ICON Quote System
The ICON Quote System or IQS is a FREE web-based ClickOnce program that allows individuals to create varying designs of metal buildings online, view a Real-time 3D rendering, and retrieve a set of plans via PDF, developed by ACEROCAD-CTS, licensed and distributed by ICON Technology. The base platform was originally Released in 2005 as QuotePlus, IQS is now the only online solid modeling quote system for metal buildings. Using a parametric feature based modeler the software CREATES shop drawings based on the real-time calculations. In mid 2008, The IQS version of ACEROCAD-CTS was released worldwide for public use.
IQS allows users to easily view, manipulate, expand, add components, add bays and openings, add canopies, add parapets, select desired colors, and along with other option to tailor a building to the user’s needs. IQS also includes support for multiple video rendering types to keep pc limitation low and usability high. (DirectX, Graphics Device Interface, OpenGL) IQS is used publicly to rapidly create the design of a metal building with the desired dimensions.
Stefan Schumacher of Metal Construction news states you can "design and price an array of PEMB box buildings, including airplane hangars".
ACEROCAD-CTS is the backbone of IQS (ICON Quote System) and it is a fusion of some of the greatest modern programming, engineering and development techniques. Dutch Mathematician and Physicist W. "Dutch" DeZeeuw enabled IQS to perform the same functions as a traditional CAD program without the processing overhead. ICON Technology CIO, David T. Garcia, created the .NET IQS integrated platform that allows the user to quickly navigate through the program "client-side" then serialized requests are handled remotely by a cluster processing system developed initially by ACEROCAD-CTS software developers then later vastly improved by ICON Technology IT Director Matt Fields. Because their inventive work, as of July 1, 2009 Matt Fields will assume the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) position at ACEROCAD, and David Garcia will become ACEROCAD's new Chief Information Officer (CIO), and Director of Programming. This will allow the ACEROCAD-CTS team to continue its work, and R&D for direct ROM based processing in addition to development of high end clustering systems for processing engineering calculations and improvements of rendering capabilities and texture mapping. ACEROCAD-CTS and IQS are currently running on Microsoft's(R) .NET 3.5 platform.
IQS is a distributed process program that updates the user’s operating system to the most current .NET platform (aforementioned) 3.5. Upon the update for existing users the system performs a check to ensure the user’s platform is current, if not IQS directly links the user to Microsoft (seamlessly) to download the latest platform. New users go through a similar process whereby the system is checked for all prerequisites, and installs them prior to installation. This is common to ClickOnce programs.
see see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ClickOnce for more information on how ClickOnce programs are used or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Forms for information on how a Windows Forms application is supported by Microsoft's .NET Framework.
RECENT SYSTEM CHANGES TO IQS
June 7, 2009 - IQS now supports over 200,000 users.
ACEROCAD-CTS and IQS has scheduled the release for multi-storey building design in June 2009.
In conjunction with the IQS development team ACEROCAD-CTS has engineers and developers around the globe working on the code requirements for many parts of the world. Though the United States would seem to be the larger of the markets, recent changes in the economy has pushed the ACEROCAD group to look at the rest of the world. ACEROCAD employs engineers in all corners of the world to keep its system current. Lately the United States has undergone quite a revision in code changes ((IBC 06) (FBC 07) (CBC 07) and others) through the following organizations:
ICC (International Code Council) http://www.iccsafe.org
AISC (American Institute of Steel Construction) http://www.aisc.org
AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute) http://www.steel.org
ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) http://www.asce.org
Many changes followed the adoption of the AISC 05, ASD 13th Edition and the revised 2001 (amended) North American Specification For Design Of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members as published by the AISI.
Specific changes had an effect on most of the computations and ACEROCAD-CTS / IQS follows the latest equations to calculate the C&C (components and cladding) design pressures, edge strip zones, extension loads, wind pressure and suction follows the exact formulas as prescribed by the current code and additionally performs a cross analysis of ASD, LRFD as follows.
- AISC 89 Allowable Stress Design (ASD)
- AISC 05 Allowable Stress Design (ASD)
- AISC 05 Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD)
As an integral part of the structure the cladding and components are considered and calculated to perform based on the codes safety requirements along with outputs of comprehensive calculations and reports that show complete load combinations, results and UC factors/ratios.
CALCULATION OF WIND LOADS ON STRUCTURES ACCORDING TO ASCE 7 & IBC WIND LOADS
Buildings and their components are to be designed to withstand the code-specified wind loads. Calculating wind loads is important in design of the wind force-resisting system, including structural members, components, and cladding, against shear, sliding, overturning, and uplift actions. The design wind loads for buildings and other structures shall be determined according to one of the following procedures.
