December, 2012

RELEASE NOTES : FHC VERSION 1.8.0

FHC Version 1.8.0

Design Authority
A number of new Design Authority has been added to this version of FHC taking the total available
to 23. To help uses managed this number we have added a Design Authority option in the tools
menu [Tools -> Options -> Design Authority]. This option will allow you to select which Design
Authorities you wish to use and available in the Project Data -> Design Authority drop down box.
You can also select a default design authority which will be automatically selected when you start a
new project.

Rotate Command
A rotate command has been added to the Draw menu which can be used in conjunction with the
Copy Selection command to rotate the selected pipes by 90, 180 or 270 degrees. To use the
command select the Rotate command and then the angle (90, 180 or 270 degrees) then select the
Copy Selection command select and use as before.

Canute LLP
Hydraulic Analysis Software for the Fire Protection Industry
77, Holbeck Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 9UL, United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)113 394 4095 W: www.canutesoft.com

December, 2012

RELEASE NOTES : FHC VERSION 1.8.0

Edit Command
If you select a pipe (changes colour to green) and then double click, this will open the pipe edit
window.

Status Bar
The last Node number used in the project is now displayed on the status bar (right hand side) and if
you hover your cursor over the box it will also tell you the lowest node number used in the system.

File Format
To enable the above changes the FHC project file format has changed. You can open any FHC project
file in version 1.8.x but once opened the file will be converted to the new format and you will not be
able to open the file in an old version of FHC.

Canute LLP
Hydraulic Analysis Software for the Fire Protection Industry
77, Holbeck Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 9UL, United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)113 394 4095 W: www.canutesoft.com

December, 2012

RELEASE NOTES : FHC VERSION 1.8.0

FHC Version 1.7.x

Minor Updates
Modified the method in which FHC calculates to friction factor when it uses the Darcy-Weisbach
equations. This new method allows for much larger systems to be balanced and calculated with
much greater accuracy. This is now the default method FHC uses to calculate with Darcy-Weisbach
When you start a new FHC project file you cannot use the Node/Pipe tab in the Project Data before
the first pipe is added by using the ADD pipe command and the file is saved.
The registration form has been extensively re designed and is now much easier to use.

Pipe Properties
The new Pipe Properties replaces the View details on a pipe and provides considerably more
flexibility allowing you to see the pipe properties at anytime. You can activate the Pipe properties
window from the Menu View -> Pipe Properties or you can use the [Ctrl + V] short cut. Once the
Pipe Properties winnow is open you can select pipes on the screen with the mouse as required.
You can also use other commands and the pipe properties will remain in view. You can close the
window by using the menu command or the [Ctrl + V] sort cut.

You can also see an extended list of properties by double clicking on the pipe properties window
and return to the normal window by a single mouse click.

Canute LLP
Hydraulic Analysis Software for the Fire Protection Industry
77, Holbeck Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 9UL, United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)113 394 4095 W: www.canutesoft.com

December, 2012

RELEASE NOTES : FHC VERSION 1.8.0

Tools -> Options

Delete backup files will now delete all BAK and FH! in the current project folder.
Empty TMP folder this command will delete all the files in the TMP folder (c:\fhc\tmp) and should
be used occasionally as a good
housekeeping.
Reset stored lists allows the use to reset
lists which are used in the Project Data
window.
Reset Defaults this will reset a number of
FHC deflates settings such as window
locations and

Project Date Options

A number of Project options have now been made more assessable and can be accessed from the
Project Data [Ctrl + P] -> Design Area tab, Options button.

Pressure loss equation

You can now easily switch between Hazen-Williams and Darcy-Weisbach pressure loss equation and
back by using the DWF button on the Project Data [Ctrl + P]

Canute LLP
Hydraulic Analysis Software for the Fire Protection Industry
77, Holbeck Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 9UL, United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)113 394 4095 W: www.canutesoft.com

December, 2012

RELEASE NOTES : FHC VERSION 1.8.0

FHC Test verification module

The new test verification module can be used to verify that the FHC calculation engine is producing
the correct resolute by running a number of predefined calculation testing many variables. Once
the calculations are complete the results are displayed as bellow and by pressing the Print button
you can produce a printed record on paper or to PDF.

The report (as bellow) will be useful evidence to retain for quality assurance purposes and proof of
calibration. The report also includes the users name and the computers ID.

Canute LLP
Hydraulic Analysis Software for the Fire Protection Industry
77, Holbeck Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 9UL, United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)113 394 4095 W: www.canutesoft.com

December, 2012

RELEASE NOTES : FHC VERSION 1.8.0

Save after caculation

If you select a sub set of heads and make a
calculation FHC will not ask you if you wish to save
the sub set as it did before. If you wish to save the
selected heads in to a new project file then you need
to select the Part save check box before you press
the OK button.

