RAILING

Geometry
You can define geometry of steel railings.

To begin defining a railing, open the Railing dialog from:

Menu: Steel > Parametric structures > Railing

Toolbar: Parametric structures > Railing .

In the drawing area, click to specify a polyline.

Page 1 of 17
All component elements of a railing are comprised in one object as shown:

The polyline on which the railing is based may consists of straight segments or arcs. Straight
segments may be inclined, but they may not be vertical (parallel to Z axis of the UCS). Arcs
must be parallel to the horizontal plane (XY in the UCS).

At the top of the Geometry tab, specify the railing type:

Type 1

Type 2

Type 3

Polyline geometry determines the length of the railing. Because the railing is generated over the
entire length of the polyline, the outer edge of the handrail should be positioned at the beginning
or at the end of the polyline. You can also define offsets (shifts along the polyline) at the
Page 2 of 17
beginnig or at the end of the railing (see the drawing below). If an offset value differs from 0,
then the railing, at its beginning or end, will be extended or shortened with respect to the polyline
length. A positive offset value shortens the handrail, and a negative offset value extends the
handrail. Also, the drawing below displays the possibility of defining the railing offset in the
direction perpendicular to the direction of the defined polyline (the Depth offset parameter).

The remaining railing dimensions can be defined in the dialog as shown (using Type 1 as an
example):

Under Spacing between main posts, calculate spacing of main posts based on either a post
spacing value or a number of posts. Click Modify to recalculate the spacing of posts.

After you finish defining geometry of a railing, click the Profiles tab to display the Railing -
Profiles dialog.

Profiles
Use the options on this tab to select profiles for components of a railing.

Page 3 of 17
Specify parameters of profiles for railing elements: handrails, posts, middle rail, and lower rail.
Lower and middle rails will be generated if the options are selected, and the lists for selection of
profile type and family type become accessible.

Posts are always vertical profiles (in the direction of Z axis of the UCS). The railing may be
shifted perpendicular to the direction of a defined polyline (see further on for description of the
Depth offset option). Posts are set in such a way that the axis of the greater moment of inertia is
positioned in the railing plane.

Profiles of handrails, posts, and rails available on the selection lists are those defined in the
Profile List dialog. To add a profile to the list, click . The Profile list dialog displays,
where you can select a profile.

Page 4 of 17
Profile families available on the selection lists are those defined in the Family Manager dialog.
To add a family to the list, click . The Family manager dialog displays, where you can
select a family.

Note: The profile lists for handrails and rails may include only some profile types (the list is
filtered to include only several profile types). If no profile is provided on the profile selection
list, click and add an appropriate profile type to the profile list in the Profile List dialog.
The following profile types may be included on the profile list:

Handrail - round and rectangular tubes, angles, flat profiles, C-profiles, round profiles
Rails - round and rectangular tubes, angles, flat profiles, round profiles

After you select profiles for individual elements of a railing, click the Details tab to display the
Railing - Details dialog.

Details
Use the options on the Details tab to determine constructional details of handrails and posts

Page 5 of 17
In the upper part of the dialog, select the geometry type for the railing handrail. The handrail is a
continuous profile over the whole polyline length. Posts are trimmed and welded to the handrail
using the workshop or site fillet welds of thickness that you specify under Handrail/Posts Welds.

If the handrail is made of an angle, the handrail position with respect to the post is as displayed
below. If the handrail is made of a flat profile, it is positioned horizontally. For other profile
types, the handrail is set in such a way that the axis of the greater moment of inertia is
perpendicular to the railing plane. The handrail is treated exactly as rails (middle and lower ones)
defined in the railing.

Available handrail types:

Straight - a handrail is cut by a vertical plane at the beginning and at the

Vertical - at the beginning and at the end of a railing, a handrail ends

Page 6 of 17
 Elbow - at the beginning and at the end of a railing, a handrail ends with
a bent part. The bent part may be a segment made of the same profile as the entire
handrail (the Insert knees option not selected) or an additional knee made of the same
profile as the handrail and welded to the handrail using the workshop weld with a
thickness that is equal to the thickness of walls in the railing profiles (the Insert knees
option selected). For this type of handrail end, the length of vertical handrail part L and
radius of handrail bend R are defined.

