Design Master
Design Master provides specialized electrical and HVAC engineering software that automates complex calculations and drafting tasks directly within AutoCAD and Revit to streamline your entire building design process.
Solibri
Solibri is a comprehensive model checking software providing automated BIM quality assurance and coordination to help you find and fix design errors before construction begins.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Design Master | Solibri |
|---|---|---|
| Website | designmaster.biz | solibri.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Custom |
| Starting Price | $90/month | Custom Pricing |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 30 days free trial | ✓ 30 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2001 | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Seattle, USA | Helsinki, Finland |
Overview
Design Master
Design Master offers a suite of engineering tools specifically created for electrical and HVAC professionals who work in AutoCAD and Revit. Instead of jumping between separate spreadsheets and drafting programs, you can perform complex calculations like load analysis, short circuit studies, and duct sizing directly within your design environment. This integration ensures your schedules and drawings stay synchronized automatically as you make changes.
You can choose between specialized modules for electrical, HVAC, or plumbing needs depending on your project requirements. The software is designed for MEP engineering firms and individual consultants who need to increase accuracy while reducing the time spent on repetitive drafting tasks. By automating the technical math, you can focus more on high-level design and less on manual data entry.
Solibri
Solibri helps you take control of your building information models by providing advanced quality assurance and clash detection. Instead of manually hunting for design inconsistencies, you can use automated rule-based checking to identify issues in architectural, structural, and MEP models. This ensures your data is accurate, compliant with local building codes, and ready for the construction site without costly surprises.
You can bring together models from different disciplines to perform cross-domain coordination and verify that everything fits perfectly. The platform allows you to extract precise quantities for cost estimation and communicate issues directly with your design team through standardized reporting. It is designed for BIM managers, architects, and contractors who need to guarantee the highest level of model integrity throughout the project lifecycle.
Overview
Design Master Features
- Integrated Electrical Calculations Perform short circuit, voltage drop, and arc flash calculations instantly as you place components in your drawings.
- Automated Panel Schedules Generate and update panel schedules automatically, ensuring your documentation always matches the latest version of your design.
- One-Line Diagram Tools Create dynamic one-line diagrams that stay linked to your floor plans to eliminate coordination errors between views.
- HVAC Load Calculations Calculate heating and cooling loads directly from your building geometry to size equipment accurately without external tools.
- Duct and Pipe Sizing Size your ductwork and piping systems based on flow requirements and pressure drop limits with built-in automation.
- Revit Integration Enhance your BIM workflow with specialized tools that add advanced engineering data and calculations to standard Revit elements.
Solibri Features
- Automated Model Checking. Run automated checks against your models to identify clashes, missing components, and logical errors in seconds.
- Clash Detection. Find and resolve physical conflicts between different building systems like structural steel and HVAC ducting.
- Deficiency Detection. Scan your models for missing information or components that don't meet specific project requirements or building codes.
- BIM Coordination. Combine models from various disciplines into one federated view to manage the entire project's spatial coordination.
- Information Takeoff. Extract accurate quantities and data from your models to simplify your cost estimation and procurement processes.
- Issue Management. Track, manage, and communicate design issues with your team using BCF files for seamless cross-platform collaboration.
Pricing Comparison
Design Master Pricing
- Short circuit calculations
- Voltage drop analysis
- Automated panel schedules
- One-line diagram generation
- Photometric lighting levels
- Equipment and wire sizing
- Everything in AutoCAD tier, plus:
- Native Revit parameter syncing
- Advanced arc flash analysis
- Feeder and branch circuit sizing
- Customizable shared parameters
- Enhanced Revit schedule control
Solibri Pricing
Pros & Cons
Design Master
Pros
- Significant reduction in manual calculation errors
- Excellent technical support from knowledgeable engineers
- Seamless integration with existing AutoCAD workflows
- Automatic updates to schedules save hours
- Highly specialized for NEC compliance standards
Cons
- Initial setup requires significant time investment
- Interface feels dated compared to modern apps
- Learning curve for customizing specific block libraries
Solibri
Pros
- Advanced rule-based checking goes beyond simple clash detection
- Excellent support for open BIM standards like IFC
- Highly customizable rules to fit specific project requirements
- Reliable data extraction for accurate quantity takeoffs
Cons
- Significant learning curve for creating custom rules
- Requires high-performance hardware for large complex models
- Pricing can be high for smaller design firms