CAD Training Material

Computer-aided design (CAD) is a powerful tool for creating and modifying drawings of various structures and objects. CAD software allows you to design, visualize, analyze, and document your projects in a digital environment. One of the applications of CAD is in the field of barrier design, which involves the creation of handrails, balustrades, and other types of barriers that provide safety, support, and separation for people and spaces.

Handrails are rails that offer a handhold on stairs, ramps, walkways, or platforms. Balustrades are handrails supported by vertical posts or balusters. Barriers are any structures that prevent people from falling off the edge of a stairway, balcony, deck, or other elevated surface. Barrier design requires a thorough understanding of the relevant standards and regulations, as well as the materials, components, geometry, and loads of the system.

This training material will teach you the basics of barrier design using CAD software. You will learn how to:

- Identify the different types of handrails, balustrades, and barriers and their functions

- Understand the Australian standards and regulations for barrier design

- Choose the appropriate materials and components for your barrier system

- Draw and modify handrails, balustrades, and barriers using Tekla

- Analyze and test your barrier system for strength, stability, and compliance

- Document and present your barrier design using CAD software

By the end of this training material, you will be able to design and create effective and compliant handrails, balustrades, and barriers using Tekla.

Pipe Types

Type of Pipe	Associated Codes	Where it’s Applied	Description
Standard 40Nb	MD504 (Straight) MD598 (Rolled) MD599 (Custom Bend)	Majority of jobs	40Nb pipe is the standard pipe used on products at Moddex. 40Nb pipe is steel/grade C250 that has a protective coating of G390 Hot-dip Galvanized.
Powdercoated ZP & PC	MDxxxPC P & F (ZP & PC) PO (ZP & PC)	Powdercoat can be applied to jobs on customer request	ZP & PC is used on black pipe. The pipe is sprayed with Zinc Prime (ZP) and then powdercoated (PC). P & F stands for Pipes and Fittings PO stands for Pipes Only
Powdercoated HDG & PC	MDxxxPC P & F (HDG & PC) PO (HDG & PC)	Powdercoat can be applied to jobs on customer request	HDG & PC is used on pipe that has been or will be hot-dipped galvanized (HDG), and then gets powdercoated (PC). P & F stands for Pipes and Fittings PO stands for Pipes Only
Green	N/A	Used for when creating bent pipe that has a tail less than 170mm or a front less than 50mm	Green essentially means additional pipe length which is used on pipes that won’t be able to be bent in the bender. Green is also used on rolled pipes to allow the machines to roll the pipe.
Black	MD504B (Straight) MD598B (Rolled) MD599B (Custom Bend)	All fabricated products	Black is applied to any pipe that is going to be fabricated. This pipe has not yet been galvanized. Black pipe is steel/grade C350.
Rolled	MD498.T4 (Aluminium) MD598 (HDG) MD698-10 (Stainless Steel)	Used typically on any curved surface Examples includes footpaths, skateparks, and silos	Rolled pipe/tube is outsourced and not rolled by Moddex. Because of this, rolled pipe/tube has its own booklet that is sent to the company that’s outsourced. Rolled pipe/tube has an additional 300mm of green on both ends, this is so that it can be rolled. With double span TR we can use a MD201.48 as a top fitting to allow the rolled pipe to run through, as long as the rolled pipe doesn’t have a dramatic radius.
Aluminium	MD404.T6 (Straight/Stanchion) MD498.T4 (Rolled) MD499.T4 (Custom Bend)	Aluminium can be applied to jobs on customer request	Aluminium pipe comes in 2 different aging processes, T6 which is used just as straight pipe, and T4 which is used for rolling and bending. Jobs using aluminium pipe will need to also use aluminium 300 series fittings.
Stainless Steel	TUFFRAIL MD604 (Straight) MD698 (Rolled) MD699 (Custom bend) Other 50.8.TUBE.LENGTH (Straight) 50.8.ROLLED.LENGTH (Rolled) 50.8.BEND.LENGTH (Custom Bend)	Stainless Steel can be applied to jobs on customer request	When used with TUFFRAIL, stainless steel pipe is used at a diameter of 48.3mm With this size pipe, Moddex 600 series fittings are used. When used with ASSISTRAIL, stainless steel tube is used at a diameter of 50.8mm x 1.6mm Stainless Steel tube will need to use custom fittings (Hammersmith) as Moddex does not supply standard parts for this type of tube.
Heavy Duty	MD504HD MD504.6500HD MD504B.6500HD	Stanchions that are supporting CB panels with an overall height equal to or larger than 1500mm	Heavy Duty pipes are only used as stanchions and can fit standard Moddex 100 & 200 series fittings.
50Nb	MD505 (Straight Med) MD505H (Straight Heavy Wall) MD505R (Rolled Heavy Wall) MD509H (Custom Bend Heavy Wall)	Top rail of Bridgerail	50Nb is used mainly as the top rail of Bridgerail to follow AS5100, standard bridge design.
32Nb	MD503 (Straight) MD592 (Rolled) MD593 (Custom Bend)	32Nb pipes are used mainly in AR jobs that involve VIC primary schools which also means it has a max rail height of 880mm, and if a lower handrail is required, 680mm	32Nb pipe are only used as handrail, not stanchions. They have their own pipe fittings that are standard Moddex parts. In schools we only use 32Nb on double rail systems, this includes; AR110, AR120, AR130, AR140, AR160, CB50, and CB55.
Extra Light	MD504.6500XL	Used for extending MD201.48 and MD748.42 as a combo	Extra light pipe is used in-between a MD201.48 and MD748.42 to extend the swivel railing bracket out when required.