Autodesk Revit MEP Official Training Guide Essentials - Volume 2

Autodesk Official Training Guide

Essentials

Autodesk Revit

®

®

MEP 2010

Learning Autodesk Revit MEP 2010, Volume 2 ®

®

Hands-on exercises demonstrate the concepts for building information modeling (BIM) and the tools for parametric engineering design and documentation. 257B1-050000-CM03A July 2009

© 2009 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved. Except as otherwise permitted by Autodesk, Inc., this publication, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form, by any method, for any purpose. Certain materials included in this publication are reprinted with the permission of the copyright holder.

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Contents Chapter 8: Piping Systems ................................................................................. 1 Lesson: Creating System Piping ........................................................................... 2 About System Piping ................................................................................. 3 Process of Creating a Piping System ......................................................... 7 Guidelines for Creating a Piping System ................................................... 8 Exercise: Create a Hydronic Return Piping System .................................... 9 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................. 14

Chapter 9: Plumbing Systems .......................................................................... 15 Lesson: Creating Plumbing Systems .................................................................. 16 About Plumbing Systems ........................................................................ 17 Process of Creating a Plumbing System .................................................. 22 Guidelines for Creating a Plumbing System ............................................ 23 Exercise: Create a Sanitary Plumbing System .......................................... 24 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................. 35

Chapter 10: Fire Protection Systems ............................................................... 37 Lesson: Creating Fire Protection Systems ......................................................... 38 About Fire Protection Systems ................................................................ 39 Process of Creating a Fire Protection System .......................................... 42 Exercise: Create a Fire Protection System ............................................... 43 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................. 48

Chapter 11: Electrical Systems ......................................................................... 49 Lesson: Creating Electrical Circuits .................................................................... 50 About Electrical Circuits .......................................................................... 51 Tools for Working with Electrical Circuits ................................................ 53 Process of Creating Electrical Circuits ..................................................... 55 Guidelines for Creating Electrical Circuits ............................................... 56 Exercise: Create an Electrical Lighting Circuit .......................................... 57 Lesson: Creating Wiring .................................................................................... 62 About Electrical Wiring ........................................................................... 63 Process of Creating a Wire Type ............................................................. 67 Guidelines for Creating Wiring ................................................................ 68 Exercise: Create Wiring ........................................................................... 69 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................. 75

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Chapter 12: Working with Architects and Engineers .................................... 77 Lesson: Monitoring Changes in Linked Files .................................................. 78 About Project Sharing ......................................................................... 79 Copy and Monitor Tools ...................................................................... 80 Coordinating and Monitoring Changes in the Current Project ............ 82 Coordination Review Tool ................................................................... 83 Guidelines for Monitoring Changes in Linked Files ............................. 86 Exercise: Monitor a Linked File of Another Discipline ......................... 87 Lesson: Checking and Fixing Interference Conditions ................................... 90 About Interference Checks .................................................................. 91 Guidelines for Checking and Fixing Interference Conditions ............... 93 Exercise: Check and Fix Interference Conditions ................................. 94 Chapter Summary ......................................................................................... 98

Chapter 13: Detailing and Drafting .............................................................. 99 Lesson: Creating Callout Views ................................................................... 100 About Callouts ................................................................................... 101 Creating Reference Callouts .............................................................. 103 Guidelines for Creating Callouts ....................................................... 104 Exercise: Create a Callout View of a Section ..................................... 105 Lesson: Working with Detail Views ............................................................. 108 About Detail Views ........................................................................... 109 Creating Detail Views ........................................................................ 114 Process of Saving and Reusing Detail Views ..................................... 115 Guidelines for Saving and Reusing Detail Views ................................ 116 Exercise: Create a Detail View .......................................................... 117 Lesson: Working with Drafting Views ......................................................... 123 About Drafting Views ........................................................................ 124 Process of Reusing Drafting Views .................................................... 125 Guidelines for Reusing Drafting Views .............................................. 126 Exercise: Create Drafting Views ........................................................ 127 Exercise: Import a View and a CAD File ............................................ 134 Chapter Summary ....................................................................................... 136

Chapter 14: Annotations and Schedules .................................................... 137 Lesson: Working with Text and Tags ........................................................... 138 About Text ......................................................................................... 139 About Tags ........................................................................................ 140 Guidelines for Working with Text and Tags ....................................... 142 Exercise: Work with Text and Tags .................................................... 143 Lesson: Working with Dimensions .............................................................. 148 About Temporary Dimensions ........................................................... 149 About Permanent Dimensions .......................................................... 153 Guidelines for Working with Dimensions .......................................... 162 Exercise: Work with Dimensions ....................................................... 163

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Contents

Lesson: Creating Legends ............................................................................ About Legends .................................................................................. Guidelines for Creating Legends ....................................................... Exercise: Create a Legend ................................................................. Lesson: Working with Schedules ................................................................. About Schedules ............................................................................... About Schedule Properties ............................................................... Exporting Schedules .......................................................................... Modifying Schedule Fields ................................................................ Guidelines for Working with Schedules ............................................ Exercise: Create and Modify a Lighting Fixture Schedule .................. Chapter Summary .......................................................................................

170 171 176 177 181 182 184 186 187 187 188 191

Chapter 15: Construction Documentation ................................................. 193 Lesson: Working with Titleblocks ................................................................ 194 About Titleblocks .............................................................................. 195 Creating and Updating Titleblocks .................................................... 197 Guidelines for Working with Titleblocks ........................................... 199 Exercise: Work with Titleblocks ........................................................ 200 Lesson: Working with Sheets ...................................................................... 203 About Sheets ..................................................................................... 204 Process of Previewing and Printing Sheets and Views ...................... 206 Guidelines for Working with Sheets .................................................. 207 Exercise: Work with Sheets ............................................................... 209 Chapter Summary ....................................................................................... 213

Chapter 16: The Family Editor (Optional) .................................................. 215 Lesson: Creating and Modifying Families .................................................... About Families .................................................................................. Connectors ........................................................................................ Process of Creating Families ............................................................. Guidelines for Creating and Modifying Families ............................... Exercise: Create an Air Terminal Family ............................................ Chapter Summary .......................................................................................

216 217 220 223 224 226 232

Appendix .................................................................................................... 233

Contents

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Contents

Chapter

8 Piping Systems A piping system associates two or more objects that are to be connected with piping and share common piping characteristics. Revit® MEP provides tools to create supply and return piping, adjust the sizing of piping, document piping, and check piping components for interferences with other building components.

Chapter Objective After completing this chapter, you will be able to lay out and create system piping.

1

Lesson: Creating System Piping This lesson describes how to lay out and create system piping. You begin the lesson by learning about system piping. Next, you learn the process and some recommended practices for creating a piping system. The lesson concludes with an exercise on creating a hydronic return piping system. You create supply and return piping for mechanical systems. Revit provides tools to create supply and return piping, adjust the sizing of piping, document piping, and check piping components for interferences with other building components.

Base-mounted pump connected to supply and return piping

Objectives After completing this lesson, you will be able to: ■ ■ ■ ■

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Describe system piping. Identify the steps in the process of creating a piping system. State the recommended practices for creating a piping system. Create a hydronic return piping system.

Chapter 8: Piping Systems

About System Piping Revit provides tools for the creation, layout, and sizing of piping. It also includes different types of piping and pipe fitting families. Each family is a 3D representation of a pipe or pipe fitting and has the same characteristics as the actual physical components in the building. You can check piping modeled using Revit piping components for interferences with other systems and schedule the piping for quantity and analysis purposes.

System piping

Definition of System Piping, Pipe Fittings, and Pipe Systems System piping is a 3D representation of the sections of pipe to be used in the building mechanical systems. Pipe fittings are 3D representations of the connections and transitions among various sections of a pipe. Pipe systems are collections of piping and pipe fittings that are used to create piping of a particular type or for a particular purpose. When placing the pipe of a given pipe system, the pipe fittings used in the pipe type families specified in the type properties of that system are automatically inserted to create the piping run.

Lesson: Creating System Piping

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The following illustration shows the type properties of PVC pipes.

Piping Element Properties Used in Sizing The pipe sizing tool uses certain piping element properties in sizing the pipe. The material of the pipe determines roughness, and the pipe fittings used in the pipe type family determine the algorithm to be used in sizing the pipe. The settings used for determining these properties for a given pipe run are available in the Pipe Type system family.

Methods for Pipe Sizing The pipe sizing methods are based on velocity, friction, or a combination of the two quantities. The following table describes the four pipe sizing methods.

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Pipe Sizing Method

Description

Velocity

A pipe is sized based on the velocity specified in the Pipe Sizing dialog box.

Friction

A pipe is sized based on the allowable friction as specified in the Pipe Sizing dialog box.


Pipe Sizing Method

Description

Velocity and Friction

A pipe is sized to meet both the velocity and allowable friction specified in the Pipe Sizing dialog box.

Velocity or Friction

A pipe is sized to meet velocity or allowable friction as specified in the Pipe Sizing dialog box.

The following illustration shows the Pipe Sizing dialog box.

Piping Placement Tools The Place Pipe tab provides tools for placing the mechanical equipment to be piped and for placing the pipe, pipe fittings, and accessories such as the temperature gauge, flow meter, or air separator. When you activate the Pipe tool on the Plumbing & Piping panel of the Home tab, the Options Bar displays various options that you can use to place the pipe. You can specify various settings, such as the diameter, offset, elevation locking, level, and slope, prior to placing the piping in your Revit model.


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Pipe Slope Tool When inserting a pipe into your Revit model manually, you can specify a slope for that pipe on the Options Bar. However, you can also use the Generate Layout tool on the Layout panel of the Modify Mechanical Equipment tab. When doing so, you can again use the Slope option on the Options Bar to slope a pipe based on a total rise and run or with a specified rise per specified length of the pipe.

Automatically Connect The Automatically Connect option on the Placement Tools panel of the Place Pipe tab allows you to automatically connect to a run of pipe or a piping connector on mechanical equipment. To avoid connection at a location nearby or directly above a pipe run or mechanical equipment, you might need to deactivate Automatically Connect.

Example of a Piping System The following illustrations show various types of piping systems.

Floor plan view of a chilled water piping to the cooling coil of an air handling unit

Supply and return hot water piping for a series of perimeter radiation units

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Flow information tracked for a length of pipe serving perimeter radiation units

Process of Creating a Piping System A piping system associates two or more objects that are to be connected with piping and share common piping characteristics. This association of objects to be piped to a piping system provides information that you can use to size the required pipe and mechanical equipment. Assigning objects to a system also facilitates the use of the auto routing tools to quickly insert piping, connecting the objects that make up the system. You can create different types of piping systems, such as hydronic supply and return, sanitary, and domestic hot and cold water systems.

Process: Creating a Hydronic Supply Piping System The process of creating a hydronic supply piping system is shown in the following illustration.


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The following steps describe the process of creating a hydronic supply piping system. 1. 2.

3.

4. 5.

Place the mechanical equipment in a view. Place mechanical equipment to be piped in a view. Edit the mechanical equipment. Edit the mechanical equipment to be assigned to the piping system by first selecting the mechanical equipment. Then, edit the new system by selecting Edit System on the System Tools panel of the Piping Systems tab. Automatically route system piping. Automatically route system piping by selecting Generate Layout on the Layout panel of the Modify Mechanical Equipment tab. Specify pipe main routing for the system and use the arrows on the Options Bar to cycle through potential routing solutions. Specify the liquid in the system. Specify the liquid in the system and the solution concentration, if appropriate, by selecting System Properties on the System Tools panel of the Piping Systems tab. Save the changes. Save the changes and finish creating the system.

Guidelines for Creating a Piping System The following recommended practices help you effectively create a piping system.

Guidelines ■

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Select the appropriate pipe type for the pipe installation you have in mind. Using an incorrect pipe type for a given installation may result in actually installing the incorrect pipe type. Create hydronic systems to automate the process of pipe routing and track system data for sizing and analysis. This will improve the design, efficiency, and reliability of the overall mechanical system. Trim the pipes that intersect. The resultant pipes that terminate at the same location will insert the appropriate fitting automatically. This saves time because the proper fitting is placed automatically as a by-product of the trimming operation. Verify that sloped pipe systems are pitched in the desired direction after automatic pipe routing is complete. This is a sound practice for creating a piping system as you should never accept any automatic operation at face value.


Exercise: Create a Hydronic Return Piping System In this exercise, you create a hydronic return piping system. You are placing an air-cooled chiller outside the basement of a building. This chiller will discharge to a basemounted pump, which will circulate the chilled water throughout the building. You do the following: ■ Place mechanical equipment. ■ Create the hydronic return system layout. ■ Edit piping system properties. ■ Size the piping system.

The completed exercise

Completing the Exercise To complete the exercise, follow the steps in this book or in the onscreen exercise. In the onscreen list of chapters and exercises, click Chapter 8: Piping Systems. Click Exercise: Create a Hydronic Return Piping System.

Place Mechanical Equipment

1.

2. 3.

Open i_rmep_creating_a_piping_system.rvt or m_rmep_creating_a_piping_system.rvt. The file opens in the 1-Mech floor plan view. Note: The illustrations for the metric dataset will be slightly different from those shown here. Click Home tab > Mechanical panel > Mechanical Equipment. Ensure that Air-Cooled Chiller : Standard (M_Air-Cooled Chiller : M_Standard) is selected in the Type Selector drop-down.


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In the view window: ■ Press SPACEBAR three times to rotate the chiller. ■ Click to place the chiller on the right, outside the pump room.

Select Base Mounted Pump : Model 4 x 6 (M_Base Mounted Pump : M_Model 100 x 150) from the Type Selector drop-down. In the view window: ■ Press SPACEBAR three times to rotate the pump. ■ Move the cursor to the lower-right corner of the pump room. ■ Click to place the pump.

Note: You can select the pump after placing it and use the arrow keys to place it close to the insertion point. Exit the Mechanical Equipment tool.

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Create the Hydronic Return System Layout 1.

2.

In the view window, CTRL+select both AHU coils.

Click Modify Mechanical Equipment tab > Create Systems panel > Hydronic Return. 3. Click Modify Piping Systems tab > System Tools panel > Edit System. 4. On the Options Bar, for System Name, enter CHWR. 5. Click Edit Piping System tab > Edit Piping System panel > Select Equipment. 6. In the view window, select the air-cooled chiller. On selection, the air-cooled chiller turns black. 7. On the Edit System panel, click Finish Editing System to complete the creation of the hydronic return system. 8. In the view window, select the upper AHU coil. 9. Click Modify Mechanical Equipment tab > Layout panel > Generate Layout to create the layout of the piping system. 10. In the Select a System dialog box: ■ Ensure that CHWR is selected from the displayed list. ■ Click OK.

11. On the Options Bar: ■ Verify that Network is selected in the Solution Type list. ■ Click Next Solution until you reach the solution 4 of 5. Note: You can continue clicking Next Solution to cycle through various potential solutions. 12. Click Generate Layout tab > Generate Layout panel > Modify. 13. In the view window: ■ Select the vertical route path in green. ■ Drag the move grip to the left, as shown.

2. 3. 4.

14. On the Generate Layout panel, click Finish Layout to insert the piping. 15. Click View tab > Graphics panel > Thin Lines to view the plan using thin lines.

Edit Piping System Properties 1.

In the view window, zoom in around the pump area.

5. 6. 7.

8.

Click Modify tab > Edit panel > Split. On the Options Bar, select the Delete Inner Segment check box. In the view window, click the pipe on the left of the pump for the first split and the pipe inside the pump on the right for the second split to remove a section of the pipe.

Note: You can select the pump, if necessary, and use the arrow keys to place it as shown above. Exit the Split tool. Delete the couplings that are placed on the ends of the split pipe. In the view window: ■ Click the pump to select it. ■ Right-click the grip in the bottom-left corner of the selected pump. Click Draw Pipe. On the Options Bar, change the Offset to 9' - 0" (2400 mm).


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In the view window, draw a short segment of pipe, as shown.

10. Exit the Draw Pipe tool. 11. In the view window: ■ Click the pump to select it. ■ Right-click the grip on the left of the selected pump. Click Draw Pipe. ■ Draw a short segment of a pipe to the left of the pump.

12. On the Options Bar, change the Offset to 9' - 0" (2400 mm). 13. In the view window, move the cursor to the left to draw another short segment of a pipe to the left of the pipe segment you sketched in step 11.

17. Exit the Align tool. 18. If you need to join the pipes, in the view window: ■ Click the right end of the pipe on the left. ■ Click the end grip and drag it to the end grip of the pipe on its right, as shown.

19. In the view window, inside the pump: ■ Click the left end of the pipe on the right. ■ Click the end grip and drag it to the end grip of the pipe on the left.

Note: If required, use the Align tool to align the pipe centerlines. 20. Click Modify. 21. Open the default 3D view. 22. Use the view cube to inspect the system you just created.

Size the Piping System 1. 2. 3.

14. Exit the Draw Pipe tool. 15. Click Modify tab > Edit panel > Align to align the pipe segments. 16. In the view window: ■ Click the centerline of the pipe that you just sketched. ■ Click the centerline of the pipe on the left of this pipe to align them, as shown.

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Open the 1-Mech floor plan view. In the view window, enter ZF to zoom to fit in the view. Zoom in to the chiller return pipe.

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Select the vertical riser pipe to move it.

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Click Modify Pipe Fittings tab > Modify panel > Move. In the view window: ■ Click anywhere to establish a start point. ■ Move the cursor to the left of the vertical riser pipe. ■ Click to place a point about 2' - 0" (1000 mm) from the start point.

6.

7. 8.

13. Set Model Graphics Style for the view to Shading with Edges. 14. Rotate the 3D model to properly view the piping system. 15. Close the file without saving changes.

Exit the Move tool. In the view window: ■ Move the cursor over the pipe run to the left of the vertical riser. ■ Select the pipe run. The pipe run is highlighted in red.

Note: You can select only one side of the pipe run joined by a vertical riser at a time. 9. Click Modify Pipes tab > Analysis panel > Duct/ Pipe Sizing. 10. In the Pipe Sizing dialog box, under Sizing Method: ■ Ensure that the And option is selected. ■ Verify that Velocity is set to 4 FPS (1.2 m/s). ■ Verify that Friction is set to 2.50 FT/100ft (250 Pa/m). ■ Click OK to size the pipe. 11. Clear the selection. 12. Open the default 3D view.


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Chapter Summary Now that you have learned to lay out and create system piping using Revit MEP tools, you can create effective piping systems that can be checked for interferences against other systems and scheduled for quantity and analysis purposes. In this chapter, you learned to lay out and create system piping.

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Chapter

9 Plumbing Systems A plumbing system shows the routing and connections between plumbing fixtures in a model. Using tools provided by Revit® MEP, you can create a plumbing system by placing plumbing fixtures and then assigning them to a particular system. Using layout tools, you can determine the best routing scheme to connect the system components.

Chapter Objective After completing this chapter, you will be able to create plumbing systems.

Chapter Overview

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Lesson: Creating Plumbing Systems This lesson describes how to create plumbing systems. You begin the lesson by learning about plumbing systems. Next, you learn about the process and some recommended practices for creating a plumbing system. The lesson concludes with an exercise on creating a sanitary plumbing system. You can use various tools in Revit MEP to create plumbing systems in bathrooms and other parts of a building. Using these tools, you can also size the plumbing systems based on fixture unit values and check the systems against other building components for interferences. The following illustration shows a typical bathroom plumbing system with components such as a vanity lavatory and a flush tank water closet along with pipes and ducts.

Objectives After completing this lesson, you will be able to: Describe plumbing systems. Identify the steps in the process of creating a plumbing system. State the recommended practices for creating a plumbing system. Create a sanitary plumbing system.

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Chapter 9: Plumbing Systems

About Plumbing Systems A plumbing system associates two or more fixtures that connect plumbing lines sharing common characteristics. You can create plumbing systems in a building using plumbing lines and plumbing fixtures to facilitate calculations for flow and sizing of equipment.

Definition of Plumbing Systems A plumbing system is a 3D representation of the sections of plumbing pipes that connect plumbing fixtures to hot and cold water and sanitary systems. A plumbing system shows the routing and connections between plumbing fixtures.

Fixture Units A plumbing system is sized using fixture units, which represent the numerical rating of flow within a pipe. A fixture unit quantity is assigned to each fixture, and then the total connected fixture units are used to size each run of the plumbing line.

Mechanical parameters of a plumbing pipe, including fixture unit total

Lesson: Creating Plumbing Systems

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System Browser The System Browser is a hierarchical list of all the plumbing elements and the systems to which they are assigned in a project. It provides a quick and easy way to track plumbing fixtures and components that are not assigned to any system.

Fixtures not assigned to a system appear in the Unassigned category in the System Browser.

Expanded view of the System Browser showing domestic hot and cold water systems

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Plumbing Fixture Libraries You can use a number of plumbing fixtures by loading and placing the plumbing fixture families from the software library into your project. The library folders provide various plumbing fixtures that you can use as required. You can edit plumbing fixture settings by creating a copy of the fixture. A copied plumbing fixture can also be used in other projects.

Partial listing of the available plumbing fixture families

Plumbing Pipe Slope You can slope a plumbing pipe by individual pipe section or by pipe run using the Slope tool. You access this tool by first selecting a section of piping and then selecting Slope on the Edit panel of the Modify Pipes tab. When you activate the Slope tool, the Slope Editor on the Options Bar is activated. Using the Slope Editor, you can specify the slope measurements.


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The following illustration shows the Slope Editor on the Options Bar.

You use the Generate Layout option on the Modify Plumbing Fixtures tab to activate the Generate Layout tab. The options on the Generate Layout tab, along with the options on the Options Bar, enable you to specify the slope and routing parameters for piping, view different layout path solutions, and manually modify layout path solutions for the plumbing system. In the following illustration, the Slope field is activated on the Options Bar to set a slope for the entire plumbing system. This option is available on the Options Bar when the Solutions option is selected on the Generate Layout tab.

Plumbing System Type Properties You can specify the properties such as slope and material of the pipes used in a plumbing system. You can select a pipe and set its material and the associated pipe fittings, tees, elbows, transitions, and unions. These properties are then automatically placed when you place an instance of the pipe in the plumbing system.

Example of typical plumbing type parameters

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Example of a Plumbing System The following illustration shows a plan view of a typical bathroom layout connected to a plumbing system.


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Process of Creating a Plumbing System You can create a plumbing system that associates pipes and fixtures and allows for calculations that can be used to size plumbing lines. You can also assign plumbing elements to systems that help in the use of auto routing tools. These tools enable you to insert plumbing lines, connecting the objects that make up the system.

Process: Creating a Plumbing System The process of creating a plumbing system is shown in the following illustration.

The following steps describe the process of creating a plumbing system. 1. 2.

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Select the plumbing fixtures. Select the plumbing fixtures that you need to assign to the plumbing system. Set the properties for the fixtures. Specify properties such as the pipe type, the plumbing elevation for main and branch plumbing pipes, and the slope using the Edit System and Settings options on the Piping Systems tab and the Options Bar of the Generate Layout tab. Note: A downward-sloped pipe requires a negative value, such as -1/8". Create a plumbing path. Create a plumbing path and route the system plumbing by selecting the Generate Layout tool on the Modify Plumbing Fixtures tab. You can select any one of the routing solutions to specify the main routing method and use the arrows on the Options Bar to cycle through potential solutions. Save the changes. Save the changes after selecting the desired routing solution. To do this, select Finish Layout on the Generate Layout tab. You can also select the Tee grips of the selected fittings to add connections for vents and runouts, if required, after you finish creating the system.


Guidelines for Creating a Plumbing System The following recommended practices help you create a plumbing system effectively.

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Select the appropriate pipe type for the plumbing system you are creating to ensure that the proper fittings are placed and appropriate properties are assigned to the system. This ensures an accurate representation of the plumbing system. Create plumbing systems and schedules to automate the process of pipe routing and track system data for sizing and analysis. Use the plus grips on plumbing fittings to change elbows to tees and tees to crosses for connecting vents and runouts. This saves the time and effort of manually changing the fittings.


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Exercise: Create a Sanitary Plumbing System In this exercise, you create a sanitary plumbing system. You are laying out the bathroom plumbing for a conference center project. For this, you need to place plumbing fixtures, create a sanitary plumbing system and a gray sanitary water system, and complete the plumbing run for the unit. You do the following: ■ Place plumbing fixtures. ■ Create a sanitary plumbing system layout. ■ Create a gray sanitary water system layout. ■ Manually complete the plumbing run for the unit.


Completing the Exercise To complete the exercise, follow the steps in this book or in the onscreen exercise. In the onscreen list of chapters and exercises, click Chapter 9: Plumbing Systems. Click Exercise: Create a Sanitary Plumbing System.

Place Plumbing Fixtures

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Open i_rmep_creating_plumbing_system.rvt or m_rmep_creating_plumbing_system.rvt. The file opens in the Mechanical 2nd Floor Plumbing plan view. Note: The illustrations for the metric dataset will be slightly different from those shown here.

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In the view window, zoom in to the center bathrooms for the Women 225 (WC H 41) and Men 226 (WC D 40) area in the lower-left of the building model as shown.

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Click Home tab > Plumbing & Piping panel > Plumbing Fixture. Select Lavatory - Wall Mounted 19"x14" Public (M_Lavatory - Wall Mounted 485 mmx355 mm - Public) from the Type Selector drop-down. On the Place Plumbing Fixture tab, Placement panel, ensure that Place on Vertical Face is selected.

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5.

6.

In the view window: ■ Align the plumbing fixture to the first reference line provided in the upper-right corner of the Women 225 (WC H 41) area.

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Click to place the plumbing fixture. The exact placement of the plumbing fixture is not critical for completing this exercise.


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7.

Place another plumbing fixture aligned to the second reference line in the Women 225 (WC H 41) area.

8.

Select Water Closet - Flush Valve - Wall Mounted Public - 1.6 gpf (M_Water Closet Flush Valve - Wall mounted Public - 6.1 Lpf) from the Type Selector drop-down.

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In the view window: ■ Align the plumbing fixture to the reference line under the previously placed lavatory.

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Click to place the plumbing fixture. Again, the exact placement of the plumbing fixture is not critical.

10. Place plumbing fixtures at the remaining two reference lines.

3.

To identify the start point for copying the plumbing fixtures, click the midpoint of the wall that is to the upper right of the plumbing fixtures.

11. Exit the Plumbing Fixture tool.

Create a Sanitary Plumbing System Layout 1. 2.

