Optional upgrade with mainly import canvas improvements:

• New Zealand and Australia regions now load profiles from both by default

• Numerous improvements to NZ sections on the canvas, including matching of sections if they round to the same dimension as a serial section (e.g. '310UB46' will be matched with 310UB46.2)

• Bug fixes to prevent crashes when handling some import sheets.

• Importing from the canvas now always prompts for the Tcrit method, and uses that method to fill in any blanks.

• Reports by use now have allow for selection of a product for hollows, to better suit the US market. Old reports by use will still load, but use the column product for hollows.

Optional upgrade with minor bug fixes:

- fixed import canvas crash when trying to enter a custom CHS sections

- fixed bug whereby changing sections on MTO Builder could give mismatched section properties when used with search text.

- fixed bug whereby it wasn't possible to scroll through users when managing project visibility

Fixes to minor bugs:

whereby input method was shown as area on first loading, when actually set to length (affected v1.7.1.1b only)

Export report to excel button bug fixed

Simple report formatting fixed, and minor improvements to the technical basis report

Fix to bug introduced in v1.7.1.0 whereby the pen edit mode would not change quantities.

Improvement so that changes to cell beam quantities now affect product quantities.

New ‘Simple Excel Report’ feature available in the options after creating a report. This uses one column per property (a simple table).

New feature: Concrete sections and EN13381-3 certification support added. Concrete sections can now be added via the custom sections menu. Note DFTs will only be given if -3 certification is available.

New feature: Shelf angle sections expanded to include angle pointing up ('L' shape), in addition to the default (pointing downwards)

Improvement: the import canvas has been expanded to include shelf angles and concrete sections, and does not require profile matching to be run before importing (allowing custom only imports)

Improvement: the certificate reference column on reports now shows the issue date (if available)

Bug fix: whereby sections of identical dimensions from different categories could give no section factor when used with a search term.

Bug fix: whereby older CFT certification could fail to give a DFT when loaded with newer certification

New feature: alternative login server based in Australia. Users in Asia had reported issues logging in around 02:00 GMT, coinciding with backup/server update times. To resolve this, an alternative server has been setup in Australia. Users should continue to login via the main server when possible, but an alternative is now available if they experience issues.

New feature: report translations extended to included short messages when no DFT is available (e.g. No cert, <SFmin). At this time only French translations have been added, but users of other languages are encouraged to suggest translations.

New feature: spreading rate column added to report options (m2/L or sq ft/gal)

Improvement: the method of calculation of weight of a cell beam has been modified to align with that used by Westok beams.

Improvement: project load/management screens now default to a limited number of recent jobs to improve performance.

Bug fixes: cell beam in-sheet calculation now correctly updates the advanced Tcrit fields for display on MTO builder, the CB report now can handle more beams and holes, the import canvas now alerts the user when a 4-sided CB has been changed to 3-sided to permit use of RT1356, consecutive CBs on the canvas no longer fail to populate the top and bottom tee columns or default to 4-sided, and a fix has been applied to prevent Polish users experiencing crashes after loading and changing a cell beam.

Bug fixes: whereby report headers could be displayed incorrectly on occasion, entry of cruciform sections could cause a crash, the created date of projects could display incorrectly when searching, consolidation using matched profiles could crash when none were available, and a grade of concrete was incorrectly described in the Tcrit calculator sheet.

Bug fix: whereby the DFT of some cell beams would not update when changing the products loaded. This occurred under specific loading conditions for the advanced calculation method. PFPS will notify owners of any jobs affected.

New feature: hydrocarbon mode. See the updated manual for more info (a quick start guide for hydrocarbon is in progress and will be uploaded soon).

New 3 sided beam calculation methods for top flange exposed beams:

• as per regular 3 sided beam (concrete slab)

• top flange unprotected but exposed to fire (4 sided A/V used)

• top and sides of top flange unprotected but exposed to fire (4 sided A/V used)

• top flange ignored complete (protected area and A/V based on a tee section)

New means of setting the default number of sides for a beam

Modified display options

Improvement: consolidation now keeps the duration (including JF duration) and Tcrit values

Improvement: additional translations added

Bug fix: preventing crash when imported files had every row or column in use (even if invisibly so)

Bug fix: numeric zone names no longer truncated

Cell beam improvement: we have changed our interpretation of flow chart one in EN 13381-9, whereby beams with the failure location known to be the web will not use the given flange temperature to calculate the flange DFT. Typically, such flange temperatures represent the flange temperature at the moment of failure and do not represent a true flange temperature. Note this applies to user-specified failure criteria cell beams only. Note further that beams specified as unknown failure location will continue to use the flange temperature as before.

