autodesk® revit® mep plumbing: mystery...

Autodesk® Revit® MEP Plumbing: Mystery Solved

Plamen Hristov – Capital Engineering Consultants, Inc

The plumbing portion of Revit MEP has the undeserved reputation of “not ready yet." We will dispel that notion in this hands-on lab where you will have the opportunity to do plumbing design yourself. During this class, we are going to discuss what kinds of challenges we face when using Revit MEP for plumbing and find feasible solutions. We will examine various workflows for doing plumbing design and explain how to select the right one for the right job. We will discuss the necessary detail level, the appropriate workflow between the architect and the plumbing designer, and the documentation that we need to produce using old methods as well as new functionality of Revit MEP 2012

Learning Objectives At the end of this class, you will be able to:

• Explain best practices for documenting the plumbing design

• Describe challenges to designing plumbing in a 3D application, such as Revit MEP

• Explain best practices for drawing pipes with and without slope

• Describe Revit MEP implementation approaches for the plumbing discipline

About the Speaker

Plamen Hristov Capital Engineering Consulting, Inc

In the past several years, Plamen has been developing Autodesk® Revit® implementation strategies, techniques, and procedures for architectural and MEP companies. He has been actively establishing and updating company standards and best practices, assisting project teams with pilot projects, implementations, on-site project consulting, and custom content creation and training. Currently Plamen works as the Virtual Design Manager for Capital Engineering Consultants, Inc. with multiple offices in California. Plamen is also an Autodesk Revit implementation certified expert. [email protected]


Plamen Hristov - Capital Engineering Consultants, I nc

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Ground Rules The class is designed for the Plumbing designers of all levels. However, basic Revit skills are required for navigation and to follow along through the exercises. In this class we are going to use as much content out of the box as possible. The few pieces that are not coming with Revit will be available for download along with the handout and the presentation. Considering the limited time we have, we will be starting with files that have everything we need loaded and ready to be used. In addition if someone falls behind they can start from the next exercise using a file that has everything created up to that point. The focus of the class will be preparing the necessary settings, views, plumbing layouts and documentation.

Revit MEP Settings

Due to the limited time we won’t be able to go over all settings that have been adjusted in the files for the exercises. Some of them are Lineweights, Object Styles, Revit MEP settings, Project Units, Project Browser Organization, Project Parameters, etc. All settings are stored in the sample files; if you find them useful you can use the Transfer Project Standards command to update your own project or template. To do this, open your own project/template and the provided file from this class. While in your own file go to the Manage tab and click on Transfer Project Standards and select the desired settings you wish to transfer.

Template Settings

• Scope Boxes

• View Settings • Pipe Types

• Pipe Systems

Design

• Draw the mains

• Copy/Monitor plumbing fixtures • Drawing the branches from the mains to the plumbing fixtures

• Routing smaller pipes for hot and cold water



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Draw the mains

Open “01_Draw the Mains.rvt”

Open view titled “01 – Plumbing – Work”

1. Drawing the main pipe runs

a. From the “Home” tab select the Pipe command confirm that Plumbing Wye is selected from the Type Selector; from the “Property Palette” confirm that “Sanitary” is selected for “System Type” . From the “Options” bar:

i. Diameter = 4” ii. Offset = -2’ 0” iii. Slope Down iv. Slope at = ¼ / 12



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b. In the upper left corner of the Men’s restroom click in front of the water closet: i. Draw 4’ down ii. Draw 17’ to the right iii. Draw 26’ down iv. Draw 20’ to the right . v. Click Escape .

Copy/Monitor all plumbing fixtures

Open “02_CopyMonitor Plumbing Fixtures.rvt”

1. Copy/Monitor – Click on the “Collaborate” tab select the “Copy/Monitor” tool and from the pull down click on “Select Link” and pick an object from the architectural background . Note: The Ribbon should have changed to green tab Copy/Monitor. If nothing happened repat the steps above and make sure to select a line from the architectural background.