In the view window, CTRL+select all the plumbing fixtures that you just placed. Click Modify Plumbing Fixtures tab > Modify panel > Mirror drop-down > Draw Mirror Axis to copy the plumbing fixtures from the Women 225 (WC H 41) area to the Men 226 (WC D 40) area.


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4.

5. 6. 7. 8.

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Move the cursor down and click again to establish the endpoint. Notice that the plumbing fixtures have now been copied over the plumbing chase into the Men 226 (WC D 40) area.

With the copied plumbing fixtures in the Men 226 (WC D 40) area selected, on the Create Systems panel, click Sanitary. Click Modify Piping Systems tab > System Tools panel > Edit System. On the Options Bar, for System Name, enter 2nd Floor Sanitary. On the Edit Piping System tab, Edit Piping System panel, ensure that Add To System is selected.

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9.

In the view window, click all the plumbing fixtures in the Women 225 (WC H 41) area to select them.

10. On the Edit System panel, click Finish Editing System. 11. To start creating the sanitary piping, in the view window, select one of the fixtures that you have placed. 12. Click Modify Plumbing Fixtures > Layout panel > Generate Layout. 13. In the Select a System dialog box: ■ Ensure that 2nd Floor Sanitary is selected in the list. ■ Click OK. 14. Click Generate Layout tab > Generate Layout panel > Place Base.

15. In the view window: ■ Zoom in to the reference planes on the wall between the two columns of plumbing fixtures. ■ Click to place the base on the cross closer to the wall as shown.

16. On the Options Bar: ■ Change the Offset value to - 4' 0" (-1220 mm). ■ Select 4" (100 mm) from the Diameter list. 17. On the Generate Layout panel, click Solutions.

18. On the Options Bar: ■ Ensure that Solution Type is set to Network. ■ Ensure that the solution is set to 1 of 5. ■ Ensure that the value for Slope is specified as 1/8" / 12" (1.00%). ■ Click Settings. 19. In the left pane of the Pipe Conversion Settings dialog box, ensure that Main is selected. 20. In the right pane of the Pipe Conversion Settings dialog box: ■ For Pipe Type, ensure that Pipe Types: PVC is selected in the Value list. ■ For Offset, ensure that the value is specified as -0' 6" (-152 mm). 21. In the left pane of the Pipe Conversion Settings dialog box, select Branch. 22. In the right pane of the Pipe Conversion Settings dialog box: ■ For Pipe Type, ensure that Pipe Types: PVC is selected in the Value list. ■ For Offset, ensure that the value is specified as -0' 6" (-152 mm). ■ Click OK. On the Generate Layout tab, click Finish Layout. 23.

Create a Gray Sanitary Water System Layout 1. 2.

In the view window, select any one of the plumbing fixtures. Click Piping Systems tab > System Tools panel > Edit System.


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3.

4.

Click Edit Piping System tab > Edit Piping System panel > Remove From System to remove the lavatories from the 2nd Floor Sanitary System before creating a new sanitary system. In the view window, click the first two plumbing fixtures in both the Women 225 (WC H 41) and Men 226 (WC D 40) areas.

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Right-click a selected sanitary tee. Click Delete. Click Modify tab > Edit panel > Trim. To join the sink branch piping with the main piping, in the view window: ■ Click the lower sink branch piping. ■ Click the main piping. ■

5. 6.

Click Finish Editing System. CTRL+select the four sinks in the Women 225 (WC H 41) and Men 226 (WC D 40) areas. 7. Click Modify Plumbing Fixtures tab > Create Systems panel > Sanitary to create a new sanitary system named gray water. 8. Click Modify Piping Systems tab > System Tools > Edit System. 9. On the Options Bar, for System Name, enter 2nd Floor Gray Water. 10. Click Finish Editing System.

Manually Complete the Plumbing Run for the Unit 1.

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In the view window:

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2. 3.

CTRL+select the two short sanitary tees that join the sinks to the main piping as shown.

4.

Join the upper sink branch piping with the main piping.

5. 6.

Exit the Trim tool. To start moving the gray water piping closer to the sinks, in the view window, select the piece of pipe that is still in line with the sanitary waste main piping.

7.

Use the Move tool to move the pipe about 2' - 0" (610 mm) closer to the sinks. The exact position is not important.

8. 9.

Clear the selection. To start resizing the 4" (102 mm) pipe to 2" (51 mm): ■ Place the cursor on the 4" (102 mm) pipe that you just moved. ■ Press TAB two times to highlight the entire piping. ■ Click to select the pipes and fittings that are highlighted.


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10. On the Options Bar, select 2" (50 mm) from the Diameter list. 11. Clear the selection. 12. To create the piping to the riser for completing the gray water system, in the view window, select the elbow that is closer to the sanitary riser that has already been created. Notice the Tee grips that are shown.

14. To draw the remaining piping: ■ Select the tee that was just created. ■ Right-click the upper Drag control of the selected tee. Click Draw Pipe.

The piping will automatically resize to the same size and elevation as the existing piping. 15. On the Options Bar: ■ For Edit Slope, enter 1/8" / 12" (1.00%). ■ Click Toggle Slope Direction to ensure that it is negative.

13. Click the top Tee grip to change the elbow to a short sanitary tee.

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16. In the view window: ■ Move the cursor upward until it locks on the horizontal reference plane that indicates where the gray water riser will be created.

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Click to place the pipe.

17. To draw the next piece of pipe at an angle of 90 degrees: ■ Move the cursor to the left. ■ Click the vertical reference plane next to the current sanitary riser.

Note: By clicking the reference line, you end the creation of the piping string; however, the Piping tool is still active.


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18. To draw the vertical riser: ■ Click the end of the pipe that has just been created.

22. To reconnect the sanitary main piping, click both ends of the main piping.

Press SPACEBAR to match the size and elevation of the pipe. 19. On the Options Bar: ■ Change the Offset value to -4' 0" (-1220 mm). ■ Change the Edit Slope value to 0" / 12" (0%). ■ Click Apply. 20. Exit the Piping tool. 21. Activate the Trim tool.

23. Exit the Trim tool. 24. Open the 2nd Floor Plumbing 3D view. 25. In the view window, SHIFT+right-click to rotate the 3D model and view the plumbing fixtures that you have placed. Note: The completed image may differ slightly depending on the placement of the fixtures and the rotation of the drawing. 26. Close the file without saving changes.

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Chapter Summary You can now use various tools in Revit MEP to create plumbing systems in different parts of a building. You can also check the systems against other building components for interferences. In this chapter, you learned to create plumbing systems.

Chapter Summary

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Chapter

10 Fire Protection Systems In this chapter, you will learn how to create, lay out, and specify the size of various fire protection systems and their components. You will also learn how to ensure that the fire protection system and its components do not interference with other components in a building.

Chapter Objective After completing this chapter, you will be able to create fire protection systems.

Chapter Overview

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Lesson: Creating Fire Protection Systems This lesson describes how to create a fire protection system. You begin the lesson by learning about fire protection systems. Next, you learn the process of creating these systems. The lesson concludes with an exercise on creating a fire protection system. Fire protection systems are an essential component of modern buildings. Using Revit®, you can create various fire protection sprinkler systems and use layout tools to automatically generate sprinkler piping. The following illustration shows an example of a fire protection system.

Objectives After completing this lesson, you will be able to: Describe fire protection systems. Identify the steps in the process of creating a fire protection system. Create a fire protection system.

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Chapter 10: Fire Protection Systems

About Fire Protection Systems Using Revit, you can create, layout, and specify the size of a fire protection system and its components.

Definition of a Fire Protection System A fire protection system is a group of sprinklers and the supporting piping and valves required to create the system. You can create a sprinkler system by placing sprinkler heads, such as upright and pendent, as elements hosted in the ceiling or as nonhosted elements. You can then generate the sprinkler piping using the auto-layout tools or by manually drawing it. When using autolayout tools, you should set an elevation for the piping head. This is because the layout tools do not find a solution for piping at an elevation above upright heads or below pendent sprinklers. You can also check the fire protection system and its components for interferences with other components in a building. The information stored within the system can be used for analysis or scheduling purposes.

Semi-recessed sprinkler pendent

Lesson: Creating Fire Protection Systems

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Sprinkler Libraries You can use a number of sprinkler families included in the sprinkler library folders by loading them into your project.

Partial listing of the available sprinkler families

Hosted families require a ceiling for placement, and nonhosted families require an elevation to be specified.

Sprinkler Tools You can use the various tools on the different panels of the Place Sprinkler tab to place sprinkler heads, sprinkler piping, and pipe accessories. When placing sprinklers, you should place the sprinkler piping above the pendent type sprinkler heads and below the upright sprinkler heads. This is because a piping run created in the opposite direction does not connect to the sprinkler as intended. The following illustration shows the panels on the Place Sprinkler tab.

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Wet and Dry Fire Protection Systems You can connect a sprinkler head to a wet or dry fire protection system. Sprinklers that are created for use in a dry sprinkler system can only be assigned to dry sprinkler systems and the same is true for wet sprinkler systems. When you create a new system from a sprinkler placed in a model, only the system, wet or dry, that corresponds to the sprinkler type is available as an option.

Example of a Fire Protection System The following illustration shows a 3D view of a typical run of sprinklers and associated piping.


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Process of Creating a Fire Protection System You can create a fire protection system by associating a number of sprinkler heads. To do this, you use the auto-routing tools to assign sprinklers to a fire protection system and insert piping, which connects the system objects.

Process: Creating a Fire Protection System The following illustration shows the process of creating a fire protection system.

The following steps describe the process of creating a fire protection system. 1. 2. 3.

4.

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Select the sprinkler heads. Select the sprinkler heads to be piped together. Then, use Fire Protection Dry or Fire Protection Wet on the Create Systems panel of the Modify Sprinklers tab to create a fire protection system. Edit the sprinkler system. Edit the sprinkler system by using the tools available on the Edit Piping System tab. To activate this tab, select Edit System on the System Tools panel of the Modify Piping Systems tab. Create a layout path. Create a layout path by using the Generate Layout tool on the Layout panel of the Modify Sprinklers tab. This tool automatically routes the system piping. You can browse through various solution types and select the most viable solution. Save the changes. Save the changes to finalize the solution that you selected and finish drawing the fire protection system.


Exercise: Create a Fire Protection System In this exercise, you create and lay out a wet and a dry fire protection system. You are creating a sprinkler layout and a fire protection piping plan for a small room area and a hallway in a conference center. You do the following: ■ Place sprinkler heads. ■ Create a sprinkler system. ■ Lay out the sprinkler piping.


Completing the Exercise To complete the exercise, follow the steps in this book or in the onscreen exercise. In the onscreen list of chapters and exercises, click Chapter 10: Fire Protection Systems. Click Exercise: Create a Fire Protection System.

1.

Open i_rmep_fire_protection.rvt or m_rmep_fire_protection.rvt. The file opens in the 2nd Floor Fire Protection Ceiling Plan view. Ensure that the RME 2009 Imperial - Arch.rvt or RME 2009 Metric - Arch.rvt file is in the same folder where you saved the courseware datasets. Note: The illustrations for the metric dataset will be slightly different from those shown here.

Place Sprinkler Heads


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2.

In the view window, zoom in to Hall 220 (43).

10. On the Options Bar, ensure that the Multiple check box is selected. 11. In the view window, click at a point below the sprinkler head to specify the start point for the Copy tool.

12. Move the cursor 9' 0" (2700 mm) to the right and place an instance of the sprinkler head.

3. 4.

5. 6.

Click Home tab > Plumbing & Piping panel > Sprinkler. Ensure that Sprinkler - Dry - Pendent Semi-Recessed - Hosted : 1/2" Dry Pendent (M_Sprinkler - Dry - Pendant - Semi-Recessed Hosted : 15 mm Dry Pendant) is selected in the Type Selector drop-down. Click Place Sprinkler tab > Placement panel > Place on Face to place sprinklers on the face of the Hall ceiling. In the view window: ■ Place an instance of the sprinkler head in the upper-left corner of the Hall area. ■ Align the sprinkler head to the center of the two reference planes.

13. Place another instance of the sprinkler head 9' 0" (2700 mm) to the right of the sprinkler head you just placed.

14. Exit the Copy tool.

7. 8. 9.

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Exit the Sprinkler tool. In the view window, click the sprinkler head that you have just placed to select it. Click Modify Sprinklers tab > Modify panel > Copy.

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15. In the view window, CTRL+select the sprinkler heads you have placed in the extreme left and the extreme right.

24. In the view window, place two instances of sprinkler heads in the lower half of the Room 213 (EDP II 52) area in the center of the reference planes. Tip: Align the sprinkler heads with the center of the lighting fixtures.

16. On the Modify panel, click Copy. 17. On the Options Bar, ensure that the Multiple check box is selected. 18. In the view window, click at a point below the sprinkler heads to specify the start point for the Copy tool. 19. Place 11 instances of sprinkler heads, each 9' 0" (2700 mm) apart. 25. Exit the Sprinkler tool. 26. In the view window, select both instances of the sprinkler heads that you have just placed.

20. Exit the Copy tool. 21. Activate the Sprinkler tool to create a fire protection system in Room 213 (EDP II 52), which is to the left of the Hall area. 22. Select Sprinkler - Pendent - Hosted : 1/2" Pendent (M_Sprinkler - Pendant - Hosted : 15 mm Pendant) from the Type Selector dropdown. 23. On the Place Sprinkler tab, Placement panel, ensure that Place on Face is selected to place sprinklers on the face of the Room 213 (EDP II 52) ceiling.


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27. Use the Copy tool to place two instances of sprinkler heads above the selected sprinkler heads, each 10' 0" (3000 mm) apart. Tip: Click at a point above the selected sprinkler heads to specify the start point for the Copy tool.

8. 9.

Click Modify Sprinklers tab > Create Systems panel > Fire Protection Wet. Associate all the sprinklers in the Room 213 (EDP II 52) area to the wet fire protection system.

Lay Out the Sprinkler Piping 1. 2.

3.

In the view window, select a sprinkler head in the Hall area. Click Modify Sprinklers tab > Layout panel > Generate Layout. A network piping solution for the sprinkler heads is displayed in the view window. On the Options Bar: ■ Select Perimeter from the Solution Type list. ■ Verify that solution 2 of 5 is selected. Tip: Use the Previous Solution and the Next Solution arrows to select the required solution. Click Settings. To specify main piping settings, in the Pipe Conversion Settings dialog box: ■ In the left pane, ensure that Main is selected. ■ In the right pane, ensure that the Pipe Type value is set to Pipe Types: Standard. ■ For Offset, enter 11' 6" (3505 mm) in the Value field. To specify other piping settings, in the Pipe Conversion Settings dialog box: ■ In the left pane, select Branch. ■ In the right pane, ensure that the Pipe Type value is set to Pipe Types: Standard. ■ For Offset, enter 11' 6" (3505 mm) in the Value field. ■ Click OK. Click Generate Layout tab > Generate Layout panel > Finish Layout to create the pipe layout for the sprinklers. ■

4.

28. Exit the Copy tool.

Create a Sprinkler System 1. 2. 3.

4. 5.

6.

7.

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5. In the view window, select any sprinkler head in the Hall area. Click Modify Sprinklers tab > Create Systems panel > Fire Protection Dry. To associate all the sprinklers in the Hall area to a dry fire protection system, click Modify Piping Systems tab > System Tools panel > Edit System. On the Options Bar, notice that Fire Protection 6. Dry 1 is displayed for System Name. On the Edit Piping System tab, Edit Piping System panel, ensure that Add To System is selected. In the view window, click the remaining sprinkler heads inside the Hall area to select them. The selected sprinkler heads turn black in color to indicate selection. Click Edit Piping System tab > Edit System panel > Finish Editing System to complete associating the sprinklers in the Hall area to the dry fire protection system. In the view window, select any sprinkler head inside the Room 213 (EDP II 52) area.

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7.

Open the 2nd Floor Fire Protection view. Notice the new sprinkler system that you have created.

8.

Open the 2nd Floor Fire Protection Ceiling Plan view. In the view window, select a sprinkler head in Room 213 (EDP II 52). Activate the Generate Layout tool. On the Options Bar: ■ Select Network from the Solution Type list to specify a layout solution that wraps the pipe around the perimeter of the sprinkler heads. ■ Verify that solution 1 of 2 is selected. ■ Click Settings. To verify main piping settings, in the Pipe Conversion Settings dialog box: ■ In the left pane, ensure that Main is selected. ■ In the right pane, ensure that the Pipe Type value is set to Pipe Types: Standard. ■ For Offset, enter 10' 0" (2900 mm) in the Value field. To verify other piping settings, in the Pipe Conversion Settings dialog box: ■ In the left pane, select Branch. ■ In the right pane, ensure that the Pipe Type value is set to Pipe Types: Standard. ■ For Offset, enter 10' 0" (2900 mm) in the Value field. ■ Click OK. Click Finish Layout. Open the 2nd Floor Fire Protection view. You can view both the sprinkler systems that you have created from different directions. Close the file without saving changes.

9. 10. 11.

12.

13.

14. 15. 16.


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Chapter Summary You can now create fire protection systems in Revit MEP using various placement and layout tools. You can also use the information stored within the system for analysis or scheduling purposes. In this chapter, you learned to create fire protection systems.

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Chapter

11 Electrical Systems Electrical circuits connect similar electrical components to form an electrical system. Revit® MEP provides tools for modeling electrical systems quickly and effectively. You can place devices and assign them to electrical circuits and panels. You can create wiring to connect various electrical components. Using the Revit MEP tools, you can track lighting levels and balance panel loads.

Chapter Objectives After completing this chapter, you will be able to: ■ ■

Create electrical circuits. Create wiring.

Chapter Overview

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Lesson: Creating Electrical Circuits This lesson describes how to create electrical circuits. You begin the lesson by learning about electrical circuits and the tools used for working with them. Next, you learn the process and some recommended practices for creating electrical circuits. The lesson concludes with an exercise on creating an electrical lighting circuit. Revit provides tools for modeling electrical systems quickly and effectively. While creating electrical systems, you define voltage definitions for connected components, place devices and assign them to electrical circuits, and map circuits to an appropriate panel. Assigning circuits to a panel allows you to easily load tracking and automation of panel schedules. You can also track electrical loads and use voltage drop information to automatically size circuited wires.

Light fixtures and switches placed in a classroom

Objectives After completing this lesson, you will be able to: Describe electrical circuits. Identify the tools for working with electrical circuits. Identify the steps in the process of creating electrical circuits. State the recommended practices for creating electrical circuits. Create an electrical lighting circuit.

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Chapter 11: Electrical Systems

About Electrical Circuits You create electrical circuits to place electrical components, such as devices, lighting fixtures, and electrical equipment, in a project. You can connect components to a circuit using an available electrical connector if the components have correct electrical settings, such as voltage, number of poles, and phase.

Definition of Electrical Circuits Electrical circuits connect similar electrical components to form an electrical system. An electrical circuit is associated with a circuit number on a panel. You can define which components can connect to each other and track cumulative electrical loads as you add components to the circuit. You can use the electrical properties of components to populate a panel schedule, size wiring based on voltage drop, and balance loads across the panel.

Voltage Definitions Voltage definitions in Revit include a range of voltages that you can assign to the distribution systems in a project. Each voltage definition is specified as a range of voltages to allow for differing voltage ratings on devices from various manufacturers.

Distribution Systems Distribution systems in Revit define the characteristics of connected panels and circuits. Phasing, configuration, number of wires, and voltage definition information are defined within the distribution system.

Depending on your project requirements, you can edit, add, or delete voltage definitions and distribution systems.

Lesson: Creating Electrical Circuits

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Example of Electrical Circuits The following illustration shows electrical components assigned to a circuit and a panel.

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Tools for Working with Electrical Circuits You can use various Revit tools for loading, creating, and tracking electrical circuit information.

Family Libraries Revit provides various electrical families that you can load and place in an MEP model. When necessary, you can copy a family from your library and edit the electrical connection and other information, which allows you to utilize the family in different applications in the MEP model.

Some of the available electrical families

Electrical Panel of the Home Tab The Electrical panel of the Home tab provides tools that contain options for adding electrical components and wiring, check circuits in a project, and create panel schedules. The following illustration shows the tools on the Electrical panel of the Home tab.

When you select a tool on the Electrical panel, various settings become active on the contextual tab based on the selected tool. Families loaded into the project are available in the Type Selector dropdown.


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The following illustration shows a contextual tab and some settings available on that tab.

System Browser The System Browser contains a list of all electrical components in a model and the systems to which these are assigned. The electrical components that are not assigned to a system appear in the Unassigned category. Using the System Browser, you can easily track electrical components and ensure that all components are assigned to a system.

System Browser displaying assigned and unassigned electrical components

Instance Properties Dialog Box You can use the Instance Properties dialog box of a specific space to specify parameters for lighting. You can assign lighting intensity information to light fixtures in the Revit family or associate them with a specified IES photometric data file. Light fixtures placed in the volume defined by a space in Revit contribute to the average estimated illumination of that space.

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The following illustration shows the Electrical - Lighting parameters in the Instance Properties dialog box.

Process of Creating Electrical Circuits Creating an electrical circuit associates a group of electrical components in a model with a specific electrical panel. Associating components with an electrical circuit allows you to automatically wire circuits. Associating components with a circuit also assigns them to an electrical panel, which enables you to track the circuit and associated panel loads for scheduling and balancing.

Process: Creating Electrical Circuits The following illustration shows the process of creating electrical circuits.

The following steps describe the process of creating electrical circuits. 1. 2. 3.

Place electrical components. Place electrical components in a view. Create power circuit. Select an electrical component to be assigned to an electrical circuit and then select Power on the Create Systems panel of the contextual tab. Activate the Edit Circuit tool. Activate Edit Circuit on the System Tools panel of the Electrical Circuits tab. You use the tools provided on the Edit Circuit tab to add and remove components, view circuit properties, select a panel, and view the panel properties for a circuit.


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4.

5. 6.

Add components to the circuit. Add components to the circuit by first selecting Add To Circuit on the Edit Circuit panel of the Edit Circuit tab and then selecting the component to be added to the circuit. The component you selected in Step 2 is already part of the circuit. Finish and save changes to the circuit. Finish adding components to the circuit by selecting Finish Editing Circuit on the Edit Circuit panel of the Edit Circuit tab. Assign the electrical circuit to a panel. Activate the Panel list by selecting Select Panel on the System Tools panel of the Electrical Circuits tab. Finally, select a panel or a transformer from the Panel list on the Options Bar and click in the floor plan to accept the new circuit being added.

Guidelines for Creating Electrical Circuits The following recommended practices help you create electrical circuits efficiently.

Guidelines In the initial stages of development, ensure that the distribution systems are defined appropriately as part of Electrical Settings for the application you design. Assign a distribution system to panels as well so that you can connect devices only to panels of the same distribution system. Include the light fixture ID, circuit number, and panel name in the tags for the light fixture. This helps to maximize the use of tag properties and provide complete information about the light fixture in the tags. Take note of any connected load errors that may occur while placing the load on the panel. This helps you update the load of the correct configuration on a panel that cannot accept excess load.

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Exercise: Create an Electrical Lighting Circuit In this exercise, you create an electrical lighting circuit by placing lighting fixtures, assigning them to an electrical circuit, and editing the circuits in the panel. You are completing the lighting layout for a conference center. You need to create an electrical lighting circuit in one of the rooms of the conference center. You begin by placing the light fixtures and switches. Then, you assign the light fixtures to an electrical circuit and assign the circuit to a panel. You also tag light fixtures and edit circuits on the panel to balance the load between different circuits. You do the following: ■ Place light fixtures and switches. ■ Observe space lighting calculations. ■ Create an electrical circuit. ■ Tag light fixtures. ■ Edit circuits on the panel.



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Completing the Exercise

7.

In the view window, select the light fixture you just placed.

8.

Click Modify Lighting Fixtures tab > Modify panel > Copy to create a copy of the light fixture. To place the copy of the light fixture, in the view window: ■ Click near the selected light fixture to specify a start point. The exact location is not critical. ■ Move the cursor 8' (2400 mm) to the right of the selected light fixture.

To complete the exercise, follow the steps in this book or in the online exercise. In the online list of chapters and exercises, click Chapter 11: Electrical Systems. Click Exercise: Create an Electrical Lighting Circuit.

Place Light Fixtures and Switches 1.

2. 3.

4. 5.

Open i_rmep_elec_circuits.rvt or m_rmep_elec_circuits.rvt. The file opens in the 3rd Floor Ceiling Plan view. Note: The illustrations for the metric dataset will be slightly different from those shown here. Click Home tab > Electrical panel > Lighting Fixture to begin placing light fixtures in the view. Select Plain Recessed Lighting Fixture : 2x4 - 277 (M_Plain Recessed Lighting Fixture : 600x1200 - 277) from the Type Selector dropdown. Click Place Fixture tab > Placement panel > Place on Face. In the view window: ■ Move the cursor over room 307. ■ Press SPACEBAR to rotate the fixture vertically. ■ Click to place the light fixture at the intersection of the ceiling grid lines in the upper-left area of the room, as shown. Tip: Zoom in to the view, if required.

9.

Click to place the copy of the light fixture. Note: Alternatively, you can enter 8' (2400 mm) as the distance while moving the cursor and press ENTER. ■

6.

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Click Modify.

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10. Place another copy of the light fixture 8' (2400 mm) to the right of the first copy you placed.

11. Exit the Copy tool. 12. In the view window, CTRL+select the three light fixtures you just placed. 13. Place copies of the selected light fixtures 8' (2400 mm) below them.

14. Create another row of light fixtures 8' (2400 mm) below the row you placed in the previous step.

15. Open the 3rd Floor Lighting Plan view. 16. Click Home tab > Electrical panel > Device dropdown > Lighting to place switches in the plan view. 17. Select Lighting Switches : Three Way (M_Lighting Switches : Three Way) from the Type Selector drop-down. 18. Ensure that Place on Vertical Face is selected on the Placement panel of the Place Lighting Device tab.


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19. In the view window: ■ Click to place a switch on the walls near each door as shown. The exact location is not critical. ■ Press ESC two times to end the currently active tool.

3.

In the Instance Properties dialog box: ■ Under Electrical - Lighting, notice that the Average Estimated Illumination value is 67.30 fc (744.83 lx), based on the light fixtures you just added. ■ Click OK.