Improvement: canvas can now import 4 sided section beams if the Tcrit method is not set to advanced calculation

Improvement: Logic has been added to improve the fire standard added to reports. Generally, EN standard projects will state -6 for concrete filled tubes, -9 for cell beams and -10 for rods.

Improvement: Steel grade set to default S355 for UK users (S235 for all other users) on first opening. Thereafter users asked if they want to change grade when changing region on the home page.

Bug fix: whereby some JF scenarios were returning no DFT.

Bug fix: where consolidation would sum the lengths but not set the quantity to 1 when there was only one occurrence of a section.

Bug fixed whereby checks introduced in v1.6.1.3 prevented entry of valid custom sections

Bug fixed whereby custom RHS with different flange and web thicknesses could give wrong Hp/A.

Bug fixed whereby slimflor beam import from canvas could fail.

New feature: check of report vol/weight columns implemented and handy user prompt added to alter report columns without stopping report creation.

New feature: canvas remembers last custom section entered and auto-populates the custom section entry form.

Bug fixed whereby specific products could fail to load

Bug fixed whereby typos with two decimal markers in a dimension could cause import to fail

New feature: project win/loss register added, allowing the user to mark the status of each project and to set the final report. This data will be implemented into the analytics (for full license holders) in the future.

Improvement: advanced and default Tcrit field display simplified. Buttons are available in the main menu to show these columns (instead of the display being based on the Tcrit method selected)

Bugs fixed whereby import of some sections types as 3 sided could give the wrong sides or wrong dimensions

Bug fixed whereby inclusion of tab or return (or similar) characters in text could cause saving to fail.

Bug fixed whereby a some CB dimensions would give an error message during calculation.

Bug fixed whereby Q could give wrong DFTs for rods used as columns when a product with both dedicated EN13381-6 and EN13381-10 was loaded. Users have been informed of any saves affected.

New feature: solid ‘Rectangle’ sections added to custom sections for use as tension rods.

Bug fix whereby computers with windows region setting and windows regional format settings use different decimal markers could cause values to change on load/reporting

Bug fix whereby report recreation could fail for non-English language reports with certain settings.

Bug fix whereby loading SFRM products could crash/fail when ‘SFRM only’ option was selected

Import canvas improvement to display when selecting cells in column A (to reduce occurrence of when the selection does not match the clicked cell).

Custom section entry form now auto-populates the existing working-with section for cell beams, I-sections, CHS, RHS and SHS sections. This makes entry of similar customs sections quicker. A future update will expand this to all custom section types.

Rolled cell beams gross-weight calculation method improved to take account of ribbon-cut method reduced wastage.

Cell beam import now automatically adjusts unrealistic lengths to realistic length (based on the L/H ratio in the settings) and adjusts the quantity accordingly. This maintains the given total surface area and weight, but gives more realistic beams and Tcrit calcs.

Improvements to the cell beam profile matching and implementation of matching cell beams from unmodified UB sections (i.e. UB sections with holes cut in).

Numerous further bug fixes relating to the import of cell beams.

New feature: embodied CO2 calculator for PFP, primers, topcoats and steel now implemented. This allows users to report the embodied CO2 (in kgCO2e/kg) for all products, and also to optimise projects to reduce carbon via comparisons in the optimiser feature.

Improved feature: cell beam entry for basic users has been improved to give access to the cell beam default geometry settings (via the advanced Tcrit option in the main menu) and import from canvas has been set to use the defaults instead of a conservative web post width.

Improved feature: the change-all button now includes the Tcrit modifications with the A/V modifications when changing item to/from bracing.

Improvements: the import canvas section detection logic has been improved to handle more cell beam permutations, profiles with repetition of the code (e.g. “UB” twice) and the custom sections entry has been improved to comma-decimal regions.

