# GenXGrid

> Schematic design software for high-rise buildings. From a single building
> description it sizes the structural frame, designs the foundations, lays out
> the building services, measures the cost and derives the construction
> programme — each stage consuming the output of the one before, so the
> figures are consistent with each other.

GenXGrid is a preliminary design tool, not a substitute for a licensed
engineer. Every result it produces states the method it used, the assumptions
behind it, and the condition that would change the answer.

## What it does

- **Structural design** — sizes and code-checks every column, beam, wall and
  slab against ASCE 7 (loads), ACI 318 (concrete) and AISC 360 (steel), and
  reports utilisation per member.
- **Foundation engineering** — designs spread footings, combined footings,
  rafts and bored pile groups from the column reactions produced above.
  Handles layered soil profiles, groundwater, consolidation settlement,
  Broms lateral capacity, simplified liquefaction screening, and negative
  skin friction (downdrag) through consolidating fill.
- **Building services (MEP)** — cooling, heating, ventilation, power and
  water loads from occupancy and facade orientation; plant selected in whole
  units with N+1 standby; ducts and pipes limited by velocity *and* pressure
  gradient; index runs calculated with Darcy-Weisbach and fitting losses
  through to fan and pump duties and specific fan power.
- **Vertical transportation** — up-peak round-trip lift traffic analysis
  using probable-stops and highest-reversal-floor expressions, checked
  against handling-capacity and interval targets, with rise zoning.
- **Fire and public health** — sprinkler hydraulics from the hydraulically
  most remote design area using Hazen-Williams; stair pressurisation checked
  on both closed-door leakage and open-door velocity, with the door-opening
  force limit; foul drainage on discharge units; storm drainage on two design
  storms; multi-compartment smoke spread via a two-layer zone model.
- **Energy** — 8,760-hour annual simulation on a 3R2C dynamic thermal
  network, zone by zone, against measured EPW weather files or a synthetic
  year. Reports EUI, carbon, load factors and unmet hours.
- **Cost estimation** — quantities measured off the designed elements and
  priced from an editable rate library, with regional and escalation factors,
  CSI MasterFormat divisions, and a benchmark band matched to the scope
  actually measured.
- **Construction programme** — work breakdown from the elements, durations
  from quantities over crew productivity, critical path, resource levelling,
  earned value, working calendars with holidays and shift patterns, and a 4D
  view of the frame.
- **Deliverables** — a dimensioned drawing set with title blocks, schedules
  and revisions; IFC4 export with proper classes, profiles and property sets,
  verified to round-trip.

## What it does not do

- Replace a licensed engineer. All output is preliminary.
- Full 3D finite element analysis — the structural model is simplified.
- Connection design and detailing.
- Site investigation — soil values are characteristic, not measured.
- Room-by-room load modelling, or a coordinated services route. The index run
  is a representative path.
- CFD for smoke movement. A two-layer zone model is used, and it states where
  its uniform-layer assumption stops being valid — long corridors, atria with
  balconies, ceiling jets.
- Document workflows: RFIs, submittals, approvals.
- Tenant fit-out beyond Cat A, external works, demolition, professional fees.

## Design codes and methods referenced

ASCE 7, ACI 318, AISC 360, Vesic and Terzaghi bearing capacity, Broms lateral
pile capacity, Seed and Idriss liquefaction screening, Tomlinson equivalent
raft, Fellenius unified pile design, Converse-Labarre group efficiency,
Darcy-Weisbach with Swamee-Jain friction factors, Hazen-Williams, Wyly-Eaton
stack sizing, Barney and dos Santos lift traffic analysis, CIBSE Guide D,
Heskestad plume entrainment, Manning open-channel flow, ASHRAE and CIBSE load
criteria.

## Links

- [Application](https://app.genxgrid.com/): the tool itself.
- [API documentation](https://api.genxgrid.com/docs): OpenAPI reference.
- [Contact](mailto:support@genxtrim.com)