Create an Electrical Circuit 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

In the view window, select a light fixture that you placed in room 307. Click Modify Lighting Fixtures tab > Create Systems panel > Power. Click Modify Electrical Circuits tab > System Tools panel > Edit Circuit. Click Edit Circuit tab > Edit Circuit panel > Add To Circuit to add the selected light fixture to an electrical circuit. In the view window, select the remaining light fixtures in the room.

Observe Space Lighting Calculations 1.

In the view window: ■ Move the cursor over the edges of room 307 to highlight the room space. ■ Click to select the space.

6.

7. 8.

2.

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Click Modify Spaces tab > Element panel > Element Properties to view lighting calculations. 9.

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To assign the circuit to a panel: ■ On the Edit Circuit panel, click Select Panel. ■ On the Options Bar, select LP-3 from the Panel list. On the Edit Circuit panel, click Circuit Properties. In the Instance Properties dialog box, under Instance Parameters, Electrical - Loads: ■ Notice the voltages and current information that are extracted from the electrical properties of the light fixtures you placed. ■ Click OK. On the Edit Circuit panel, click Finish Editing Circuit to save changes to the circuit.

Tag Light Fixtures 1. 2. 3.

3.

Click Annotate tab > Tag panel > Tag By Category to add tags to the light fixtures. On the Options Bar, ensure that the Leader check box is cleared to avoid adding a leader on the tag. In the view window: ■ Select each light fixture in succession to tag it.

Notice the loads for A, B, and C buses. ■ Click Rebalance Loads. Notice that the loads are adjusted to minimize the voltage difference across buses. ■ Click OK. Clear the selection. Close the file without saving changes. ■

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In the Edit Circuits dialog box, under Circuits: ■ Notice that circuit 11 is listed with the load name Lighting Classroom 5 307. Tip: Click and drag the load name to the right so that you can see the complete load name.

Press ESC to exit the Tag tool.

Edit Circuits on the Panel 1.

In the view window: ■ Zoom in to the electrical room to the right of room 307. ■ Select the panel LP-3.

2.

Click Modify Electrical Equipment tab > Electrical panel > Circuits.


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Lesson: Creating Wiring This lesson describes how to create wiring. You begin the lesson by learning about electrical wiring. Next, you learn the process of creating a wire type and some recommended practices for creating wiring. The lesson concludes with an exercise on creating wiring. Wiring depicts the connections between various electrical components, such as electrical devices, lighting fixtures, and electrical equipment. To create wiring connections among electrical components in a project, use the tools available on the Electrical panel of the Home tab. In Revit, you can create both automatic and manual wiring. The following illustration shows the electrical devices wired in a plan view.

Objectives After completing this lesson, you will be able to: Describe electrical wiring. Identify the steps in the process of creating a wire type. State the recommended practices for creating wiring. Create wiring.

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About Electrical Wiring In Revit, you can graphically represent circuit information using wiring. Wiring can be displayed with or without graphical symbols and tick marks. You can also customize the display of these tick marks. Wiring can be automatically generated using the circuit information in a project. You can also manually place the wiring in a view.

Definition Electrical wiring is the physical wiring that connects all electrical components in a building. In Revit, you can display electrical wiring using wire components that contain sizing and circuit information.

Electrical Wire Settings In Revit, you can specify settings to define electrical wiring properties using the Electrical Settings dialog box. To open this dialog box, select Electrical Settings from the MEP Settings drop-down on the Project Settings panel of the Manage tab. In the Electrical Settings dialog box, you can specify settings for ambient temperature, wire crossing gap size, and hot wire, ground wire, and neutral wire tick marks. The Slanted Line Across Tick Marks option enables you to display the tick mark for the ground conductor as a diagonal line across the tick marks for the other conductors. In addition, you can specify whether tick marks should be shown on all wires or only on home runs or should not be shown at all. The following illustration shows the wire settings in the Electrical Settings dialog box.

Wire Tick Marks Wire tick marks are defined under the Wiring category in the Electrical Settings dialog box. You can assign the tick mark style for each type of conductor, such as hot, ground, and neutral. If the wire tick marks are set to be always shown, tick marks appear when wires are created. After wire tick marks are created, you can select them to display control grips for modifying the tick marks. For example, you can increase or decrease the number of hot conductors by clicking the plus or minus control grips of the selected tick marks. If you want to move the location of a tick mark along the wire, use the Moving Tick Marks control grip.

Lesson: Creating Wiring

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The following illustration shows an example of a wire tick mark modification in a project.

Home Runs You can create home runs by manually drawing wires using the Wire tool on the Electrical panel of the Home tab. If you are using the Wire tool and have not selected an electrical component as the endpoint of a wire, Revit creates a home run symbol. After you create symbols, you can select them to display the grips that help move or adjust the arc of a home run. Using the Wire tool, you can also create multiple home runs by wiring electrical components from multiple circuits. The following illustration shows an example of a multiple home run in a project.

Electrical Wire Sizes In Revit, a library of wire sizes is available for the currently selected combination of wire material, temperature rating, and insulation type. Each wire size is assigned ampacity, size, and physical diameter. You can also define whether wire sizing tools should use a given wire size. In the Electrical Settings dialog box, under Wire Sizes, you can specify wire sizing information based on conductor temperature ratings of 60 o C, 75 o C, and 90 o C. Under Correction Factor, you can specify a value for the current-carrying ability of the wire material at specific temperatures. Along with correction factor settings, you can specify ground conductor sizes.

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The following illustration shows the Electrical Settings dialog box with aluminum wire sizes available in a project.

Wire Types You define wire types by selecting materials and specifying properties such as temperature rating, insulation, maximum size, and neutral wire settings for a given type of wire. Using different combinations of these properties, you can create standard sets of wire types to be used in Revit. You specify these properties of a wire type under the Wiring Types category in the Electrical Settings dialog box. The following illustration shows the wire types for a project.


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Electrical Circuits and Automatic Wire Generation Electrical circuits connect similar electrical components to form an electrical system. When a circuit is selected in a view, you add permanent wiring to the circuit by either selecting the generate wiring controls in the view or using tools on the Modify Electrical Circuits tab. To create permanent wiring, you can highlight a component in the circuit, press TAB to highlight the circuit, and then select the circuit. This automatically generates the wiring. You can then select arced or chamfered wiring to specify the type of wiring for the circuit.

Example The following illustration shows an example of temporary wiring being converted to permanent electrical wiring in a project.

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Process of Creating a Wire Type Creating a new wire type allows you to connect electrical objects with wires and track the appropriate wire sizes and materials for use. This allows Revit to track ampacity rating information to appropriately size wires based on use.

Process: Creating a Wire Type The following illustration shows the process of creating a wire type.

The following steps describe the process of creating a wire type. 1.

2. 3.

4.

Specify wire type settings. Specify the wire type settings in the Electrical Settings dialog box. To access this dialog box, select Electrical Settings from the MEP Settings drop-down on the Project Settings panel of the Manage tab. Then, select Wiring Types in the left pane of the Electrical Settings dialog box to display the wire type settings in the right pane. Add a new wire type. Add a new wire type by selecting Add in the Electrical Settings dialog box. Then, you can provide an appropriate name for the new wire type. Specify properties for the wire type. Specify properties for the wire type in the Electrical Settings dialog box. You can specify properties, such as material, temperature rating, insulation, max size, and neutral, for the new wire type. Save changes. Save the changes for the wire type by clicking OK in the Electrical Settings dialog box.


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Guidelines for Creating Wiring The following recommended practices help you create wiring effectively.

Guidelines Specify wire settings with available wire sizes to define the wire types that you can use in a Revit model. This allows you to create different wire sizes for the same wire type. Specify wire settings in project template files to save time and maintain consistency across projects. To save even more time, you can specify wire settings in the templates used by your company so that the settings are consistent across projects. Transfer wire settings from one project to another using the Transfer Project Standards tool on the Project Settings panel of the Manage tab. This will expedite the design process and keep company standards consistent across projects. Turn off wire tick marks universally to ensure consistency across all project views by selecting Never for the wiring settings in the Electrical Settings dialog box. You can also turn these settings off in a given view by controlling the settings in the Visibility/Graphic Overrides dialog box in the view. Apply tags to circuits to indicate circuit numbers. When you create circuits, Revit automatically assigns circuit numbers. Applying tags to these circuit numbers helps you save time by removing the numbering system from the process. Manually wire together devices from different circuits. This helps in creating multiple circuit home runs.

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Exercise: Create Wiring In this exercise, you create and work with electrical wiring in a project. You need to complete the lighting layout in your design. To do this, you will place lighting fixtures, generate wiring, and create home run wires. You do the following: ■ Place electrical devices. ■ Generate automatic circuit wiring. ■ Create wiring manually for receptacles. ■ Display wire tick marks. ■ Create a home run wire. ■ Create a multiple circuit home run wire.



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6.

In the view window, select a receptacle that was placed in room 104 (30).

7.

Click Modify Electrical Fixtures tab > Create Systems panel > Power to create an electrical circuit.

To complete the exercise, follow the steps in this book or in the onscreen exercise. In the onscreen list of chapters and exercises, click Chapter 11: Electrical Systems. Click Exercise: Create Wiring.

Place Electrical Devices 1.

2. 3. 4.

5.

Open i_rmep_wiring.rvt or m_rmep_wiring.rvt. The file opens in the Level 1 Power Plan view. Notice the linked architectural model. Note: The illustrations for the metric dataset will be slightly different from those shown here. Click Home tab > Electrical panel > Device dropdown > Electrical Fixture to place receptacles. Ensure that Duplex Receptacle : Standard (M_Duplex Receptacle : Standard) is selected in the Type Selector drop-down. In the view window, click the walls in rooms 104 (30), 107 (28), and 108 (27) to place two receptacles in each room, as shown. The exact location of the receptacles is not critical.

8.

Click Modify Electrical Circuits tab > System Tools panel > Edit Circuit. 9. Click Edit Circuit tab > Edit Circuit panel > Add To Circuit. 10. In the view window, select the remaining three receptacles placed in rooms 104 (30) and 107 (28).

Exit the Device tool.

11. On the Edit Circuit panel, click Select Panel to indicate the panel from which a circuit originates.

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12. On the Options Bar, select PP-1N from the Panel list. 13. On the Edit Circuit panel, click Finish Editing Circuit.

2.

To generate arced wiring, select the arced icon that appears with the dashed wire preview.

3.

Select the home run wire in room 107 (28) to display the grips, as shown.

Generate Automatic Circuit Wiring 1.

In the view window: ■ Move the cursor over one of the duplex receptacles in room 104 (30). ■ Press TAB so that dashed lines appear, indicating the intended wiring of the new circuit. ■ Click the receptacle to establish the wiring of the new circuit.


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4.

Select the square grip at the end of the home run wire and drag it to reposition the wire for a clear view, as shown.

3.

In the view window: ■ Move the cursor in room 103 (25) over the area where the duplex receptacle is mounted on the left wall until the wiring connection point appears.

Click the connection point to establish the first point for the arced wiring. To create wiring: ■ Click inside room 103 (25) to establish a second point for the wiring arc. The exact location is not critical. ■

5. 6. 7.

Click Annotate tab > Tag panel > Tag By 4. Category to add a tag to the home run wire. On the Options Bar, clear the Leader check box to remove the display of a leader. Click the home run wire in room 107 (28) to add a circuit number tag.

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Note: In the metric dataset, the tag number that appears is 5.

Create Wiring Manually for Receptacles 1. 2.

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Click Home tab > Electrical panel > Wire to manually start creating the wiring. Ensure that Wire Types : THWN (Wire Types : XHHW) is selected in the Type Selector dropdown.

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Click the electrical connection point at the base of the receptacle on the right wall in room 103 (25).

5.

Connect the two receptacles in room 105 (26), as shown.

6.

Exit the Wire tool.

3.

To create a home run, in the view window: ■ Click the electrical connection point for the duplex receptacle on the right wall of room 103 (25). ■ Place two points in room 104 (30) toward the right of room 103 (25) to define the arc for the home run to the panel, as shown. The exact location of the points is not critical.

4.

Exit the Wire tool.

Display Wire Tick Marks 1. 2.

3. 4. 5.

Click Insert tab > Load from Library panel > Load Family. To load a tick mark type in the project, in the Load Family dialog box: ■ Browse to the Imperial (Metric) Library > Electrical Components >TickMarks folder. ■ Select Long Wire Tick Mark.rfa (M_Long Wire Tick Mark.rfa). ■ Click Open. Click Manage tab > Project Settings panel > MEP Settings drop-down > Electrical Settings. In the Electrical Settings dialog box, select Wiring in the left pane. To specify wire tick marks settings, in the right pane of the Electrical Settings dialog box: ■ For Hot Wire Tick Mark, Ground Wire Tick Mark, and Neutral Wire Tick Mark, select Long Wire Tick Mark (M_Long Wire Tick Mark) from the Value list. ■ Ensure that Show Tick Marks is specified as Always. ■ Click OK to close the dialog box.

Create a Home Run Wire 1. 2.

Click Home tab > Electrical panel > Wire. Ensure that Wire Types : THWN (Wire Types : XHHW) is selected in the Type Selector dropdown.


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Create a Multiple Circuit Home Run Wire 1.

To create a multiple circuit home run, in the view window: ■ Select the home run you manually created. ■ Drag the square grip at the end of the home run arrow to place it at the nearest receptacle connection point in room 104 (30). Notice that the arrow for the home run and the tag placed in the earlier section update to indicate the two circuits now included in this run. In the metric dataset, the tag appears as 4, 5.

Press ESC to end the selection of the home run. Close the file without saving changes. ■

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Chapter Summary Now that you have learned to create electrical circuits and wiring, you can effectively connect electrical components with wires and track the appropriate electrical load, wire sizes, and materials for use. In this chapter, you learned to: ■ ■

Create electrical circuits. Create wiring.

Chapter Summary

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Chapter

12 Working with Architects and Engineers In many projects, you will collaborate with other design and engineering professionals to facilitate your design. In this chapter, you will learn about some of collaboration techniques provided by Revit® MEP. These tools will help you work efficiently and accurately.


Monitor changes in files of other disciplines linked to Revit MEP. Check and fix interference conditions.

Chapter Overview

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Lesson: Monitoring Changes in Linked Files This lesson describes how to monitor changes in files of other disciplines linked to Revit MEP. You begin the lesson by learning about project sharing and the Copy and Monitor tools. Next, you learn the steps to coordinate and monitor changes in the current project. Then, you learn about the Coordination Review tool and some recommended practices for monitoring changes in linked files. The lesson concludes with an exercise on monitoring changes in a linked file of another discipline. In most building projects, you need to collaborate on the building design. For example, a mechanical engineer uses an architect's preliminary building model to devise the initial mechanical design layout of the building. Therefore, proper coordination and monitoring helps ensure that the mechanical model is synchronized with the changes that the architect made to the building model. Effective change monitoring reduces errors and expensive rework during construction.

Structural model linked to a Revit MEP project

Objectives After completing this lesson, you will be able to: Describe project sharing. Describe the Copy and Monitor tools. Coordinate and monitor changes in the current project. Describe the Coordination Review tool. State the recommended practices for monitoring changes in linked files. Monitor changes in a linked file of another discipline.

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Chapter 12: Working with Architects and Engineers

About Project Sharing You can share project information across disciplines to create a robust project design. You can link projects and insert elements from one project into another. For example, a mechanical engineer can use an architectural model for creating and analyzing the HVAC design or a structural model for duct coordination.

Definition of Project Sharing Project sharing is the process of linking projects across disciplines. For example, you can share an Autodesk® Revit® Structure model with an MEP engineer. Using Revit MEP, the engineer can create an MEP model on the same design. You can then link the MEP model with the original structural model. Project sharing is effective only when you coordinate and monitor the shared information for updates.

Linking Projects You link a project file using the Import/Link RVT dialog box. While linking, use shared coordinates, origin-to-origin, or center-to-center positioning to specify the location of the linked model in the host project. When you link an Autodesk® Revit® Architecture or Revit Structure project file, its path is saved in the host Revit MEP project file. After linking, if the linked project file changes, you can reload it in the host project file to view the updated linked project file. If the path of the linked project file changes, you can update its path in the host project file using the Manage Links dialog box. You can access the Manage Links dialog box by selecting Manage Links on the Manage Project panel of the Manage tab or on the Link panel of the Insert tab. You can select a linked project file and bind it with the host. Binding converts the linked file to a group in the host file. Then, you can edit the grouped or ungrouped objects. You can also convert a model group into a link, which saves the group as an external file. However, you must exercise caution because if an architectural or structural link is bound to a host Revit MEP file, future updates will not be propagated.

Inserting Elements You can insert 2D elements or drafting views created in a Revit MEP project into a Revit Architecture project by selecting the relevant option from the Insert from File drop-down on the Import panel of the Insert tab. You can also insert Revit Architecture schedules into a Revit MEP project and vice versa. The inserted Revit Architecture or MEP schedules retain the formatting of the original Revit project.

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Example of Project Sharing The following illustrations show the different views of host MEP models displaying elements from the linked structural models.

Section view

Plan view

Copy and Monitor Tools You use the Copy and Monitor tools on the Copy/Monitor tab to coordinate and monitor the changes in the building and structural models. To access this tab, activate the Copy/Monitor mode using the Select Link option from the Copy/Monitor drop-down on the Coordinate panel of the Collaborate tab.

Copy/Monitor tools

Copy Tool Using the Copy tool, you can copy elements within a current project or from a linked project to a host project. This establishes a relationship between the copied and original elements, which helps monitor changes to the original element and report differences. After copying elements, you can see the copy/monitor icon displayed next to the copied elements, which indicates that a relationship is established with the original elements and that the copied elements are monitored. If you modify a copied element, a warning message is displayed, indicating that an element has changed. For example, you can copy grid lines from a linked building model to an MEP model using the Copy tool. Later, if you move one of the copied grid lines, a warning message appears.

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The following illustration shows a warning message box for grid line displacement.

Based on the impact a change has on the MEP model, you can accept or reject the change. You can also accept or reject the change later by performing a coordination review using the Coordination Review tool.

A coordination review lists all the changes made to copied elements.

Monitor Tool You can monitor the elements created in the current project using the Monitor tool. The Monitor tool establishes a relationship between the corresponding elements, for example, between two grid lines. You cannot monitor unlike pairs, such as a grid line and a wall, which are contained in the linked file to the elements that are native to the host file. To do this, you select a pair of similar elements and establish a relationship between them using the Monitor tool. The copy/monitor icon is displayed near the first element you select to indicate that it has a relationship with another element.


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Coordinating and Monitoring Changes in the Current Project Elements in the current project can be accidentally modified by members of the same team. To avoid inconsistency, monitor the elements so that you get a notification when they are modified.

Procedure: Coordinating and Monitoring Changes in a Current Project The following steps describe how to coordinate and monitor changes in a current project. 1. 2. 3. 4.

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In the view window, draw two instances of an element. Note: Perform this step if the elements to be monitored do not exist in the project. To activate Copy/Monitor mode, click Collaborate tab > Coordinate panel > Copy/Monitor dropdown > Use Current Project. To monitor the relationship between elements in the current project, click Copy/Monitor tab > Tools panel > Monitor. In the view window, select two elements, one after the other, to establish a relationship between them. Notice that the Copy/Monitor icon displays near the first element you select, which indicates that the element has a relationship with the second element. This symbol also indicates that the first element is monitored.


Coordination Review Tool You use the Coordination Review tool when monitored elements are modified. For example, if a structural project is linked to an MEP project and you are monitoring the level lines in the structural project, Revit MEP notifies you to perform a coordination review when level lines are modified.

Coordination Monitor Warning You can monitor the elements within a Revit MEP model. However, when the elements being monitored are not synchronized, warning messages appear that notify you of any violations. The various violations that lead to the generation of warning messages are as follows: ■ An original monitored element from the linked project has changed. ■ A copied monitored element in the host project has changed. ■ Both the original monitored and copied elements have changed. ■ The original element in the linked file is deleted. ■ The copied element in the host file is deleted.

Coordination monitor warning


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Coordination Review Warning If the monitored elements within a linked file are modified and the file is reloaded, a warning message notifies you that you must perform a coordination review. This occurs either when the linked file is reloaded using the Manage Links dialog box, or when the file is reopened and the modified linked file is reloaded. When the warning message box appears, close the warning and perform a coordination review.

Coordination Review warning

Coordination Review Dialog Box You can access the Coordination Review tool on the Coordinate panel of the Collaborate tab. If you want to check warning messages between elements in the current project, select the Use Current Project option from the Coordination Review drop-down. You can also check warning messages between linked and host projects by selecting the Select Link option from the Coordination Review drop-down. After you select an option, the Coordination Review dialog box opens. It displays an expandable tree of all warnings between monitored elements. You can expand element warning groups until a value under the Action column is displayed.

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Coordination Review dialog box

When you select an element listed in the Coordination Review dialog box, the element is highlighted in the view window.

Action In the Coordination Review dialog box, you can select from a set of options available under the Action column for each warning. The following table describes these options. Option

Description

Do nothing

This option takes no action on the element. This changes the message status so that the warning can be filtered out or considered later.

Reject

This option is used when there is a difference between an element in the host file and its associated monitored element. The difference is because the change made to the element in the host file is incorrect, and a change must be made to the associated monitored element. Note: This command is available only on the In Host Project tab.

Accept difference

This option accepts the change made to the element and updates the relationship. For example, if a pair of grids were 8 inches apart, and one was moved away by 12 inches, the change would be accepted, and the relationship will be set to 12 inches. Note: This command is available only on the In Host Project tab.


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Option

Description

Modify, Rename, Move

This option name changes based on the action. If the name of the monitored element has changed, the option is Rename. If a column or a level is moved, the option is Move. If a grid is changed or moved, the option is Modify.

If you select one of these options on the In-a-Linked-Project tab, the element will be changed in the current project, not the linked project.

Comment After you select the appropriate option for each warning, add comments on the action taken. This helps you communicate with other cross-functional team members. For example, as an architect, you can communicate to the structural engineer. Your comments are visible when the link is reloaded.

Guidelines for Monitoring Changes in Linked Files The following recommended practices help you effectively monitor changes in linked files.

Guidelines Use the Copy and Monitor tools in MEP projects to monitor level lines. This ensures that floor-tofloor heights remain coordinated. In addition, it ensures that no elements are placed at incorrect levels that may lead to problems in future analysis, such as calculation of mechanical load, and scheduling, such as electrical scheduling or scheduling to a specific level. Use the Coordination Review tool to perform coordination reviews and generate reports for the changes made to the model. Reviews and reports provide a documented trail for tracking the changes made by team members and the decisions taken for those changes. The reviews and reports also help you ensure that all team members are using the latest version of the design data. Use the Add Comment option in the warning message box to add comments that explain the reasons for changes. These comments become visible to other team members when the link is reloaded. As a result, these changes enhance communication among team members. The comments are also exported to the report for future reference. Select the Use Current Project option of the Coordination Review tool when checking for changes in the monitored elements in the current project. This ensures that a coordination review is done for the entire project. Reload the linked file periodically to check for coordination review warnings instead of keeping it always loaded. You should unload the linked file after performing the coordination review because keeping many links loaded simultaneously affects the software performance.

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Exercise: Monitor a Linked File of Another Discipline In this exercise, you monitor a linked file of another discipline. As an MEP engineer, you want to take advantage of project sharing by linking a Revit Structure file in your MEP project. You then coordinate the two disciplines. You also want to monitor structural levels so that Revit MEP displays a warning when the floor-to-floor height changes. This ensures that you are aware of space changes while creating the MEP design. You do the following: ■ Link the Revit Structure file. ■ Monitor the levels in the linked file. ■ Reload the modified Revit Structure file. ■ Perform coordination review.


2. 3.

Completing the Exercise To complete the exercise, follow the steps in this book or in the onscreen exercise. In the onscreen list of chapters and exercises, click Chapter 12: Working with Architects and Engineers. Click Exercise: Monitor a Linked File of Another Discipline.

Click Insert tab > Link panel > Link Revit. In the Import/Link RVT dialog box: ■ Browse to the folder where you saved the courseware datasets. ■ Select i_struct.rvt (m_struct.rvt). ■ Select Auto - Origin to Origin from the Positioning list. ■ Click Open.

Link the Revit Structure File 1.

Open i_rmep_multiple_disciplines.rvt or m_rmep_multiple_disciplines.rvt. The file opens in the Section 1 view. Note: The illustrations for the metric dataset will be slightly different from those shown here.


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Monitor the Levels in the Linked File 1.

5.

In the view window, zoom in around the level head markers. Notice that there are two sets of level lines. One set is part of the original MEP model, and the other set is the linked Revit Structure file.

To monitor level 1 of the linked structural model with level 1 of the MEP model, in the view window: ■ Click the 1st Floor level line of the MEP model. ■ Click the Level 1 level line of the linked model. Note: Both level lines overlap in the view. ■

2. 3.

4.

Click Collaborate tab > Coordinate panel > Copy/Monitor drop-down > Select Link. In the view window, select the linked Revit Structure file. Tip: Use the status bar to confirm the selection.

Note: The Copy/Monitor tab is activated. Click Copy/Monitor tab > Tools panel > Monitor.

6.

Monitor Level 2 of the linked structural model with 2nd Floor of the MEP model.

7.

Monitor Level 3 of the linked structural model with 3rd Floor of the MEP model.

8.

On the Copy/Monitor panel, click Finish.

Reload the Modified Revit Structure File 1. 2.

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Zoom out to view the copy/monitor icon on the left of the Level 1 level line.

Click Manage tab > Manage Project panel > Manage Links. In the Manage Links dialog box: ■ Click the Revit tab. ■ Under Linked File, select the i_struct.rvt (m_struct.rvt) row. ■ Click Reload From.


3.

4. 5.

In the Add Link dialog box: ■ Browse to the folder where you saved the courseware datasets. ■ Select i_struct_revised.rvt (m_struct_revised.rvt). ■ Click Open. Click OK in the Revit MEP warning box that informs you that the instance of the linked .rvt file needs a coordination review. Click OK to close the Manage Links dialog box.

5.

For the second branch under Maintain Position, under the Action column, select Move Level '2nd Floor' from the list.

6.

Click OK to close the Coordination Review dialog box. For the Imperial users, close the warning box, if it appears. For the Metric users, in any warning box that appears, click Delete Element(s). In the view window, notice that the level lines move and the distance between them is the same as that before the file was reloaded. Close the file without saving changes.

Perform Coordination Review 1. 2.

3.

