Polygonal niche, recess, slit, opening

Module(s): Basic: Walls, Openings, Components

You can use the Polygonal Niche, Recess, Slit, Opening tool to insert niches, recesses, slits and openings with a polygonal boundary in walls.

Differences between niche - recess - polygonal recess

(1) Niche
(2) Recess
(3) Polygonal niche
(4) Polygonal recess
Fig.: Differences between niche - recess and polygonal niche - recess

Note: As opposed to niches, recesses in vertical surfaces are ignored in quantity takeoff operations.

To create a niche, recess, slit or opening with a polygonal boundary

1. Click Polygonal Niche, Recess, Slit, Opening (How).
   

   Activate Polygonal Niche, Recess, Slit, Opening in one of the following ways

   • Menu bar: Create Architecture Basic: Walls, Openings, Components

   • Palette: Tools Create area in the following module(s):

   Basic: Walls, Openings, Components

2. Click the wall. The system will automatically display the offset between the point you clicked and the nearest reference point (represented by a small arrow). You can accept or change this value. Press ENTER to confirm this value.
3. If you want, you can now change the type and the parameters of the opening.
   Several options are provided on the context toolbar for this.
   

   • Click Properties to set the parameters in a dialog box.
   • Click Match Properties to copy the settings form an existing element.
   • Click Load favorite to select saved parameter combinations.
4. Set the other points for the outline of the recess as you would a polyline.
5. Repeat steps 2 to 4 to draw more free-form recesses. Otherwise, press ESC to quit the tool.

Note: As opposed to niches, recesses in vertical surfaces are ignored in quantity takeoff operations.

Note: For quantity takeoff operations that are compliant with German building regulations, you need to make sure that the openings are within the components.

Tip: Openings applied to vertical surfaces in rooms are not taken into account as these openings will usually be closed later. Consequently, they are not displayed in the animation. Niches, on the other hand, remain open. Consequently, they are taken into account when you apply vertical surfaces and they are also displayed in the animation. To display an opening in the animation, you can enter a wall niche without a rear surface.