Railings (S77)

Railings (S77) creates railings connected to two or more stanchions. The railings can be handrails in stairs or guardrails in a horizontal beam or slab.

Objects created

Top rail
Middle rails (horizontal or vertical)
Bottom rail
Panels
Bends

Use for


Situation	Description
	Horizontal railings
	Horizontal railings connected to four stanchions
	Vertical railings connected to four stanchions
	Guardrail with vertical railings

Before you start

Create the stanchions using, for example, Stanchions (S76).

Selection order

Select the first stanchion.
If the stanchions are created with Stanchions (S76), and on the Picture tab the Stanchion selection is set to Use all or Default, the railings are created when you click the middle mouse button.

Select the first stanchion.
If the stanchions are created separately, or on the Picture tab the Stanchion selection is set to Use selected, select the second, third, and so on, stanchion.

The order in which the stanchions are selected defines the positioning of the railings. The two first selected stanchions define the left and right directions of the railings.
Click the middle mouse button to create the railings.

Part identification key


	Part
1	Top rail
2	Vertical rails
3	Middle rails
4	Bottom rail

Picture tab

Use the Picture tab to control the railings and the closures.

Stanchion selection

By default, the Use all option is used.

Use selected: the railings are created only to the selected stanchions.
Use all: select this option when the stanchions are created with Stanchions (S76).

Part positions


	Description	Default
1	Horizontal length of the closure in the top rail and where the bending is created in the closure. When you use the closure type 4 and enter a negative value in this box, the top and bottom rails are shortened.	`150 mm`
2	Horizontal length of the closure in the bottom rail. When you use the closure type 4 and the value in the 1 box is `0`, you can shorten the bottom rails by entering a positive value in this box.	`150 mm`
3	Vertical length of the closure. Available for closure types 2 and 3.	`half the value of` 5
4	Full horizontal length of the closure from the first or the last stanchion.	`300 mm`
5	Distance between the top and the bottom rails. If the middle rails are positioned evenly between the top and bottom rails, the spacing between them is adjusted if the distance between the top and the bottom rails is modified.	`800 mm`
6	Height of the railing from the floor level. If you modify the floor level, the height of the railing is modified as well.	`defined by the height of the stanchion`
7	Length of the stanchion extension over the railing. Use this option if the Top rail to stanchion fitting is set to Stanchion partcut on the Parameters tab.	`0 mm`
8	Floor level from the bottom of the stanchion. If you modify the floor level, the height of the railing is modified as well.	`0 mm`

Railing offset


	Description
1	Vertical distance between the middle rails and the stanchion center.
2	Vertical distance between the top or the bottom rail and the stanchion center.

Left and right closure


Option		Description
		Default Type 1 AutoDefaults can change this option.
		Type 1
		Type 2
		Type 3
		Type 4

Parameters tab

Use the Parameters tab to control the cuts, fitting, and gaps between the railing parts.

Continuity profile


Option	Description
Top Continuity profile	Define the continuity profile by selecting it from the profile catalog. The top continuity profile is created if the length of the continuous profile is more than `0` and Top rail parts gap is set to Yes. The default name is `RAIL`.
Middle Continuity profile	Define the continuity profile by selecting it from the profile catalog. The middle continuity profile is created if the length of the continuous profile is more than `0` and Midd. rail parts gap is set to Yes. The default name is `RAIL`.
Bottom Continuity profile	Define the continuity profile by selecting it from the profile catalog. The bottom continuity profile is created if the length of the continuous profile is more than `0` and Bott. rail parts gap is set to Yes. The default name is `RAIL`.


Option	Description	Default
Pos_No	Prefix and start number for the part position number. Some components have a second row of fields where you can enter the assembly position number.	The default part start number is defined in the Components settings in File menu > Settings > Options.
Material	Material grade.	The default material is defined in the Part material box in the Components settings in File menu > Settings > Options.
Name	Name that is shown in drawings and reports.
Class	Part class number.
Finish	Describes how the part surface has been treated.