Ear - at the beginning and at the end of a railing, a handrail ends with
two bent parts. The bent parts may be segments made of the same profile as the entire
handrail (the Insert knees option not selected) or the additional knees made of the same
profile as the handrail and welded to the handrail using the workshop welds with a
thickness that is equal to the thickness of walls in the railing profiles (the Insert knees
option selected). For this type of handrail end, length of vertical handrail part L and
radius of handrail bend R are defined.

Available methods of post ending (connection with the handrail):

- post profiles are trimmed in such a way that the post ending fits the
handrail shape. The post is cut symmetrically on the sides (the cutting planes are
determined by specifying a value of the Alpha angle that must be less than 90 degrees).
Additionally, the dimension B has to be given.

- post profiles are trimmed in such a way that the top surface of a post is
trimmed with a horizontal plane below the handrail. The post is cut symmetrically on the
sides (the cutting planes are determined by specifying a value of the Alpha angle that
must be less than 90 degrees). Additionally, the dimensions B and C have to be given.

Page 7 of 17
 - post profiles are trimmed with a vertical plane. Additionally, the
dimension D (a distance between the post and the handrail) has to be given.

- post profiles are elongated to the level of the horizontal axis of the
handrail, and then are fitted to the handrail shape. Additionally, the dimension E (a
distance between the post and the handrail) has to be given.

- post profiles are cut diagonally at the top, while one of the post sides is
extended to the handrail axis. Additionally, the dimension F has to be given.

Define parameters in the lower part of the dialog:

Cutting of extreme posts - the depth of cutting a post to fit the handrail of a railing
Rotation of intermediate posts - the orientation of the cross-section of intermediate posts

according to the orientation of main posts

perpendicular to the orientation of main posts

After you define the constructional details of the handrail/posts, click the Rails tab to display the
Railing - Rails dialog.

Rails
Use the options on the Rails tab to determine constructional details of railing rails.

Page 8 of 17
Under Rails joining, define parameters of a connection of handrails and rails (intermediate and
lower ones) when the Continuous option is selected under Intermediate rails:

Cut by bisector and welded - rails are cut in such a way that the cutting
plane is a bisector of the angle between the joined rails. The rails are welded by means of
a workshop weld with a thickness that is equal to the thickness of walls in the rails.

Page 9 of 17
 Bent - this is available only to straight and vertical handrail types. Rails
are continuous over the entire polyline length; at points of rail joints the segments are
bent. For this type of a rail joint, the bend radius R is defined.

Elbow - rails are joined by means of additional elbows made of the same
profile as the rail and welded to rails using workshop welds with a thickness equal to the
thickness of walls in the rails. For this type of a rail joint, the bend radius R is defined.

Define parameters for intermediate rails:

Intermittent
o Rails are segments between the successive posts
o The axis of a rail profile is positioned in the railing plane
o Geometry of rail segments is fitted to posts
o Rails are welded to posts by means of workshop fillet welds with a thickness
specified for Weld Th
Continuous if this is selected, the principles of joining the rails are identical to those for
joining the handrails. A rail profile is aligned (facing operation) to the edge of posts and
then welded to posts by means of workshop fillet welds with a thickness specified for
Weld Th. There are 2 possibilities of rail-to-post alignment (facing operation): Front and
Back (in front of or behind the railing plane). The drawing below displays how to
interpret the internal and external surfaces (front and back) of posts for rails made of flat
profiles.
Passing through posts
o The rail profiles are continuous along the length of the polyline that defines the
geometry of the railing
o Posts are drilled or cut in such a way that they fit the shape of rails
o Rails are welded to the external face of posts by means of butt welds of the
specified thickness
o Facing operation options are not available

external internal

Page 10 of 17
a rail passing through posts

For rails made of angles, the alignment (facing operation) is performed differently (see the
drawing below) the horizontal leg of the rail angle is cut to fit the post shape and the whole
angle is welded to the post.

