defining the autodesk revit® mep workflow process

Defining the Autodesk Revit® MEP Workflow Process

Glen Walson – Interface Engineering

MP1516 A lot of time and money is devoted to learning how to operate Autodesk Revit MEP software, but

there are very few classes on how to successfully project manage a Revit MEP project. Revit MEP software requires all team members to be coordinated with their designs and to communicate better as a team. This class covers the necessary processes to help start a Revit MEP project off on the right foot and discusses how to streamline the workflow process. We also discuss the importance of internal coordination meetings to fully review the MEP design.

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

• Describe the importance of Revit training for all team members

• List and describe key components of a Revit MEP kick-off meeting

• Define the Revit MEP model detail level at specific design phases of a project

• Create and use Revit working views to enhance coordination

About the Speaker

Based out of San Francisco, Glen worked in the consulting engineering field as a mechanical

drafter/designer for 13 years before he joined Autodesk reseller, Ideate Inc. in 2006. At Ideate, Glen

provided training and support primarily for Autodesk® Revit® MEP and AutoCAD® MEP. In 2009, Glen

joined Interface Engineering as their BIM Manager where he is tasked with creating Revit standards, in-

house training, and providing technical support for all offices. Glen is a registered mechanical engineer in

California and a LEED® Accredited Professional.

[email protected]


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Introduction

Interface purchased Revit MEP in 2006, and used the software on a few small projects in an

approximate two year period. In the spring of 2009, I was hired as the BIM Manager for

Interface Engineering. During the Revit MEP implementation period, my main focus was for the

company was to produce a full set of construction documents using Revit MEP. This meant a

great deal of staff training, tremendous content creation, and many workarounds. As a company

we were able to solve this first immediate need, but as time went by I could see that adopting

software of this type was much more than just learning the picks and clicks of the program.

Understanding and managing a Revit MEP project was going to demand a different workflow

than our traditional CAD projects. With Revit, more time was spent to produce the construction

documentation, yet the design was not any more coordinated than a traditional 2D CAD project.

Interface was modeling all elements at first and producing plumbing designs was a huge time

taker, yet these highly detailed plumbing layouts were never utilized by the contractors. We

started to look at our contract proposal verbiage for Revit projects and it stated that the MEP

consultants will use Revit MEP and nothing more. There was no stated requirement for any

model detail level of our MEP work. We never had BIM kick-off meetings or discussed any

modeling issues up front.

Revit is a great tool for communication. Visually, it gives designers/engineers the ability to see

the building in ways they never could before. This allows them to make better design decisions

earlier in the design process, but communication does not happen by itself. People need to

reach out and pick up a phone or conduct coordination meetings. I feel that any project that

increases the level of communication will be better in the end.


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Understanding your companies Revit training needs

When looking at implanting a Revit training program in your company use the Top-to-Bottom

approach. Principals need to communicate Revit/BIM ideas and goals with owners and

consultants. Project Managers need to communicate those same project requirements to the

design staff and design staff need to communicate designs to modelers. Each position in a

company can have a different level of Revit knowledge that they need to understand to best do

their job.

Revit speak

Revit MEP definitely has its own language and terminology, and it's different from AutoCAD.

There are pipe/duct types, offsets, fittings, element categories, links, central files, local files,

worksets, tags, electrical devices, etc. I found that when designers/engineers were creating

markups for modelers, there wasn’t enough information conveyed to the modeler, on the

markup or verbally, to efficiently do the work in Revit MEP. This was largely because the

designer/engineer had no training in Revit MEP and didn’t understand the information needed to

help the modeler complete their task.

Level of Revit training/knowledge per specific job title

It’s a good idea to define the level of Revit knowledge for each job title in your company. Below

is an example of the base Revit knowledge per job title.

Revit value proposition (Principals, Marketing staff)

• How Revit helps your company collaborate better with design teams

• Understand how Revit makes engineering tasks more efficient

• Understand how a BIM workflow can save owners time and money

Engineer level Revit knowledge (Principal, Senior MEP Engineers)

• Understand what it takes to complete a set of construction documents using Revit

• Opening a project that has worksharing enabled (Creating a New Local file)

• Navigating the different floor/Ceiling/Elevation/Sheet views

• Creating building section views


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• Using measuring tools to find distances and areas

• Printing/Plotting

• Closing Revit project without saving work.

General Revit Platform Knowledge (this is the base knowledge for all the following levels

below)

• Creating text notes and using symbols and generic annotations

• Know how to work in a central file environment

• Know how to use view templates and visibility graphics settings to control objects in views

• Load details and schedules into a project from the IEI standards file

• Create a single-line and riser diagrams using details lines and generic annotations symbols.

• Understand the use of schedules and how to manipulate schedules.

