designIT® for houses

Software for Builders, Designers & Building Consent Authorities

designIT^® for houses is a software tool for all building practitioners to design members for houses and similar structures using engineered wood products, manufactured by Futurebuild LVL in correlation with other selected materials.

Quick and simple to use, yet deceptively powerful software, designIT is useful for the selection of beam sizes without the need for engineering knowledge or the exercise of professional engineering judgment.

Download the Optimise the use of designIT for houses brochure here.

Features

Design references AS 1684.1: Residential Timber-framed Construction
Design criteria updated to include for the AS/NZS 1170-2002 design requirements, now including AS/NZS 1170.3 Snow and Ice actions, and for New Zealand it includes recommendations from DBH Practice Advisory 9.
Includes options for design
With commonly-available stress grades of timber and glue-laminated timber (Australia only).
Caters for a range of floor live loads
These are needed for design of decks, balconies and residential apartment buildings (up to 3.0 kPa/2.7 kN).
Software compliance
designIT software complies with the requirements of the 'ABCB Protocol for Structural Software Version 2011.1'. The compliance document is located here.
Serviceability report
Showing the estimated average deflection and the corresponding limit for the critical load case, together with the permanent load deflection (where applicable).
Reaction report
For each member, providing designers with the flexibility to detail connections using Timber Framing Standards and proprietary connections.
Reference to specific details
Relating to hyJOIST^® used in roofs and floors.
Includes a floor joist calculator
Allows consideration of actual load and support conditions for optimum design, web hole placement and specification of hangers.
Bearer calculator (similar to joist calculator)
Allows consideration of a wide range of load and support conditions, including offset and parallel load-bearing walls and support of concentrated loads to provide optimum solutions without the need for engineering design.

System Requirements

The following system requirements have been identified for the use of designIT Series 7. Whilst designIT may be installed on other, older operating systems we cannot guarantee outputs.

Microsoft Requirements:

Windows 10 later
Internet connectivity for updates

Apple Requirements:

macOS Monterey (12.5) or later
Internet connectivity for updates

_{*Windows and Mac are trademarks owned by Microsoft and Apple (respectively).}

What's New & Version History

What's New

V7.1.1, released November 2024
designIT Series 7 is the latest major release of designIT for houses and commercial floors. As well as a new look and feel, this release also contains additional new functionality, including:

- Cross platform functionality - Windows & macOS
- Automatic updates
- Ability to dynamically change environment preferences (wind & snow)
- Lintels in Lower Storey Calculator
- Environmental Impact Statement & Quantities