Page 11 of 17
For rails made of angles, rail profiles can be mirrored. If Mirror is selected, the rails made of
angles are positioned as displayed below. The Mirror option is available only for angle profile
types.

Using the options for Flats, you can set the rails vertically or horizontally (see the drawing
below). The options are available only for rails that are intermittent or that pass through posts.

After you define constructional details of rails, click the Intermediate posts tab to display the
Railing - Intermediate posts dialog.

Intermediate Posts
Use the options on the Intermediate posts tab to define constructional details of intermediate
posts of a railing.

Page 12 of 17
The table displays parameters for intermediate posts created in a railing. Values in individual
fields of the table can be edited using the options provided under the table.

After you define constructional details of intermediate posts, click the Fixing tab to display the
Railing - Fixing dialog.

Fixing
Use the options on the Fixing tab to define the details of fixing the railing to the remaining
structure elements.

Page 13 of 17
Posts may be joined to supporting elements selected while starting the Railing macro.

Select a fixing method:

Do not generate after you select this, connections with other structure elements are not
generated and you are able to determine only a value of extension of posts below the zero
level (a negative value of this parameter is treated as the shortening of posts).
Welded posts are cut to fit the supporting elements and welded to them using the site
fillet welds of thickness you specify.
To upper surface posts are joined to supporting elements by a bolted connection (by an
endplate of dimensions defined in the dialog). Endplates are aligned (facing operation) to
the horizontal face of supporting elements; endplates are welded to posts by means of
workshop welds.
To side surface - posts are joined to supporting elements by a bolted connection (by a
circular or rectangular endplate of dimensions defined in the dialog). Endplates are
aligned (facing operation) to the vertical face of supporting elements; endplates are

Page 14 of 17
 welded to posts by means of workshop welds. There are 2 possibilities, depending on the
distance between the post and the face of a supporting profile:
o If distance D is less than (plate thickness + 0.2 in.), the plate is welded to the side
face of a post, as shown.

o If distance D is greater than (plate thickness + 0.2 in.), the post is supplemented
with a horizontal element made of profile identical to the post profile. This
element is welded to the post by means of workshop weld, as shown.

NF P 01-012 posts are trimmed according to the rules of the code NF P 01-012
o Rib - when you use this fixing method, posts are connected (by means of bolts) to
the rib that is welded to the supporting bar. This fixing type can be applied only

Page 15 of 17
 when the shape (I-sections or C-sections) and the position of the supporting bar
make it possible to create the rib. The rib is always connected with the web of the
profile of the supporting bar.

o Angle (internal) - when you use this fixing method, posts are connected with the
profile of the supporting bar by means of an angle that is fixed with bolts to the
web of the supporting bar. This fixing type can be applied only when the shape (I-
sections or C-sections) and the position of the supporting bar make it possible to
place the angle. The angle is always connected with the web of the profile of the
supporting bar.Angles may be set 'before', 'behind', or on both sides of the post in
relation to the initially defined polyline.

o Angle (external) - when you use this fixing method, posts are connected with the
profile of the supporting bar by means of an angle that is welded to the external
edges of the supporting bar. This fixing type can be applied with every type of
profile of the supporting bar, and the angle can be welded to flanges and to any
other surface of the supporting profile. Angles may be set 'before', 'behind', or on
both sides of the post in relation to the initially defined polyline.

Page 16 of 17
 o Plate - when you use this fixing method, posts are connected with the profile of
the supporting bar by means of a plate welded both to the post and to the
supporting profile. This fixing type can be applied with every type of profile of
the supporting bar, and the plate can be welded to flanges and to any other surface
of the supporting profile.

Under Bolts, specify the bolt diameter and grade (the options are available for the last Angle and
Plate fixing types). Click Settings to open the Bolt settings dialog.

After you finish defining the details of joining the railing to structure elements, click the Kick
plates tab to display the Railing Kick plates dialog.

Page 17 of 17