Rail length


Option	Description	Default
Top rail max. length	Maximum length of the top rail.	`3000 mm`
Middle rail max. length	Maximum length of the middle rail.	`3000 mm`
Bottom rail max. length	Maximum length of the bottom rail.	`3000 mm`

Rail fittings


Option	Description
Top rail to stanchion fitting	Select the fitting type between the top rail and the stanchions. Define the cut tolerance and the fitting distance using the Top stanchion cut tolerance and Top rail to stanchion fitting distance options. The parts are first cut and then fitted. By default, no fitting is created. No fitting is created. Stanchions are fitted to rail. Stanchions are cut by a horizontal plane. Stanchions are cut by the rails. Rails are cut by the stanchions.
Top rail to stanchion fitting distance	Fitting distance between the top rail center line and the stanchion.
Top stanchion cut tolerance	Cut tolerance between the top rail and the stanchions.


Option	Description
Other rail to stanchion fitting	Select the fitting type between the middle or bottom rail and the stanchions. Define the cut tolerance and the fitting distance using the Other stanchion cut tolerance and Other rail to stanchion fitting distance options. The parts are first cut and then fitted. By default, no cuts are created. No cut is created. Stanchions are cut by the rails. Rails are cut by the stanchions. Stanchions are cut by the rails through a slotted hole. Rails are fitted to the stanchions.
Other rail to stanchion fitting distance	Fitting distance between the middle or bottom rail center line and the stanchion.
Other stanchion cut tolerance	Part cut tolerance between the middle or the bottom rail and the stanchions.

Rail cuts


Option	Description
Top rail cuts	Define how the top rail is cut. By default, the At max stanchion option is used. At max stanchion Starting from the first stanchion, without the closures, the Top rail max. length is measured along the rail and the cut is made at the last stanchion included in the measured distance. At max length Starting from the first point of the rail, including the closure, the Top rail max. length is measured along the rail and the cut is made at the maximum length. Every stanchion A cut is made to the rail at each stanchion. At max length no closure Starting from the first stanchion, without the closures, the Top rail max. length is measured along the rail and the cut is made at the maximum length.
Middle rail cuts	Define how the middle rail is cut. By default, the At max stanchion option is used.
Bottom rail cuts	Define how the bottom rail is cut. By default, the At max stanchion option is used.

Chamfer dimensions


	Description
1	Horizontal chamfer dimension for the stanchions.
2	Vertical chamfer dimension for the stanchions.

Gap


Option	Description
Top rail parts gap Midd. rail parts gap Bott. rail parts gap	Select whether a gap is created between the rail parts. By default, no gap is created.

Gap between parts


	Description
1	Size of the gap between two consecutive rail parts.
2	Length of the continuous profile.

Assembly


Option	Description
Create assembly	Select which part of the railing is the main part of the assembly. By default, no assembly is created. No assembly is created. This is also the default option. The first stanchion is the main part of the assembly. The last stanchion is the main part of the assembly. The first rail part after the first stanchion is the main part of the assembly. If you have created continuous profiles for all the rails, multiple assemblies are created.

Rails tab

Use the Rails tab to control the profiles, bending cuts, and connections for the top and the bottom rails.

Rail and closure profiles


Option	Description
Top rail profile	Define the top rail profile by selecting it from the profile catalog. Top rail is always created.
Bottom rail profile	Define the bottom rail profile by selecting it from the profile catalog. Bottom rail is always created.
Start closure	Define the start closure by selecting it from the profile catalog. By default, the Start closure profile is the same as the Top rail profile.
End closure	Define the end closure by selecting it from the profile catalog. By default, the End closure profile is the same as the Top rail profile.


Option	Description	Default
Pos_No	Prefix and start number for the part position number. Some components have a second row of fields where you can enter the assembly position number.	The default part start number is defined in the Components settings in File menu > Settings > Options.
Material	Material grade.	The default material is defined in the Part material box in the Components settings in File menu > Settings > Options.
Name	Name that is shown in drawings and reports.
Class	Part class number.
Finish	Describes how the part surface has been treated.

