NEW SCREENS, AUTOMATION, WATER GRAPH NOW AVAILABLE ON FIRE SPRINKLER
HYDRAULIC DESIGN SOFTWARE

New versions of the widely used HP4M and HP6M Fire Sprinkler System
Hydraulic Design Programs have been announced by MC2 Engineering Software.
The HP4M program designs grid type sprinkler systems and the HP6M handles
tree and loop systems. The new releases feature totally new screens for
user inputs which run in color or black and white, allow use of function
keys, arrows, the escape key, single stroke input of default values and
many other conveniences. The programs also print expanded semi-log water
graphs of water supply and demand curves of pressure versus flow. Fire
pumps may be included, as the prime water source or together with a street
water source, and are shown on the water graphs.

The new HP4M and HP6M input screens use state-of-the-art technology to
display instant windows of prompts, help messages and reference data.
Function keys allow selection among 17 different pipe material types, and
the program thereafter automatically makes use of correct pipe internal
diameters when nominal diameters are input by the user. The screens
automatically know the equivalent lengths of most fittings in all pipe
sizes, and Hazen-Williams "C" factors for the 17 pipe materials. Other
values for diameters, "C" factors and equivalent lengths may be input by
the user, of course.

The new HP4M and HP6M screens automatically display "default" values for
most inputs, even density and design area based on the hazard
classification of the job. The HP4M automatically suggests pipe sizes for
all lines, below and above ground, based on the dimensions, design area
and height of the system. These selections may be overridden by the user,
of course, through the interactive screens. A schematic diagram of the
system is displayed as well as printed by the HP4M. After first inputs for
a new job, HP4M and HP6M display the inputs for instant change at any
time. The inputs are automatically saved to disk to eliminate the risk of
losing data in a power failure.

Screen prompts are carefully worded to be easily understandable, and over
one hundred "help" and "error" messages are available in each program at
the touch of a function key, to help the user.

All inputs are carefully checked by the program to insure they are
reasonable, and a large part are further checked to make sure they are
sensible in the context of other inputs for the job. The programs are
exceptionally well protected against input errors and will recover from
almost all error situations, usually with clear error messages or
warnings.

The MC2 programs HP4M and HP6M have for more than ten years enjoyed a
reputation as the most easily used hydraulic calculation programs in the
market. The new releases are even more highly automated and "user
friendly". The HP4M program requires only 34 numeric inputs for a typical
"regular" grid system, of which 19 have default values already calculated
and presented by the input screens, thus inputs for a regular system
usually take less than five minutes - an experienced user can make them in
three or four.

The HP4M program automatically sizes the design area and numbers the pipes,
loops and heads in the system. This numbering scheme is displayed and
printed on the schematic diagram of the job. The program automatically
finds the location of the remote head and "proves" it by calculating the
right and left design area offsets. HP4M will even handle systems where
the physically most remote head is farther from the water source than the
head that is hydraulically most remote. Equivalent lengths of fittings are
automatically corrected for the "C" factor in use. NFPA formulas and
methods are followed throughout in the calculations.

The new HP4M input screens facilitate the input of almost any kind of
"irregular" layout - grid systems with elevator wells in the middle of the
building, short lines, missing heads, non-rectangular buildings, branches
on riser nipples, pendant heads on downcomers, and many other variations.
In such cases the program automatically sets up the "regular" system, and
presents a quick-entry screen for the "irregular" pipe sections. The
irregular pipes may be entered globally - all the riser nipples at one
time, for example.

The HP4M allows system design to be easily optimized to take full advantage
of all water pressure available. The user can change near main, far main
and branch line diameters globally - i.e. one entry each - and can quickly
access and change underground, riser and individual overhead pipe section
diameters. This permits smallest possible pipe sizes and therefore lowest
installation cost.

The programs print out flow, pressure and velocity at every point in the
system, from street main to end head. Printouts are exceptionally easily
read and set up for direct presentation to underwriters. They make an
impressive presentation, complete with the names of the design firm and
contractor, as well as the full job description, input and output data,
and the water graph.

The HP4M also includes a printed schematic of the layout, and assists with
costing by printing out a list of pipe and fitting requirements.

The new versions are available for all IBM and "compatible" microcomputers.
They need 448K bytes of RAM and run on either floppy or hard disk
machines, with color or monochrome screens. Almost all dot matrix printers
will handle the output of the programs.

MC2 Engineering Software provides technical service at no charge through a
"hot line" during normal business hours. MC2 also offers the HP3M Hardy
Cross Water Distribution System calculation program for fire water
distribution systems, overhead systems fed through existing grid systems
and many other special applications.

R. S. McClintock, president of MC2, commented that the price of the HP4M
program was being held at the existing level of $995 despite the large
increase in power and convenience of the program. The price of the HP6M
Tree System Design program has been set at $245, although it is available
at substantially less as part of a set with the HP4M alone, or with the
HP4M and the HP3M Hardy Cross program. The set HP3M/HP4M/HP6M is priced at
$1295, and HP4M/HP6M at $1145. Shipment on all three programs is
immediate. Current licensees of HP4M and HP6M can obtain updates at
greatly reduced prices, depending on the date on their current diskettes.

MC2 Engineering Software has been developing and marketing engineering
software for seventeen years. There are now over 7000 users of the
company's programs in over 60 countries around the world. MC2 offers
programs in many engineering disciplines in addition to hydraulics -
Mechanical Engineering, Electrical, Energy Management, Structural
Engineering and Project Management to name a few.

The company is located at 8107 SW 72 Ave., Suite 425, Miami, Florida 33143.
The telephone number is 305-665-0100, and the FAX number 305-665-8035. The
company may be reached on America OnLine as MC2EngSoft, on Compuserve as
75114,3337 and on Internet as 75114.3337@compuserve.com . Functional demos
can be downloaded in AOL:- first select "Go To" then "Search Software
Libraries" then type in "MC2 Engineering."
 
 =========================================================
 From the 'New Product News' Electronic News Service on...
 AOL (Keyword = New Products) and Delphi (GO COMP PROD)
 =========================================================
 This information was processed from data provided by the
 company/author mentioned. For additional details, please
 contact them directly at the address/phone# indicated.
 Trademarks are the property of their respective owners!
 =========================================================
 All submissions for this service should be addressed to:
 BAKER ENTERPRISES,  20 Ferro Dr,  Sewell, NJ  08080  USA
 Email:   rbakerpc@aol.com   --or--   rbakerpc@delphi.com
 =========================================================