• Using Revit tags

Electrical Designer Revit capabilities

• All tasks listed from the Engineer level Revit Knowledge

• Inserting electrical panels and power devices

• Using Revit wire tools

• Locating lighting fixtures in ceiling plan views

• Create cable tray and conduit layouts

• Manipulating type properties to adjust tagging values and create new equipment sizes on electrical families.

Specialty Services Designer Revit capabilities (Technology Designer, Lighting Designer)

• All tasks listed from the Engineer level Revit knowledge.

• Placing all specialty category device families.

• Using Revit wire tools

• Locating lighting fixtures in ceiling plan views

• Create cable tray and conduit layouts

• Creating Tele/Comm room layouts

• Manipulating type properties to adjust tagging values and create new equipment sizes in families.

Mechanical Designer Revit capabilities


• Use pipe/pipe placeholder tools to routes 3D piping mains/risers

• Use duct/duct placeholder tools to route 3D ductwork mains

• Placing mechanical equipment


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• Place diffusers in a ceiling plan view (coordinating with lighting fixtures)

• Using Revit tagging to annotate objects (Diffuser tags, duct size tags, equipment tags, etc.)

• Create HVAC Zone layouts

Plumbing Designer Revit capabilities


• Use pipe/pipe placeholder tools to routes 3D plumbing mains/risers

• Understand how to route sloped piping

• Placing plumbing equipment and plumbing fixtures (roof drains, floor drains, etc.)

• Understand how to utilize the Excel to Revit tool for transferring plumbing fixture information from Excel into Revit plumbing fixture annotation family.

• Using Revit tagging to annotate objects

Fire Protection Designer Revit capabilities


• Placing mechanical equipment (pumps, valves, etc.)

• Use piping tools to create fire protection mains/risers

• Placing sprinkler heads in model.

Drafter Revit capabilities

• All tasks listed from the above that pertain to your specific disciple you typically work in, including all general Revit platform knowledge.

• Project set-up (included setting up all the sheets, dealing with titleblocks, creating needed views etc.)

o Linking in Architects backgrounds o Creating new views and plot sheets o Manipulating Titleblock families o Defining default worksets o Creating a central file. o Creating 3D, callout and sections views for use on plot sheets. o Utilizing the CTC Excel to Revit link tool for adjusting/creating name of views and plot

sheets

• Updating Architects and structural Revit model backgrounds o Using Clean views add-on tool o Purging Files

• Working with Site plans in dwg format.

• Preparing Revit MEP file for export to consultants.


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Explain Key Components of a Revit MEP Kick-Off Meeting

For new Revit projects there should be a Revit kick-off meeting with the entire project team

(architectural., structural, MEP consultants, etc.) as well as an in-house Revit kick-off meeting.

These meetings will define the action plan for the Revit project.

Establish a BIM Lead

The BIM Lead will be your firm’s main point of contact for all the in-house modelers as well as

the main contact for the Architect's BIM Lead. The BIM Lead will coordinate any changes to the

Revit model that the Architect may need to make. The BIM Lead will only coordinate model

issues, not design issues with the Architect. The BIM lead will be updating the Revit

backgrounds as needed and organizing the standards for the project to maintain consistency on

all discipline sheets (version of Revit used, titleblocks, workset naming, frequency of model

updates, etc.). All questions on the Revit project standards should be answered by the BIM

Lead.

External Revit Kick-Off Meeting

The external Revit kick-off meeting should be attended by the MEP firm’s Project Manager and

BIM Lead for the project as well as the Architect's and Structural's BIM Leads. This meeting will

be the first opportunity for all the BIM Leads to communicate face to face, and it’s important to

develop this relationship early on. Remember, communication is a key to success on Revit

projects.

The external kick-off meeting is really a Revit nuts-and-bolts meeting of how the exchange of

information will occur. The MEP BIM Lead should get a good understanding of how the Architect

has created its Revit models and their specific project setup. This type of understanding of the

Architect's process will help in the overall setup of the MEP central file. Create a Revit project

kick-off meeting addenda covering the main topics of discussion for the meeting. See the next

page for an example of topics to cover.


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Revit Project Kick-Off Meeting Agenda

1. Introductions of team and identify BIM leads

a. Discuss firm's experience with Revit projects in the past

2. Project Overview

a. What will the model be used for?

i. Energy Model

ii. Coordination, cost estimating, etc.

b. Is model given to the contractor?

c. Is the model a deliverable?