Closure bending cuts


Option	Description
	Default No cut AutoDefaults can change this option.
	No cut No cut is created near the corner.
	Both side cuts The rail corner is cut at the left and the right side. The dimensions for the cut are defined on the Bends tab.
	Middle corner cut The rail corner is cut in the middle.
	Mitre corner cut The rail corner is cut by a plane on the bisecting line.
	Left side cut The rail corner is cut at the left side. The dimensions for the cut are defined on the Bends tab.
	Right side cut The rail corner is cut at the right side. The dimensions for the cut are defined on the Bends tab.

Cut position of the rails

Define the cut position for the top and the bottom rails and for the closure types 1 and 4.


Option	Description
	Default Closure near side cut AutoDefaults can change this option.
	Closure near side cut The rail passes through the first or the last stanchion and is cut at its surface. The closure is cut at the near side surface of the stanchion, without intersecting it.
	Middle stanchion cut The rail passes through the first or the last stanchion and is cut at its middle line. The closure is cut at the middle line of the stanchion, intersecting it.
	Closure far side cut The rail is cut at the surface of the stanchion, without intersecting it. The closure is cut at the other far side surface of the stanchion, intersecting it.

Cut position for the other bending

Define the cut position for the other bendings than the corners of the closures.


Option	Description
	Default No cut is created. AutoDefaults can change this option.
	No cut is created.
	Both side cuts The rail bending is cut at the left and the right side. The dimensions for the cut are defined on the Bends tab.
	Middle corner cut The rail bending is cut in the middle.
	Mitre corner cut The rail bending is cut by a plane on the bisecting line.

Top rail position / Bottom rail position

Define the horizontal railing position.

By default, the Middle option is used.

Top rail rotation / Bottom rail rotation

Define the profile rotation for all horizontal rails.


Option	Description
	Default Type 1 AutoDefaults can change this option.
	Type 1
	Type 2
	Type 3
	Type 4
	Type 5
	Type 6
	Type 7
	Type 8

Top rail and bottom rail connection properties


Option	Description
Top rail connection, Bottom rail connection	Select whether to use a system or a custom component to connect the top and bottom rails to the stanchions.
Component	Select a system or custom component from the Applications & components catalog.
Attribute file	Select an attribute file for the component.
Up direction	Select the up direction.
Rotation	Select the rotation for the selected component.
Rotation value	Enter the rotation value.

Middle Rails tab

Use the Middle Rails tab to control the horizontal middle rails.

Rail profile


Option	Description
1 2 3 4	Define the middle rail profile by selecting it from the profile catalog. By default, the size of middle rail profile is the same as the size of the top rail profile. The default name is `MIDDLE RAIL`.


Option	Description	Default
Pos_No	Prefix and start number for the part position number. Some components have a second row of fields where you can enter the assembly position number.	The default part start number is defined in the Components settings in File menu > Settings > Options.
Material	Material grade.	The default material is defined in the Part material box in the Components settings in File menu > Settings > Options.
Name	Name that is shown in drawings and reports.
Class	Part class number.
Finish	Describes how the part surface has been treated.

Middle rail type


Option	Description
Middle rail profiles	Number of rails and the rail profile used for middle rails. For example, `32` creates three horizontal middle rails, with the profile defined in profile 2. For example, `22 1` creates two horizontal middle rails, with the profile defined in profile 2 and one or more rails (depending of the number of rails needed), with the profile defined in profile 1. For example, `3` creates horizontal middle rails with the profile defined in profile 3. The number of rails is defined by the number set for the horizontal or vertical middle rails. By default, only rails with profile from profile 1 are created.


Option	Description
	Default Creates horizontal middle rails. AutoDefaults can change this option.
	Creates horizontal middle rails.
	Creates vertical middle rails (pickets) defined on the Vertical Rails tab.
	Creates panels.

Middle rail position

Define the horizontal railing position.

By default, the Middle option is used.

Middle rail rotation

Define the profile rotation for all horizontal rails.