Built up boxes can now be made from a wider range of serial sections

Primer and topcoat copy buttons have been improved to fix a couple of bugs and to include the CO2 values

Bug fixed whereby the ‘Use hollow section cert if no rod cert is available” option was not giving a DFT for square rods

v1.6.0.1 fixes a bug introduced in v1.6.0.0 that could cause advanced Tcrit calcs to crash in the optimiser.

A cell beam bug has been fixed. It could give the wrong DFT when an identical section was used above and below a cell beam (bug introduced in v1.5.0.0). All affected users have been notified.

Bracing Tcrit adjustment fixed to occur only when the section factor exceeds the limit

Change-all and pen mode duration adjustments now automatically switch unfilled voids to filled voids when moving from a duration<=90 minutes to >90 minutes.

Returning from the Tcrit editor sheet will now re-run a calculation to capture any changes that have been made. To return without changing the original settings use ‘Back’ at the top of the page.

Bug fixed whereby non-integer quantities could be imported (introduced in 1.5.4.1)

Improved logic to handle numbers from text when importing from files. Logic will now handle text strings using the alternative decimal mark (comma or dot) and handle text that contains both, with one used as a thousands separator.

Default Tcrit from guidance improved for various occupancy types, updating previous conservative values with those from Yellow Book Table 16.

Improved logic on start-up when unable to establish a connection with the server. Re-try is permitted to avoid forced closure due to minor network interruptions.

Custom section entry bug fixed whereby Quantifire could crash in comma-decimal regions

Quantifire Web Reporting (Beta Feature) Added

Only available to invited users (primary users from full license holders) pending feedback before a wider release

Improvement to pen edit mode: cell beams DFTs are no longer recalculated if only non-relevant fields are changed (e.g. comment)

Bug fixes:

2FA bug fixed whereby clicking to login twice before checking for emails could cause an issue

Toe-to-toe channels dimensions fixed

Crash on toe-to-toe channels when using wrong decimal separator fixed

Digital certificate now reinstated (our apologies for the absence of the certificate with v1.5.3.1, which was caused by supplier and customs delays outside of our control)

Bug fixes:

• Fixed crash in profile matching that could occur when a profile has a category code at the end

• Fixed report crash bug for certain custom notes

• Fixed incorrect A/P re-calc when toggling on/off pen mode

Bug fixes:

• CB product change re-calc crash fixed for beams with very high utilisation ratio

• Asymmetrical BUP surface area and section factor bug fixed

Custom section improvements

• I sections and RHS sections can now be built from back-to-back or toe-to-toe channels

• Built up boxes can now be entered using the web spacing or the flange outstand

Date and time improvements

• Format of date and times standardised as yyyy/mm/dd hh:MM:ss

• All dates and times now adjust to local time, instead of showing UTC

Reporting Improvements:

• New feature: Users can now save up to 3 custom notes, and the maximum length has been extended to 600 characters each. This will remove the need for users to enter their own notes every time.

• Bug fixed whereby Report ID was not showing.

• Duplication of section type removed (e.g. “CB CB 533x…” now “CB 533x…)

Product selector improvements

• UL1709 certificates now display the applicable Tcrit and SF range, along with the scope, to help users distinguish between multiple certificates for a product

• HC products with jet fire are now shaded orange

• Products in a private database are now marked with the same shield sign used in the Quantifire Web Service (to increase clarity for users of both)

Import canvas improvements:

• Westok beam sheet compatibility expanded to include sheets with additional columns. Reset of matched columns will now prompt the user if a Westok sheet match is detected and give the option of assigning columns to fit the template

• Basic checking of cell beam hole dimensions has been added to the import – alerting the user if holes are unrealistically big (note that the import will still run, this is only to guide the user)

• Bug fix on the option to set the area column as individual or total (it was accidentally disabled in v1.5.2.0) and minor editorial improvement to column header form to guide user to set top and bottom tees (cell beams only) as the designation, not the depth.

General improvements

• Bug fixed whereby LT users would get an error message on loading

• Class 4 Tcrit calculation internal verification study complete. Please note that class 4 calcs remain outside the scope of our 4rd party verification study, and the note in the options has been updated to reflect this. Class 4 Tcrit calcs have now been applied to the optimiser.

