Adding architectural BIM objects to a project: doors, windows and openings

How to insert Doors, Windows and Openings in a Building when using a BIM software and how are their properties defined?

One of the main characteristics of a BIM software is that an architectural project is made up of objects: building envelopes, doors, windows, stairs, etc. and by means of a 2D and/or 3D input. In a BIM software, unlike what happens with traditional CAD technology, these objects are “smart objects” and not simple lines. By “smart objects”, we have the possibility to automatically view 3D or 2D objects that have an enormous amount of technical and functional data, such as for example, material layer composition, geometric and materials data.

With “Door”, “Window” and “Opening” objects, you can add these important features to your BIM model in any type or form with their correlating details such as reveals, sills, external frames, etc.

Windows can be easily customized by adding one or more fixture elements to form shutters, blinds or even gratings, etc.

Adding architectural BIM objects can be easily imported from the Edificius catalogue and use of these objects allow the user to obtain a three-dimensional representation of the building and contextualise a data information system of the entire building and of each of its components.

How to insert Openings, Windows and Door objects and defining their properties using the Edificius BIM software solution

Let’s start off by inserting a simple opening, or a hole, in a wall. First of all, we can select this object type from the Objects Menu and notice that with a very straight forward mouse button click on the wall entity, we have immediately added the “opening” object. With the object still selected and active, all we need to do now is simply move the object to the desired position and confirm with a second click. At this stage, we can freely re-size and modify the opening’s basic geometry settings using its grips.

Insertion of an opening

Defining the opening’s properties

We can now define the opening’s geometric properties (width, height, reveal, sill, etc.) by specifying these characteristics in the Properties Toolbox on the right hand side of the program interface. These settings allow us to obtain a wide variety of shapes and sizes.

Customising the properties of openings

Inserting a BIM object from the BIM catalogue

We can also incorporate a specific door model into our project by selecting it from the Edificius online catalogue too.

Choosing the desired door model from the Edificius Catalogue.

To insert the chosen door type, as seen with the opening object, a simple click at the insert point, places it into position.

We can then define its properties in the very same manner using the various feature settings available in the properties toolbox to further adapt the object to our needs (for example the door dimensions, handle position, frame, reveal, etc.).

Positioning a door selected from the catologue

We can of course insert other door objects in our 3D BIM model with the same characteristics as specified before speeding up the process of creating new doors

There’s also another way to insert doors with the same pre-defined characteristics. The “Pick & Insert” feature in Edificius allows us to copy the properties from an object by simply clicking on it.

The “Pick & Insert” function to copy properties from one object to another

At this stage, having copied its characteristics, we can insert the new door with the same features as the previous one without having to set up each of its parameters in the properties toolbox.

How do you change a doors alignment

If we select a door already present in our floor plan, we can use the “F7” and “F8” function keys to modify the opening direction and side.

Editing the opening direction and side

To apply changes to multiple doors, simply select the doors that are to be edited by holding down the “Shift” key and proceed with the modifications. In a single step we will have changed the properties of all selected doors and saving a great amount of time.

Multiple object selection

Inserting fixtures

To insert a particular type of fixture in the model, you can also choose from the wide variety of door models and types available in the Edificius catalogue (also available online) and click in the desired position to insert it.

Certain measurements can also be entered by keyboard input to set the object at a know distance. The Enter key confirms insertion.