Option	Description
	Default Type 1 AutoDefaults can change this option.
	Type 1
	Type 2
	Type 3
	Type 4
	Type 5
	Type 6
	Type 7
	Type 8

Cut position for the bending


Option	Description
	Default No cut AutoDefaults can change this option.
	No cut No cut is created.
	Both side cuts The rail bending is cut at the left and right side. The dimensions for the cut are defined on the Bends tab.
	Middle corner cut The rail bending is cut in the middle.
	Mitre corner cut The rail bending is cut by a plane on the bisecting line.

Horizontal middle rail extension


Option		Description
		Default No extension AutoDefaults can change this option.
		No extension The middle rail ends at the inside stanchion surface, without intersecting the stanchion.
		Pass through stanchion The middle rail ends at the outside stanchion surface, intersecting the stanchion.
		Horizontal extension The middle rails are extended inside the closure by a horizontal value. If the railing is skew, the extension is bent according to the closure dimensions. The rail can be shortened by entering a negative value in the box 3.
		Horizontal and skew extension The middle rails are extended by two horizontal dimensions. 3 is for the horizontal rail length and 4 is for the skew rail length.

Closure bend cuts

This section is not active if you have set the middle rail type to vertical middle rails.


	Description
1	Number of horizontal middle rails.
2	Spacing between the horizontal middle rails.
3	Length of the middle rail horizontal extension inside the closure. The rail can be shortened by entering a negative value. Use this box when the horizontal middle rail extension is set to horizontal extension.
4	Length of the middle rail horizontal and skew extension. The middle rails are extended by two horizontal dimensions. 3 is for the horizontal rail length and 4 is for the skew rail length. Use this box when the horizontal middle rail extension is set to horizontal and skew extension.

Middle rail connection properties


Option	Description
Middle rail connection	Select whether to use a system or custom component to connect the middle rails to the stanchions.
Component	Select a system or custom component from the Applications & components catalog.
Attribute file	Select an attribute file for the component.
Up direction	Select the up direction.
Rotation	Select the rotation for the selected component.
Rotation value	Enter the rotation value.
Connect to	Select whether one rail or two rails are connected to stanchions.

Grab rail

Grab rail can be a single middle rail that is vertically and horizontally offset from the top rail. You can use a system or a custom component to connect the rail to stanchions. You can also select the end of the grab rail. If the grab rail comes from a skew stringer, you can extend the grab rail with skew and horizontal dimensions.

To create a grab rail:

On the Picture tab, offset the middle rails from the stanchions.
On the Rails tab, set the profile for top and bottom rails to 0 so that those rails are not created.
On the Middle Rails tab, set the number of horizontal rails to 1 and adjust the spacing for the handrail.
If you want to extend the end of the grab rail and have a horizontal part, select the horizontal and skew extension option on the Middle Rails tab, and enter the skew and horizontal distances.

Create the custom seam.

Pick the points on the outer extension of the main and secondary parts.


	Description
1	Main part
2	Secondary part
3	First picked point
4	Second picked point

Save the standard properties for the custom seam.
On the Middle Rails tab, use the custom seam name and properties and set the component direction.

Vertical Rails tab

Use the Vertical Rails tab to control the vertical rails (pickets). The options on the Vertical Rails tab are active only if you have set the middle rail type to vertical middle rails on the Middle Rails tab.

Pickets


Option		Description
		Default Pickets are not created inside the closure. AutoDefaults can change this option.
		Pickets are not created inside the closure.
		Pickets are created inside the closure when you use the closure type 1 or 4.

Connection type between the pickets and the top and bottom rails


Option	Description
	Default None AutoDefaults can change this option.
	None The pickets are created from the top rail center to the bottom rail center.
	Fitted The pickets are fitted at the creation points by a plane that follows the slope of the horizontal rails.
	Part cut The pickets are cut on both sides by the horizontal rail profiles.
	Connection The pickets are connected to the top and bottom rail with a system connection.