- Simplified procedure for low-rise simple diaphragm buildings
- Analytical procedure for regular shaped building and structures
- Wind tunnel procedure for geometrically complex buildings and structures *n/a
Method 1 – Simplified Procedure
The simplified procedure is used for determining and applying wind pressures in the design of simple diaphragm buildings with flat, gabled, and hipped roofs and having a mean roof height not exceeding the least horizontal dimension or 60 feet (18.3 m), whichever is less, and subject to additional limitations.
Method 2 – Analytical Procedure
Wind loads for buildings and structures that do not satisfy the conditions for using the simplified procedure can be calculated using the analytical procedure provided that it is a regular shaped building or structure, and it does not have response characteristics making it subject to a cross-wind loading, vortex shedding, instability due to galloping or flutter, or does not have a site location that require special consideration. The steps of analytical procedure, described in ASCE 7 Section 6.5.3
Notes on Changes to the North American Specification for Design of Cold-Formed Steel
The North American Specification is the result of a collaborative effort of the American Iron and Steel Institute Committee on Specifications, the Canadian Standard Association S136 Committee on Specifications, and Camara Nacional de la Industria del Hiero y del Acero (CANACERO) in Mexico. The development of the Specification was coordinated through the North American Specifications Committee, which contained three members each representing AISI’s Committee on Specifications, CSA’s S136 Committee, and Mexico’s CANACERO. AISI Specifications are used as the core document to work from. New or revised provisions were integrated over the last several years to meet the requirements of all three countries, which approved the final consensus. Because the Specification is planned for use in Canada, Mexico and the United States, it was fundamental to widen a format that would allow the use of exclusive requirements in each country. Hence, the result is a platform document, Chapters A through G, intended for use in all three countries, and three country detailed appendices, A through C. The appendices contain items of expansive character, for instance requirements for the design method utilized for each specific country. In future revisions, efforts to minimize these differences in future editions will be a priority. The North American Specification allows for a more integrated treatment of Allowable Strength Design (ASD), Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD), and Limit States Design ([...]). This is accomplished by incorporating appropriate resistance factors (f) for use with LRFD and [...] and the appropriate factors of safety (Ω) for use with ASD.
1. Applicability. The Specification was expanded to be relevant to Canada and Mexico as well as the United States. Most procedural requirements were commonly adapted to the three countries. Country specific appendices applying only to a specific country: Appendix A – United States, Appendix B – Canada, and Appendix C –Mexico.
2. Design Methods. Three design methods are acknowledged: (a) ASD – now termed Allowable Strength Design (b) LRFD – Load and Resistance Factor Design (c) [...] – Limit States Design. ASD and LRFD is limited to the US and Mexico; [...] is limited to Canada. LRFD and [...] are essentially the same except for differences in categorization, load factors, load combinations, and objective reliability indexes. Comparable [...] terminology is shown in brackets throughout the Specification. Since dissimilar target reliabilities are utilized both in the US and Canada, the resistance factors applicable to the US and Mexico differ from Canada within the Specification.
3. Units. Although the majority of the Specification requirements are dimensionless, where not possible - three systems of units are shown: US customary (kilo-pound, inch), SI (Newton, mm), and MKS (kg, cm), which is used in Mexico.
4. Fatigue. Chapter G was created to provide for the design of members and connections subjected to cyclic loading (fatigue).
Technical Change Summaries
1. To the extent it is not possible to determine the strength or stiffness of members and connections from the provisions of Chapters B through G, the designer now has two options: (a.) Tests in accordance with Chapter F or (b.) Rational engineering analysis including sufficient safety and resistance factors for members and connections for use with rational analysis.
2. The terminology was updated and expanded.
3. References to ASTM specifications were updated.
4. These are specified in country specific provisions. For the US, loads and load combinations to the appropriate building code or ASCE 7, and no load combinations are given in the document. Also, in A4.1.2, the use of the 0.75 factor on load combinations for ASD is limited to “the combined effect of two or more loads, excluding dead load.” This has the effect of eliminating the customary 1/3 allowable stress increase on load combinations that include wind. Specific design requirements for ponding were deleted as they are covered by the building codes.
San Antonio Business Journal lists IQS as the program that sets ICON apart in the metal building industry, by allowing users to create their own buildings without architects and designers, on their private computers. Cecilia Bahlmann, wrote "IQS, an advanced technology with user friendly functionality, designed to satisfy customers who want instant pricing".