BREVe2 (BS6399-2:1997) Software

Download

Build History

Introduction

BREVe2 automates the design wind speed and dynamic pressure clauses for any site on the UK National Grid.

ActiveX technology allows you to embed the power of BREVe2 into any compatible application, including Excel spreadsheets.

Who is using it

	BREVe2 is used by MetSec’s Metspec7 design program for portal-frame buildings.
	CADS Smart Portal portal-frame building design program makes use of the power of BREVe
	Wards Building Components have developed a program called Wards Application Manager for portal frame building design Other companies have BREVe2-enabled software under development You can easily embed the power of BREVe2 into your own VB, C or Delphi applications, MS Word documents and MS Excel spreadsheets
Roofconsult, a UK-based organisation providing design advice to designers and installers of flat and pitched roofs, is using BREVe2 in an uplift calculation spreadsheet that they provide to clients. They also have an easy-to-use online calculator that gives conservative design wind speeds for certain major towns in the UK.

What BREVe2 does

BREVe2 automates the design wind speed methods in British Standard BS6399-2:1997 Loading for buildings. Code of practice for wind loads, 1997 for any site in the UK (excluding Northern Ireland).

BREVe2 reports design wind speed and dynamic pressure from both the standard and directional methods of BS6399-2, the hybrid method of BRE Digest 436, as recommended by DETR, and the full method of the BRE Designer's guide to wind loading of building structures, from which BS6399-2:1997 was derived. BREVe2 also reports the mean wind speed and turbulence intensity for use in dynamic design.

The BREVe2 Application gives the user full site control and reporting of all BS6399-2:1997 methods in a stand-alone program. See example of Hybrid method.

Alternatively, the user may integrate all the BREVe2 functions directly into other applications, including Microsoft Word documents or Excel spreadsheets, using the BREVe2 ActiveX component.

The BREVe2 Application and ActiveX control will list all the intermediate parameters used in obtaining the result

How BREVe2 does it

From just the National Grid reference, BREVe2 determines the site parameters automatically from extensive databases of ground roughness, altitude and topographic slope to a resolution of 1km for sites anywhere on the UK National Grid. Plymouth Mountbatten example.

The Automatic Wizard adjusts the site exposure and topography to give the optimum safe results within each 1km grid square without any need for the user to enter data. Alternatively, the Manual Wizard offers a series of standard choices to obtain only such additional information as is needed about the site to refine the site location to 100m resolution. The safe choice used by the Automatic Wizard is always pre-selected. See example.

The Site Editor allows all the site parameters to be adjusted individually and parameters for sites outside the UK to be entered by hand.

Key improvements from Version 1

BREVe2 still uses the BRE database of roughness categories from the Designer's guide, but the rules for significant roughness changes have been upgraded to comply with BRE Digest 436.

Automation has been improved by a new Ordnance Survey database of maximum slope in each 1km square that allows BREVe2 to define the optimum topography for the 1km square, irrespective of direction. The user may refine this by entering the directional topographic parameters using the Site Editor.

BREVe2 now gives a low-cost option of safe results to 1km resolution only.

Reporting has been improved by formatting the report, which may be printed or written to file.

The new "engine" of BREVe2 is an ActiveX component. This component can now be integrated into any compatible software, including spreadsheets such as Excel, allowing the user to integrate BREVe2 into customized applications.

Instructions and support

BREVe2 comes with a comprehensive on-line context-sensitive Help system, covering all aspects of the BREVe2 Application and the ActiveX component.

Examples of using the ActiveX component in Excel and in Delphi are also provided, including the example source code.

Support for BREVe2 is provided through a telephone help-line or by email free of charge for one year from registration. However, we reserve the right to charge an agreed consultancy rate for any additional support and advice that is not directly connected with the operation of BREVe2.

Support for developers holding a Development and Distribution licence will be provided free of charge for the duration of the licence agreement.

System requirements

BREVe2 requires Microsoft Windows 95, 98, NT or ME.

BREVe2 should always be installed from the distributed install package to that the essential ActiveX components are properly registered with the Windows system

Install package includes Windows-compliant Uninstall for full removal

BREVe2 requires registration if purchased for use on a single PC. This registration may be freely transferred between PCs, for example to a new PC, or between PC and Laptop.

"Registered Applications", developed by developers holding a Development and Distribution licence will run without needing registration.

Windows XP Compatibility Issues

In Windows XP the application may not load or run properly if the default printer is a network printer. To avoid this problem ensure that the system default printer is set to a local printer. If you do not have a local printer, install any printer driver and set it as a local printer even if it is not used.

Update policy

Although we are not obliged to update BREVe2, our policy will be to correct any defects and to include any amendments to BS6399-2:1997.

We reserve the right to charge a fee for any update that extends the functionality of BREVe2 or is required as a result of a revision of BS6399-2:1997.

Updates are posted on this web site for download. The download page includes a full listing of changes made to the software.

Check the download page at intervals to ensure that you have the most up to date version.

Access levels

BREVe2 is available with two levels of data support:

1. Semi-automatic Using BRE ground roughness and safe site wind speed databases (no OS data), requiring manual input of topography information.
2. Fully-automatic Using BRE ground roughness and base wind speed databases, Ordnance Survey altitude and slope databases at 1km resolution.

Four levels of reporting are available for each level of data support. Fees for single users are given below. (Note: All of the fees are subject to VAT.)

1. Single safe automatic value / £50 semi /£120 full
2. Directional safe automatic values / £100 semi / £170 full
3. Manual Wizard, full adjustment but no storage / £150 semi / £220 full
4. Full access and Designer's guide values / £230 semi / £300 full

Fees for network use and Licensed Applications are set by negotiation.