2. Copying the levels a. Click on the “Options” button and under the Levels tab verify that “Reuse

matching Levels” is set to “Reuse if within offset” , click OK b. From the Project Browser open the Levels view under

xx Coordination>Manage>Elevations. c. If needed zoom in closer to the levels on the right hand side of the building. Click

on the Copy tool from the Ribbon, from the architectural background pick Level 1 and Level 2 to copy/monitor them. Note: you won’t be able to Copy/Monitor the plumbing fixtures from the architectural background if levels are not copy/monitored.

3. Copying the plumbing fixtures a. Click on “Coordination Settings” from the Ribbon.

i. Select “Plumbing Fixtures” from the list ii. Select “Allow batch copy” under “Copy Behavior” iii. Select “Specify type mapping” under “Mapping behavior” iv. Click on the “+” in front of “Plumbing Fixtures” to expand it and select

“Type Mapping”. v. Confirm that all architectural plumbing fixtures on the left are mapped to

plumbing fixtures starting with “CECI – …“ on the right.

vi. Select “Save & Close” (see picture below)



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Coordination Settings

b. From the Ribbon select Batch Copy and select the “Copy the fixtures” from

the Fixtures Found message (see picture below), and click Finish from the Ribbon.



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4. Orienting the plumbing fixtures correctly a. Go to the view “01 – Plumbing Fixtures – Work”. b. Select all plumbing fixtures and press the Spacebar 3 times and Escape .

Note: Now all plumbing fixtures are properly oriented. 5. Offsetting the plumbing fixtures

a. Window the chase in the middle to select all plumbing fixtures. From the Ribbon:

i. Select “Filter” and uncheck all items except “Plumbing Fixtures” ii. Click OK .

b. Select all plumbing fixtures along the exterior wal ls from the Property Palette enter 4” for Waste Stack Offset.

c. Holding down CTRL key select the two ADA plumbing f ixtures and change their type to [CECI – Water Closets and Urinals Connection: WC - 17”].

Connecting the plumbing fixtures with the main runs – Part I

Open “03_Connecting Plumbing Fixtures.rvt”



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1. Aligning the main pipe runs a. From the Modify tab:

i. Select the “Align” command. Hover the cursor over o ne of the Copy/Monitored fixtures in the big chase when the vertical line is displayed, select it. Next pick the pipe to align t he two.

b. While still in the “Align” command, align the vertical pipe run in the upper left corner with the ADA plumbing fixture, and click escape as needed to exit the “Align” command.

2. Connecting the plumbing fixtures from the Men’s restroom to the main a. Select the vertical pipe near the ADA fixture; select the blue grip at the end of

the pipe to extend it towards the fixture. When near the plumbing fixture type SE (Snap Endpoint), to snap to the plumbing fixture . NOTE: In RMEP 2012 when approaching a plumbing fixture with a pipe command and trying to connect to it, the snap doesn’t display. However, coming out from the plumbing fixture work fine. This appears to be a “bug” in RMEP 2012.

b. From the Home tab select the Pipe tool: i. From the “Options” bar change the “Diameter” to 4” ii. Enable Slope Up at ¼ / 12 iii. Select Plumbing Wye for pipe Type iv. Select “Sanitary” for “System Type”. v. Move the mouse along the horizontal pipe until the plumbing fixture

in the wall highlights and click to connect to the pipe. vi. Press Spacebar to pick up the elevation of the pipe you are connecting

to. vii. Move the cursor towards the plumbing fixture and t ype SE (Snap

Endpoint) to connect to the plumbing fixture viii. From the dialog box “Select Connector” pick the Waste connector ix. Click OK.

c. Repeat Step 2b for the other 3 fixtures



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3. Connecting the plumbing fixtures on the exterior wall in the Women’s restroom a. Start the Pipe command using the same settings from the previous exercise.

While in the Pipe command: i. Click on the horizontal pipe, passed the sinks in the Women’s

restroom. (See image below)

ii. Go upwards until the last plumbing fixture gets hig hlighted indicating that the pipe is aligned with it.

iii. Go to the right, and type SE to snap and connect to the plumbing fixture.

b. Repeat 2b for the rest of the fixtures on that w all.