Error Handaling
You can now switch off all error checking reporting by pressing the OFF, ON button which is
located on the right of the status bar. If errors are found the number of errors will be repoted on
status bar and a summary of errors is dispayed in the cacluation summary.

Canute LLP
Hydraulic Analysis Software for the Fire Protection Industry
77, Holbeck Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 9UL, United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)113 394 4095 W: www.canutesoft.com

December, 2012

RELEASE NOTES : FHC VERSION 1.8.0

Minor Changes
The Load Heads command on the Project Data -> Head Codes now correctly refreshes
The Quick Grid wizard now save the FHC project in: My Documents -> My FHC -> Projects
-> Quick Grid
Head data report: if the project had more than 1500 pipes the report would give an error
message but the report screen was correct.
Added addition tool tips to the Project Data Form [Ctrl + P]
Added support of vary large screen resolutions and improved two screen handling.
Added addition tool tips to the Project Data Form [Ctrl + P]
Comment box added to the bottom of the Calculation Dialog window.
Added additional help files and release notes to the Help menu.
Error handing improved on the Full Report.

Bug fix
Error handling in the Project Data improved.
Enhanced the error message in the calculation section.
Remover Auto update as this can cause errors on Windows 7 64 bit system.
Fix the Part Save on the calculation form.

Canute LLP
Hydraulic Analysis Software for the Fire Protection Industry
77, Holbeck Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 9UL, United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)113 394 4095 W: www.canutesoft.com

December, 2012

RELEASE NOTES : FHC VERSION 1.8.0

FHC Version 1.6.0

If you open a FHC project file and go to the Project Data [Ctrl+P] Head Codes you will see that a
number of your options have been added Compact, Save and Load the following is a short
description of each:
Compact

This will inspect the FHC project file and remove any unused head codes it will also
renumber the remaining head codes starting at 1.

Save

With the save command you can create your own head code library files to use with
any other project. The command will save the head codes in the current FHC project
file to an external file which will be stored in the Library folder. You can name the
file anything you like but if you overwrite the user.hcl file then this will be used for
any new projects which you create.

Load

This command will allow you to read in an existing Head Code Library File which
has been created with the Save Command above. The head codes loaded will be
added to the existing head codes in the FHC project.

Canute LLP
Hydraulic Analysis Software for the Fire Protection Industry
77, Holbeck Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 9UL, United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)113 394 4095 W: www.canutesoft.com

December, 2012

RELEASE NOTES : FHC VERSION 1.8.0

Reports
We have simplified the creation for PDFs for all of the reports available on the Reports menu.
When you open the report and see the preview screen select the Print to file checkbox and you
should see two additional dropdown boxes as shown bellow.
The first drop down box cannot be changed and
the second box gives the location to store the
PDF. By default FHC will store the PDF in the
folder in which you saved the FHC project and
will use the following file name: FR-<FHC
Project Name>.pdf.
If you wish you can specify the location and
name of the PDF file by selecting the down
arrow on the dropdown box.
The above method works with the Calculation,
Head and Pipe reports with the following
prefix been amended to the FHC project file
name
FR-<FHC Project Name>.pdf : Calculation report
HR-<FHC Project Name>.pdf : Head summary report
PR-<FHC Project Name>.pdf : Pipe summary report

DXF File
When you use the Reports-> Export to DXF function FHC will now save the DXF file in the same
folder in which the project was saved in. The file name will be the same as the project file but with
the DXF file extension.

Save Picture
The save picture command Reports -> Save picture will now save the BMP image file in the same
folder in which the project was saved in. The file name will be the same as the project file but with
the BMP file extension.

Calculation Summary
Design Efficiency has been added the Calculation Summary. This calculates the overall design
efficiency of the system and is based on the total minimum flow required for the system for each
head to achieve the minimum design density or minimum operation pressure. This theoretical flow
rate is divided by the calculated source flow and the answer is expressed as a percentage. If the
theoretical flow for the system is 1500 L/min and the calculated source flow is 1800 L/min then the
Design Efficiency would be (1500/1800) * 100 = 83%.

Canute LLP
Hydraulic Analysis Software for the Fire Protection Industry
77, Holbeck Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 9UL, United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)113 394 4095 W: www.canutesoft.com

December, 2012

RELEASE NOTES : FHC VERSION 1.8.0

Pipe Summary Report

We have added the total pressure drop and the static for each pipe in the network. Please
remember that you can sort by any column by selecting the column header.

Pipe Data Table

The STD_PIPE.PDT has been amended and now includes considerable more pipe sizes than before

Hcalc
Hcalc is a simple hydraulic calculator which is a
replacement for the existing tool in FHC. However this
tool has a number of enhancements including that it can
be run as a standalone program without FHC. The
program is available from FHC menu Tools -> Hcalc or
from a short cut on your desktop.

Canute LLP
Hydraulic Analysis Software for the Fire Protection Industry
77, Holbeck Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 9UL, United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)113 394 4095 W: www.canutesoft.com