Click Collaborate tab > Coordinate panel > Coordination Review drop-down > Select Link. In the view window, select the linked Revit Structure file. The Coordination Review dialog box is displayed, and it lists the two monitored elements that have been modified. In the Coordination Review dialog box: ■ Click Elements to expand the tree to view the individual elements.

7.

8. 9.

Click Levels : Level : 3rd Floor : id 467205 (381026). Notice that the 3rd Floor level line in the view window is highlighted. ■ Click other elements to view them in the view window. In the Coordination Review dialog box, for the first branch under Maintain Position, under the Action column: ■ Double-click Postpone. ■ Select Move Level '3rd Floor' from the list. ■

4.


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Lesson: Checking and Fixing Interference Lesson: Conditions This lesson describes how to check and fix interference conditions. You begin the lesson by learning about interference checks. Next, you learn about some recommended practices for checking and fixing interference conditions. The lesson concludes with an exercise on checking and fixing interference conditions. You run an interference check to detect instances where elements in a building model overlap or interfere with each other. These instances are shown in an interference report. You can use this report as a guide to fix the inference conditions. You detect and resolve interference conditions in the design phase to limit cost overruns and the number of design changes required during construction.

Interference report

Objectives After completing this lesson, you will be able to: Describe interference checks. State the recommended practices for checking and fixing interference conditions. Check and fix interference conditions in a building model.

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About Interference Checks When you create a building design, you can run an interference check on 3D models to ensure that the elements in the building model are properly placed and do not overlap.

Definition of Interference Checks Interference checks detect overlapping geometry between elements of selected categories. Based on the selection made, the check scans a building model to identify pairs of elements that overlap or interfere with each other. You can perform these checks within a Revit project or between linked projects. Interference checks are performed on a building model database and not on any one view. The check scans all the 3D properties of an element. For example, an interference check recognizes where components of the ducted mechanical systems are in conflict with particular structural elements such as beams or columns. The check generates an interference report that alerts you about the number of interferences caused due to overlapping elements, which may lead to construction errors. For example, an alert occurs when you place a light fixture against an air terminal. On receiving these alerts, you can correct the errors.

Viewing Interference Interferences are not always visible in the existing views. You may need to create new sections or levels that cut through the interfering elements to make the interference visible. For example, in the following illustration, the sprinkler pipes are placed too high and, as a result, they interfere with the ducts. The plan view shows the sprinkler pipe and duct but does not provide any details about the interference. A new section placed through the duct shows the interference.

Plan view Section view

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Example of Interference Checks The following illustrations show examples of interference checks.

Interference between plumbing fixtures and walls in a floor plan

Interference between ducts and pipes in a 3D view

Interference between air terminals and light fixtures in a ceiling plan

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Guidelines for Checking and Fixing Interference Conditions The following recommended practices help you check and fix interference conditions efficiently.

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Check for interferences frequently and in the early stages of design development. Correcting interference conditions is much easier when the design contains fewer elements. Select a limited set of elements or number of categories to reduce interference check processing time. In large building models, checking all categories against each other can take a lot of time and effort. Create separate 3D views that have been sectioned to certain levels. This helps in coordination by enabling you to view only one floor at a time as opposed to the entire model, where it can be difficult to find a small collision. Refresh an interference report after correcting the existing interference conditions. This helps you check whether the interference has been corrected properly. Refreshing the report checks only for interferences in the current report and does not identify new interference conditions that may be introduced when correcting existing interferences. To correct new interferences, run a new check. Generate and circulate an HTML version of the interference report if you cannot resolve all conflicts without additional input from team members.


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Exercise: Check and Fix Interference Conditions In this exercise, you run an interference check on a building model to identify and fix interference conditions. You have created the MEP design for a multistory conference center and you want to identify and fix interference conditions. For this, you run the interference check, export the report, and fix some interference conditions. You then run an interference check and select different elements. You do the following: ■ Fix interferences between air terminals and lighting fixtures. ■ Fix interferences between ducts and pipes.


Completing the Exercise To complete the exercise, follow the steps in this book or in the onscreen exercise. In the onscreen list of chapters and exercises, click Chapter 12: Working with Architects and Engineers. Click Exercise: Check and Fix Interference Conditions.

1.

2.

Open i_rmep_interference_checking.rvt or m_rmep_interference_checking.rvt. The file opens in the Level 2 ceiling plan view. Note: The illustrations for the metric dataset will be slightly different from those shown here. Click Collaborate tab > Coordinate panel > Interference Check drop-down > Run Interference Check.

Fix Interferences Between Air Terminals and Lighting Fixtures

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6. 7.

8. 9.

To select the element categories on which the interference check needs to be performed, in the Interference Check dialog box: ■ Select the Air Terminals check box from the list of categories on the left. ■ Select the Lighting Fixtures check box from the list of categories on the right. ■ Click OK to run the interference check. In the Interference Report dialog box: ■ Ensure that Category 1, Category 2 is selected in the Group By list. ■ Click Export. In the Export an Interference Report to a File dialog box: ■ Select Desktop from the Save In list. ■ Click Save. In the Interference Report dialog box, click Close. On the Desktop, double-click the i_interference_checking.html (m_interference_checking.html) file to view the interference report in a browser window. Note: Windows Vista users may need to rename the file saved on the desktop, from i_rmep_interference_checkinghtml (m_rmep_interference_checkinghtml) to i_rmep_interference_checking.html (m_rmep_interference_checking.html). Close the browser window after viewing the interference conditions. In the Revit MEP application window, click Collaborate tab > Coordinate panel > Interference Check drop-down > Show Last Report.

10. In the Interference Report dialog box, under Message: ■ Expand Lighting Fixtures, if necessary. ■ Under the first Lighting Fixtures parent row, select the air terminals row with ID 728098 (536984).The two interfering elements are highlighted in the Level 2 ceiling plan view. Tip: Zoom in to the upper-right corner of the drawing for a better view.

11. To highlight the overlapping elements in the ceiling plan view, in the Interference Report dialog box, under Message, first Lighting Fixtures parent row, select the lighting fixture row with ID 803364 (585440). 12. To highlight the interference of the air terminal with the lighting fixture with ID 803367 (585279), in the Interference Report dialog box, under Message, second Lighting Fixtures parent row, select the air terminal row with ID 728040 (536867). 13. To start removing the interference from an overlapping air terminal and a lighting fixture, in the Interference Report dialog box, under Message, first Lighting Fixtures parent row, select the air terminal row with ID 728098 (536984). This highlights the interference of the air terminal with the lighting fixture with ID 8083364 (585440). 14. Click anywhere in the view window.


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15. In the view window: ■ Zoom in to the upper-right corner of the drawing, if required. ■ Move the cursor over the lighting fixture that overlaps with the air terminal, as shown.

■ Click to select the lighting fixture. 16. Activate the Move tool. 17. In the view window, click the upper-right corner of the lighting fixture.

18. Click the right corner of the ceiling grid above the lighting fixture, as shown, to move it up.

20. In the Interference Report dialog box, click Refresh. Notice that the interference between the air terminal with ID 728098 (536984) and the lighting fixture with ID 803364 (585440) is no longer reported. Note: When you click Refresh, the interference tool does not rescan the building model for new interferences. It scans only the previously found interference pairs to check whether the interference was corrected. 21. In the Interference Report dialog box, under Message, select the air terminal row with ID 728040 (536867) to highlight the element in the ceiling plan view. 22. Remove the interference from the selected air terminal and the corresponding overlapping lighting fixture.

23. In the Interference Report dialog box, click Refresh. Notice that the interference between the air terminal with the ID 728040 (536867) and the lighting fixture with the ID 803367 (585279) is no longer reported and the Message list is empty. 24. In the Interference Report dialog box, click Close.

19. Exit the Move tool.

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Fix Interferences Between Ducts and Pipes 1. 2.

3. 4.

5.

Open the Room 214 3D Fire Protection (Room 53 3D Fire Protection) view. Draw a selection box around all the elements to highlight the ducts, duct fittings, air terminals, flex ducts, mechanical equipment, pipes, pipe fittings, and sprinklers.

Open the Interference Check dialog box to run another interference check. In the Interference Check dialog box: ■ Under Categories From on the left and right, ensure that Current Selection is selected from both the lists. ■ Clear all check boxes except Duct Fittings, Ducts, and Flex Ducts from the categories list on the left. ■ Clear all check boxes except Pipes from the categories list on the right. ■ Click OK. In the Interference Report dialog box: ■ Ensure that Category 2, Category 1 is selected in the Group By list. ■ Expand the tree, if required. ■ Notice that only interferences involving the selected ducts and pipes are reported. You can fix the interferences, as required. For Metric users, notice that interferences involving the selected ducts, duct fittings, and pipes are reported. Close the dialog box. Close all files without saving changes. ■

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Chapter Summary You have learned to coordinate and monitor changes in files linked to Revit MEP and create a robust project design. In addition, you can perform interference checks to detect and resolve conditions during the design phase to limit cost overruns and the number of design changes during construction. In this chapter, you learned to: Monitor changes in files of other disciplines linked to Revit MEP. Check and fix interference conditions.

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Chapter

13 Detailing and Drafting In this chapter, you learn about callouts and callout views. You learn how to provide information to builders and contractors on how a design should be built using detail views. You also learn how to create and use drafting views to provide specific information that clarifies design requirements in your project.

Chapter Objectives After completing this chapter, you will be able to: ■ ■ ■

Create callout views. Work with detail views. Work with drafting views.

Chapter Overview

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Lesson: Creating Callout Views This lesson describes how to create callout views. You begin the lesson by learning about callouts and the steps to create reference callouts. Next, you learn some recommended practices for creating callouts. The lesson concludes with an exercise on creating a callout view of a section. A callout view defines portions of a view as separate views. These separate views are at different scales. Using callout views, you provide an orderly progression of labeled views at increasing levels of detail.

Callout view


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Describe callouts. Create reference callouts. State the recommended practices for creating callouts. Create a callout view of a section.

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Chapter 13: Detailing and Drafting

About Callouts Callouts act as tools to make coherent document sets. They are designed to enable a user to easily navigate from a detail on one page to a detail on another page in the document. Callout views are used to generate separate views of parts of existing views. You use the callout tag and clip planes to resize callout views. Reference callouts enable you to generate reference callout views that refer to existing views, instead of creating new views.

Definition of Callouts A callout is a view that you place in a plan, section, detail, or elevation view to create a more detailed view of part of a building model from the parent view. The area enclosed within the callout boundary is the callout bubble. A callout bubble is connected to a symbol called the callout head, which shows the detail number and sheet number when the callout is placed on a sheet. A callout bubble and callout head are connected by a leader line. The callout bubble, callout head, and leader are together referred to as a callout tag.

Callout Views When you create a callout, a new view called a callout view is created. A callout view is a separate, large-scaled view of a defined area in a parent view. If the parent view is deleted, the callout view is also deleted. The following table describes the two types of callout views. Callout View Type

Description

Callout in parent view

If you want a callout to share the properties of the parent view, you create the callout view using the same view type as the parent. For example, if you create a callout in a floor plan view using a Floor Plan view type, the callout view is displayed under Floor Plans in the Project Browser.

Callout in detail view

If you create a callout in any plan, section, or elevation view using the Detail View type, the callout view is displayed under Detail Views in the Project Browser. Detail views have the properties of being hidden in the parent view at certain scales and can be made visible in intersecting views.

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The following illustrations show the two types of callout views.

Parent view callout view

Detail view callout view

Reference Callouts Reference callouts reference an existing view and do not create a new view. You can place reference callouts in plan, elevation, section, callout, and drafting views. You should consider the following points when creating reference callouts: ■ Reference callouts in section, plan, elevation, or callout views can reference cropped views of the same type as the view in which the reference callout is placed. For example, if you place a callout in Level 2 floor plan and Level 3 floor plan is cropped to show an area that provides the required information, you choose Level 3 floor plan as a reference for the callout. ■ Reference callouts in drafting views can reference any plan, section, elevation, or callout view if the crop region is displayed in these views. There is no parametric relationship between the reference callout and the referenced view, so modifications or resizing performed in a reference callout do not affect the original reference view. For example, resizing the clip planes of a reference callout does not affect the crop region of the original referenced view.

Callout Tags Callout tags are annotation objects that mark the location of callouts. You set the callout head and corner radius parameters for callout tags to define the appearance of the callout tags. Callout tags in both parent and detail callout views appear similar. However, they have distinct properties that determine how and when they are displayed.

Clip Planes The boundaries of a callout bubble define clip planes for the extents of the callout view. You can resize the callout view by selecting the callout bubble and dragging the clip planes, which are represented by control dots. Resizing the crop region of a callout view resizes the callout bubble in the parent view.

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Example of Callouts The following illustration shows a callout in a plan view.

Creating Reference Callouts You create a reference callout to point the callout view to an existing view.

Procedure: Creating Reference Callouts The following steps describe how to create a reference callout. 1. 2. 3. 4.

5.

6.

Open the view in which you want to create a callout to an existing drafting view. Click View tab > Create panel > Callout. On the Options Bar, select the Reference Other View check box. Select the view name that you want to reference from the Reference Other View list. You need to create a new drafting view if there are no existing views to reference. Note: If a view in the Reference Other View list is on a drawing sheet, the detail number and sheet number are displayed next to the view name. To place one corner of a callout, click the area of the view where you want to place the callout. Drag the cursor and click again to create a callout bubble.

Double-click the callout head to set the referenced view as the active view. Note: The reference callout head includes a label. To change the label text, you edit the Reference Label type parameter of the callout family.


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Guidelines for Creating Callouts The following recommended practices help you work effectively while creating callouts.

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Plan the use of views and callouts to provide a logical sequence that directs users to move from views providing little detail to views providing greater levels of detail. Place callouts on the same sheet as the parent view or place details on sheets by category, such as panel elevations or duct details. In both cases, the sequence should direct the user through the sheet set easily, preferably in one direction. This makes the documents easy to read and enables you to avoid requests for additional information about the created document sets. It also decreases the time required to gather information about the construction documentation set. Use standard details in drafting views as references in document sets for multiple callouts that detail the same condition. This saves time and enables you to leverage previously drafted document sets. Set the callout head and corner radius parameters for callout tags by selecting the Callout Tags option from the Settings drop-down on the Project Settings panel of the Manage tab. If an organization uses round callouts, set the radius to a large value. This enables you to quickly standardize the appearance of callouts.

Example The following example shows a round callout used in a drawing.

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Exercise: Create a Callout View of a Section In this exercise, you create a callout view of a section to display more detail. You are designing electrical plans for a multistory building. You need to create a callout view to show wallmounted electrical panels in more detail than is shown by the building section.


Completing the Exercise To complete the exercise, follow the steps in this book or in the onscreen exercise. In the onscreen list of chapters and exercises, click Chapter 13: Detailing and Drafting. Click Exercise: Create a Callout View of a Section.

1.

2. 3. 4.

Open i_rmep_callout_views.rvt or m_rmep_callout_views.rvt. The file opens in the default 3D view. Note: The illustrations may look slightly different in the metric dataset. Open the Section 18 view. Click View tab > Create panel > Callout. Select Detail View : Detail from the Type Selector drop-down.


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5. 6.

On the Options Bar, select 3/4" = 1'-0" (1 : 50) 9. from the Scale list. On the left side in the view window, where the left crop line meets Level 2: ■ Click to place the upper-left corner of the callout. ■ Drag the cursor diagonally down to the right of the view. ■ Click to place the lower-right corner of the callout, as shown.

Drag the Drag Head control dot down to move the callout head below the Level 1 line, as shown.

10. Drag the Drag control dot of the callout to modify the position of the leader.

7. 8.

Click the callout boundary to select the callout. Drag the four Move Clip Plane control dots of the callout inwards, one after other, to decrease the size of the callout, as shown.

11. Right-click the callout head. Click Go to View to open the callout view showing a more detailed view of the electrical panels. The view displayed now is ready for detailing.

12. In the Project Browser, under Sheets (All), double-click E601 - Panel Schedules to open the sheet.

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13. In the Project Browser, under Views (Discipline), Electrical, Lighting: ■ Expand Detail Views (Detail). ■ Drag Detail 0 on to the sheet and click to place the viewport. The placement of the new viewport on the sheet is not critical.

14. Open the Section 18 view. 15. In the view window, verify that the callout tag is updated to show the detail number and sheet number. 16. Close the file without saving changes.


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Lesson: Working with Detail Views This lesson describes how to work with detail views by creating and using them for displaying the construction details of a building model. You begin the lesson by learning about detail views and the steps to create them. Next, you learn the process and some recommended practices for saving and reusing detail views. The lesson concludes with an exercise on creating a detail view. Construction details provide specific information to builders, fabricators, or installers on how to construct a building design. You display this information in detail views.

Detail view

Objectives After completing this lesson, you will be able to: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

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Describe detail views. Identify the steps to create detail views. Identify the steps in the process of saving and reusing detail views. State the recommended practices for saving and reusing detail views. Create a detail view.

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About Detail Views You create detail views to provide information on how a building should be constructed. A detail view represents a building model with finer details in terms of construction and fabrication than largescale views. Using the detail view, you can add more information to your building model in the form of annotations and 2D lines on specific parts of the model.

Definition of Detail Views A detail view is a view of all or a specific portion of a plan, elevation, or section view. This view provides a greater level of detail at a different scale from its parent view. You can create detail views and access them from Detail Views in the Project Browser. You can create a detail view quickly by using the Callout tool. You can also duplicate a view, crop it, and change the scale to make a detail view. Detail view types are available for sections and callouts in the default templates. The following illustration shows a callout of a plan view listed as a detail view in the Project Browser.

Detail Levels You can view a building model in three levels of detail: coarse, medium, and fine. These detail levels are available on the View Control Bar.

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Changing the detail level affects the display of the elements in a building model. For example, in the illustration on the left, the pipes are at the coarse detail level and appear as single line pipes. In the illustration on the right, the pipes are at the fine detail level and appear as double line pipes.

Coarse detail level

Fine detail level

Detail Level Option To set the detail level based on the view scale for new views that you create, you use the View Scaleto-Detail Level Correspondence dialog box. You can access this dialog box by selecting Detail Level from the Settings drop-down on the Project Settings panel of the Manage tab. Additionally, depending on a view, you can override the detail level by setting the Detail Level parameter in the View Properties dialog box.

Detailing Tools You can use the detail view of part of a building model as background to specify additional information. This process of adding more information is known as detailing. For example, consider a section of a building model where the pipe vent penetrates the roof. In this section, you can add information such as text notes, dimensions, and symbols. You use 2D detailing tools for detailing. These tools are available on the Annotate and View tabs. The following table describes the detailing tools.

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Tool

Description

Callouts

Creates a callout to display a close-up view of a plan, section, or elevation view. Details are added to the callout view.

Detail Lines

Places 2D lines in the detail view. These lines can trace over model components or add lines that are not shown in the model.

Dimensions

Applies specific dimensions to the detail for specifying exact distances or placement instructions.

Text Notes

Specifies construction methods and materials.

Detail Components

Creates and loads custom detail components to place the details. Detail components may be actual construction components, such as floor drains, p-traps, and roof drains.

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Tool

Description

Symbols

Places a symbol such as a direction arrow or a break mark to indicate omitted information.

Masking Region

Creates masking regions to obscure elements in a view.

Filled Regions

Creates detail regions and gives them a fill pattern to represent surfaces such as concrete or compacted earth.

Insulation

Places a detail component to represent insulation. You do this in a section detail that shows the structure of a roof or wall.

Detail Groups

Places pre-existing groups or combines detail elements into groups that you can reuse within a project or in other projects.

You use detailing tools, such as Detail Lines, Detail Components, and Filled Regions, more frequently than other tools.

Detail Lines The Detail Lines tool used for creating 2D detail lines has the same drawing options as the Lines tool. You use the Lines tool when creating ducts, pipes, or wires. Detail lines are specific to a view and are used in drafting views, which have no reference to the building model.

Detail Components You use the Detail Component tool to place 2D detail components, such as fasteners and connections, in a detail view. Detail components are similar to annotation elements and are visible only in the view in which you place them. You can use these detail components and create custom detail components when you fill details for construction documents. You load detail components into a file from the Detail Component libraries that are installed with Revit®. These detail components are stored in the library according to the CSI MasterFormat. The following illustrations show 2D detail component families.

2D family of a sink section

2D family of a floor drain section


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Filled Regions Filled regions are detail elements that consist of repeated line patterns within a border. You place a filled region by sketching its border and specifying a pattern. Filled regions can be opaque or transparent. Opaque regions hide the surface on which they are placed. White and opaque filled regions are known as masking regions. You can set the edge lines of the filled and masking regions to the invisible linetype, which hides the edge lines.

Hidden Line The graphics display mode that Revit most commonly uses is known as Hidden Line. This mode shows only surfaces and edges, and objects behind other objects are hidden. You can show the edges of hidden objects in a detail view. To do this, you either add detail lines or override the display of edges by using the Linework tool on the Edit Linework panel of the Modify tab. Standard drafting convention in plans and sections includes linework that indicates when a line representing an object edge is hidden. At times, when you want to indicate that an item is not really visible, you use the dashed linetype known as Hidden. Revit also provides a linetype named Hidden Line that is green and has a slightly different pattern. The following illustrations show a hidden line view and the hidden linetype.

Hidden line view of a model

Detail lines using the hidden linetype in a detail view of a model

Draw Order of Elements The draw order of elements in a detail or drafting view determines which 2D elements, such as filled regions, hide other elements. You can set the draw order for detail items in a detail view. By default, elements that are added later hide those placed earlier.

Detail Groups You can assemble detail objects, such as detail lines, filled regions, and text to create detail groups. You can group model and detail elements and combinations of both. Creating detail groups minimizes repetition of elements. You can place detail groups in many views, save them as library files, and access them from the Project Browser.

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Draw Order of Detail Groups The draw order of a detail group is the sequence in which you group the detail elements. The draw order of a detail group does not change when the group is moved, copied, or inserted. You can change the draw order of individual group members. To do this, you need to edit the group. After you edit the draw order of the members of a detail group, all instances of that detail group are updated with the new draw order.

Sorting Detail Element Display Depth You sort the display depth of selected detail elements in a view using Bring to Front and Send to Back on the Arrange panel of the Modify Detail Items contextual tab. These options are available when you place or select detail elements in the view. The following table describes the display depth sorting options. Option

Description

Bring to Front

Places a detail element in front of all detail elements in the view.

Send to Back

Places a detail element behind all detail elements in the view.

Bring Forward

Moves a detail element incrementally closer to the front of all detail elements in the view.

Send Backward

Moves a detail element incrementally closer to the back of all other detail elements in the view.

Example of Detail Views The following illustrations show examples of detail views.

Section detail view before detailing.


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Section detail view with the detail level changed to fine, and notes added to the view.

Creating Detail Views You can create a new detail view or change the type of an existing section or callout view. When you create a detail view from an existing view, you can resize the crop region and rename it.

Procedure: Creating a Detail View from an Existing View The following steps describe the procedure to create a detail view from an existing view. 1. 2. 3.

Open a view that contains a section or callout that you wish to detail. Open the Instance Properties dialog box. In the Instance Properties dialog box: ■ Select Detail from the Type list. ■ Under Graphics, select a view scale from the View Scale list. In the view window, resize the crop region, if required. In the Project Browser, rename the new detail view.

4. 5.

You can change any section view that has not been created with a Detail View type to a detail view by selecting the section symbol in the parent view and selecting a Detail View type from the Type Selector drop-down. The view will then move to the appropriate Detail View category in the Project Browser. You can also change the view type of callouts placed in section views. However, you cannot change the view type of callouts placed in plan views.

Procedure: Creating a New Detail View The following steps describe the procedure to create a new detail view. 1. 2.

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In the Project Browser, open an existing plan, section, or elevation view. Activate the Callout tool.

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3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9.

Select Detail View : Detail from the Type Selector drop-down. On the Options Bar, select a scale view from the Scale list. In the view window: ■ Click the starting point of the new detail view and drag it through the building model. ■ Click when you reach the end point of the detail. Exit the Callout tool. Select the callout view. Drag the blue controls to resize the crop region if required. The depth of the detail view changes accordingly. In the Project Browser, rename the new detail view.

Process of Saving and Reusing Detail Views Saving a detail view increases its usability across projects. You can save views with view-specific elements, such as text, dimensions, detail lines, and detail components, as library content and reuse them in different projects.

Process: Saving and Reusing a Detail View The following illustration shows the process of saving and reusing a detail view.

The following steps describe the process of saving and reusing a detail view. 1. 2. 3.

4.

Select a view. Select a view in the Project Browser that you want to save to a separate file. Select Save to New File from the shortcut menu. Save the view. Save the view as an RVT file in a selected library folder. Insert the view. Insert the view in another project, as required. You can insert schedules, drafting views, reports, sheets, or 2D content from one project to another using Insert from File on the Import panel of the Insert tab. Open the view. Open the inserted view to reuse it. You need to ensure that when you open a view for reuse, its properties are also transferred to the project. You can also select a view scale for the view that you want to reuse.


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Guidelines for Saving and Reusing Detail Views You should identify the views, if any, that you can save in a project to reuse later. The following recommended practices help you save and reuse detail views.

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When you export a sheet, the placement of views on the sheet is maintained. This enables you to create and reuse standard detail sheets. When you import a sheet, the titleblock on the sheet is updated with project information and the sheet name is incremented according to your sheet naming convention. To import 2D elements from a saved model detail view, you must activate a drafting view. This results in a successful import of the 2D elements. However, model elements are not imported. When you import a drafting view, a new drafting view is automatically created to retain the imported view. This enables you to quickly create detail sheets that reuse standard details but vary in layout. You can use detailing in Revit to make good use of predrawn detail components. After you create details, particularly standard details that do not reference a specific model, save them to build a library of detail components in the Revit format. This helps you to insert details quickly in future projects and avoids having to recreate detail blocks.

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Exercise: Create a Detail View In this exercise, you create a detail view. You need to create an electrical riser diagram to indicate how the electrical panels are connected. You use a building model to create a detail view of the electrical panels. You tag the electrical panels, add detail lines, text notes, and callouts. You do the following: ■ Create a section view. ■ Add tags to electrical panels. ■ Add detail lines to connect the electrical panels. ■ Add text notes and callouts.


Completing the Exercise To complete the exercise, follow the steps in this book or in the onscreen exercise. In the onscreen list of chapters and exercises, click Chapter 13: Detailing and Drafting. Click Exercise: Create a Detail View.