3. BIM workflow

a. Will there be a Project Execution Plan?

b. When will MEP consultants receive the first model?

c. Model sharing frequency (every two weeks on Friday?)

i. FTP site address

ii. BIM 360, BIM 360 Glue

d. Ownership of elements

i. Lighting fixtures

ii. Plumbing fixtures

iii. Diffuser locations

iv. Grids/levels

e. Detail level of the model (each phase)

i. See attached Level of detail Matrix

f. Clash Detection Reports(Navisworks, BIM 360 Glue, Revit)

g. Project setup

i. Phasing Y/N?

ii. Design options Y/N?

iii. Shared coordinates

iv. Multiple buildings for one project

v. Multiple submissions for one project

vi. Version of Revit being used? Current service pack/web update?

vii. File/model naming conventions

viii. Sheet numbering guideline?

h. Titleblock sharing

i. Shared parameters used in titleblock?

i. Is structural using Revit?

j. Site plan in Revit or CAD?

4. Items to look out for

a. See Model Sharing Best Practices document

b. Share past experiences/lessons learned


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In-House Revit Kick-Off Meeting

The in-house Revit kick-off meeting is best served if it happens after the external project kick-off

meeting. This way, the MEP central file can be created and the Project Manager and BIM Lead

can convey the information discussed at the external project kick-off meeting to the entire in-

house team. The in-house Revit kick-off meeting should focus on project coordination and less

about the setup of the project. The following are some suggestions that should be discussed at

the internal Revit kick-off meeting.

Establishing starting elevations for preliminary layouts

This is one of the most important discussions that should come out of this meeting. Look at the

Architectural and Structural models and coordinate where each discipline's elements can be

routed. This is going to save a great deal of time for the modelers when they have this

predefined information. Mark up printed sections of the building or create a matrix document

that organizes the different elevations for elements in the project, then distribute to the project

team. It’s best to practice clash avoidance at the very beginning of the project, rather than clash

detection at the end of the project.

Needed Revit content/families

Depending on the project type, there may be a need for specialty families that are outside of the

company’s standard family library. It’s always good to identify this early on in the design

process, so modelers can either find manufacturers' content online or create the needed content

from scratch. Historically, even when I’ve found manufacturers families online, I’ve had to make

some corrections/adjustments to the families so they meet our company standards.

Information created outside of Revit

In some cases, not all work is done in Revit MEP. For example, 2D details, water/airflow riser

diagrams, electrical single-line diagrams, equipment schedules, code compliance schedules or

charts, etc. can be created in AutoCAD. This is a good time to discuss with the team what 2D

work will be created and with what software. Have a good file folder structure in place so all

parties working on the project will understand where to locate AutoCAD content to be linked into

Revit.


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Detail level of the model

The detail level of the model should be defined as a company standard and also discussed with

the Architect. The detail level of the model can also vary depending on the client or if the project

has specific standards already defined (e.g. Federal Government projects).

Define the Revit MEP Model Detail Level for Specific Design Phases of a Project

It's important to define the model level of detail (LOD) for all of the main design phases of a

project. There are some good reasons for doing this. One, it gives the team working on the

project a specific direction and goal to shoot for; and two, it establishes an understanding with

the Architect as to what will be modeled and when. The AIA Document G202 – 2013 has

definitions of a model's LOD. The LOD is broken up into five different levels (100 - 500), each

level building on model completeness from the previous level. The AIA Document G202 – 2013

also defines the authorized uses, cost estimating, scheduling and other uses of the model.

What is the design level for the project phase I’m working in?

Below you can see the table we use for defining the MEP models LOD. We have chosen to

break up the LOD into 3 main project phases SD, 100% DD and 100% CD.

Note: When we know a project will be completed in Revit we include this level of detail section

in the fee proposals. The LOD all depends on the project type, established BIM guildelines and

the specific Architect we will be working with. Establishing the LOD at the beginning of the

project is helpful because it sets the expectation of the model LOD up front and it gives the

Architect and MEP consultants a good starting point for the LOD discussion after the project is

awarded.

Company Fee proposal – Revit level of detail attachment.

The following level of detail descriptions identify the specific content requirements for each

design phase of the project. Each subsequent level of development and phase builds on the

previous level and includes all the characteristics of previous levels. It is important to

understand that BIM modeling by Interface Engineering is not intended to create shop level

drawings. The intent is to maintain diagrammatic drawings with enhanced coordination of MEP

systems.


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Revit Modeled Elements

Level of Detail

Comments

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2D 3D 2D 3D 2D 3D

Mechanical

Large mechanical equipment (AHU’s,

boilers, chillers, cooling towers, etc.) X X X

Small mechanical equipment (VAV

boxes, fan coils, condensing units,

pumps, etc.)

X X

Air diffusers X

Main ductwork X X X

Ductwork to TU’s X X

Ductwork downstream of terminal

units – single line/detail lines X

Ductwork downstream of terminal

units – double line/3D Revit modeled

Duct accessories X

Duct accessories to include: Air

balancing dampers, fire/smoke

dampers, duct smoke detectors,

duct-mounted sensors, and louvers.