• Clarification added when saving that going back to the Home page to create/edit products does not lose the MTO data. Users can create/edit a project during an MTO and then assign the MTO to it later.

• The CB tee finder now clears previous options if an invalid size is entered

• A bug has been fixed whereby the total area and individual section length would be out of sync when entering using area with a quantity greater than one.

Import canvas improvements:

• New feature: ability to use custom section terms to help match serial sections. If enabled, any section that includes some custom text will search within all serial section categories of the same shape. This will increase the chance of a serial match and reduce the occurrence of serial sections returning custom profiles.

• Improved logic for European sections (HEA,HEM,IPE, etc.) to show them as green when a good match is found

• Import now checks the file extension and warns the user if it is an unsupported type

• Bug fixed whereby selecting to use realistic length when importing using advanced Tcrit calcs (for sections outside 3-30m) was changing all section thereafter instead of only sections outside the range. Also extended from 3m down to 2m.

• Bug fixed whereby setting zone location was fixed on Auto

• Bug fixed whereby custom cell beams would import but fail to save when used with certain decking configurations.

Advanced Tcrit calc improvements:

• The user can now choose how to handle lengths that exceed the inherent maximum limitations in Quantifire Tcrit calcs (this does not apply to cell beams) by choosing whether to use the maximum permitted length (a conservative option) or the default length (this is set by default)

• The maximum length for beams has been modified from 18m to be the greater of 18m or 30x the beam depth. It has been retained as 8m for columns.

• More prominence has been given to the inherent length limits in the Quantifire Tcrit calculations: the used length is now displayed on the structural report and the user is informed via a message of the used length when assessing a beam using the CCT Calculator page.

Reporting Improvements:

• New feature: the revision number is no longer used as a unique identifier (in combination with the save ID). Now a unique report reference is displayed in the footer for traceability, and the user is able to manually set the revision number, permitting modifications to past revisions without the need to increment the revision number.

• Prepared for now hidden on the report page if blank and if there is the risk of text being obscured

• Bug fixed whereby the totals and summaries would not show if every report column was used (introduced in v1.5.0.0)

• DFT and WFT values in microns or mils are now set to 0 decimal places instead of the report-wide general setting

• Technical schedule report button size and positioning fixed

General improvements

• Two-factor authentication implemented

• Built up box and shelf item bug fixed whereby “.” decimals were being entered even when the system is set to “,”

• Clarification on how to create/edit projects added to note when assigning a play mode MTO to a project

• User alert added when an apostrophe is used in project or package details (this is a forbidden character)

Import canvas improvements:

• Import canvas zones auto location setting (using in-row if present and if the column is not also used for another property, or assuming headers otherwise)

• Imperial unit support improved: custom section dimension units can now be entered in inches on the canvas

• Improved logic for better matching of North American and imperial unit designation sections

• Import of Westok-format cellbeam files has been improved to match the correct top and bottom tees (instead of assuming the most symmetrical option).

Custom sections on MTO Builder can now be entered with imperial dimensions

The Getting Start page has been changed to the Home page to reflect a significant change to the layout of project and MTO controls. Users are now given specific buttons for the tasks they want to do (such as create projects, start a new MTO, load an MTO) to help users navigate Quantifire

The route to loading an MTO has been made a little simpler. When a project does not have packages the user no longer has to go through this stage to get to an MTO. Packages that are empty (or ‘N/A’) are treated as invisible and will not appear on the MTO Builder page or on reports

The MTO Builder page now shows the project (and package name if relevant) and the Save ID, making it clear to users what they are working on

The reports have been improved:

• Logos have been moved out of headers and footers, to prevent printer settings from scaling these (and causing reports to look wrong)

• The reference (if applicable), revision number and date have been moved to headers, allowing reduced white space at the top of a report

• The report has been changed to fit ‘letter’ paper size by default. Previously it was A4, meaning printing as letter caused the columns to spill over multiple pages. Reports can still be printed as A4 without issue, giving only a slightly wider margin on the right

• The Quantifire logo has been removed form reports

• Export to excel has been improved and now inserts the company logo (if applicable)

The cell beam calculation routine has been improved to (significantly) speed up the calculations when multiple products are loaded.