Picket spacing


Option	Description
1	Picket spacing between two consecutive stanchions.
2	Spacing type. By default, the equal spacing option is used. Exact The space between two consecutive pickets is exactly the spacing value 1. As many pickets as possible are positioned between two consecutive stanchions. The pickets are positioned centered between the stanchions so that the space between the first stanchion and the first pickets and the second stanchion and the last pickets is equal. Equal The spacing value 1 defines the maximum spacing. The pickets are placed evenly between the stanchions.

Chamfer dimensions


	Description
1	Horizontal chamfer dimension for the pickets.
2	Vertical chamfer dimension for the pickets.

Profile rotation

Define the profile rotation for all vertical rails.


Option	Description
	Default
	Type 1
	Type 2
	Type 3
	Type 4
	Type 5
	Type 6
	Type 7
	Type 8

Connection properties


Option	Description
Vertical rail top joint	Define the number of the component that connects the pickets to the top rail by selecting it from the component catalog. You cannot use a custom component. Select also an attribute file for the component.
Vertical rail bottom joint	Define the number of the connection that connects the pickets to the bottom rail by selecting it from the component catalog. You cannot use a custom component. Select also an attribute file for the component.

Panels tab

Use the Panels tab to create panels between the stanchions. No other vertical or horizontal rails are created when the panels are created. The options on the Panels tab are active only if you have set the middle rail type to panels on the Middle Rails tab. You can use custom seams to create the middle panels and custom details to create the closure panels.

Panel properties


Option	Description
Part name/Joint no.	Define the number of the custom component used in panel creation by selecting it from the component catalog.
Attribute file	Select an attribute file for the custom component.
Seam dir.	Define the seam direction.

Panel type

For custom details the numbers in the images correspond to the following parts:


Number	Part
1	First stanchion, which is the main part of the detail.
2	Point at the top of the first stanchion, which is the first input point of the detail.
3	Point at the bottom of the first stanchion, which is the second input point of the detail.

For custom seams the numbers in the images correspond to the following parts:


Number	Part
1	First stanchion, which is the main part of the seam.
2	Second stanchion, which is the secondary part of the seam.
3	Point at the top of the first stanchion, which is the first input point of the seam.
4	Point at the bottom of the first stanchion, which is the second input point of the seam.


Option	Description
	Left closure panel Use a custom detail to create the panel. The panel connects to one stanchion only.
	First panel Use a custom seam to create the panel. The panel can be of different size than the rest of the panels.
	Last panel Use a custom seam to create the panel. The panel can be of different size than the rest of the panels.
	Right closure panel Use a custom detail to create the panel. The panel connects to one stanchion only.
	Regular horizontal panel Use a custom seam to create the panel.
	Regular skew panel Use a custom seam to create the panel.
	Horizontal panel, skew junction (bottom) Use a custom seam to create the panel.
	Horizontal panel, skew junction (top) Use a custom seam to create the panel.

Bends tab

Use the Bends tab to set the bending cut position on the rails and the profiles for the bent rails parts.

Bend profile


Option	Description
Bend	Define the bend rail profile by selecting it from the profile catalog. Created only if you have set the closure bend cuts to both side cut, left side cut, or right side cut on the Rails tab.
90 degree	Define the rail profile by selecting it from the profile catalog. Created only if you have set the cut position for the bending to both side cut on the Rails or Middle Rails tab.


Option	Description	Default
Pos_No	Prefix and start number for the part position number. Some components have a second row of fields where you can enter the assembly position number.	The default part start number is defined in the Components settings in File menu > Settings > Options.
Material	Material grade.	The default material is defined in the Part material box in the Components settings in File menu > Settings > Options.
Name	Name that is shown in drawings and reports.
Class	Part class number.
Finish	Describes how the part surface has been treated.

Bend dimensions


Option	Description	Default
1	Bending radius for the rail parts.	`50 mm`
2	Cut distance along the rails on the right side of the bending.	`75 mm`
3	Cut distance along the rails on the left side of the bending.	`75 mm`

Welds

Click the link below to find out more:

Create welds