Create a Section View 1.

Open i_rmep_views_detail.rvt or m_rmep_views_detail.rvt. The file opens in the Level 2 Power Plan view. Note: The illustrations for the metric dataset will be slightly different from those shown here.


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In the view window, zoom in to the electrical 6. panels in the upper-right corner of the model as 7. shown. 8.

9. 3. 4. 5.

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Click View tab > Create panel > Section. Ensure that Detail View : Detail is selected in the Type Selector drop-down. In the view window, draw a section as shown.

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Exit the Section tool. In the Project Browser, under Detail Views (Detail), rename Detail 0 to Electrical Riser Diagram. In the view window, double-click the section head of the newly created section to open the section view.

Select the section view boundary to activate the grips.

10. Drag the grips at the top and bottom of the view to align them as shown. Tip: Move the top grip up until the upper panels appear. Move the bottom grip up to just below the lower panels.

4.

Click the remaining panels to place the tags as shown.

Add Tags to Electrical Panels 1. 2. 3.

Click Annotate tab > Tag panel > Tag By Category. On the Options Bar, clear the Leader check box. In the view window, click the upper-left panel to place the tag.

Add Detail Lines to Connect the Electrical Panels 1. 2. 3.

Click Annotate tab > Detail panel > Detail Line. On the Element panel, ensure that Wide Lines is selected in the Line Style list. In the view window, draw detail lines that connect the panel EP-2 to T-2 as shown. The exact location of the detail line is not critical for completing the exercise. Tip: Press ESC after you finish drawing detail lines between two panels.


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5. 6.

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Draw detail lines to show all the panel connections as shown.

7. 8.

On the Draw panel, click Line to switch back to drawing lines. In the view window, draw lines connecting LP-1 to the rectangle and lines connecting the lower edge of the rectangle to the left of the view, as shown.

9.

Draw lines to represent the ground rod coming off the LP-1 panel, as shown.

Click Place Detail Lines tab > Draw panel > Rectangle to add another element to the electrical riser diagram. In the view window, draw a rectangle next to Add Text Notes and Callouts the panel LP-1 of an approximate size as shown. 1. Click Annotate tab > Text panel > Text to begin adding a text note to the detail view. 2. On the Place Text tab, Leader panel, ensure that No Leader is selected.

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In the view window: ■ Click in the rectangle to begin adding text. ■ In the text box, enter UTILITY TRANSOCKET.

Click outside the text box to finish adding text. Exit the Text tool. In the view window: ■ Select the text note and resize it using the grips so that the text fits inside the rectangle.

6. 7.

Activate the Text tool to add another piece of text. In the view window: ■ Click near the left line at the bottom of the rectangle to begin adding text. ■ In the text box, enter TO PADMOUNT TRANSFORMER.

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Click outside the text box to finish adding text. Exit the Text tool. In the view window: ■ Select the text note and resize it using the grips to fit the text on the left of the line as shown. Tip: You can drag the selected text box to move it to the desired position. ■

8. 9.

Clear the selection, if any. Clear the selection, if any. 10. Activate the Text tool. ■


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11. Click the Place Text tab > Leader panel > Two Segments. 12. In the view window: ■ Click the middle line of the LP-1 panel representing the ground rod. ■ Draw the two-segment leader. ■ In the text box, enter GROUND ROD.

13. Click outside the text box to finish adding text. 14. Exit the Text tool. 15. Close the file without saving changes.

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Lesson: Working with Drafting Views This lesson describes how to work with drafting views. You begin the lesson by learning about drafting views. Next, you learn the process and some recommended practices of reusing these views. The lesson concludes with exercises on creating drafting views and importing a view and a CAD file. When you create and document a building model, you may want to create a detail that is not associated with the building model. Instead of creating a callout and then detailing it, you can use drafting views to create these details. You can also save drafting views and reuse them across projects.

Drafting view of a kitchen sink section


Describe drafting views. Identify the steps in the process of reusing drafting views. State the recommended practices for reusing drafting views. Create drafting views. Import a view and a CAD file.

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About Drafting Views You create drafting views when a project contains drafted details. During design, if you change a building model, the drafted details do not change; therefore, the details require no adjustment. However, in model views, you may need to adjust the 2D detail components if the model changes.

Definition of Drafting Views Drafting views provide a 2D detail drawing of a specific part of a building model. In a drafting view, you can use 2D detailing tools such as detail lines, detail regions, detail components, insulation, reference planes, dimensions, symbols, and text. Drafting views are drawn and not modeled. For example, a drafting view of a typical diffuser connection does not include the diffuser and duct elements, but shows only the lines that represent the diffuser and the duct. In drafting views, you include only the elements that you either create using 2D detailing tools or import from the standard CAD detail library. You can create drafting views at different view scales and detail levels. You can also save drafting views and reuse them across projects. You place a drafting view on a drawing sheet by dragging the view to the sheet, which is similar to placing a floor plan. Drafting views are saved with the project and are listed under Drafting Views in the Project Browser.

Example of Drafting Views The following illustration shows detail components with dimensions and text notes in a drafting view.

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Process of Reusing Drafting Views You can save the drafting views that you create as separate files in the detail drawing library. You can then reuse these drafting views in other building models.

Process: Reusing Drafting Views The following illustration shows the process of reusing drafting views.

The following steps describe the process of reusing drafting views. 1.

2.

3. 4.

Create drafting views. You create a drafting view using the Drafting View tool on the Create panel of the View tab. You can create different types of drafting views based on the type of application that you want to display in a specific drafting view, depending on disciplines such as HVAC or electrical. This organizes the different views in the Project Browser. Annotate in drafting views. You annotate drafting views by using various detailing tools on the Detail panel of the Annotate tab. These tools include Detail Line, Region, Component, Revision Cloud, Symbol, Detail Group, and Insulation. Save drafting views. You can save drafting views as external files by using the Save to New File option on the shortcut menu of the drafting view. Import drafting views. You can reuse an existing drafting view by importing it into the current project using the Insert From File option on the Import panel of the Insert tab.


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Guidelines for Reusing Drafting Views Following these recommended practices, you can reuse drafting views effectively.

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Save drafting views to external files so that members of other teams can reuse them. This practice helps you build a detail library. Save drafting views to the existing file system with relevant file names, which can be easily identified, so that the files are visible to other team members. This makes the commonly used files available to other team members, facilitating better work coordination. Ensure that you post revised versions of views if any details change in the drafting views so that the latest design information is available. This practice increases the efficiency of the design process and reduces errors. Export views to CAD formats so that detailers, who are proficient in CAD programs, can also contribute in a Revit project. After the detailers have worked on the CAD files, you can import them as drafting views. This enables detailers who are proficient in programs other than Revit to participate in a Revit project.

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Exercise: Create Drafting Views In this exercise, you create a drafting view. You need to provide a detailed drawing of the roof drains on a multistory building. To do so, you create a drafting view. You do the following: ■ Place a detail component representing a roof drain. ■ Add filled regions and detail lines to represent roof construction. ■ Mirror detail components in the view. ■ Modify an instance of the roof drain component. ■ Add dimensions to the detail components.


Completing the Exercise To complete the exercise, follow the steps in this book or in the onscreen exercise. In the onscreen list of chapters and exercises, click Chapter 13: Detailing and Drafting. Click Exercise: Create Drafting Views.

Place a Detail Component Representing a Roof Drain 1.

Open i_rmep_draftingviews.rvt or m_rmep_draftingviews.rvt. The file opens in the default 3D view. Note: The illustrations for the metric dataset will be slightly different from those shown here.

2. 3.

4.

Click View tab > Create Panel > Drafting View to begin creating a drafting view. To specify a name and a scale for the new drafting view, in the New Drafting View dialog box: ■ For Name, enter Roof & Overflow Drain. ■ Ensure that 1 1/2" = 1'-0" (1:10) is selected in the Scale list. ■ Click OK. A blank drafting view is added to the Project Browser and it becomes the active view. To place a detail component representing a roof drain, you first need to set up the drawing space. Click Home tab > Work Plane panel > Ref Plane drop-down > Draw Reference Plane.


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5.

Draw a vertical reference plain in the middle of the view window. You use this reference plane as a construction line in the subsequent steps.

9.

Exit the Detail Component tool after placing the component. 10. To adjust the position of the drain: ■ Select the drain. ■ Click the temporary dimension of the drain. ■ Enter 1' 3" (380 mm). ■ Press ENTER.

Add Filled Regions and Detail Lines to Represent Roof Construction 1.

2. 6. 7. 8.

Click Annotate tab > Detail panel > Component drop-down > Detail Component. Select Roof Drain : Roof Drain (m_Roof Drain : m_Roof Drain) from the Type Selector dropdown. Place an instance of the roof drain to the left of the reference plane to begin creating a detailed drawing of the roof drains. The exact position of the roof drain is not critical. You will adjust the position of the roof drain in the subsequent step.

3.

4.

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To begin drafting various parts of the roof construction, click Annotate tab > Detail panel > Region drop-down > Region. The Create Filled Region Boundary tab opens, and the detail component in the view window appears gray. In the view window, zoom in to view the roof drain clearly. To draw the roof insulation, in the view window, sketch a rectangular outline that is approximately 2" (50 mm) thick, as shown. The rectangular outline represents the outline of the rigid insulation layer. The distance between the lines representing the roof insulation and the flange of the roof drain is not critical for completing this exercise. Tip: Use horizontal shape handles at the upper and lower ends of the flange of the roof drain as reference for drawing the sketch lines.

Click Modify.

5.

Zoom in to the flange of the roof drain to ensure that the roof insulation sketch matches the illustration, as shown. Select lines and move them, if required.

In the view window, select the upper-horizontal line of the insulation that you just sketched. 7. On the Element panel, select from the Line Style list to ensure that the line is invisible when the filled region is completed. 8. On the Element panel, click Region Properties to specify a fill pattern for the roof insulation. 9. In the Instance Properties dialog box: ■ Select Ortho Crosshatch - Small from the Type list. ■ Click OK. 10. On the Region panel, click Finish Region. Notice the change in the roof insulation layer. 11. Activate the Region tool to begin drafting the region that represents bedding for the roofing membrane above the insulation.

12. To create a roof membrane layer, in the view window: ■ Zoom in to the upper-horizontal line that was made invisible. ■ Draw a rectangular chain of thin lines with a thickness of 0' 1/4" (7 mm) above the insulation to represent a roof membrane layer. The rectangle extends from the reference plane to the drain.

6.

13. Click Modify. 14. In the view window, select the right vertical line of the rectangle you just sketched. Tip: Zoom in to the right edge of the rectangle to select the line with ease.

15. On the Element panel, select from the Line Style list. 16. On the Element panel, click Region Properties to specify a fill pattern for the roof membrane layer. 17. In the Instance Properties dialog box: ■ Select Sand - Very Dense from the Type list. ■ Click OK.


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18. On the Region panel, click Finish Region. Notice the change in the rectangle above the filled region. Note: The illustration for metric dataset will differ slightly. 19. To draw the roof membrane surface, click Annotate tab > Detail panel > Detail Line. 20. Ensure that Thin Lines is selected from the Type Selector drop-down. 21. In the view window, zoom in to the upper end of the flange on the drain.

26. Click anywhere in the view window and move the cursor straight down.

Tip: Selecting away from the existing lines can make editing easier because snaps are not activated. 27. For the listening dimension of the lines, enter 1/8" (2 mm). Press ENTER. This places a copy of the two lines that you have drawn at the specified distance. The distance between the roof membrane and sand layer is not critical for completing this exercise.

22. Draw the top surface of the roof as two lines starting from within the flange to the reference plane, as shown. Ensure that the horizontal line extends up to the reference plane.

28. Click Modify to clear the selection. 23. Exit the Detail Line tool. 24. In the view window: ■ Zoom in to the two new lines you just sketched. ■ CTRL+select the two lines. 25. On the Modify panel, click Copy. Notice that a dotted region surrounds the two lines that you selected.

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Mirror Detail Components in the View 1.

To begin reusing what you have drawn, select the detail lines and filled regions using a selection box.

2.

Click Multi-Select tab > Modify panel > Mirror drop-down > Pick Mirror Axis. In the view window: ■ Move the cursor over the drain to highlight the vertical centerline of the drain. ■ Click the vertical centerline of the roof drain as mirror axis. The detail lines and filled regions you created are copied to the left of the drain.

3.

4. 5. 6.

To finish one side of the drawing, activate the Detail Component tool. Select Break Line : Break Line from the Type Selector drop-down. In the view window: ■ Position the cursor to the left of the drain. ■ Press SPACEBAR until the break line rotates to 90 degrees. ■ Click to place the break line at the left end of the drain. The exact placement of the break line is not critical.

7.

Click Modify.

8.

To use the reference plane and duplicate the details in the view window, draw a selection box to select all elements except the reference plane.

9. Activate the Pick Mirror Axis tool. 10. In the view window, click the reference plane as the mirror axis to place a second drain to the right of the roof drain.

11. Clear the selection.


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Modify an Instance of the Roof Drain Component 1.

2.

3.

4.

Right-click the drain on the right of the reference plane. Click Element Properties. This enables you to use the parametric properties of library detail components for changing one of the roof drains. To change the ring height, in the Instance Properties dialog box: ■ Under Instance Parameters, Other, for Ring Height, enter 0' 2" (50 mm). ■ Click OK. The representation of the drain collar updates. Click Modify.

To finish placing the dimension: ■ Move the cursor to the top of the ring. ■ Click when the upper-horizontal shape handle is highlighted. Note: If you have difficulty selecting the shape handle, use the TAB key to toggle through the selection options. You can refer the status bar to see the name of the selected component. ■

Move the cursor to the left and click to finish placing the dimension.

Add Dimensions to the Detail Components 1. 2. 3.

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To add a dimension for defining the collar height on the right drain in the view window, zoom in to the drain. Click Annotate tab > Dimension panel > Aligned to place a dimension for the ring element of the right drain. In the view window, to start placing a dimension for the ring element of the right drain: ■ Move the cursor to the bottom of the ring. ■ Click when the horizontal shape handle of the roof drain highlights to begin placing the dimension.

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5.

Select the Drag Text handle of the dimension and move the dimension up, so that it is clearly visible, as shown.

6.

In the view window, to place a horizontal dimension between the two drains: ■ Click the vertical centerlines of both the drains in succession. ■ Click above the drains to place the dimension.

7. 8.

Click Modify. In the view window, select the dimension between the drains. 9. Open the Type Properties dialog box. 10. In the Type Properties dialog box: ■ Under Type Parameters, Graphics, for Centerline Symbol, select Centerline (M_Centreline) from the Value list. ■ Click OK. 11. Notice that the dimension display updates to show the centerline symbols.

12. 13. 14.

15.

Note: You can practice placing text notes on various components of the roof drain as desired. Click Modify. In the Project Browser, under Drafting Views (Detail), right-click Roof & Overflow Drain. Click Save to New File to save the drafting view. In the Save As dialog box: ■ Select Desktop from the Save In list. ■ Click Save. Close the file without saving changes.


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Exercise: Import a View and a CAD File In this exercise, you import a saved view into a drafting view and a CAD file into another drafting view. You are preparing the construction documents for a building project. You know that drafted details from another Revit project and an AutoCAD® project are useful in your work. Therefore, you import the drafting details of those projects rather than spend time re-creating those details. You do the following: ■ Insert a drafting view from another file. ■ Import a CAD file into a drafting view.


Completing the Exercise To complete the exercise, follow the steps in this book or in the onscreen exercise. In the onscreen list of chapters and exercises, click Chapter 13: Detailing and Drafting. Click Exercise: Import a View and a CAD File.

Insert a Drafting View from another File 1.

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Open i_rmep_importview.rvt or m_rmep_importview.rvt. The file opens in the default 3D view. Note: The illustrations for the metric dataset will be slightly different from those shown here.

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2.

3.

To import a Revit drafting view for use in this project file, click Insert tab > Import panel > Insert from File drop-down > Insert Views from File. In the Open dialog box: ■ Navigate to the location where you saved the courseware datasets. ■ Select i_rmep_view_to_import.rvt (m_rmep_view_to_import.rvt). ■ Click Open.

4.

In the Insert Views dialog box: ■ Under Views, ensure that the Drafting View: Roof and Drain (Drafting View: Roof and Overflow Drain) check box is selected.

5.

6.

In the view window: ■ Select the drawing. ■ Notice that the Modify Roof and Two Drains Imperial.dwg (Modify Roof and Two Drains Metric.dwg) tab is displayed. Note: You can use the Import Instance panel of this tab to change the appearance of layers in the CAD import or explode the CAD import into individual lines and text. You can then edit the lines and text to make the drawing fit to use as a drafting view in your project. Close the file without saving changes.

Click OK. In the Duplicate Types message box, click OK. The new drafting view opens and is now available in the project. Close the warning box that is displayed. ■

5. 6.

Import a CAD File into a Drafting View 1. 2. 3.

4.

To import a CAD file for use in a drafting view, create a new drafting view with the name Roof Drain Detail from CAD. Click Insert tab > Import panel > Import CAD. In the Import CAD Formats dialog box: ■ Navigate to the location where you saved the courseware datasets. ■ Select Roof and Two Drains Imperial.dwg (Roof and Two Drains Metric.dwg). ■ Ensure that Black and White is selected in the Colors list. ■ Click Open. The CAD import is displayed in the drafting view and available in the project. You can change the appearance of layers in this component or explode it to change individual lines or text. In the view window, enter ZF to zoom to fit.


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Chapter Summary Now that you have learned how to create and use callouts and callout views, detail views, and drafting views, you can supplement your designs with detailed information on how to build your designs. In this chapter, you learned to: ■ ■ ■

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Create callout views. Work with detail views. Work with drafting views.

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Chapter

14 Annotations and Schedules Revit® MEP provides tools to quickly annotate a model with text and tags. You use annotations to document a design and transform conceptual designs into construction document sets. You can use dimensions to show and control object positioning in your design. In this chapter, you learn how to work with text, tags, and dimensions in a building model. You also learn how to create a legend and work with different types of schedules.

Chapter Objectives After completing this chapter, you will be able to: ■ ■ ■ ■

Work with text and tags. Work with dimensions in a building model. Create legends with notes, annotation symbols, and model elements. Work with schedules.

Chapter Overview

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Lesson: Working with Text and Tags This lesson describes how to work with text and tags. You begin the lesson by learning about text and tags. Next, you learn some recommended practices for working with them. The lesson concludes with an exercise on working with text and tags. Annotations, such as text and tags, are an important part of construction documents. Annotations provide specific instructions that are necessary for fabricators and constructors to understand a building design. You use text to provide descriptive information about building elements. Tags are used to label building elements. The following illustration shows a plan view with tags and a text note.


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Describe text. Describe tags. State the recommended practices for working with text and tags. Work with text and tags.

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Chapter 14: Annotations and Schedules

About Text A building design goes through various stages before being implemented. At each stage, different people are involved who may want to add explanations and instructions to the design using text annotations. You can add text to views or sheets in your project to make the building design easy to understand for the people next in the cycle.

Definition of Text Text is the information added to a view to label or provide descriptions about the building elements. It is a view-specific component and therefore automatically changes in size along with the view scale. You can use the default text types or create custom text types based on font or size, as required. Text can have leaders that point to specific elements, areas, or conditions in a view. You add text to a view as a text note using the Text tool. When you add text, the text and the leaders automatically snap into alignment with the other text and leaders in the view. After adding text, you can format it for various parameters, such as size, font, justification, width, underlining, lineweight, background, and color. To keep the building elements in a view clear and readable, you can move text to different positions. You can also edit and wrap text. In addition, you can copy or paste text from other applications, such as Microsoft Word. You can also add or remove leaders of a text note at any time, if required.

Model Text For special instances, such as putting a representation of signage on a building, you can add model text. Model text is a model component and is therefore visible in all the relevant model views. It does not change when the view scale is changed.

Example of Text The following illustration shows a drafting view with text notes.

Lesson: Working with Text and Tags

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About Tags You use tags to label building elements. Tags use unique symbols to represent each building element. Unlike text, the values displayed in tags are automatically updated when a building design is updated.

Definition of Tags Tags are annotations that display parametric information about the elements with which they are associated. Tags are view-specific and therefore scale with the view. When you place tags, they automatically align with the other tags in the view. Revit provides predefined tag families for all building elements. Some tags such as air terminal and duct are preloaded into the default project templates. The preloaded tags are automatically placed in a view when you add a corresponding building element. For building elements that do not have corresponding preloaded tags, you need to load the tags from the software library. You can create custom tags by editing the predefined tag family files according to the required graphic standards. Tags can be added with or without leaders and can be oriented horizontally or vertically. You can modify tags by changing their position in a view, turning their leaders on or off, and changing their orientation.

You can tag a building element with more than one tag if multiple tag types are loaded for that element.

Types of Predefined Tags The following table describes the various types of predefined tags.

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Type

Description

Air terminal

Displays the Type Mark property of air terminals and the specified amount of CFM. Air terminals are numbered and scheduled by type, not individually.

Light fixture

Displays the Type Mark property of light fixtures. Light fixtures are numbered and scheduled by type, not individually.

Space

Displays the name and number of spaces by default.

Duct

Displays the size property of ducts. Ducts are sized by diameter or by width and height.

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Tag Tool Options You can add tags in a view using the tools available on the Tag panel of the Annotate tab. The Tag panel provides five tools: Tag by Category, Tag All, Multi-Category, Material, and View Reference.

Tag tools on the Tag panel of the Annotate tab

The following table describes the various tag tools available on the Tag panel. Option

Description

Tag by Category

Identifies building elements, such as air terminals, piping, and plumbing fixtures, in a drawing. When you tag building elements by category, Revit recognizes the element type and provides an appropriate tag type.

Tag All

Places tags by category on all or selected building elements in a view.

Multi-Category

Identifies building elements across element categories based on the predefined filters.

Material

Identifies materials, such as studs and drywall in walls, as specified in a building design.

View Reference

Indicates the sheet number and detail number of a view that has been split with a Matchline. This tool is active only in views with dependency relationships.

Example of Tags The following illustrations show the various types of predefined tags.

Air terminal tags

Light fixture tags


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Space tag

Duct tags

Guidelines for Working with Text and Tags The following recommended practices help you work efficiently with text and tags.

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Place text and tags after a view is created and made ready for annotation if you anticipate changes to the view scale. Following this practice helps you save the time spent in coordinating the views for printing. Create copies of the main model views and name them appropriately so that you can quickly add text and tags to create specific views. For example, a floor plan view can be duplicated with detailing repeatedly to set up the mechanical, electrical, piping, and plumbing plans. Each duplicate plan view can contain the required text and tags. If you work on similar building designs, you can save these plan views in a project template to reduce the setup time and speed up the documentation phase. Plan and crop the documentation views to make placing text notes easier and more efficient. Ensure that text notes and their associated leaders do not obscure the graphic display of building elements. Also check that notes are aligned. These measures will enable users to read text notes easily. Create different types of text by adding leaders with different end symbols, such as dots and large arrows. You can then use different text symbols for specific situations or conditions. Load more than one tag type for building elements when you want to tag an element for different purposes across views. Following this practice provides flexibility to views and improves the quality of documents. Use the spelling checker available on the Text panel of the Annotate tab to ensure correct spellings are used in text and tags.

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Exercise: Work with Text and Tags In this exercise, you add text in a drafting view to illustrate a standard piping detail. In addition, you add text and tags in a plan view to annotate the building elements. You also modify a tag type. You are documenting a building project. To complete a drafted detail, you add text notes to a view and prepare a plan view by adding tags to air terminals, ducts, and spaces. Next, you modify the air terminal tags by changing the tag type. You do the following: ■ Add text to a detail view. ■ Add text and tags to a model view. ■ Modify a tag type.



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5.

To complete the exercise, follow the steps in this book or in the onscreen exercise. In the onscreen list of chapters and exercises, click Chapter 14: Annotations and Schedules. Click Exercise: Work with Text and Tags.

In the view window: ■ Click the pipe to start placing a leader for the text. ■ Move the cursor to the northeast direction, as shown.

Add Text to a Detail View 1.

2. 3. 4.

Open i_rmep_text_and_tags.rvt or m_rmep_text_and_tags.rvt. The file opens in the Condensate Drain drafting view. Note: The illustrations for the metric dataset will be slightly different from those shown here. Click Annotate tab > Text panel > Text to label the drawing elements. Ensure that Text : 3/32" Arial (Text : 2.5mm Arial) is selected from the Type Selector dropdown. On the Place Text tab: ■ On the Alignment panel, click Center to place centrally aligned text. ■ On the Leader panel, click Two Segments to create a leader with two segments. ■

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Click to place the leader elbow.

6.

To annotate the pipe: ■ Move the cursor to the right such that it is placed at the center of the views. ■ Click to add text. ■ In the text box, enter PIPE.

7. 8. 9.

Exit the Text tool. Select the text you just added. Click Modify Text Notes tab > Leader panel > Right Straight. 10. In the view window, use the Drag controls to adjust the position of the leaders and the text box as shown.

12. Add text and leaders to various building elements as shown. You need to add the following text in the text boxes: ■ SUPPORT-SEE SPECIFICATIONS ■ ROOF MEMBRANE ■ INSTALLATION SHALL BE PER ROOF MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS

13. Add text and leaders on the right as shown. You need to add the following text in the text box: PROVIDE ADDITIONAL LAYER OF ROOF MEMBRANE AT PIPE SUPPORT LOCATIONS PER MANUFACTURER’S RECOMMENDATIONS

14. Clear the selection. 15. Zoom to fit the view.

11. On the Create panel, click Create Similar.


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Add Text and Tags to a Model View 1. 2.

Open the Level 2 HVAC Plan view. Zoom in to the room in the upper-left corner of the drawing.

3.

Click Annotate tab > Tag panel > Tag By Category. On the Options Bar, ensure that the Leader check box is clear. In the view widow: ■ Place the cursor over the air terminal as shown.

4. 5.

6.

Click to add a tag. Add tags on the other two air terminals as shown.

7.

Click Annotate tab > Tag panel > Tag All.

8.

To add tags to all the ducts and spaces, in the Tag All Not Tagged dialog box: ■ CTRL+select the Duct Tags and Space Tags categories. ■ Under Leader, ensure that the Create check box is clear. ■ Click OK. ■ Click OK in the Revit message box if it appears. Notice that in the view window, tags are added to all the ducts and spaces. 9. Activate the Text tool. 10. On the Place Text tab: ■ On the Alignment panel, click Left to place left-aligned text. ■ On the Leader panel, click One Segment. 11. In the view window: ■ Click the duct endcap. ■ Move the cursor in the northwest direction. ■ Click to add text. ■ In the text box, enter RECTANGULAR ENDCAP. 12. Click Modify.

