Overview of Reinforcement for Archicad
Reinforcement offers for Archicad Users a comprehensive suite of tools to design 2D drawings and complete 3D models of reinforcement in concrete constructions. It includes a library of reinforcement objects and an add-on to assist with complex constructions, rebar ID numbering checks, and quantity calculations. Rebar list and interactive schedules are available directly on the floor plan.
New Functions (Version 7)
- Unfolded Bar Drawings: Create unfolded drawings of reinforcement bars for structural components.
- Cross-Sectional Drawings: Generate cross-sectional drawings of beam and column reinforcements at custom locations.
- Flexible Component Drawing Placement: Component and cross-sectional drawings can now be placed in separate views, not just on the floor plan. These drawings automatically update when the element's reinforcement is modified, offering greater documentation flexibility.
- Long Rebar Splices: Support for drawing splices for long rebars.
- Customizable Bent End Angles: Define custom angle specifications for bent rebar ends.
- New rf_single_edge element: A new, simpler element for placing independent edge reinforcements with custom-angle stirrups.
- New Parameter Palette: A dedicated palette for quickly adjusting the most commonly used parameters of selected elements without opening the full Settings window.
- Thermal Bridge Breaker: A new element available in the library.
- Multi-Directional Custom Rebar: Create custom reinforcement bars that can be bent in multiple directions, even in 3D.
Main Features (Includes features from earlier versions)
User Interface & Listing
- Redesigned Tool Palette.
- New Listing Functions:
- Selection management palette with element ID and graphical marking.
- Zoom function for selected elements.
- Automatic numbering of elements and rebars (with option to start from a specified number).
- Handling of identical rebars in complex elements.
- Option to apply prefixes.
- Ensures elements are not listed twice.
- Measurement units moved to the header for easier XLS export.
- Lists now have their own dedicated layer.
- Cutting list can include additional, custom text content.
- Automatic Update System: Notifies users when a newer version is available.
- ABOUT Window: Provides information about the software.
Reinforcement Modeling
- Column/Pillar Reinforcement:
- Indication of rebar rotation in 3D (toggleable in Model View Options).
- Support for multiple stirrup types.
- Manual resizing option for placed reinforcement.
- Automatic placement for circular and simple profiled columns with many settings.
- Slab Reinforcement:
- Reinforcement only in the core of slabs.
- Accurate usage of structural core definition.
- Reinforcement of concrete slab edges by placing shear rebars in corners of holes.
- Wall Reinforcement:
- Concrete cover correction.
- Reinforcement of slanted walls cropped to a roof.
- Handling of Archicad openings in the wall.
- Reinforcement of concrete wall edges by placing shear rebars in corners of openings.
- Automatic reinforcement of straight, slanted, and curved walls.
- Reverse bending direction of rebars in slab and wall.
- Beam Reinforcement:
- Correct section dimensions.
- Automatic placement in simple profiled beams using rf_beam complex element.
- Roof Reinforcement:
- Rebars in two directions and in top/bottom regions with a direction selector.
- Using RF_EDGE element (single roof).
- Mesh element in top/bottom regions.
- Automatic reinforcement with Mesh and Rebar elements.
- Automatic reinforcement of complex roofs and multiple roof surfaces.
- General Rebar & Stirrups:
- Creation of splice drawings for straight rebars.
- New handling and representation of curved rebar layouts.
- Option to set custom rebar weight (in kg/m).
- Option to set rebar diameter by group.
- Stirrups can be sized by external dimensions, not along the axis.
- Spiral stirrup for manual or automatic placement.
- Preset common rebar and stirrup forms; custom polygonal forms can also be set.
- Steel elements can be rotated for complex constructions (e.g., stairs).
- Distributable rebars along curves.
- Multiple layers of rebar can be placed at a time.
- Placement of upturned or folded mesh.
- Automatic array of meshes and bars.
- Unlimited rebar placement.
- Complex Elements:
- RF_CHAIR is included in the Cutting list with necessary parameters.
- ID handling for RF_BEAM, RF_COLUMN, and RF_EDGE elements (yellow sign warning for duplicate IDs).
- List of beam and column reinforcement elements.
