your riser elevation drawing will appear in the new
viewport.
Double click outside of the viewport to enter Paper space.
Pick the viewport border so that the grips appear. Right
click the mouse and select Properties.
Set the Standard Scale to 1:50 using the drop down list.
Exit the Properties dialog box and resize the viewport to
accommodate the riser detail.

107

Your sheet should now appear as shown here.

Setting Up a Paper Space Text Style

You should label your drawing and insert notes in Paper space. To do this you should create at
least one text style.
Select Text Style from the Format pull down menu.

108

The Text Style dialog box will appear.

Press the New button. The New Text Style

dialog box will appear. Enter a name for the
new text style. Plot Text is used in this
example. Press OK to exit. The Text Style
dialog box will appear again.

109

Select a Font from the drop down list. A preview of the font will appear in the bottom right
corner. Leave the Height at 0. This will allow you to set the height when you enter text and
dimensions. Press Apply and Close to exit the dialog box.
Now, you can use AutoCADs text tools to enter text in Paper space.
Create new layer for your notes named PaperNotes and set this layer to Current.
Select Draw > Text > Multiline Text from the pull down menus. You will be prompted to specify
a rectangle with your mouse.

With this text tool you can enter paragraphs of information in one step. Set the height in the drop
down list and type your information. Press OK to exit and have your text appear on the drawing.
When the text is inserted, you can pick it to activate the grips and change the size of the box.
Double clicking on the text will open the Text Editor where you can make changes.

Generally it is best if you enter your text in Paper space. In this way, you will not have to worry
about the 3D orientation of the text.

Dimensioning the Riser

You can dimension the riser in Paper or Model space. Either method has its advantages and
disadvantages. In this example you will be dimensioning in Model space. If you prefer to
dimension drawings such as riser details in Paper space, consult AutoCAD Help for information.

110

The first thing to do is to set up your Dimension Style. From the Format pull down menu, select
Dimension Style. The Dimension Style Manager will open. Press the New button.

This dialog box will open. Enter a name for your new Dimension Style. Riser Dimension is
used here for the Style Name. Start with the STANDARD_METRIC Style. Press the Continue
button.

The New Dimension Style dialog box will open where you will set up your Dimension Style. The
settings shown here are only suggestions, however they work well with sprinkler drawings
plotted to 1:50 scale. Feel free to make your own decisions. Make your settings as shown here.
Arrow and extension line sizes of 100 seem to work well.

111

Press the Text tab.

Select your Plot
Text Text Style that
you just created.
Set the height to
50.
Set up the rest of
the dialog box as
shown and press
the Fit tab.

Select the radio

buttons shown.
The Overall scale
will be 1.
Select the Primary
Units tab next.

112

The Unit Format will

be Decimal.
The Measurement
Scale Factor will be
1.
You are not
concerned with
Alternate Units or
Tolerances.
Press OK to finish.

The Dimension Style Manager will return with your new Riser Dimension Style. Make sure that it
is current and press Close.

113

New Concept: Dimensioning a 3D Model

Dimensioning a 2D object is a pretty straight forward affair. The dimensions are placed in the
same plane as the 2D drawing. There are a couple of more considerations to be made when
dimensioning in 3D.
A dimension is a 2D object. If you view it from the front view, as you would in a 2D drawing, it
looks fine. If you look at it from the top or the side however, all you will see is a line. That is why
it is necessary to orient the dimension with the object. You do this by manipulating the UCS.
Press the Model tab to enter Model space.
Switch to the Top view. Make sure that the UCS appears
in the lower left corner of your screen. If not, select Tools
> New UCS > World from the pull down menus.

Notice the orientation of the UCS. The X axis points to the right and the Y axis points up. The Z
axis points directly at you.

Insert a Linear Dimension anywhere on the drawing and you will find that it works just fine.

114

Erase the dimension and switch to the Front view.

Zoom in on the riser.

Note the orientation of the UCS. The X axis points to the right and the Z axis points upward. The
Y axis is pointing away from you. Try inserting another Linear dimension for the approximate
length of the backflow preventer.

A line will appear instead of a dimension. Switch to

the Front Right View and you will be able to see
the dimension.

115

The dimension will appear at some

distance from the riser and will be parallel
to the floor. There is an important
concept to realize here. Dimensions are
always placed in the current X-Y
plane.
This means that you must rotate and
move this plane before inserting
dimensions. The plane is moved by
moving the UCS.

Erase the dimension and switch back to

the Front view. Zoom in on the riser.

From the
Tools pull down menu, select New UCS > View.
This will rotate the UCS so that the X-Y plane is
parallel to the riser in the current view.
Since dimensions are only drawn in the X-Y
plane, any new dimensions will now be seen
correctly.
There is still one problem however. You dont
know where the dimension will end up on the Z
axis.

116

You can resolve this problem by moving the UCS.

Select Move UCS from the Tools pull down menu. You will be
prompted at the command line to Specify the new origin.

With an OSNAP, pick the riser at some location. It doesnt matter

where because all of the riser objects have the same Z
coordinate. Now, if you apply a dimension it will appear in the
correct plane with the correct orientation.

Try inserting a dimension and then view it from an isometric view. In summary, you must flip the
UCS so that the X-Y plane is parallel to the objects to be dimensioned. Then you must move the
UCS to the object being dimensioned. To return the UCS to the Home position, select Tools >
New UCS > World. The World UCS position and orientation is used when starting a new
drawing.

117

Switch to Riser Elevation viewport and enter a few dimensions on your riser.

Switch to your plot setup.

Turn off the Viewport layer to remove the viewport lines. Turn off the UCSs in the viewports and
you are ready to plot.

118