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13. To adjust the position of the text box: ■ Select the text that you just added. ■ Use the left Drag control to place the text box as shown.

14. Click anywhere in the view window to clear the selection.

Modify a Tag Type 1.

2. 3. 4.

To change the type of tags from one loaded type to another, right-click an air terminal tag. Click Select All Instances to select all the air terminal tags in the view. Select Diffuser Tag - TYPE NAME from the Type Selector drop-down. Notice that all the air terminal tags update to the new type. Clear the selection. Close the file without saving changes.


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Lesson: Working with Dimensions This lesson describes how to work with dimensions in a building model. You begin the lesson by learning about temporary and permanent dimensions. Next, you learn about some recommended practices for working with dimensions. The lesson concludes with an exercise on working with dimensions in a building model. You place dimensions to set and modify the distance between elements in a building model. You use temporary dimensions to quickly and accurately populate a design and permanent dimensions to annotate the design. The following illustration shows a dimension associated with a duct element.


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Describe temporary dimensions. Describe permanent dimensions. State the recommended practices for working with dimensions. Work with dimensions in a building model.

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About Temporary Dimensions Dimensions are system families that have type and instance properties. You can customize these properties to create new dimension types that better suit your requirements. For example, you can change the tick mark, line weight, and color of dimensions. In addition, you can control the witness lines for dimensions. You can also set the font, height, and unit format for dimension text. Dimensions can be of two types, temporary and permanent. Temporary dimensions are automatically displayed when you select an element in a building model. They enable you to place and move elements accurately in a building model.

Definition of Temporary Dimensions Temporary dimensions are the dimensions displayed in reference to the nearest element that is perpendicular or parallel to the element that you are creating or have selected. The following illustrations show the temporary dimensions of various elements.

Temporary dimensions for a duct being created

Temporary dimensions for a selected element

Temporary dimensions disappear when you add another element to the building design, reducing dimension clutter. To edit a temporary dimension, you need to select the element and change the dimension value.

Lesson: Working with Dimensions

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Listening Dimensions Temporary dimensions that appear when you create elements are called listening dimensions. Listening dimensions appear in bold and change as you create an element, such as a duct. You use listening dimensions to adjust the length or placement of elements. The following illustration shows the listening dimension that displays while you are drawing a duct. Notice that the listening dimension is displayed from the start to the endpoint of the duct.

You can modify the listening dimension while creating or after placing an element in a drawing by typing the required dimension directly.

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The following illustrations show the listening dimension of a duct modified by typing the new dimension.

Dimension modified to place a duct at 7 feet 6 inches from the center of an adjacent duct

Modified dimension of the duct

When you enter dimension values using imperial units, you can enter either the feet and inch symbols, such as 10' 6 3/4", or just the feet and inch numbers separated by a space, such as 10 6 3/4. If you enter a value without specifying a unit, such as 10, it is interpreted as 10 feet (10').

Creating Elements with Temporary Dimensions While creating elements with temporary dimensions, you can specify temporary dimension settings and dimension increment values.

Specifying Temporary Dimension Settings You can specify settings such as snapping points for temporary dimensions. For example, you can specify that temporary dimensions snap to the centerlines or to the faces of a wall. To specify such preferences, you use the Temporary Dimension Properties dialog box, which can be accessed from the Settings drop-down on the Project Settings panel of the Manage tab. You can set separate preferences for walls, ducts, and pipes.

Dimension Increments When you create an element, its temporary dimension value is incremented based on the amount you zoom in the view. The increment also depends on the dimension snap increment settings specified in the Snaps dialog box, which is also accessible from the Settings drop-down. You can set increment values for length and angular dimensions separately using the Snaps dialog box.


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Viewing Temporary Dimensions You view the temporary dimensions of an element by using the Modify option on the Quick Access toolbar or on contextual tabs that appear during specific operations. When you click Modify, other commands end and you can select the desired element. The temporary dimensions for an element might differ from those that were originally displayed while creating the element. This is because when you create an element, its temporary dimensions are displayed in reference to the nearest element, which might have changed.

Modifying Temporary Dimensions You can resize or move elements by modifying their temporary dimensions. You can move the witness lines of temporary dimensions to reference specific elements. To do this, you use the blue square control on the witness line. Selecting the square enables you to cycle its position, such as from wall centerline to alternate faces. The changes made to the witness lines are not saved. The following illustrations show a duct being repositioned by having its temporary dimensions modified.

Before modifying the temporary dimensions

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After modifying the temporary dimensions

Example of Temporary Dimensions The following illustration shows the temporary dimensions of a selected pipe. The temporary dimensions indicate the length of the pipe, the end offset from the finished floor, and its position relative to the other walls in the drawing.

About Permanent Dimensions You use permanent dimensions if you want to continuously display the dimensions of the elements in a building model view. Dimensions adjust to the scale of the view. You do not need to create dimension styles for standard view scales. There are two methods by which you can associate permanent dimensions with an element. You can make temporary dimensions permanent by using the dimension symbol, or you can add permanent dimensions using the Dimension tools on the Dimension panel of the Annotate tab.

Definition of Permanent Dimensions Permanent dimensions are the dimensions that you add to elements after placing them in a building model. Unlike temporary dimensions, permanent dimensions are visible even if the elements are not selected. Permanent dimensions occur in two states, modifiable and nonmodifiable. Permanent dimensions for an element can be modified individually only when the element is selected. In the nonmodifiable state, you cannot edit the values of permanent dimensions because the element with which they are associated is not selected. You can select dimensions and change their properties, lock or unlock them, and apply equality constraints.


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The following illustrations show the two states of permanent dimensions.

Modifiable state

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Nonmodifiable state

Using the Dimension Symbol A dimension symbol appears near the temporary dimension of an element. You need to select this symbol to change a temporary dimension to permanent. The following illustrations show how to use a dimension symbol.

Before clicking the dimension symbol

After clicking the dimension symbol

Using Dimension Tools You can add five types of permanent dimensions using the Dimension tools. You can add dimensions for chains and for an entire wall with one click. The following table describes the permanent dimension types that you can use. Types

Description

Aligned

Placed between selected references and aligned to the references.

Linear

Placed between selected references and aligned either to the horizontal or vertical axis of the view.

Angular

Placed on multiple reference points that share a common intersection.

Radial

Placed in the radial dimension of an arc.

Arc Length

Placed on an arc object.


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Specifying Wall Dimension Preferences You can specify the way the pointer snaps when you assign permanent dimensions to a wall. For example, you can specify the reference line that should be highlighted first. You can also specify the place where the pointer snaps first when you move it over a wall. You can make these specifications by selecting appropriate options from the Place Dimensions list on the Options Bar. The following illustration shows the Place Dimensions list on the Options Bar.

The Place Dimensions list is activated for all dimension types, except the linear dimension.

Wall Centerlines Using this option, you can make a wall measurable from the centerline.

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Wall Faces Using this option, you can set the dimension of a wall based on the inner or outer faces of the wall.

Center of Core Using this option, you can make a wall measurable between the centerline of the core boundaries. This is applicable for walls with more than one layer, such as compound walls.


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Faces of Core Using this option, you can make a wall measurable between the inner or outer faces of the core boundaries.

Point Dimensions When you add a permanent dimension to wall elements, you can create dimension references from corner points on walls. To cycle through available dimension references for reaching points and wall faces, use the TAB key. The following illustrations show aligned dimensions placed by corner points.

Aligned dimensions placed on exposed wall points

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Aligned dimensions placed between two wall points

Locking Permanent Dimensions When you add a permanent dimension to an element, an unlocked padlock appears near the dimension line. The padlock indicates that you can modify the length of a wall and the distance between walls. For example, you can drag the wall ends on either side to increase the wall length. You can also drag the wall upward or downward to adjust the distance between two walls. After making the required modifications, to prevent the dimensions of a wall from changing, you can lock the permanent dimensions by using the padlock. If required, you can unlock dimensions that you have locked. The following illustrations show locked and unlocked permanent dimensions for a wall.

Locked permanent dimensions

Unlocked permanent dimensions


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Overriding Permanent Dimensions You can change the text display of permanent dimensions by using the Dimension Text dialog box. You can replace the numeric value with text, and specify the text position above, before, after, or below the actual value.

Dimension Text dialog box

Editing Witness Lines You can add witness lines to a permanent dimension using the Edit Witness Lines tool. This tool is available on the Witness Lines panel of the Modify Dimensions contextual tab that appears when you select a dimension. You can also right-click a dimension and select Edit Witness Lines from the shortcut menu. You click additional objects to include them in the dimension string. The resulting dimension string is a single object. You can remove witness lines from a dimension string by selecting the permanent dimension and right-clicking the blue square control in the middle of the witness line. Then, select Delete Witness Line from the shortcut menu.

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The following illustrations show the use of the Edit Witness Lines tool to extend a dimension string to other objects.

Single dimension selected

Adding witness lines with the Edit Witness Lines option

Examples of Permanent Dimensions The following illustration shows two vertical pipes with a third vertical pipe connected to the top. The two lower vertical pipes are 7 feet apart from each other. The 3' - 0" dimension to the upper vertical pipe is locked.

The following illustration shows the two lower vertical pipes moved 8 feet 6 inches apart from each other. The upper vertical pipe remains at 3 feet from the lower-left vertical pipe.


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Guidelines for Working with Dimensions The following recommended practices help you work efficiently with dimensions.

Guidelines ■

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Change temporary dimensions to permanent when you need to refer to the distance between various elements frequently while working. Using permanent dimensions is quicker than selecting the same element repeatedly to find out its distance from other elements. You can delete permanent dimensions at any time if they clutter a view and re-create them later. Click the EQ symbol when creating a dimension string to quickly make objects equidistant. Add parallel reference planes or model lines in the corners of a room when you want to quickly place dimensions across the corners. This is recommended because Revit does not easily add dimensions to nonparallel objects. After adding parallel reference planes, you can place the dimensions between these planes and then hide the planes. You can add dimensions to certain wall endpoints and corners by using select+TAB. Note: Alternatively, you can use the Tape Measure tool to determine the distance between corners. Add dimension styles to project templates to avoid having to create dimension styles for each project. Use the Duplicate View option to create a copy of a view that does not display the dimensions and notes you placed while working on a building model. This helps you show a neat view to the client without losing the details. Note: You can hide individual dimensions as well. Adjust view scale before placing dimensions and text. Dimensions and text automatically adjust size to the view scale of the view they are placed in. If you change the scale of a view after placing dimensions and notes, you may need to check the placement of dimension text and notes to maintain clarity.

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Exercise: Work with Dimensions In this exercise, you use temporary dimensions to locate lavatories, change the temporary dimensions to permanent dimensions, lock dimensions, and modify the dimension string to include additional fixtures.

Completing the Exercise To complete the exercise, follow the steps in this book or in the onscreen exercise. In the onscreen list of chapters and exercises, click Chapter 14: Annotations and Schedules. Click Exercise: Work with Dimensions.

You have to reposition fixtures in a building model. To do this, you place dimensions for the fixtures and then change the dimensions to modify the position of the fixtures. You do the following: ■ Place dimensions for fixtures. ■ Change dimensions.

Place Dimensions for Fixtures 1.

2.

3.

Open i_rmep_dimensions.rvt or m_rmep_dimensions.rvt. The file opens in the Callout of Level 2 Plumbing Plan view. Note: The illustrations for the metric dataset will be slightly different from those shown here. In the view window, select the upper lavatory in the men's restroom. The temporary dimensions are displayed.

To change the value of the temporary dimension, in the view window: ■ Click the temporary dimension. ■ In the text box, enter 2' 0" (600 mm). ■ Press ENTER.



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4.

To change the temporary dimension to a permanent dimension, in the view window: ■ Position the cursor over the dimension symbol as shown.

Click the dimension symbol. Clear the selection. In the view window: ■ Drag the permanent dimension to the left as shown.

8.

To add a lavatory to the dimension string, in the view window: ■ Place the cursor over the center of the next lavatory in the women’s restroom as shown.

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9.

Click the padlock to lock the dimension. On the Options Bar, ensure that Wall Faces is selected in the Prefer list. Click Modify Dimensions tab > Witness Lines panel > Edit Witness Lines. ■

6. 7.

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Click to add a witness line to the permanent dimension. In the view window, place the cursor between the witness lines as shown. ■


10. Click to place the dimension.

11. Add the remaining three fixtures in the women's restroom to the dimension string.

13. In the view window: ■ Place the cursor over the wall as shown.

Click to place a dimension between the lower-left water closet and the wall. In the view window, place the cursor between 14. the lower-left water closet and the wall below it. ■

12. Activate the Edit Witness Lines tool again to add the dimension between the lowerleft water closet and the wall below it to the dimension string.


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15. Click to finish adding dimensions to the dimension string.

2.

In the view window: ■ Click the permanent dimension between the lower-left water closet and the wall.

In the text box, enter 1' 6" (450 mm) to change the dimension value. Press ENTER. In the view window, select the water closet above the lower-left water closet in the women's restroom. ■

3.

16. Clear the selection.

Change Dimensions 1.

In the view window, select the lower-left water closet.

4.

In the view window: ■ Click the permanent dimension between the two lower-left water closets.

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In the text box, enter 5' 0" (1500 mm) to change the dimension value. Press ENTER.

5.

6.

7. 8.

Change the dimensions between the remaining fixtures in the women's restroom moving from bottom to top, except the uppermost fixture, to 3' 0" (900 mm) and 3' 6" (1000 mm), respectively. Click anywhere in the view window.

In the view window, select the permanent dimension string. Click all padlocks except the padlock between the second lavatory on the left and the water closet below it. Note: The top padlock was already locked.

9.

On the Create panel, click Create Similar to begin placing a dimension between the lower and upper walls. 10. On the Options Bar, verify that Wall Faces is selected in the Dimension list. 11. In the view window: ■ Position the cursor over the wall below the lower-left fixture as shown.

Click to specify the start point for placing the dimension. 12. In the view window: ■ Move the cursor upward to the wall as shown. ■

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Click to specify the endpoint for placing the dimension.


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13. In the view window: ■ Move the cursor to the left of the earlier dimension.

15. In the view window, select the upper wall that is adjacent to the lavatories. Note: You may need to press TAB to highlight the upper wall for selection. For Metric users, the entire upper wall appears highlighted.

16. To edit the new dimension length, in the view window: ■ Click the 18' - 0" (5350 mm) dimension.

Click to place the new dimension next to the previous dimension string. 14. Click Modify to finish placing the dimension between the lower and upper walls. ■

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In the text box, enter 19' 0" (5700 mm). Press ENTER.

17. In the view window, verify that all the dimensions are updated. Notice that the updated new dimension length 19' - 0" (5700 mm) is added to the restroom. All other dimensions that were locked remain fixed while the dimension between the second lavatory on the left and the water closet below it has increased in length because it was not locked.

18. Click anywhere in the view window to clear the selection. 19. Close the file without saving changes.


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Lesson: Creating Legends This lesson describes how to create legends with notes, annotation symbols, and model elements. You begin the lesson by learning about legends. Next, you learn some recommended practices for creating legends. The lesson concludes with an exercise on creating a legend with annotation symbols, notes, and model elements. Construction documents consist of drawings and specifications that define the intent of a project design. You use legends in construction documents to display lists of various building components and annotations used in a project. This helps team members and clients to interpret drawings correctly. Standard information such as explanations of symbols or generic notes is typically the same for different projects and is repeated on multiple drawing sheets. To avoid the errors that can occur when duplicating information on multiple sheets, you create legends and place them on the required sheets.

Legend showing a list of symbols used in a drawing

Objectives After completing this lesson, you will be able to: ■ ■ ■

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Describe legends. State the recommended practices for creating legends. Create a legend with annotation symbols, notes, and model elements.

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About Legends When documenting a design or project, you can create legends to explain the symbols, materials, and elements used in a project instead of adding notes repeatedly to views.

Definition of Legends A legend is a view containing two-dimensional annotation elements, including text, dimensions, symbols, tags, filled regions, and detail lines. Typically, legends appear as tables that contain one column for graphic symbols and another for explanatory text to define the symbols used in a particular view or for the entire project. You can use the same legend on multiple drawing sheets. In addition, you can add different components to a legend using standard Revit tools.

Legend Components Legend components are two-dimensional representations of model elements in the plan or section view that you can add to a legend view. Some examples of legend components are types of columns, beams, floors, and walls. You can add these components to a legend by using the Legend Component tool available in the Component drop-down on the Detail panel of the Annotate tab. Legend components are available only for the model elements currently loaded into the project. Legend components have detail level properties that you can control independent of the detail level of the legend. In addition, you can use the legend visibility settings to control the display of the subcategories of the component families in a legend.

Tools for Creating Legends You use annotation tools to add information to the legend components in a legend view. Text and Dimension are two commonly used annotation tools. Using the Text tool, you can specify the name or any other information for a legend component. Using the Dimension tool, you can add dimensions to a legend component to specify its size and the distance between two points within the component. You can also add lines and filled regions to legend components.

Lesson: Creating Legends

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Annotation Symbol Legends Annotation symbols in a legend represent sheet annotations, such as section heads and elevation symbols. To place annotation symbols in a legend, you use the Symbol tool on the Detail panel of the Annotate tab. After adding the annotation symbols, you add text to the legend to describe them.

Annotation symbols

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Model Element Legends Model element legends are symbolic representations of model elements with some descriptive text. You create a model element legend by creating a legend view and then adding model elements using the Legend Component tool available in the Component drop-down on the Detail panel of the Annotate tab.

Model elements and notes added to a legend

You can use legend views to create typical details that are parametrically linked to a model view. When the type parameters for a model element change, the model element in the legend view also changes.


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Examples of Legends The following illustrations show examples of legends.

Legend with HVAC symbols

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Legend with electrical symbols


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Legend with plumbing symbols

Guidelines for Creating Legends The following recommended practices help you create legends effectively.

Guidelines ■

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Set up legends based on the standard documentation of your organization and load them in the project templates. Then, you can place legends on the required sheets from the templates. This practice saves time when you are creating construction documents of a project. Import CAD files with legends to reuse the previously developed legend content. This helps you avoid rework and errors, and allows you to use the same legend content in different project files. Copy and paste legend information from one project file to another because you cannot save legend views as separate files. This helps you save time and increase efficiency when duplicating information across multiple project files.

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Exercise: Create a Legend In this exercise, you create a legend to show the HVAC symbols used in a project. You also add annotation symbols, notes, and model elements to the legend.

Completing the Exercise To complete the exercise, follow the steps in this book or in the onscreen exercise. In the onscreen list of chapters and exercises, click Chapter 14: Annotations and Schedules. Click Exercise: Create a Legend.

You are working on a project that is about to enter into the construction documentation phase. You want to prepare a legend to describe the symbols used in the HVAC plans. This legend should appear on all the HVAC plan sheets. You do the following: ■ Create a legend view. ■ Add annotation symbols, notes, and model elements.


Create a Legend View 1.

Open i_rmep_legends.rvt or m_rmep_legends.rvt. The file opens in the Level 2 HVAC Plan view. Note: The illustrations for the metric dataset will be slightly different from those shown here. 2. To create a legend, click View tab > Create panel > Legends drop-down > Legend. 3. In the New Legend View dialog box: ■ For Name, enter HVAC Legend. ■ Click OK. 4. Click Annotate tab > Text panel > Text to add text notes to the legend. 5. Open the Type Properties dialog box. 6. In the Type Properties dialog box, click Duplicate to create a new text type. 7. In the Name dialog box: ■ For Name, enter 3/16" Arial (5mm Arial). ■ Click OK. 8. In the Type Properties dialog box, under Type Parameters, Text: ■ For Text Size, enter 3/16" (5 mm). ■ Click OK. 9. On the Leader panel of the Place Text tab, ensure No Leader is selected. 10. In the upper part of the view window, click to place a text box. 11. On the Format panel: ■ Click Bold. ■ Click Underline. 12. In the view window: ■ In the text box you just placed, enter HVAC LEGEND. ■ Click outside the text box. ■ Clear the selection.


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Add Annotation Symbols, Notes, and Model Elements 1. 2.

3.

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5.

6.

Add two more legend components with the following family types below the previously placed components: ■ Air Terminals : Exhaust Grill : 24 x 24 Face 12 x 12 Connection (Air Terminals : M_Exhaust Grill : 600 x 600 Face 300 x 300 Connection). ■ Air Terminals : Supply Diffuser - Sidewall : 18 x 8 (Air Terminals : M_Supply Diffuser Sidewall : 450 x 200).

7. 8.

Click Modify. Click Annotate tab > Detail panel > Symbol to add an annotation symbol. Ensure that Diffuser Tag - TYPE NAME (M_Diffuser Tag - TYPE NAME) is selected in the Type Selector drop-down.

Click Annotate tab > Detail panel > Component drop-down > Legend Component to add the first legend component. On the Options Bar: ■ Verify that Air Terminals : Supply Diffuser Rectangular Face Round Neck : 24x24 - 10 Neck (Air Terminals : M_Supply Diffuser Rectangular Face Round Neck : 600x600 250 Neck) is selected from the Family list. ■ Verify that Floor Plan is selected from the View list. In the view window, click below and to the left of the text box containing the text HVAC LEGEND to place the symbol.

On the Options Bar, select Air Terminals : Return Diffuser : 24 x 24 Face 12 x 12 Connection (Air Terminals : M_Return Diffuser : 600 x 600 Face 300 x 300 Connection) from the Family list to add the second legend component. In the view window, click to place the return diffuser symbol below the supply diffuser symbol.

9.

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10. In the view window, place the diffuser tag below the sidewall diffuser component as shown.

14. To add text for the description of the supply diffuser, in the view window: ■ Click to the right of the supply diffuser to place the text. ■ In the text box, enter SUPPLY DIFFUSER. ■ Click outside the text box.

15. Add the following text for the descriptions of the remaining components as shown: ■ RETURN DIFFUSER ■ EXHAUST GRILL ■ SIDEWALL SUPPLY DIFFUSER ■ DIFFUSER TAG

11. Click Modify. 12. Activate the Text tool to add descriptions for the components and symbols. 13. Select Text : 3/32" Arial (Text : 2.5mm Arial) from the Type Selector drop-down to change the text type.


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16. On the Leader panel, click Two Segments to add a leader note to the symbol. 17. In the view window: ■ Place the leader as shown. ■ Enter DIFFUSER TYPE DESIGNATION for the text note. ■ Click outside the text box. Tip: Drag the blue dots on the sides of the text box to adjust its size.

21. In the view window, draw lines around the legend for defining the outside frame as shown.

18. Add two more text notes with the following text as shown: ■ DIFFUSER SIZE EXAMPLE: 24X24 DIFFUSER WITH A 10" DIAMETER NECK ■ AIR QUANTITY

19. Click Annotate tab > Detail panel > Detail Line. 20. Ensure that Wide Lines is selected in the Line Style list.

22. Select Medium Lines from the Line Style list. 23. To sketch the lines inside the legend: ■ In the view window, draw the remaining lines in the legend as shown. ■ Click Modify.

24. Close the file without saving changes.

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Lesson: Working with Schedules This lesson describes how to work with schedules. You begin the lesson by learning about the types, characteristics, and properties of schedules. Next, you learn steps to export schedules and modify the fields in a schedule. Then, you learn some recommended practices for working with schedules. The lesson concludes with an exercise on creating and modifying a lighting fixture schedule. Schedules provide information about building elements in a project, such as lights and mechanical equipment, which can be exported to other applications for cost lists, estimates, and other quantity tallies. You use schedules to display the properties of selected building elements in a tabular format. In Revit, the schedules update automatically and therefore eliminate the errors that can occur in a manually compiled list.

Electrical circuit schedule

Objectives After completing this lesson, you will be able to: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Describe the types and characteristics of schedules. Describe the properties of schedules. Export schedules. Modify the fields that appear in schedules. State the recommended practices for working with schedules. Create and modify a lighting fixture schedule.

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About Schedules You can view a building model in different ways. One way is to create a schedule that displays information about elements in a tabular format. A schedule updates automatically as the building model develops. You can format, view, and export schedules. You can also place them on drawing sheets to be used in documentation sets.

Definition of Schedules A schedule is a formatted view of a building model based on the criteria you provide. It is a tabular display of information extracted from the properties of elements in a building model. Each property of an element is represented as a field in the schedule. Schedules can list every instance of a particular type of element in different rows or condense information about multiple instances of an element into a single row.

Types of Schedules You can create three types of schedules using the Schedule/Quantities tool from the Schedules dropdown on the Create panel of the View tab. The three types of schedules are component schedules, multi-category schedules, and key schedules. You can also create specialized schedules, such as material takeoffs, view lists, drawing lists, note blocks, and revision schedules, from the Schedules drop-down. The following table describes the various types of Schedule/Quantities.

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Schedule/Quantities Type

Description

Component

Lists the selected component properties in a tabular format. For example, you can create a lighting fixture schedule that lists the properties of lighting fixtures, such as type, wattage, lamps, and count. Component schedules can be instance or type schedules. Instance schedules list each component as a separate line item, whereas type schedules group components of the same type into a single line item.

Multi-category

Lists the components that hold shared parameters. Shared parameters span more than one project. The available fields for this type of schedule include the shared parameters.

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Schedule/Quantities Type

Description

Key

Lists the keys that you define for elements that consist of multiple items with the same characteristics. The keys act as a grouping mechanism, like style definitions. Key schedules are automatically populated with information about the element properties in the schedule fields. For example, an air terminal schedule might have 100 diffusers with the same width and depth. Instead of manually entering the information for each of the 100 diffusers in the schedule, you can define keys that fill in the information. You define key schedules according to project specifications. When you define a key, it becomes part of the instance properties of the scheduled element. If you display the properties of that element, you see the new key name. When you apply a value to the key, the attributes of the key are applied to the element.

Material Takeoffs A material takeoff is a specific type of component schedule. It lists the subcomponents or materials of any Revit family. Material takeoffs have all the functionality and characteristics of other schedules. They help you display details of the assembly of a component. Any material that is used in an element within Revit can be scheduled.

View Lists A view list is a schedule of all views that show view parameters. You use view parameters for grouping and filtering the Project Browser organization. You can view and modify various view parameters for multiple views at a time.

