• Newsletter Subscriptions
  • Magazine Subscription

    • Latest from Commercial HVAC

    Rheem
    Crane lift up-close
    unified_group_2024_meeting
    The addition connects to the classroom portion of the original building by a 1,272-square-foot masonry addition that houses an egress stair relocated from the existing building.
    karammiri/iStock/Getty Images Plus
    tumbling_blocks
    spawns/iStock/Getty Images Plus
    hard_hat_blue_prints
    SheetzLUSHBakersfieldCollege
    REHAU
    Image
    1. Commercial HVAC

    Berner Now Offers Air Curtain Data Files for Building Information Modeling

    Feb. 18, 2014
    Berner International, New Castle, Pa., is the HVAC industry's first air curtain manufacturer to offer building information modeling (BIM)--embedded data files in solid 3-D models--for architects and engineers, and their product specifications for all design-phase commercial buildings.  
    Contractingbusiness Com Sites Contractingbusiness com Files Uploads 2014 01 A Berner Bim Image Of Model Vsa 0
    Photo shows a BIM diagram for Berner International's model VSA industrial air door.

    Berner International, New Castle, PA, reported that it is the HVAC industry's first air curtain manufacturer to offer building information modeling (BIM)-embedded data files in solid 3-D models. These files are for architects and engineers, and their product specifications for all design-phase commercial buildings.

    Berner's catalog of commercial, industrial and institutional air curtains now includes BIM models compatible with AutoDesk Revit software, and are downloadable from two different online building information and specification library resources: Seek Autodesk or arcat.com. Heating coils, electrical components, controls and mechanical options are also available in BIM.

    Berner's BIM is particularly rich with embedded specifications, such as sizing, performance statistics, automatic ordering and product tracking. The BIM images explicitly display how air curtains will interact with building geometry and spatial relationships to expose any potential incompatibilities well before construction begins.

    The BIM models hosted by web service AutoDesk Seek were developed by Berner engineering with assistance from an AutoDesk solutions provider, in addition to recommendations and reviews for accuracy, proper file sizes and usability by AEC/BIM Implementation Development Specialist, Michael Warren, AIA. "We painstakingly created these files with great attention to accuracy  because poorly created files can affect a building's construction or frustrate the BIM user," said David Johnson, Berner's engineering manager.

    AutoDesk Seek also includes mechanical drawings, performance data, CAD drawings and Construction Specification Institute (CSI) specification format along with the BIM model. The BIM models hosted by ARCAT were developed by ARCAT with a review by Berner engineering and are available in Revit version 2011 through 2014.

    BIM is a commercial design and construction tool that helps architects and engineers envision product placements with easy drag-and-drop design-phase CAD imaging, such as air curtains above doorways. Additionally, BIM is an industry-proven method of reducing onsite construction and installation mistakes due to specification errors during the design stage.

    Support for BIM of air curtains is available from the Berner engineering department during 9 to 5 p.m. customer support hours at (724) 658-3551.