Connecting the plumbing fixtures with the main runs – Part II

Open “04_Connecting the Main Chase.rvt”



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1. Checking off “Use Annotation Scale” for the fittings a. Select everything in the drafting area and using the Filter tool leave only

plumbing fixtures selected b. From the “Property Palette” uncheck “Use Annotation Scale”

Note: This would resolve a couple issues. First some of the elbows are looking disconnected from the pipes. The fix for this issue in 2011 was to reload the elbow family into the project. Unfortunately that doesn’t seem to work for 2012.

And second the Wye fittings look really small

2. Converting an elbow to wye fitting a. Select the Pipe running through the chase and ch ange its Type to

“Plumbing – Tee” b. Zoom in closer to the upper portion of the chase :

i. Select the elbow ii. Click on the upper “+” to convert it to a Wye fitting iii. Start Pipe command using “Plumbing – Tee” for type iv. Connect to the Wye fitting v. Move the cursor upwards to connect the last fixture

3. Preparing a view to draw in elevation a. From the “View” tab :

i. Select the “Elevation” tool



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ii. Place the Elevation Symbol behind the main chase iii. Check the right checkbox and uncheck the left checkbox iv. Select the filled part of the section to adjust its extents

b. From the “View Control” bar: i. Change the Detail Level to Fine

c. Select the architectural background and type “HH” to hide it temporarily. 4. Connecting plumbing fixtures from section view

a. Connecting the second plumbing fixture from left to right: i. Select the first un-connected plumbing fixture ii. Right click over the bottom connector and select “Draw Pipe” iii. From the “Type Selector”, select “Plumbing – Tee” for “Pipe Type” iv. Connect to main pipe

b. Making room for the necessary fittings for the third fixture i. While still in the Pipe command, try to connect the third fixture. You

should be getting an error telling you that there isn’t enough room. ii. Select the Wye fitting and using the left arrow key move it to the left

until you get an error message. Once you get the error message select cancel

iii. Now you should be able to connect the third fixture c. Connecting the rest of the fixtures in the main chase

i. Using the “Pipe” command , connect the rest of the fixtures. ii. Tip: If you want to match the connector size of fixture simply press

the space bar. iii. The pipe for the last urinal will need to be drawn at a 45 degree angle.

Refer to image below:



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Connecting the plumbing fixtures with the main runs – Part II

Open “05_Connecting the Sinks to the Main.rvt”



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1. Connecting the sinks to the Main a. Draw the branch line

i. Start “Pipe Placeholder” command ii. Directly behind the middle sink, click on top of the Main pi pe iii. Press spacebar (to pick up the elevation of the Main pipe) iv. Change the “Pipe Size” to 1 1/2” v. Draw 3’ line , going through the fixture

b. Connecting the sinks with pipes

i. Place another elevation behind the sinks in the Wom en’s restroom, and open it

ii. Select the building and type “HH” to hide it iii. Start the “Pipe Placeholder” command iv. Turn off slopping v. Connect the fixtures like the picture above .

c. Connecting the branch line with the vertical drop from the sinks



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i. Open the “{3D} View” ii. From the “Modify” tab using the “Trim/Extend to Corner” command

(shortcut TR) iii. Pick the branch line and the vertical line to connect them

Self practice – Connecting the sinks in the Men’s restroom

Open “06_Self Practice_Connecting the Sink in the Men’s Restroom.rvt”



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1. You can manually draw the pipe lines or

2. You can delete the already Copy/Monitored fixtures and “Copy” the fixtures along with all pipes from the Women’s restroom. Make sure to measure what the angle of rotation is, and then Monitor and Pin the copied fixtures.

