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Contact Information
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Frequently
Asked Questions
1. What are the system requirements? 2. Is there a special price when a new code is published? 3. How does Plan Analyst handle local code requirements? 4. How much time does it take to create an analysis report? 5. How wide spread is the use of Plan Analyst? 6. How and when is Plan Analyst shipped? 7. What is the input procedure for an addition? 8. How do I enter an interior remodel? 9. How do I decide how many fire walls to enter? 10. How do I decide how many areas to enter? 11. What if the name of an area is not on the list? 12. When do I use the suite input option?
1. What are the system requirements? Plan analyst does not have any huge system requirements. It will run on any computer using Windows 95, NT, 98, 2000 or XP. Plan Analyst does require about 5 meg available on your hard drive.
2. Is there a special price when a new code is published? Yes. Every time a new version of Plan Analyst is published, you will be notified and offered the new version at a special reduced price. Updates are complete new programs at update prices. To see the current special prices for existing users, go to the order form for update users.
3. How does Plan Analyst handle local code requirements? All of the questions in the check list and most of the analysis report items are stored in files that can be edited. You also have the ability to add code requirements and to add to the check list. You can make these changes permanent by changing the data file using the setup section of Plan Analyst or you can edit specific reports for special conditions.
4. How much time does it take to create an analysis report? The input (project description) for a project can take from several minutes to 30 minutes depending on the complexity of the project. For example, a 20 story office building can be evaluated in about 20 minutes. After the description is entered, the analysis report is created in seconds.
5. How wide spread is the use of Plan Analyst? Plan Analyst has been on the market since 1986. Since then, thousands of offices have purchased Plan Analyst making it the most widely used technical tool for code studies and plan checks available. We have users in all 50 states and around the world. Most of our customers have purchased upgrades and/or multiple versions through the years leading to over 10,000 versions sold. Code studies and plan checks for thousands of projects are completed every day using Plan Analyst.
6. How and when is Plan Analyst shipped? We ship using USPS (Post Office). All orders are shipped within 5 working days by Priority Mail (2 to 3 day service) unless Express Mail (next day service) is requested. Plan Analyst is shipped on CD and includes a users manual.
7. What is the input procedure for an addition? When the floor area of a building is expanded, the allowable area must be recalculated. Enter the entire building (existing and new). Plan Analyst will calculate the allowable area based on the expanded floor area and the changes in the distance to property lines. If the addition exits through the existing area or the existing building is being remodeled, enter the entire building like a new building. If the addition does not exit through the existing building, you do not need to enter details of the existing building. Select the number of areas needed to describe the addition plus one area for the existing building. When entering the existing building, just change the "Name of the Area:" on the area input form to "Existing".
8. How do I enter an interior remodel? If the remodel does not change the use, click the 'Yes' button when asked "Interior finish or remodel only?". This will limit the input and reports to the information needed for a code study for an interior finish only. If the remodel or interior finish changes the use, we recommend that you click 'No'. The allowable area, type of construction, exterior walls, etc. will then be checked for the new use.
9. How do I decide how many fire walls to enter? UBC users -- Fire walls are the same as area separation walls. The IBC uses the term fire wall instead of area separation wall which matches the NBC and SBC. This is for allowable area only. If you have a large building that does not qualify for the unlimited area provisions, the building may need to be divided into separate buildings using "fire walls". Plan analyst will calculate all other fire walls/barriers required by the use of the building. You do not need to figure that you have two different uses so a fire wall and or barrier is needed. Plan Analyst will do this for you. Plan Analyst will loop through the entire input for each section (building).
10. How do I decide how many areas to enter? You should input at least one area for each different type of use. For example, if you have an office area, a retail area and a storage area, the minimum number of areas would be 3. If the office area has 10 offices, you must decide the level of detail that you need. If you want to see the exiting requirements for each office, you would select 12 areas. (10 offices plus the retail area and the storage area). If all of the offices are small and you know that there are no special exiting requirements for the individual offices, you can select 3 areas (office, retail and storage). If one of the offices is big and you would like to see the exiting requirements for it but don't need details on the rest select 4 areas.
11. What if the name of an area is not on the list? Plan Analyst contains a large use list, however, we have not included any names that require our own interpretations. If you encounter a use that is not on the list, choose one that has the same number of occupants per square foot and has the same conditions. You can then change the name of the area and any other defaults to match your actual area/use. Toilet rooms are a good example. This use is not listed in the occupancy tables of the code so we have not included it in our list. The occupant load factor could be interpreted many ways. 100 sqft/occ in small offices, 50 sqft/occ in large offices (similar to a locker room) or even 15 sqft/occ in an assembly building where lines may form. This allows Plan Analyst to cover even the most unique situation without compromising your interpretation.
12. When do I use the suite input option? Plan Analyst will provide details on the exiting from each area and each floor. You select the suite option when several rooms or areas share the same exit system. You will also see the exiting requirements for this area. Example: If you have two offices and a conference room that share a corridor, enter the same suite/area number for these three areas. After the entire floor is described, you will be asked for the name of this area. The report will show the exiting requirements for this area in addition to each area and the entire floor.
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