Drawing Lists A drawing list is a schedule of all drawing sheets in a project. It functions as a table of contents for the project and is typically placed on the first sheet of a documentation set.

Keynote Legends A keynote parameter is available for all model elements, detail components, and materials. Keynote legends group common types of keynotes and can be placed on multiple sheet views. You create keynote legends using the Legends drop-down on the Create panel of the View tab.

Note Blocks Note blocks are schedules that list the instances of annotations that you apply using the Symbol tool on the Detail panel of the Annotate tab. Note blocks are useful for listing notes that are applied to elements in a project. For example, you can provide building descriptions for walls by attaching a note to each wall.

Revision Schedules Revision schedules are included with most Revit titleblocks. After you create a drawing sheet with a default titleblock, you can begin recording revision information on that sheet. You can add a revision schedule to a custom titleblock.


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Embedded Schedules In Revit, after you create a schedule for rooms and the electrical, air, piping, plumbing, or fire protection system, you can create an embedded schedule to show information about the components that are members of these systems.

Schedule Management After you create a schedule, you can perform various operations on it, such as viewing and updating the schedule. When you create a schedule, it is added to the Project Browser listing. You can display the schedule in the view window by double-clicking the schedule name. You can also add the schedule to a drawing sheet by dragging the schedule to the drawing sheet in the view window. A schedule is a view of the model that updates automatically when you make changes to those parts of the project that affect it. For example, if you move a wall, the floor area of the room in the room schedule updates accordingly. Schedules are associated with an entire project, including the building model. Therefore, when you change the properties of building components in a project, the associated schedule is also updated. For example, you can select a lighting fixture in a project and change its manufacturer property. As a result, the lighting fixture schedule also updates. You can also edit a property of a building model by selecting the field corresponding to the property in the schedule and entering a new value for the property. Consequently, the schedule and the element type change.

Example of Schedules The following illustration shows a lighting fixture schedule.

About Schedule Properties Schedules contain a list of fields that display element properties, such as the areas of rooms or the levels of plumbing fixtures. The properties of a schedule include the fields to be included, the sequence of the fields, and the way the fields are presented. You define the properties of schedules by using the tabs in the Schedule Properties dialog box. Based on project requirements, you can add, filter, sort, format, and change the appearance of the fields for properties in a schedule.

Definition of Schedule Properties Schedule properties define the structure and presentation of a schedule. These properties help you modify the information types that you want to include in a schedule and the appearance of that information.

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Schedule Properties Tabs You use the six tabs available in the Schedule Properties dialog box to control the display of schedule views and the content contained in a schedule. The following illustration shows the Schedule Properties dialog box.

The following table describes the functions of the tabs in the Schedule Properties dialog box. Tab

Functions

Fields

Places parameters as fields in a schedule and sets the order in which the fields are displayed. You use the Fields tab to add user-input and calculated fields to a schedule. Material, finish, and type mark are examples of userinput fields. Area and cost are examples of calculated fields.

Filter

Controls the display of elements in single and multi-category schedules, view lists, drawing lists, and note blocks.

Sorting/Grouping

Sorts and groups the rows of a schedule. You can sort a schedule based on a field, such as the cost of lighting fixtures. You can use grouping to group rows based on the element type. For example, you can show the total cost of wall-mounted lights and ceiling-mounted lights separately. You can also use this tab to add blank lines between groups and group totals.

Formatting

Controls the layout, such as column headings, text alignment, and orientation, of the schedule view and the way numerical data is displayed. For example, you can specify the number of decimal places in a numerical field.


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Tab

Functions

Appearance

Controls the appearance of a schedule on a drawing sheet. For example, you can modify the appearance of a schedule by changing the font types and sizes and hiding the schedule title and column headers.

Embedded Schedule

Creates an embedded schedule to show information about components for systems, such as rooms and the electrical, air, piping, plumbing, or fire protection system, whenever you create a schedule for these systems.

Example of Schedule Properties The following illustration shows an airflow schedule displaying Calculated Supply Airflow and Actual Supply Airflow.

Exporting Schedules You can export a schedule to spreadsheet applications. When you export a schedule, you save it as a delimited text file so that it can be opened in other applications. If you repeatedly export schedule information to the same file location, you can update the spreadsheet as desired while building a project.

Procedure: Exporting Schedules The following steps describe how to export schedules. 1. 2. 3.

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In the Project Browser, under Schedules/Quantities, open the schedule. On the application menu, click Export > Reports > Schedule. In the Export Schedule dialog box: ■ Specify a name and a directory for the schedule. ■ Click Save.

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In the Export Schedule dialog box, under Schedule Appearance, specify the display options for the schedule in a spreadsheet.

5.

Under Output options, specify values of the parameters for the text file. The text file can be opened in a spreadsheet application.

Modifying Schedule Fields You can add new fields to a schedule using the Add Parameter option. You can also modify the existing fields in a schedule. For example, you may need to change a schedule from an instance list to a type list, or calculate totals of the cost information.

Procedure: Modifying Fields in Schedules The following steps describe how to modify the fields in a schedule. 1. 2. 3. 4.

In the Project Browser, under Schedules/Quantities, open the schedule. In the Project Browser, right-click the schedule view. Click Properties. In the Instance Properties dialog box, under Other, for Fields, click Edit. In the Schedule Properties dialog box, on the Fields tab, add fields, create custom fields, calculate a value based on other fields, or change the order of fields. Note: You can specify the calculation criteria in the Calculated Value dialog box.

Guidelines for Working with Schedules The following recommended practices help you effectively work with schedules.

Guidelines ■

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Create schedules that display only important or critical fields so that the schedules are easy to understand. Use the Hidden Field check box on the Formatting tab in the Schedule Properties dialog box to hide the fields that you want to retain but not show in the schedule view. Use headers, footers, and blank lines to identify and separate groups of similar information in a schedule to improve readability. You can create these headers, footers, and blank lines using the Sorting/Grouping tab in the Schedule Properties dialog box. Click Show repeatedly in the Show Elements in View dialog box to open all the model views that display the element selected in the schedule table. This helps you easily check and modify the selected element in all views.


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Exercise: Create and Modify a Lighting Fixture Schedule In this exercise, you create and modify a lighting fixture schedule. You need to create a lighting fixture schedule that shows descriptions for the different lighting fixture types. To do this, you first create a standard lighting fixture schedule using the available parameters. To improve the usefulness of this schedule, you rename and filter the schedule by level, so that only Level 2 lighting fixtures are included. You further improve the schedule by adding a Count column to calculate the total of the lighting fixtures by Type Mark. To complete the schedule, you add a description for the lighting fixtures. You do the following: ■ Create a lighting fixture schedule. ■ Filter the schedule. ■ Add and edit text descriptions.


Completing the Exercise To complete the exercise, follow the steps in this book or in the onscreen exercise. In the onscreen list of chapters and exercises, click Chapter 14: Annotations and Schedules. Click Exercise: Create and Modify a Lighting Fixture Schedule.

4.

5.

Create a Lighting Fixture Schedule 1.

2. 3.

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Open i_rmep_schedules.rvt or m_rmep_schedules.rvt. The file opens in the Level 2 Lighting Plan view. Note: The illustrations in the metric dataset will be slightly different from those shown here. Click Analyze tab > Reports & Schedules panel > Schedule/Quantities to create a new schedule. In the New Schedule dialog box: ■ In the left pane, select Lighting Fixtures from the Category list. ■ In the right pane, verify that Schedule Building Components is selected. ■ Click OK.

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In the Schedule Properties dialog box, Fields tab: ■ Select Type Mark from the Available Fields list. ■ Click Add to add the Type Mark field to the Scheduled Fields list. Add the following fields to the Scheduled Fields list: ■ Manufacturer ■ Model ■ Lamp ■ Electrical Data ■ Description

6.

Note: You can also add fields by double-clicking them in the Available Fields list. To reorder the Scheduled Fields list, you can use the Move Up and Move Down options. In the Schedule Properties dialog box, Sorting/ Grouping tab: ■ Select Type Mark from the Sort By list. ■ Clear the Itemize Every Instance check box. ■ Click OK to create the lighting fixture schedule.

8.

In the view window, notice that the Count field is added to the schedule. The hidden Level field has filtered the schedule so that only lighting fixtures located on level 2 are displayed.

Note: After you apply the filter in the metric dataset, the Type Mark A, B, C, D, and E lighting fixtures are displayed in the schedule.

Add and Edit Text Descriptions 1.

Filter the Schedule 1. 2. 3. 4.

5.

6.

7.

In the Project Browser, under Schedules/ Quantities, rename Lighting Fixture Schedule to Level 2 - Lighting Fixture Schedule. Right-click Level 2 - Lighting Fixture Schedule. Click Properties. In the Instance Properties dialog box, under Other, for Fields, click Edit. In the Schedule Properties dialog box, Fields tab, under Available Fields, double-click the following fields to add them in the Scheduled Fields list. ■ Count ■ Level In the Schedule Properties dialog box, Filter tab: ■ Select Level from the Filter By list. ■ Verify that Level is set to Equals. ■ Select Level 2 from the list that appears below the Filter By list. In the Schedule Properties dialog box, Formatting tab: ■ In the left pane, select Level from the Fields list. ■ In the right pane, select the Hidden Field check box. ■ Click OK. Click OK to close the Instance Properties dialog box.

2.

To add a description for a lighting fixture, in the Level 2 - Lighting Fixture Schedule: ■ Drag the Description column edge to increase the column width. ■ Under Description, for Type Mark A, enter 2x2 Recessed Parabolic. ■ Press ENTER.

The descriptions of all Type Mark A lighting fixtures in the MEP model are automatically updated. Open the Level 2 Lighting Plan view.


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3.

In the view window: ■ Zoom in to the lower-left part of the model. ■ Select any Type Mark A lighting fixture.

9.

In the Level 2 - Lighting Fixture Schedule, verify that for Type Mark A, description has been automatically updated to 2x2 Parabolic Troffer.


4. 5. 6.

7.

8.

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Open the Instance Properties dialog box to update the description of Type Mark A lighting fixtures. In the Instance Properties dialog box, click Edit Type. In the Type Properties dialog box, under Identity Data, for Description: ■ Notice that 2x2 Recessed Parabolic is specified. ■ Enter 2x2 Parabolic Troffer. ■ Click OK. Click OK to close the Instance Properties dialog box. Note: If you open the drawing in a floor plan and then open the Type Properties dialog box for one of the Type Mark A lighting fixtures, you can view the automatically updated description of the lighting fixtures in the MEP model. Open the Level 2 - Lighting Fixture Schedule view.

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Chapter Summary Now that you have learned how to work with text, tags, and dimensions, and create legends with notes, annotation symbols, and model elements, you can supplement project designs with detailed information. You can also create schedules to help you define the structural requirements for the various components of a project in an organized manner. In this chapter, you learned to: ■ ■ ■ ■

Work with text and tags. Work with dimensions in a building model. Create legends with notes, annotation symbols, and model elements. Work with schedules.

Chapter Summary

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Chapter

15 Construction Documentation In this chapter, you will learn how to create and work with titleblocks. You will also learn how to create construction document sets by creating sheets and adding titleblocks to the sheets. Finally, you will learn how to print sheets to paper or save them to electronic files to deliver documentation sets.


Add titleblocks to a sheet and update the project information displayed in a titleblock. Create and modify sheets and specify print options for them.

Chapter Overview

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Lesson: Working with Titleblocks This lesson describes how to add titleblocks to a sheet and update the project information displayed in a titleblock. You begin the lesson by learning about titleblocks and the steps for creating and updating them. Next, you learn some recommended practices for working with titleblocks. The lesson concludes with an exercise on adding and updating titleblocks and editing titleblock families. You use titleblocks when you want to place views of a building model on a sheet in a specific format. Titleblocks define the size and appearance of a drawing sheet and include borders, company logos, and project and sheet information.

Building model views added to a sheet with a titleblock


194

Describe titleblocks. Create and update titleblocks. State the recommended practices for working with titleblocks. Add and update titleblocks and edit titleblock families.

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Chapter 15: Construction Documentation

About Titleblocks A titleblock defines a printed page. It holds space for view information that helps you to identify a building model for construction purposes. It also provides technical information about a project, such as the name and location of the project and the sheet issue date.

Definition of Titleblocks Titleblocks are templates for sheets. You can load standard titleblocks into a project or create custom titleblocks using the Family Editor and save them on a network. When you load a titleblock, Revit searches for the titleblocks in the Titleblocks folder in the default Imperial and Metric libraries. However, you can change this location based on your requirements. You can create custom titleblocks by specifying the required sheet size and then adding borders, company logo, and other information on the sheet. After loading or creating a titleblock, you can import JPEG or BMP images in a titleblock. You can also import existing drawing formats from other software packages by exporting a titleblock page in the DXF™ or DWG™ format and then importing the titleblock page to a Revit titleblock file. You can save the titleblock as a family file with a Revit .rfa extension.

Elements of Titleblocks You can create different elements of a titleblock, such as family types, dimensions, lines, and masking regions, by using various tools available in the Family Editor. Titleblock elements contain all the information that needs to be placed in a sheet. The following illustration shows the Create tab in the Family Editor.

The following table describes some basic tools on the Create tab in the Family Editor. Tool

Icon

Description

Family Types

Allows you to specify and manage predefined properties within a family using the Family Types dialog box. The most common use of titleblock family types is for creating titleblocks of different sizes.

Dimension

Shows and controls distances between borders or lines placed in a titleblock.

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Tool

196

Icon

Description

Line

Draws borders around titleblocks. You also use the Line tool to draw lines and shapes to divide the drawing sheet into two areas, one that holds views and another that holds project and company information.

Reference Line

Creates a parametric family skeleton. The elements of a titleblock can align with or attach to reference lines. Reference lines are invisible when a titleblock is loaded into a project and do not highlight when a titleblock instance is selected.

Masking Region

Applies a white-filled region as a mask to hide a region of a family.

Filled Region

Creates a view-specific, 2D graphic. Filled regions are areas that are parallel to the sketch plane of a view and contain a pattern that can be edited.

Symbol

Places 2D annotation drawing symbols, such as a North arrow, into a titleblock.

Text

Adds text to a titleblock. You need to use the Family Editor to add or modify titleblock text. You cannot modify the text in a titleblock directly when it has been loaded into a project because the text is static.

Label

Places a data field in text format that specifies various parameters when a titleblock is loaded into a project. The standard titleblock label parameters are Project Name, Project Number, Scale, Sheet Name, and Sheet Number. Unlike text, labels change as their parameters change.

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Example of Titleblocks The following illustration shows a titleblock with labels displaying project information.

Creating and Updating Titleblocks You change a view of a model in a construction document by placing the model view on a sheet with a titleblock. To add a customized titleblock to a sheet, you create the titleblock as a separate file and then save the customized titleblock in your company library. After creating a titleblock, you can edit it and specify project information.

Procedure: Creating Titleblocks The following steps describe how to create a titleblock. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

On the application menu, click New > Title Block. In the New Title Block - Select Template File dialog box, specify the sheet size to be used as a template and click Open. In the Family Editor, sketch the border and dividing lines. In the titleblock, include labels such as project issue date, project status, and client name. Save the titleblock as an .rfa family file.


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Procedure: Editing Titleblocks The following steps describe how to edit a titleblock. 1. 2.

In the sheet view, select the titleblock you want to edit. Click Modify Title Blocks tab > Family panel > Edit Family. Tip: If Edit Family is not displayed, you need to reload the titleblock family. In the Revit dialog box, click Yes to open the selected titleblock for editing. In the Family Editor, make the necessary changes to the titleblock. Click Create tab > Family Editor panel > Load into Project to reload the edited titleblock in the project. Save the file to retain the changes in the library copy, if required.

3. 4. 5. 6.

You cannot edit titleblock families that are created using earlier versions of the software even if the project is updated to a later version in which these titleblock families are present.

Procedure: Replacing Titleblocks on Sheets The following steps describe how to replace one titleblock with another on a sheet. 1. 2.

Open an existing sheet. Ensure that the titleblock you want to add is loaded. Tip: If you need to load a titleblock, click Insert tab > Load from Library panel > Load Family. In the view window, select the titleblock that you want to replace. Select the titleblock that you want as a replacement from the Type Selector drop-down. The new titleblock replaces the original.

3. 4.

Procedure: Specifying Project Information The following steps describe how to specify project information that appears on labels in a titleblock. 1. 2.

Click Manage tab > Project Settings panel > Project Information. In the Instance Properties dialog box, enter values for fields, such as Project Issue Date and Client Name. Create or open a sheet with a titleblock to view the updated information.

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Guidelines for Working with Titleblocks Following the recommended practices, you can work effectively with titleblocks.

Guidelines ■

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Create a titleblock for each size of paper that your company uses when plotting document sets. For example, you can include a letter-size titleblock for use as a fax page or a quick single-page printout. You can load each titleblock size into your company project template files so that they are readily available. Using preloaded titleblocks saves considerable time for the design team members. Create titleblock styles that visually represent each phase of the design development process and switch between styles as the project develops. This practice helps in maintaining better workflow. You should follow this guideline if your company differentiates between the phases of a project, such as Schematic Design, Design Development, and Construction Documentation. Load an alternate titleblock into a project that is not included in the default project template by using the Load Family option. This practice saves time because you do not need to re-create the titleblock each time. Place a titleblock on a sheet by dragging it from the Project Browser. You can also place a view on a sheet in this way. Dragging titleblocks and views onto sheets speeds up the process of creating sheet sets. Create custom labels if you know how to set up and use shared parameters. Custom labels make titleblocks more informative and well-organized.


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Exercise: Work with Titleblocks In this exercise, you add a titleblock to a sheet and then update the project information of the titleblock. You also edit the titleblock family. You have completed your design work on the office building. Now, you need to create a sheet for model views, such as the second floor lighting plan, north level lighting plan, and power plan views. In addition, you want to specify the project-related information in the sheet. You do the following: ■ Create and update a titleblock. ■ Edit the titleblock family.


Completing the Exercise To complete the exercise, follow the steps in this book or in the onscreen exercise. In the onscreen list of chapters and exercises, click Chapter 15: Construction Documentation. Click Exercise: Work with Titleblocks.

1.

2.

Create and Update a Titleblock

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Open i_rmep_titleblocks.rvt or m_rmep_titleblocks.rvt. The file opens in the Level 2 Lighting Plan view. Note: The illustrations for the metric dataset will be slightly different from those shown here. In the Project Browser, under Sheets (All), double-click E201 - Unnamed to open the sheet and the titleblock. The Level 2 Lighting Plan view has been placed on this sheet by dragging it from the Project Browser.

3.

4.

In the view window: ■ Zoom in to the lower-right corner of the sheet. ■ Click the titleblock to highlight the parameters that you can edit. In the view window, to edit the highlighted parameters: ■ Click Unnamed and enter 2nd Floor Lighting Plan. Press ENTER. ■ Click Owner and enter River City. Press ENTER. ■ Click Project Name and enter Office Building. Press ENTER.

6.

In the view window: ■ Zoom in to the lower-right corner of the sheet. ■ Notice the updated values for the Owner and Project Name parameters.

7.

Click View tab > Sheet Composition panel > New Sheet. In the Select a Titleblock dialog box: ■ Ensure that E1 30 x 42 Horizontal : E1 30x42 Horizontal (A0 Metric) is selected. ■ Click OK. In the view window, zoom in to the lower-right corner of the new sheet. Click Manage tab > Project Settings panel > Project Information to open the Instance Properties dialog box. In the Instance Properties dialog box: ■ Under Instance Parameters, Other, notice that the client name is River City, and the project name is Office Building. ■ For Project Issue Date, enter the current date. ■ For Project Status, ensure that Client Review is specified. ■ For Project Number, enter 2009-67. ■ Click OK. The project issue date and project number values are updated in the titleblock. The titleblocks for the other views have now been updated as well. In the view window, click the titleblock to select it. Open the Instance Properties dialog box.

8.

9. 5.

In the Project Browser, under Sheets (All), double-click E301 - NORTH LEVEL 1 LIGHTING PLAN.

10. 11.

12. 13.


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14. In the Instance Properties dialog box: ■ Notice the titleblock properties. ■ Click OK. 15. To update the titleblock labels, in the view window: ■ Click Unnamed and enter 1st Floor Power Plan. Press ENTER. ■ Click E302 and enter E4.01. Press ENTER.

2. 3.

4. 5.

16. In the view window, enter ZF to zoom to fit. 17. In the view window: ■ Drag Level 1 Power Plan to the titleblock sheet. ■ Click to place Level 1 Power Plan on the titleblock sheet. ■ Click to select the titleblock.

6. 7. 8.

Edit the Titleblock Family 1.

202

Click Modify Title Blocks tab > Family panel > Edit Family to edit the titleblock.

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In the Revit dialog box, click Yes to open the titleblock for editing. In the view window: ■ Zoom in to the upper-right corner of the titleblock. ■ Double-click the first consultant address block. ■ Enter the address as shown. Tip: Use the Drag dot at the right side of the text block to resize it, as required.

Select and delete the remaining consultant address text blocks. Click Create tab > Family Editor panel > Load into Project to reload the updated titleblock in the project. Note: If you have opened multiple projects in the software, the Load into Projects dialog box is displayed. Select the current project and click OK. In the Family Already Exists dialog box, click Overwrite the Existing Version. The titleblock updates on every sheet. Open all the other sheets to verify the changes. Close all files without saving changes.

Lesson: Working with Sheets This lesson describes how to create and modify sheets and how to specify print options for them. You begin the lesson by learning about sheets and the process of previewing and printing sheets and views. Next, you learn some recommended practices for working with sheets. The lesson concludes with an exercise on creating, modifying, and specifying print options for sheets. Sheets are the basis for construction document sets. A sheet enables you to place different views side by side on a page with titleblock information about your organization and the project. You can print sheets to paper or electronic files to deliver document sets to clients, collaborators, or government organizations.

Sheet with views


Describe sheets. Identify the steps in the process of previewing and printing sheets and views. State the recommended practices for working with sheets. Create and modify sheets and specify print options for them.

Lesson: Working with Sheets

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About Sheets Revit enables you to create sheets to hold model views. You place model views on a sheet to create a document set. After placing model views, you can modify the view or edit the model in the viewports on the sheet according to your requirements.

Definition of Sheets Sheets are project views on which you place building model views, such as plan, elevation, section, 3D views, schedules, and legends. The views placed on a sheet are instances of the views in the Project Browser. Therefore, when you modify a view on a sheet, the changes are automatically applied to the original view in the Project Browser.

Sheet views listed under Sheets (All) in the Project Browser

Viewport Properties A viewport is a rectangular boundary around a view placed on a sheet. Each viewport has an identifying title below the rectangular boundary that displays the view name, view scale, and a detail number. After placing a viewport on a sheet, you can align its title by dragging it to an appropriate position. By default, the viewport titles stay aligned with the viewport when the viewport size changes. You can control the display of viewport titles and create viewport types without titles. In addition to moving a viewport title, you can set the viewport type properties of the title, such as horizontal line weight, pattern, and color. You can also modify viewport instance properties to change the appearance of a view on a sheet.

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The following table describes the viewport instance properties that you can modify. Property

Description

Rotation on Sheet

Rotates a view by 90 degrees either in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

View Scale

Specifies the scale or appearance of a view.

Detail Level

Controls the level of detail in the model view.

Detail Number

Controls the number inside the view title bubble.

Model Graphics Style

Specifies the display style of a view to hidden line, wireframe, shading, or shading with edges.

Underlay

Controls the display of an underlay in a plan view.

View Name

Controls the name of the model view in the Project Browser.

Title on Sheet

Controls the name of the viewport that appears on the viewport title bar.

Activating and Deactivating Viewports You can activate a viewport placed on a sheet and work on the building model in that view while the sheet is inactive and visible in the background. Activating a viewport is necessary for modifying a view directly from the sheet. You can activate a viewport by selecting it and using the Activate View option on the Sheet Composition panel of the View tab. You can also activate a view from the viewport shortcut menu. You can activate only one view at a time on a sheet. To deactivate an active view after making the required changes, you can use the Deactivate View option on the Sheet Composition panel of the View tab. You can also deactivate a view from the viewport shortcut menu.

Example of Sheets The following illustrations show various sheets.

Sheet with a lighting plan view

Sheet with a mechanical plan view


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Sheet with a viewport selected

Process of Previewing and Printing Sheets and Views You can print a sheet or a view in the desired format by specifying the print options and view settings. In addition, you can preview a sheet or a view before printing and create a sheet or view list to print multiple sheets or views.

Process: Previewing and Printing Sheets and Views The following illustration shows the process of previewing and printing sheets and views.

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The following steps describe the process of previewing and printing sheets and views. 1. 2.

3. 4.

Open the Print dialog box. To open the Print dialog box, on the application menu, click Print > Print. Select an available printer. Select a standalone or a networked printer and specify the print options, such as paper size, orientation, and print quality. You can also print the sheet to a file by selecting an electronic output format listed in the printer list. Specify the print settings. Specify the print settings, such as zoom and hidden lines, in the Print Setup dialog box. You use these settings to highlight specific aspects of a building model. Preview or print the sheet. Preview the sheet after specifying the print range as the current window or the visible area of the current window. You can also specify a selection of views or sheets to print using the View/ Sheet Set dialog box. Then, print the selected sheet or view. You can also save the print setup to be used later in a project. Note: The Preview option is disabled when you select the Selected Views/Sheets option in the Print dialog box.

Guidelines for Working with Sheets Following the recommended practices, you can work effectively with sheets in a project.

Guidelines ■

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Create and carefully name several copies of views for different design and documentation purposes, for example, Ground Floor HVAC Plan and Ground Floor Electrical Plan. Naming each copy of the view carefully is necessary because you can place a view, other than legends, only once on a sheet set. Moreover, a viewport name on a sheet can be different from the view name in the Project Browser. Creating and meaningfully naming views enables your project team members to easily locate design views both on sheets and in the Project Browser. Create viewport types that do not display the title or extension line or use custom line types. For example, if you place a 3D view or a rendered image on a sheet as an illustration, the view does not typically need a detail number; therefore, you set that viewport type not to show a title symbol. Controlling the title status enables you to quickly build complex pages. Create sheet views without titleblocks by deleting the titleblock after creating a sheet. Sheet views without titleblocks can be used to place illustration views for printing or exporting to image formats. Create sheets using your organization’s project templates and place views on the sheets at an early stage in a project. The sheets and viewports update automatically as a model develops, and you can print sheets at any time. Predefined sheet sets in project files save time and promote design accuracy. Save multipage print setups as part of project templates. These setups can be calibrated to different project stages. For example, when a project is in a design development stage, the concept design setup might only print 3D views. The use of print setups saves time and reduces waste because it ensures that prints match your organization standards.