- Unlimited use of columns, beams, and crownings.
- Drawing & Display:
- Extended 2D view types of rebars.
- Indication of rebar rotation in the 3D window.
- Exact display of rebar bending in 3D.
- Many view and display options.
- Global display settings (2D, 3D, labels, texts).
- Displaying views on the floor plan.
- ABOUT window.
Documentation & Output
- Labeling:
- Every element can be labeled using the reinforcement's own label.
- All groups in a beam or pillar can be labeled separately with real parameters.
- Option to indicate different text content in floorplan labels of rebar and mesh.
- Intelligent markers.
- Label option for views and custom label texts.
- Cutting List:
- Generation of automatic cutting lists.
- RF_CHAIR is included with necessary parameters.
- More exact Cutting list for Mesh and Rebar.
- The different length rebars can be displayed separately.
- For mesh, multidirectional rebars can be listed separately.
- For circular cross-sections, the radius of the stirrup is displayed.
- Joint length value is displayed.
- Option to select all elements listed in an already placed Cutting list on the floor plan.
- Mesh Board Designer.
- Exporting List: Export to TXT (and implies XLS for further processing as per "Measurement units have been moved from the list to the header to avoid confusion during further processing in XLS export").
Technical Aspects
- Enhanced Stability: Warning window appears if the program cannot perform an action.
- Dedicated Layers: In Archicad 26+, layers are grouped into the "Reinforcement" folder; in earlier versions, they are simply created.
- License Borrowing: Option to get an activation key offline for 7 days (can be ordered for existing licenses).
Demo Mode and Licensing
The solution works in demo mode. To obtain a full license, purchase it from the webshop or a local reseller. Registration data received after purchase needs to be registered in Archicad.
Supported Archicad Versions
- Archicad 29
- Archicad 28
- Archicad 27
- Archicad 26
- Archicad 25
- Archicad 24
- Archicad 23
Supported Operating Systems
ÉPTÁR's solutions are tested and guaranteed to work on:
- Windows 10, 11
- macOS 10.15 Catalina - macOS 15 Sequoia
Technical support cannot be provided for other software versions or operating systems.
Online Key registration
| Supported ArchiCAD versions | Version 7 | Version 6 | Version 5 | Version 4 | Version 3.5 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ArchiCAD 29 | |||||||||
| ArchiCAD 28 | |||||||||
| ArchiCAD 27 | |||||||||
| ArchiCAD 26 | |||||||||
| ArchiCAD 25 | |||||||||
| ArchiCAD 24 | |||||||||
| ArchiCAD 23 |
| Reinforcement main features | Version 7 | Version 6 | Version 5 | Version 4 | Version 3.5 | Version 3.1 | Demo version | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unfolded drawing of reinforcement bars for structural reinforcement components | |||||||||
| Creation of cross-sectional drawings of beam and column reinforcements at individually defined locations | |||||||||
| Component drawings can be placed in separate views, not only on the floor plan, placed component and cross-sectional drawings automatically update when the reinforcement of the element is modified. It gaves more flexibility in documentation. | |||||||||
| Drawing of splices for long rebars | |||||||||
| Customizable angle specification for bent ends of rebars | |||||||||
| New rf_single_edge element: compared to the previous complex rf_edge element, it allows placing independent edge reinforcements along each edge, with stirrups that can be set at custom angles. | |||||||||
| New parameter palette: a custom parameter palette where the main, most commonly used parameters of the selected element can be adjusted without opening the Settings window | |||||||||
| A new thermal bridge breaker element is available in the library | |||||||||
| New custom reinforcement bar that can be bent in multiple directions — even in 3Dt | |||||||||
| Redesigned tool palette | |||||||||
New listing functions:
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Column/Pillar reinforcement:
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Model View settings:
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Labeling:
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Rebar:
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Stirrups:
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| Roof reinforcement with rebars in two directions and in the top and bottom regions with the direction selector. | |||||||||
| Roof reinforcement with the RF_EDGE element (single roof) | |||||||||
| Roof reinforcement with the Mesh element in the top and bottom regions. | |||||||||