When UL1709 products are loaded the user is now prompted to set the UL specific options (such as the single thickness mode) to prevent the need to go into the advanced settings each time

The steel section database has been expanded to include additional US and NZ sections

Bug fix: the user-set temperature during import and change-all is now compatible with Fahrenheit

Bug fix: changing the length of cell beam via the pen mode could result in beam surface area not being updated

Manual and quick start guide 1 updated

New feature: manual DFT override. Users with permission can use the pen button to directly edit DFTs on MTO builder. Edited DFTs are then frozen and not recalculated unless the freeze is removed. Note that Quantifire marks edited DFTs on the report by default and saves record whether DFTs were manually changed.

This has been implemented to accommodate (mainly HC) users who may work with non certified assessments for items such as vessels or cryogenic spill. Company administrators may choose to enable this feature for individual users.

New feature: Westok cell beam standard schedule import. Quantifire will now detect a standard (unmodified) Westok beam list and set the import fields accordingly.

New permissions implemented: in additional to the manual DFT override, companies can now determine which users can view privately held DFT tables

Recovery improved: the reset (and recover button) now gives an improved recovery file that imports directly into Quantifire via the canvas.

Bug fixes:

• Imperial units Tcrit bug fixed whereby Tcrits would round away from the original value when turning off the pen mode

• Custom sections will no longer override bracing section factors when the pen mode is used

• Invalid dimensions (too high to save) are now caught before sending the job to save

• Optimiser crashes in comma decimal regions resolved

Minor improvements, including such as editorial corrections and adjustments to canvas to better pick up steel grade and comments.

New feature: the text used to detect (and build) custom sections when using profile matching on the canvas can now be saved for each user individually, allowing users to set text relevant to their region.

New feature: the setting of default Tcrit values has been improved. Temperatures for different shapes and uses are now shown for each option and users can individually modify temperatures for shapes and uses (subject to user permissions) allowing a range of user-set Tcrits without the need to change them manually between sections.

Please note the Quantifire Terms and Conditions of Use have been updated.

Fixed bug introduced in v1.4.0.1 that could cause the optimiser to crash when recalculating Tcrits

Shelf angles (entered as a custom section) now accommodate upwards pointing angles, permitted greater concrete encasement depths

The saving method has been overhauled to be faster. In the (hopefully nonexistent) event of failure a backup file is saved for PFP Specialists to investigate and resolve.

The import canvas has been improved:

• Profile-matching logic improved to pick up sections as serials when a duplicated dimension is not given (e.g. SHS 140×4 or L 120×8 will now be recognised as serials)

• Profile matching without category names has been similarly improved to handle duplicate dimensions in either the given profile or the Quantifire serial section

• The above improvements have allowed new defaults added to the custom section builder without reducing the number of serial matches (“L”,”pipe”,”HSS”)

• The “Use canvas” area has been adjusted, to fix a bug that could occur when 4 sided beams were imported with length set as totals

Precision of dimensions has been increased behind the scenes to prevent 1-micron rounding errors when entering by area or weight

Custom section entry with non-system decimal separators (e.g. use of “.” in Europe) can give unrealistic dimensions, a warning message has been added if the wrong decimal is detected in European regions

Further improvements made to imperial unit display and display of DFTs (improved rounding for on-screen and improved display as fractions)

Improvements and bug fixes made to divisional calculations and entry of bulkheads and decks

Quantifire has now been expanded to include cementitious fire protection. The focus is initially on the UL1709 market in North America, hence the term SFRM (spray applied fire resistant material) is used. A update to the User Guide will accompany this version to explain more on how to use SFRMs in Quantifire, the bd-ft/bag measure used for quantity calculations, and how a certificate can be specific to a box design or a contour design.

Accompanying SFRMs, the US imperial units available in Quantifire have undergone some improvements to make them more available in reports and menus. Product DFTs can also now be displayed in fractions (base 1/16) to match UL certificates.

The system page has undergone improvements. The user can now choose whether materials are sold by weight or by volume, allowing different products to be compared more easily. Conversion between units now converts values entered automatically. Density can now been changed for all products.