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Example The following illustration shows a sheet view with an untitled viewport.

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Exercise: Work with Sheets In this exercise, you create a sheet and modify its view properties. Then, you place a plan view and a section view on a sheet and specify print options for selected sheets and views. You are in the documentation phase in your design process during which you want to create a sheet and then place a plan view on it. You will also need to modify the view properties of the sheet to display a plan view and the section views of the building model and specify various print options for the selected sheets and views. You do the following: ■ Create a sheet and modify its view properties. ■ Place section views on a sheet. ■ Specify print options for selected sheets and views.


Completing the Exercise To complete the exercise, follow the steps in this book or in the onscreen exercise. In the onscreen list of chapters and exercises, click Chapter 15: Construction Documentation. Click Exercise: Work with Sheets.

Create a Sheet and Modify its View Properties

1.

2. 3.

Open i_rmep_sheets.rvt or m_rmep_sheets.rvt. The file opens in the Level 2 HVAC Plan view. Note: The illustrations for the metric dataset will be slightly different from those shown here. To add a new sheet, click View tab > Sheet Composition panel > New Sheet. In the Select a Titleblock dialog box: ■ Ensure that E1 30 x 42 Horizontal : E1 30x42 Horizontal (A0 metric) is selected. ■ Click OK. The new sheet is added to the Project Browser and becomes the active view.


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4.

5.

6. 7. 8.

9.

In the Project Browser: ■ Right-click Level 2 HVAC Plan. Click Duplicate View > Duplicate with Detailing to create a copy of the floor plan view. ■ Right-click Copy of Level 2 HVAC Plan. Click Properties to set the properties of the floor plan. To display a crop region around the view, in the Instance Properties dialog box: ■ Under Identity Data, for View Name, enter North Level 2 HVAC Plan in the Value field. ■ Under Extents, ensure that the Crop View, Crop Region Visible, and Annotation Crop check boxes are selected. ■ Click OK. Activate the M101 - Unnamed sheet view. Click View tab > Sheet Composition panel > View. To add a view to the sheet, in the Views dialog box: ■ Select Floor Plan: North Level 2 HVAC Plan from the list of views. ■ Click Add View to Sheet. In the view window: ■ Position the viewport in the center of the sheet. ■ Click to place the viewport.

12. To modify the view properties, in the Instance Properties dialog box: ■ Under Graphics, for View Scale, ensure that 1/4" = 1'-0" (1 : 50) is selected in the Value list. ■ For Visibility/Graphics Overrides, click Edit. 13. In the Visibility/Graphic Overrides dialog box, Annotation Categories tab, clear the Elevations check box to hide the elevation symbols. 14. Click OK to close all dialog boxes. 15. In the view window: ■ Zoom out in the drawing. ■ Move the cursor over the viewport border. ■ Click to select the viewport when it highlights.

16. Drag the Control grips to include only the upper part of the building in the border of the viewport. Drag the left and right Control grips to show the area of interest in the viewport.

Note: You can also place the view by dragging it from the Project Browser to the sheet. 10. Click Modify Viewports tab > Viewport panel > Activate View. By activating the view, you can work on the building model through the sheet. Note: You can also activate the view using the View shortcut menu. 11. Click View tab > Graphics panel > View Properties.

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17. On the View Control Bar, click Hide Crop Region. 18. Right-click in the view window. Click Deactivate View to prevent the view from being accidentally modified.


19. In the view window: ■ Select the viewport. ■ Drag the viewport to the sheet and position it as shown. Note: The dimensions of the viewport may be different depending on how you dragged the Control grips earlier.

21. In the view window: ■ Click the viewport to display the drag dots at the ends of the viewport title. ■ Adjust the length of the viewport title by dragging the right dot, if required.

Place Section Views on a Sheet 1.

2. 3.

20. In the view window: ■ Click a blank area to clear the selection. ■ Click the viewport title below the sheet to select it. ■ Drag the viewport title to the lower left of the viewport, as shown.

4.

Add a new sheet to place section views. The sheet gets added to the Project Browser with the name M102 - Unnamed and becomes the active view. In the Project Browser, right-click M102 Unnamed. Click Rename. In the Sheet Title dialog box: ■ For Number, ensure that M102 is displayed. ■ For Name, enter Sections & Details. ■ Click OK. In the view window: ■ From the Project Browser, drag the Section 4 view onto the sheet. ■ Click to place the Section 4 view in the upper-left corner of the sheet.


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5.

Drag the Callout of Section 4 view from the Project Browser and place it to the right of the Section 4 view.

5. 6.

6. 7. 8.

9.

Click anywhere in the view window except in either viewport to clear the selection. Activate the Level 2 view. Zoom in to the upper-left corner of the building.

Verify that the section head shows the detail number as 1 and sheet number as M102 for the added view.

Specify Print Options for Selected Sheets and Views 1. 2.

3.

4.

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On the application menu, click Print > Print. In the Print dialog box, under Print Range: ■ Ensure that Selected Views/Sheets is selected. ■ Click Select to specify the view and sheets to be printed. In the View/Sheet Set dialog box: ■ Select the 3D View: {3D}, Sheet: M101 Unnamed, and Sheet: M102 - Sections & Details check boxes. ■ Click OK. In the Save Settings dialog box, click No for not saving the settings.

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In the Print dialog box, you can click OK to print the 3D view and the sheets or save them to a file using the Print to File option. Close the file without saving changes.

Chapter Summary Now that you have learned about titleblocks and sheets, you can create sheets with titleblocks to identify and present project-specific information in the building design. In this chapter, you learned to: ■ ■

Add titleblocks to a sheet and update the project information displayed in a titleblock. Create and modify sheets and specify print options for them.

Chapter Summary

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Chapter

16 The Family Editor (Optional) In this chapter, you will learn how to create and modify families, the building blocks of Revit®. Then, you will learn about connectors and their properties. You will also learn about some recommended practices for creating and modifying families.

Chapter Objective After completing this chapter, you will be able to create and modify families.

Chapter Overview

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Lesson: Creating and Modifying Families This lesson describes how to create and modify families. You begin the lesson by learning about families and connectors. Next, you learn the process of creating families and some recommended practices for creating and modifying families. The lesson concludes with an exercise on creating an air terminal family. Families are the basic building blocks of Revit. They include elements and components ranging from diffusers to diesel generators. The appropriate family and its content are essential for creating a design in Revit MEP. With multiple manufacturers creating specific content with usable connectors and parameters, it is now possible to create a complete MEP building information model.

Mechanical floor plan with Mechanical and Fire Protection families


216

Describe families. Identify the types of connectors and system types. Identify the steps in the process of creating families. State the recommended practices for creating and modifying families. Create an air terminal family.

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Chapter 16: The Family Editor (Optional)

About Families Revit MEP provides different methods of geometry creation that you can use when you define families. You can combine these methods to create a family. The geometry forms available are lines, extrusions, sweeps, blends, swept blends, revolves, and regions. You can also add text and tags to families.

VAV Unit - Fan Powered - Series Flow family

Definition of Families A family groups elements with a common set of parameters, identical use, and similar graphical representation. You use the Family Editor to create families. The settings in the Family Editor affect a family in a project based on the family category and subcategory. For Revit MEP, the content in the families requires connectors to be intelligent Revit MEP components. If you create families with components without connectors, you cannot use the families in system creation.

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In Revit, there are three types of families: Loadable, System, and In-place. The following table describes these types. Family

Description

Loadable

These families are created in the Family Editor and can be loaded into a project file.

System

These families cannot be opened in the Family Editor. However, these families have specified parameters that can be manipulated in a project. You can transfer these families between projects. Examples of System families are duct, pipe, and walls.

In-place

These families are created in a project in the context of a custom element with unique geometry that is not intended for reuse.

References Planes Reference planes are used to define relationships among the geometric components within the Family Editor. Reference planes are not displayed when a family is used in a building model, unless a defined relationship between a reference plane and geometry exists, for example, in the centerline of a hot water heater.

Template Properties Family templates are preset groupings of parameters and views that aid in the creation of systemspecific families. After you select a template, Revit MEP starts the Family Editor and opens the commonly used views for that family creation. The template also includes common references that are required to create a family. The common references include reference planes to define the origin and sketching references, common dimensions to help capture design intent, and any solid geometry needed or commonly used to complete the family. The family template files are available in the Imperial Templates (Metric Templates) folder. The following table describes the different types of family templates.

218

Family Template

Description

Wall-based

The wall-based template is used for components inserted into walls. Wall components can include openings so that when you place the component on a wall, it also cuts an opening in the wall. Some examples of wall-based components include doors, windows, and lighting fixtures. Each template includes a wall; the wall is necessary for showing how the component fits in a wall.

Ceiling-based

The ceiling-based template is used for components inserted into ceilings. Ceiling components can include openings so that when you place the component on a ceiling, it also cuts an opening in the ceiling. Examples of ceiling-based families include sprinklers and recessed lighting fixtures.

Floor-based

The floor-based template is used for components inserted into floors. Floor components can include openings so that when you place the component on a floor, it also cuts an opening in the floor. An example of a floor-based family is a heating register.

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Family Template

Description

Roof-based

The roof-based template is used for components inserted into roofs. Roof components can include openings so that when you place the component on a roof, it also cuts an opening in the roof. Examples of roof-based families include soffits and fans.

Non-hosted

The non-hosted template is used for components that are not host dependent. A non-hosted component can appear anywhere in a model and can be dimensioned to other non-hosted or host-based components. Examples of non-hosted families include VAV boxes, columns, and valves.

Face-based

The face-based template is used for creating workplane-based families that can modify their hosts. Families created from the template can make complex cuts in hosts. Instances of these families can be placed on any surface, regardless of its orientation. It is recommended that all families be created using the face-based template for working in a linked environment so that when there is an architectural design change, the plumbing fixtures that are hosted to the wall move with the wall.

Hosting Behavior When creating a family using a template, it is important to consider the type of hosting behavior you want for the family. For example, you may want that a new lighting fixture be hosted on the ceiling. However, there may be cases where you want to use that family in wall mount configuration or as a freely suspended family. You cannot change the hosting of a family after it is created. The hosting setting is predefined based on the template from which the family originated. Plane hosting enables the family to be hosted by walls, floors, or ceilings and provides a high level of flexibility. Plane hosted elements move with their hosting elements through linked models. Non-hosted families are hosted by the level they are inserted in and enable the element to be placed anywhere. Their height is defined relative to their level, but there is no association established with elements, linked models, or otherwise. When using linked files, only face-hosted families can be hosted by the linked file’s geometry.

When using linked files, wall-, ceiling-, floor-, and roof-hosted elements are not used because these elements do not recognize the host from the link.


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Example of Families The following illustrations show various types of families.

Face-based pendant light fixture

Non-hosted metering switchboard

Non-hosted cooling tower

Connectors Connectors are an important part of Revit MEP because they allow data to flow between elements. The discipline assigned to a connector determines the types of systems with which it can interact and how it interacts with other system components.

Types of Connectors There are three basic types of connectors, also known as domains, that can be added to a family. These types are the HVAC, piping, and electrical connectors.

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The following table describes the three types of connectors. Type

Description

HVAC

These connectors are associated with ductwork, duct fittings, and other elements that are part of the air handling systems for a building.

Piping

These connectors are used for piping, pipe fittings, and other elements that are required for transmitting liquids, steam, gases, and other fluids within a building.

Electrical

These connectors are used for any type of electrical connections within a building. Electrical connectors are considered to be logical connectors rather than physical connectors. This is because even though the software does not support elements such as conduit or cable tray, these elements can still be added but not physically connected to the electrical elements.

Selecting the correct connector is critical to the content working correctly. This is because after a selection is made, it cannot be changed. Any connector that is placed must be deleted and re-added to change the domain or the placement method.

Electrical When a component with an electrical connector is selected, a contextual tab for that category of that family displays. This tab contains tools that allow you to create a specific electrical system such as Power, Data, Telephone, Fire Alarm, Nurse Call, and Communications.

Tools for creating different types of electrical systems

Duct When a component with a duct connector is selected, a contextual tab displays tools that allow you to create a specific HVAC system, such as Supply Air, Return Air, and Exhaust Air.

Tools for creating different types of duct systems


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Hydronic When a component with a hydronic pipe connector is selected, a contextual tab displays tools that allow you to create a specific hyrdonic piping system, such as Supply, Return, and Other.

Tools for creating different types of hydronic piping systems

Plumbing When a component with a plumbing pipe connector is selected, a contextual tab displays tools that allow you to create a specific plumbing system, such as Domestic Hot Water, Domestic Cold Water, and Sanitary.

Tools for creating different types of plumbing systems

Fire Protection When a component with a fire protection pipe connector is selected, a contextual tab displays tools that allow you to create a specific fire protection system, such as Fire Protection Wet, Fire Protection Dry, Fire Protection Pre-Action, and Fire Protection Other.

Tools for creating different types of fire protection systems

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Options for Placing Connectors You can place connectors using two options, Place on Face and Place on Work Plane. The following table describes the two options for placing connectors. Option

Description

Place on Face

This option maintains a point at the center of the extrusion. Typically, the Place on Face option is easier to use and is suitable for most cases. Using this option, you specify a plane and use dimensions to constrain the connector to the desired location.

Place on Work Plane

This option allows placement of the connector on a selected plane. This option requires additional parameters and constraints to be used effectively.

Process of Creating Families Creating families is a critical task because after the template has been selected and the geometry created, the basic options in the family are programmed into the family and cannot be changed.

Process: Creating Families The following illustration shows the process of creating families.

The following steps describe the process of creating families. 1. 2.

Open a new family. Open a new family by selecting New > Family from the applications menu. Select a template. By default, Revit opens the Imperial Templates (Metric Templates) folder. Select a template to define the hosting of a component. Templates also define the type of family, such as annotation, model, titleblock, or profile.


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3.

Create reference planes. Create the reference planes using the Reference Plane tool on the Datum panel of the Create tab in the Family Editor. Specifying the reference planes with properly labeled dimensions to create parametric families is the key to creating reusable families. Reference planes are also used as alignment points. Create extrusions. Create extrusions or the geometry of a component that will be part of the family. The options for creating geometry include sweep, sweep blend, revolve, blend, and basic extrusion.

4.

Note: Associate the geometry that is being created with the reference planes so that when the family is flexed, the geometry is updated. Place connectors. Place connectors, keeping in mind the flow of information through the system. Create separate extrusions for duct and piping connectors.

5.

Note: Electrical connectors are not physical connectors with the ability to draw conduit; these conductors can simply be placed on any face of an extrusion.

Guidelines for Creating and Modifying Families Following the recommended practices, you can work effectively with families.

Guidelines ■

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Avoid creating all details in 3D. Adding too much geometry to a family reduces the performance of the Revit project. Utilize the resources at Autodesk® Seek, which is an online collaboration of multiple manufacturers and Autodesk® that hosts free manufacturer-specific content that is approved and authorized by both the manufacturers and Autodesk. The website for Autodesk Seek is www.seek.autodesk.com. It is also possible to search Autodesk Seek from within the Revit session by selecting the Insert tab and entering the search string. Create a keyboard shortcut to automatically open the Load Family dialog box. Alternatively, click Load on the Options Bar for most component types such as Mechanical and Electrical Equipment when the discipline-specific equipment tool is selected in the Model panel of the Home tab. Creating a shortcut to load families increases the speed at which they can be placed, modified, and scheduled. Duplicate and modify a similar existing family to suit the custom design requirements instead of creating a new family using a template. This saves you time and effort on a project. Lock all extrusion ends to any surface that they must move with. Test this by varying the surface position or host dimensions. Locking extrusion ends ensures that when a family is flexed, the extrusions automatically flex with the reference planes. This helps to create parametric geometry that can be manipulated and reused. Dimension the depth of extrusion for all extrusions that must maintain constant depth or where depth is to be parametrically controlled. This enables you to change the appearance of parametric geometry without editing the family in the Family Editor. The appearance is updated immediately in the project.

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Example The following illustration shows a typical lavatory.


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Exercise: Create an Air Terminal Family In this exercise, you create an air terminal family by creating reference planes and parametric geometry. You need an air terminal that has specific design criteria associated with it so that it is possible to forward the mechanical design. You will need to create parametric geometry and add a connector to the air terminal. You do the following: ■ Create reference planes and add dimensions. ■ Create a blend and add a connector.


Completing the Exercise To complete the exercise, follow the steps in this book or in the onscreen exercise. In the onscreen list of chapters and exercises, click Chapter 16: The Family Editor. Click Exercise: Create an Air Terminal Family.

2.

3. 4.

Create Reference Planes and Add Dimensions 5. 1.

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On the application menu, click New > Family. Note: This exercise uses a common dataset file. Imperial units are used in the model to teach the concepts of the lesson. These units do not affect this exercise being run using the metric version of the software. The exercise illustrations may vary slightly from those shown here.

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6.


In the New Family - Select Template File dialog box: ■ Navigate to the folder where you saved the exercise dataset. ■ Select c_rmep_air_terminal_template.rft. ■ Click Open. Enter WT to tile the windows. To begin drafting reference planes, maximize the Floor Plan: Ref. Level view window. Zoom to fit the view. Click Create tab > Datum panel > Reference Plane.

7.

In the view window, on either side of the vertical centerline, draw reference planes as shown. The exact location is not critical.

13. In the view window: ■ Click to select the vertical centerline. ■ Click one of the outer planes. ■ Move the dimension string up and click to place it.

8. 9.

Exit the Reference Plane tool. To keep the reference planes equidistant, you need to create an equal dimension. You can then use this dimension to control the geometry. To do this, click Detail tab > Dimension panel > Aligned. 10. In the view window: ■ Click the three vertical reference planes in succession. ■ Click to place the dimension string above the planes. Notice that an EQ symbol with a slash appears on the dimension string. ■ Click the EQ symbol to make the planes equidistant.

11. Exit the Aligned dimension tool. 12. To add a dimension to control the two outer planes, activate the Aligned dimension tool.

14. Exit the Aligned dimension tool. 15. In the view window, select the dimension you just placed. 16. To map this dimension, on the Options Bar, select Half Width from the Label list.

17. Click anywhere in the view window to clear the selection. 18. You have set up two of the outer reference planes for the air terminal. Next, you need to create the inner reference planes for the connector segment of the air terminal. Select the right reference plane.


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19. Click Modify Reference Planes tab > Modify panel > Copy. 20. Create a copy of the reference plane between the centerline and the right reference plane. The exact placement is not critical.

22. Add dimensions to the two inner reference planes and the centerline and make the dimensions equidistant.

23. Add dimensions to the inner reference plane on the left and the centerline and place the dimension above the other dimension strings.

21. Create a copy of the left reference plane between the centerline and the left reference plane.

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24. Label the dimension that you just created Half Connector.

3.

In the view window, draw a rectangular outline from the upper-left corner to the lower-right corner created by the intersection of the reference planes.

4.

To associate the lines with the reference planes, click all open padlocks.

5. 6.

On the Mode panel, click Edit Top. Activate the Rectangle tool.

25. Similar to the vertical reference planes and dimensions, create horizontal reference planes and dimensions as shown.

Note: You can change the view scale so that you can view the reference planes easily.

Create a Blend and Add a Connector 1. 2.

Click Create tab > Forms panel > Solid dropdown > Blend. Click Create Blend Base Boundary > Draw panel > Rectangle.


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7.

In the view window, draw a rectangle on the inner square as shown. This will be the top extrusion of the air terminal connector.

10. To control the height of the air terminal, in the Instance Properties dialog box, under Constraints, for Second End, click the gray button next to 1' 0" in the Value column.

11. In the Associate Family Parameter dialog box: ■ Under Existing Family Parameters of Compatible Type, select Height.

8.

Lock all four padlocks to associate these lines to the reference planes. ■ Click OK. 12. Click OK to close the Instance Properties dialog box. 13. On the Blend panel, click Finish Blend. 14. Open the default 3D view.

15. Click Create tab > Connectors panel > Duct Connector. 16. On the Options Bar, verify that Supply Air is selected in the list. 9.

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On the Element panel, click Blend Properties.

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17. In the view window, click the top face of the air terminal to place the connector on the top of the terminal. Tip: Use the TAB key to locate the top face of the air terminal.

18. Exit the Duct Connector tool. 19. Select the connector you just placed. 20. Open the Instance Properties dialog box to adjust the settings in the connector so that it connects to the system properly. 21. In the Instance Properties dialog box, under Mechanical: ■ For Flow Configuration, select Preset from the Value list. ■ For Flow Direction, ensure that In is selected in the Value list. ■ For Loss Method, select Specific Loss from the Value list. 22. In the Instance Properties dialog box, under Mechanical - Airflow: ■ Map Pressure Drop to the Static Pressure parameter. ■ Map Flow to the Flow parameter. Tip: Click the gray button next to the Value column to map the parameters.

23. In the Instance Properties dialog box, under Dimensions: ■ Map Height and Width to the Connector parameter.

Click OK. 24. Clear the selection. You can now load the air terminal family into a project and use it as required. ■



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Chapter Summary Now that you have learned to create and modify families using the Family Editor, you can develop appropriate families and their content for creating designs in Revit MEP. In this chapter, you learned to create and modify families.

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Appendix

A Additional Resources A variety of resources are available to help you get the most from your Autodesk® software. Whether you prefer instructor-led, self-paced, or online training, Autodesk has you covered. For additional information, please refer to the disc that accompanies this training guide. ■ Learning Tools from Autodesk ■ Autodesk Certification ■ Autodesk Authorized Training Centers (ATC®) ■ Autodesk Subscription ■ Autodesk Communities

Learning Tools from Autodesk Use your Autodesk software to its full potential. Whether you are a novice or an advanced user, Autodesk offers a robust portfolio of learning tools to help you perform ahead of the curve. ■ Get hands-on experience with job-related exercises based on industry scenarios from Autodesk Official Training Guides, e-books, self-paced learning, and training videos. ■ All materials are developed by Autodesk subject matter experts. ■ Get exactly the training you need with learning tools designed to fit a wide range of skill levels and subject matter—from basic essentials to specialized, in-depth training on the capabilities of the latest Autodesk products. ■ Access the most comprehensive set of Autodesk learning tools available anywhere: from your authorized partner, online, or at your local bookstore. ■ To find out more, visit http://www.autodesk.com/learningtools.

Autodesk Certification Demonstrate your experience with Autodesk software. Autodesk certifications are a reliable validation of your skills and knowledge. Demonstrate your software skills to prospective employers, accelerate your professional development, and enhance your reputation in your field.

Appendix: Additional Resources

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Certification Benefits ■ ■ ■ ■

Rapid diagnostic feedback to assess your strengths and identify areas for improvement. An electronic certificate with a unique serial number. The right to use an official Autodesk Certification logo. The option to display your certification status in the Autodesk Certified Professionals database.

For more information: Visit www.autodesk.com/certification to learn more and to take the next steps to get certified.

Autodesk Authorized Training Centers Enhance your productivity and learn how to realize your ideas faster with Autodesk software. Get trained at an Autodesk Authorized Training Center (ATC) with hands-on, instructor-led classes to help you get the most from your Autodesk products. Autodesk has a global network of Authorized Training Centers that are carefully selected and monitored to ensure you receive high-quality, resultsoriented learning. ATCs provide the best way for beginners and experts alike to get up to speed. The training helps you get the greatest return on your investment, faster, by building your knowledge in the areas you need the most. Many organizations provide training on our software, but only the educational institutions and private training providers recognized as ATC sites have met Autodesk's rigorous standards of excellence.

Find an Authorized Training Center With over 2,000 ATCs in more than 90 countries around the world, there is probably one close to you. Visit the ATC locator at www.autodesk.com/atc to find an Autodesk Authorized Training Center near you. Look for ATC courses offered at www.autodesk.com/atcevents. Many ATCs also offer end-user Certification testing. Locate a testing center near you at www.autodesk.starttest.com.

Autodesk Subscription Autodesk® Subscription is a maintenance and support program that helps you minimize costs, increase productivity, and make the most of your Autodesk software investment. For an attractive annual fee, you receive any upgrades released during your Subscription term, as well as early access to product enhancements. Subscription also gives you flexible license terms, so you can run both current and previous versions (under certain conditions) and use the software on both home and office computers. In addition, Subscription gives you access to a variety of tools and information that save time and increase productivity, including web support direct from Autodesk, self-paced learning, and online license management. ■ Autodesk Subscription offers a way to make software costs predictable. Whether a customer opts for a one-year subscription or a multiyear contract, the costs are known for the entire term of the contract. ■ A complete library of interactive learning tools and high-quality, self-paced lessons help users increase their productivity and master new skills. These short lessons are available on demand and complement more in-depth training provided through Autodesk Authorized Training Centers. ■ Autodesk Subscription makes managing software licenses easier. Customers have added flexibility to allow their employees to use their Subscription software—in the office or at home. Better yet, designers are entitled to run previous versions of the software concurrently with the latest release under certain conditions.

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Get what you need to stay productive. With web support, Autodesk support technicians provide answers to your installation, configuration, and troubleshooting questions. Web and email communications deliver support straight to your desktop. For more information, visit www.autodesk.com/subscription.

Autodesk User Communities Autodesk customers can take advantage of free Autodesk software, self-paced tutorials, worldwide discussion groups and forums, job postings, and more. Become a member of an Autodesk Community today!

Free products are subject to the terms and conditions of the end-user license agreement that accompanies download of the software.

Feedback Autodesk understands the importance of offering you the best learning experience possible. If you have comments, suggestions, or general inquiries about Autodesk Learning, please contact us at [email protected]. As a result of the feedback we receive from you, we hope to validate and append to our current research on how to create a better learning experience for our customers.

Useful Links Learning Tools www.autodesk.com/learningtools Certification www.autodesk.com/certification Find an Authorized Training Center www.autodesk.com/atc Find an Authorized Training Center Course www.autodesk.com/atcevents Autodesk Store www.store.autodesk.com

Communities www.autodesk.com/community Student Community www.students.autodesk.com Blogs www.autodesk.com/blogs Discussion Groups www.discussion.autodesk.com

Appendix: Additional Resources

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Appendix

Autodesk Revit MEP Official Training Guide Essentials - Volume 2

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