| Concrete cover correction in case of walls. | |||||||||
| Reinforcement only in the core of slabs. | |||||||||
| ID handling of RF_BEAM, RF_COLUMN and RF_EDGE elements: if the same ID is used twice in the element, a YELLOW sign will inform the user about it. | |||||||||
| More advanced reinforcement of beams and columns. | |||||||||
| RF_CHAIR is included in the Cutting list with the necessary parameters. | |||||||||
| BEAM reinforcement with the correct section dimensions. | |||||||||
| Enhanced stability. If the program cannot perform an action, a warning window appears with information about the failure. | |||||||||
| ABOUT window | |||||||||
| Reinforcement of circular columns. RF_COLUMN placed automatically by the add-on into the relevant column with many settings. | |||||||||
| Spiral stirrup for manual or automatic placement. | |||||||||
| Dedicated layers for Reinforcement: In Archicad 26 and newer versions, the layers are grouped into the Reinforcement folder, in version 25 and below these layers will be simply created. | |||||||||
| Update checking system, which helps the user to see when a newer version of Reinforcement is available. | |||||||||
| reinforcement of slanted walls cropped to a roof | |||||||||
| handling of Archicad openings in the wall | |||||||||
| accurate usage of structural core definition in slab | |||||||||
| listing of iron chair element | |||||||||
| automatic notification about new versions | |||||||||
| place automatically the reinforcement in simple profiled beams using rf_beam complex element | |||||||||
| place automatically the reinforcement in simple profiled column using rf_column complex element | |||||||||
| list of beams and column reinforcement elements | |||||||||
| extended 2D view types of rebars | |||||||||
| reverse the bending direction of rebars in slab and wall | |||||||||
| the option to indicate different text content in floorplan labels of rebar | |||||||||
| the option to indicate different text content in floorplan labels of mesh | |||||||||
| indicate (select) on floorplan all elements listed in already placed Cutting list | |||||||||
| Mesh board designer | |||||||||
| More exact Cutting list for Mesh | |||||||||
| More exact Cutting list for Rebar | |||||||||
| Some new additional elements | |||||||||
| Archicad 24 compatibility | |||||||||
| Automatic Reinforcement of CURVED walls | |||||||||
| Automatic Reinforcement of SLANTED walls | |||||||||
| Reinforcement wreaths and edges on slabs | |||||||||
| Shear rebar placement for slab cutouts corners | |||||||||
| Updated user interface | |||||||||
| Automatic reinforcement of roofs with mesh or rebar tool | |||||||||
| Several roof plains are now reinfoceable at the same time | |||||||||
| Automatic reinfocement of complex roofs | |||||||||
| A floating palette that can be placed likely | |||||||||
| Automatic reinforcement of walls | |||||||||
| Several walls or slabs can be reinforced with a single selection | |||||||||
| Multiple layers of rebar can be placed at a time | |||||||||
| Placement of upturned or folded mesh | |||||||||
| Distributable rebars along the curve | |||||||||
| New rebar object which linear meter can be adjusted in kg/m | |||||||||
| Adjustable value of concrete cover in case of top or button reinforcement | |||||||||
| The different length rebars can be displayed separately in the cutting list | |||||||||
| In case of mesh, the multidirectional rebars can be listed separately | |||||||||
| In case of circle cross-section the radius of the stirrup is displayed in the list | |||||||||
| The value of the joint length is displayed in the list | |||||||||
| exact display of rebar bending in 3D | |||||||||
| dimension unit choice | |||||||||
| global display settings (2D, 3D, labels and texts) | |||||||||
| intelligent markers | |||||||||
| new stirrup types | |||||||||
| label option for views | |||||||||
| custom label texts | |||||||||
| preset common rebars and stirrups | |||||||||
| custom polygonal rebar forms | |||||||||
| rebars can be rotated in space | |||||||||
| automatic array of meshes and bars | |||||||||
| complex element: unlimited use of columns |
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| complex element: unlimited use of beams |
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| complex element: unlimited use of crownings |
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| unlimited rebar placement | |||||||||
| making automatic cutting list | |||||||||
| more layout display options | |||||||||
| displaying views on the floor plan | |||||||||
| exporting list into TXT |