The product selector window now allows the user to filter product type and to list only their own products, making product selection a little quicker and easier

Some bugs fixed, including a rare bug that could put the DFTs in the wrong place when changing products after cell beam after

The change all has been improved to now include all sides options, and a couple of extra side options have been added. Cell beams can also now be switched between 3 and 4 sided exposure (4 sided available only with user-specified Tcrit). Change all can now recalculate temperatures for all sections without changing or updating the Tcrit method (previously, temperature updates were limited to one method of Tcrit calculation that had to be set manually).

The import canvas has had a couple of minor improvements to the column matching logic and the profile matching window (the latter now remembers the profile types previously selected when opened).

Finally, some changes have been made for compatibility with the Quantifire Web Service (QWS), about to be launched. More information will follow on QWS soon.

Note 1.3.2.1 fixed a bug introduced in 1.3.2.0 that would prevent import when starting with a blank canvas

An new method of calculating the DFT for a concrete filled tube (C.F.T.) has been implemented. Previous certificates continue to give DFTs based on the section factor method, however new certificates give DFTs on a wall thickness and tube diameter (or side length) basis.

Cell beams can now be re-dimensioned after entry. The length can now be changed using the pen mode, change-all button or in the CB calculator sheet. The main menu advanced settings now contain extra options on when to regenerate holes (if the length is increased) and whether to maintain the end post (when increasing of decreasing length)

A new method of calculation load combination has been added for compatibility with Eurocode national annexes (e.g. Poland) that require using the smallest of Eq. 6.10a and 6.10b in EN 1993.

System and pricing bug fixes / improvements:

• Improved handling of comma decimals in the pricing menu

• Appropriate use of kg or L in the price per unit summary on reports

• An ‘apply to all products’ button has been added to speed entry of system details across multiple products

Note that jet fire data will no longer load correctly in older versions due to a change implemented in this version to handle new types of certificate

The Eurocode method for calculation of class 4 sections has been improved and internal checks are complete. However please note: it is currently undergoing a 3rd party verification study and use of the method is not recommended at this time. Please await further confirmation

Cellular beam import has been greatly improved. Users can now import beams from serial sections (e.g. Westok beams, or serial sections with holes cut directly in them), to complement the previously implemented welded plate cell beams. Users can set the hole type and size, the failure temperatures, the section factors, and the web post width or hole spacing directly on the canvas.

Increased flexibility added on length of cell beams when the failure criteria are given during import (but the 3m-30m limit still applies for temperature calculations)

Bugs fixed that could prevent saving of complex cellular beams, and could cause Quantifire to display the individual CB area instead of the total

UL jet fire certificates that consider erosion thickness as a function of the total fire duration (in addition to the Tcrit and JF duration) can now be handled

Version 1.3.1.1a fixes a bug that can cause cell beam bottom tees to be incorrect after import

A Eurocode method for calculation of class 4 sections has been implemented. NOTE: it is currently undergoing a 3rd party verification study and use of the method is not recommended at this time, please await further confirmation

The method of calculating the web section factor of cell beams now has two options, which will give different results for asymmetric beans. Previously the minimum web thickness was taken, now the average is taken by default (this can be changed in the advanced settings).

New type of custom section added: I and RHS beams with shelf angles and with shelf plates

Cruciform sections dimensions can now be quickly based on serial I-sections

The two main methods of editing the MTO (pen mode and change-all) have been modified for re-calculation of 4 sided beam Tcrit values: they no longer adopt the conservative approach only, but now use the full-lateral-restraint setting to determine the appropriate temperature. See the users manual for more detail.

Import canvas consolidation improved to now handle individual length, area and weight columns (not just total columns as before)

Optimiser bug fixes: fabricated hollow sections now giving correct section factor and weight (weight was showing as 0 before), number of coats calculation corrected

Entering search text for sections now sets the sides options and use automatically if a category is typed (e.g. “shs 100×5”)

Bug fix whereby the first section entered as a composite beam could go in as non-composite

The get-started screen can now show messages to alert users to bug reports or new features

New feature: Concrete sections and EN 13381-3 certification capability added. Note that concrete sections will ONLY show DFT if the EN -3 product data is available.

New feature: Shelf angle sections expanded to include angle pointing upwards (an ‘L’ shape)

Improvement: the certificate reference now includes the date issue, if available.

Bug fixes: sections of identical dimensions from differing categories could give no section factor if selected when a search term was present