Vertical alignment and stacking analysis

Why does stacking analysis matter?

A few inches of floor-to-floor offset on shafts, stairs, or columns becomes a major construction problem once the floors above are framed.

How does Helonic go from multi-floor plans to a stacking report?

Helonic compares each floor with the levels above and below and flags vertical elements that do not line up.

1. Map each floor. The AI reads every floor plan to identify columns, shaft walls, plumbing risers, stairwells, elevator shafts, and structural walls, mapping their exact positions relative to the grid.
2. Establish grid baseline. Column grid lines are established as the reference framework. Every vertical element is located relative to the grid to create a consistent coordinate system across floors.
3. Compare floor-to-floor. The system overlays each floor with the floor above and below, checking that every vertical element maintains its position, size, and orientation as it passes through each level.
4. Flag misalignments. Any element that shifts, grows, shrinks, or disappears between floors is flagged with exact measurements showing the offset and the affected floor levels.

What vertical elements does Helonic track?

Helonic tracks stairs, elevators, shafts, columns, and wet stacks that must land in the same place on every floor.

• Column alignment verification. Checks that structural columns maintain their grid positions across all floors, catching offsets that may indicate drafting errors or uncoordinated design changes between structural and architectural plans.
• Plumbing riser stacking. Verifies that waste, vent, and water risers align vertically from floor to floor, ensuring that the plumbing chase on each level connects properly without requiring horizontal offsets in the slab.
• Shaft wall continuity. Traces mechanical, electrical, and plumbing shaft walls through every floor, confirming that shaft dimensions remain consistent and that fire-rated shaft enclosures are continuous.
• Stairwell consistency. Compares stair geometry across floors to verify that tread and riser counts, landing positions, and stair widths are consistent, catching errors that would result in code violations or fit-up issues.
• Elevator shaft alignment. Verifies that elevator hoistway dimensions, door openings, and shaft wall positions are identical on every floor, as even small deviations can prevent elevator installation.
• Load-bearing wall stacking. Checks that load-bearing walls shown on structural plans align with architectural partitions floor-to-floor, catching cases where architectural changes were not coordinated with the structural engineer.

What breaks when floors do not stack?

In multi-story buildings, vertical elements must stack precisely. A plumbing riser that shifts even 6 inches between floors requires a horizontal offset in the slab, which means a larger slab penetration, potential conflicts with post-tension cables, and coordination with the structural engineer. A shaft wall that changes size means the fire-rated enclosure has a gap that will not pass inspection.

These misalignments are hard to catch in manual review because each floor plan is typically reviewed independently. Helonic systematically compares every floor to every adjacent floor, catching the subtle shifts that accumulate across a 20-story building and surface as major problems during construction.

Frequently Asked Questions