Placing Floor Drains and Cleanouts

Open “07_Floor Drains and Cleanouts.rvt”

1. Placing Floor Drains a. Drawing a branch line for a drain

i. Zoom in to the Women’s restroom ii. Start “Pipe Placeholder” command iii. Click about 5’ away from the main Wye fitting to dr aw the branch for

the floor drain iv. Draw a line 5’ long , at a 45 degree (Zoom Out If needed to see the

angle value) and press Escape b. Placing a Floor Drain and connecting it with the branch line

i. Start the “Plumbing Fixture” command and select the 6” Strainer – 2” Drain type.

ii. Place it nearby the pipe line (not on top of it!) and press Escape iii. Select the Floor Drain



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iv. Click on its connector and drag it while you see bl ue dashed line indicating that it is aligned with the pipe line

v. Select the pipe line vi. Click on the end blue grip and extend it to the floor drain . Note:

Remember to use SE in order to connect to the drain! 2. Adding Cleanout

a. In the ADA restroom , select the Wye fitting i. Click on the “+” towards the north wall, to convert it to a Wye fitting. ii. Select the Wye fitting and from the “Property Palette” uncheck “Use

Annotation Scale” checkbox iii. While it is still selected right click on the open connector and select

“Draw Pipe” iv. Go a few inches towards the wall and click on the left button on the

mouse v. While still in the “Pipe” command, from the Options bar, enter 0’ for

“Offset” and click “Apply” twice



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Placing Floor Drains and Cleanouts

Open “08_Self Practice_Floor Drains and Cleanouts_Part II.rvt”

1. Place Cleanouts and Floor Drains in the Men’s restroom



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Drawing Vent Pipes

Open “09_Vent.rvt”

1. Drawing Vent Pipes a. In the Women’s restroom select the ADA plumbing fixture we placed. Ours

not the architectural ! i. Right click over the connector and select “Draw Pipe” ii. From the “Property Palette”, select “Standard” for pipe type iii. From the “Options” bar, set the “Offset” to 2’ iv. Press “Slope Off”, from the Ribbon v. Move the cursor all the way down to the last fixture vi. Type SE (Snap Endpoint) and click on it to connect

b. Using “Connect Into” i. From 3D view , select one of plumbing fixtures under the pipe we j ust

drew ii. Select “Connect Into” and pick the pipe above

iii. Repeat for all plumbing fixtures



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c. Adding Vent line to a floor drain

i. Start “Pipe” command ii. From the “Property Palette” select “Standard” iii. From the “Options” bar, set “Diameter” to 2” and “Offset” to -2’ 0” iv. From the Ribbon verify that “Slope Off” is highlighted v. Click on top of the pipe line connected to the drain vi. Go up just passed the plumbing fixture and then to the right to

connect to the main vent pipe d. Drawing a Vent riser

i. From Plan view start “Pipe” command



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ii. Click on top of the Vent pipe next to the ADA fixture iii. Press spacebar iv. From the “Options” bar set the “Offset” to 15’ v. Press Apply twice

Self Practice – Drawing the rest of the Vent

Open “10_Self Practice_Vent_Part II.rvt”

1. Complete the rest of the Vent piping



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Creating the Riser Diagrams

Open “11_Riser Diagrams.rvt”

1. Setting up a Rising Diagram view a. Rename 3D Plumbing to Riser Diagram b. From the “View Control Bar” click on the third icon from the right (allows

you to lock the view orientation) c. And pick “Save Orientation and Lock View”

2. Placing annotation in 3D view a. Select one of the architectural background and type “HH” to hide it

temporarily. You can tag them, but you can’t control what the tag will say. We will be tagging our own fixtures.

b. Under “Annotate” tab, start “Tag by Category” command c. Tag the drains, lavatories, water closets, urinals, and cleanouts. Note: to

speed things up look for those that already have th e necessary data entered. All you need to do is place the tag

d. While in “Tag by Category” command i. From the “Options” bar , select “Tags…” ii. In the dialog box “Loaded Tags” scroll down to “Pipes/Pipe

Placeholders”.



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iii. Click on the CECI – Pipe Size_Comments Tag” and cha nge it to “CECI – Pipe Size_System_Comments Tag

iv. Tag a few pipes 3. Annotate the “01 – Enlarged Plumbing – plot”

Assembling the Sheets

Open “12_Sheets.rvt”

1. Creating sheets a. From the “Project Browser” right click over “Sheets” and pick “New Sheet” b. Drag and Drop “01 – Overall Plumbing – Plot” onto the created sheet c. Repeat “a” and “b” for all other views



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Thank you all for joining me for this class.

If you have any questions, I am always glad to help.

You can reach me at:

Plamen Hristov

[email protected]

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