A comprehensive list of Ancillary types is pre-defined with default loading for both lines and areas. The Global settings for these can be reviewed and their load values edited in the Home > Settings dialog as shown in the picture below. The same settings are also replicated in Home > Model Settings for an individual model.

Key aspects of Line and Area Ancillaries are:

• Dedicated Dead and Imposed (Live) load cases for the ancillary loads are automatically created and can be included in combinations produced by the Combination Generator (note that if working to Eurocodes, Imposed case Ψ and ɸ factors default to zero and must be manually defined).
  
  

• Default Dead Loads and Imposed/Live Loads for each type are set and can be overridden by the User. These can also be pre-set to be project specific via Home > Model Settings > Ancillary Loading.

  • Note that there is an additional setting for Pipework Operating & Testing Content Loadcase Types, to define whether these are considered as Dead or Imposed (Live) loads. This is found in both Home > Settings and Home > Model Settings on the Loading > General page as shown below.
    
    

• Imposed stair loading can be projected on the horizontal or along the member.

• All decomposed loads from Line and Area Ancillaries are present in the Analysis and Design. Once loads are decomposed from Line and Area Ancillaries, they play no further part in Analysis and Design.

Line Ancillary - creates a rectangular panel of a selected type and defined width which are set in the Properties window during creation (and can subsequently be edited). The applied loading is thus line loads determined from the ancillary type area load(s) (as shown above) multiplied by the line width.

• The panel can be defined singly or in a continuous run of a number of lengths, which can be at different angles and in different planes. They are created just like beams; by single mouse clicks to define the start/end points of each length. Similarly to creating continuous beams, after clicking the final point of the last length you escape to end the operation.

• The plane of a panel is automatically determined when a length is drawn in an existing plane such as a level or frame. When this is not the case, an additional click after that of the end point is prompted for to define the plane, with a dynamic graphic of the panel displayed as the cursor is moved to aid the user.

• Once created, each length of a panel is a discrete object which can be selected and edited individually. Its geometry can be edited graphically just like a beam; by selecting and moving the start/ end nodes to different points. The properties of selected individual or multiple panels can be reviewed and edited via the properties window.

• The Line Ancillary default load values (shown above) are displayed in the properties window during creation. These can be overridden by checking off the “Default Load Values” properties setting, either during creation or subsequently for one or more selected ancillaries.

• Line Ancillaries are treated as simply supported beams, spanning one-way onto supporting members/slabs. Decomposition is in two stages; from the Line Ancillary to its supports then onwards - the initial load decomposition thus produces point loads at the support points of the line ancillary, which may then be further decomposed - for example in a 2-way manner where support is provided by 2-way slabs.
  
  

Area Ancillary - creates a single panel of a selected type of any shape - the applied loading is then that of the ancillary type area load(s) (as shown above) over the defined panel area.

• They are defined in the same manner as existing Panel types by selecting the vertices points and can be horizontal, vertical or sloped. Once created a selected panel’s geometry can be graphically adjusted in the same manner as a roof panel.

• Operation of the panel properties during creation and subsequently is the same as that of Line Ancillary described above.

• Area Ancillaries have a span direction and load distribution is in this direction onto surrounding supporting members/slabs, just like a Roof Panel. The initial load decomposition thus produces line loads at the end support points of the line ancillary - see “Stage 1” below. These may then be further decomposed by the supporting members - for example where support is provided by 2-way slabs ( must be in the same plane as the area ancillary to provide support) they will be decomposed in a 2-way manner - see “Stage 1” below.