This tool creates new space covering objects based on the geometry of the space objects in the model. These covering objects are useful for quantity take-off, 4D simulations and many other use cases.
The logic of this tool is as follows:
After the tool in run the newly created covering objects are shown in the Objects palette under Covering. The covering objects are 3D objects, just like all other objects. You visualize them in the 3D window and see their properties in the Properties palette. Each covering gets the following properties:
In addition each covering object has a relationship to the space it was created from and to the building element it is adjacent to (if a building element was found). These relationships can be used to copy any information from the space and building element to the covering object. This can be done using a template to copy information. When you copy the information you should use the following notations
The recommended approach is to create a template that runs the tool, adds the properties you need to the covering objects and finally copies values from the space and building element to those properties. You can then also colorize the coverings based on their properties for a better visual feedback. You can download a sample of such a template here. The sample shows how to run the tool, add your own properties, populate the properties and colorize the coverings based on those properties. It is easy for you to adjust this sample to your own use cases.
Covering objects are great for example for quantity take-off. Instead of using for example a 'Walls Area' property of the space object, you can use the covering objects for calculating the wall areas e.g. for painting. This allows you to better visualize and understand the quantities you are calculating. It also allows you to be more precise, for example calculating all areas for gypsum board walls in certain kind of office spaces vs. for example brick walls in corridors.
Space coverings are also useful for 4D simulations, where you can use the covering objects instead of the space objects. You can visualize in detail which surfaces are worked on; floors, ceilings and walls.
Sometimes your model may already have separately modeled coverings for example in bathrooms where you may have different materials against the same wall. In this case you can exclude those objects when you create the space coverings and then use a combination of modeled and generated coverings.
When you export a new IFC file the coverings are exported as IfcCovering objects and can be viewed and used in any application that supports IFC. If you do not wish to export the covering objects, please exclude them before exporting.