Insights: Designing An Electrical Distribution System With Enhanced Efficiency & Precisio
Innovation in the field of electrical system design has brought a paradigm shift in the building information modelling. New products in this sphere have made it is easier for the contractors and engineers to not only design but also develop and share BIM products with ease. The advanced design tools have made it possible to acquire more nuanced information, from the ideation stage to execution, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing risks in the process.
Bridging The Gap
Electrical distribution system needs a robust distribution board for intelligent building management systems (iBMS). To achieve that objective, it is imperative to think beyond the conventional BMS. These BMS processes helped bridge the gap in Autodesk Revit Modeling that helped the mechanical engineers and HVAC technicians, but the software did not contribute to the needs of electrical engineers. Therefore, they switched to subscription-based tools that prevented them from getting real-time insight into the project model.
Electrical engineers often struggle to get accurate visibility into whether their one-line design programs will integrate with the design works or not. There is also ambiguity about the design elements and their compatibility with the distribution board components, such as busways and control panels.
But thanks to advanced toolsets brought on by innovative electrical system design, BIM is getting less complicated and more effective. Electrical engineers and specifiers are now able to integrate the electrical distribution system and design a building project, complete with compatible distribution boards, in a single BIM. This allows the specifiers to add more value through the lifecycle of a project.
BIM Risk Minimization
An efficient and enhanced Electrical Distribution System integrates seamlessly into the BIM process. It is equipped with multiple tools that let designers insert switchgear, transfer switch, UPSs, switchboard, and more into the design process easily.
As a result, they are able to save a lot of time from the Revit process by removing the need to study website for asset information. It also removes all guesswork from the tools that depend on generic information related to pricing and dimensions. By choosing the right products, designers are able to eliminate all ambiguity from the design process and get clarity about optimizing the electrical design that sits well with BIM.
Another important upgrade in the process is its ability to develop accurate busways. This helps them gain deeper insight into the work and cost details that can reduce the need for order changes and help contractors get the right idea about the scope of work from the start. Designers are able to create 3D viewing and develop a digital model that can be shared with other stakeholders. But most importantly, the digital model helps specifiers account for end caps, elbows, and pipes. Designers are also able to configure the distribution boards, including all the electrical components.
Some of these systems have the added ability to generate user-friendly documentation with information about bill of materials. This list can help the electrical contractor with an accurate price list and the materials required during the course of the project. It helps building contractors develop an exact plan with regards to building material and staffing resources required for the completion of the project.
Seamless Transfer Of Knowledge
Usually, electrical engineers and specifiers make their own one-line diagrams that can be an incredibly time-consuming process and often reserved till the end of project documentation. However, with the latest design tools in this field, such as LayoutFAST by Schneider Electric, they are able to automate the one-line diagram process and generate designs with the click of a button. It can show how components in distribution boards connect with the electrical distribution system.
The new design tools have brought in design improvements that have removed barriers that were responsible for taking away the flexibility and consistency of electrical distribution systems. However, you must take help from trained professionals in this field to get recommendations for the right tools that can make BIM more robust for you.