Ductwork insulation X X Modeled to code

Hydronic piping system – mains only

(pipe size 2 inches and greater) X X X

Hydronic piping system – branch lines

(pipe size under 2 inches) X X

Pipe valves X

Pipe valves will be modeled when

needed for design intent clarification

or clearance issues; otherwise see

details or specifications.

Piping insulation X X Modeled to code

Wall-mounted control devices X Wall-mounted devices to be a

symbolic representation in plan


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Level of Detail

Comments

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Des

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Dev

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10

0%

Co

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Do

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2D 3D 2D 3D 2D 3D

view and a generic size and shape in

section and 3D views.

Plumbing

Plumbing fixtures – refer to

architectural plumbing fixture

locations

X X X Fixtures tagged with plumbing

fixture schedule tag

Roof drains/storm drain systems X X

Floor drains X X P-traps not modeled unless needed

for coordination

Domestic water mains (pipe size 2

inches and greater) X X X

Domestic water branch lines (pipe size

under 2 inches) X X

Pipe risers that span over multiple

floors or penetrate roof X X

Sanitary mains and branch lines to

chases (pipe size 2 inches and greater) X X

Sanitary and vent in plumbing chases X X

Backflow prevention valving

(pipe size 2 inches and greater) X X

Natural gas meter and service piping

(pipe size 2 inches and greater) X X

Plumbing pipe insulation X X Modeled to code

Fire Protection/Life Safety

Fire protection main line X X

Fire protection branch lines X X

Sprinkler heads X X

Sprinkler valves X X


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Level of Detail

Comments

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Des

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Dev

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10

0%

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2D 3D 2D 3D 2D 3D

Fire Department connections X X

Standpipe and valves in stair X X

Fire water service line X X X

Fire alarm devices (bells, strobes,

smoke detectors, etc. X X

Miscellaneous panels X X

Electrical

Power devices (receptacles, switching,

diconnects, junction boxes, etc.) X X

Wall-mounted devices to be a




Electrical eqiupment (generators, ATS,

etc.)

Electrical panels X X X

Switchgear X X X

Conduits (3 inches and greater) X Only shown as needed for

coordination purposes

Conduits (under 3 inches) X

Main banks of small size conduit

runs will be modeled as a solid box

for coordination purposes.

Cable tray X X

Lighting fixtures X X

Lighting fixtures will be generic in

appearance, but will represent the

correct dimensional size for

coordination.

Lighitng fixture control devices

(switches, sensors) X X





Bus/cable duct X Only shown as needed for

coordination purposes

Wire/circuiting X


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Level of Detail

Comments

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Des

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Des

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Dev

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10

0%

Co

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Do

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2D 3D 2D 3D 2D 3D

Technology

Data devices (data, communication,

telephone, nurse call, security, A/V,

etc.)

X X





Server racks X

Cable tray X

Wire management equipment X

Miscellaneous panels X

Why not model everything?

In the beginning of Interface’s Revit implementation, we did model everything. On one specific

project we were working with Architect’s that required a “complete model”. This model would be

used in the construction phase after the construction documentation was completed. We then

used this same high level of detail on subsequent projects. The problem we recognized was that

we were providing a high level of detail for a project that did not require it. We could see our

drafting fees increasing with each Revit project. Shortly after doing cost comparisons of

AutoCAD projects and Revit, projects Interface realized that defining the level of detail for each

project was an important step to help control the cost of Revit projects. Providing the necessary

detail level for each project phase saved Interface time and money.

Create and use Revit working views to enhance coordination

Revit is a tool that is meant to help coordinate, organize and communicate design information.

There are different view types that can be created to help communicate the design.


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Working Views

Working views are created to help with coordination of elements. A working view will have more

elements visible in the view then a typical Plot view. By making all structural framing, ductwork,

piping, lighting fixtures and cable tray visible in the view, it’s much easier to coordinate new

elements being added into the model. Make sure to create these working views and working

view templates in your project template files.

One of the best ways to show structural framing in a floor plan view is to set the structural RVT

link display to “By Linked View”. Select the structural view that shows the framing layout for the

level above the level of the view. Then select “Custom” to change the Detail level to Fine.

RVT Link dialog box Floor Plan showing structural framing


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MEP Coordination Schedules

Revit schedules are a great way to organize important design information. Creating schedules

that coordinate the designed electrical loads on mechanical equipment to the electrical engineer

is very useful. As the Mechanical design is populating the Mechanical Equipment schedules the

needed electrical load information in populated in the Mechanical/Electrical coordination

schedule. The Mechanical designer can then also complete the fields for things like motor

starter types, smoke detectors, VFD’s and need for emergency power.

Clash detection views

Revit has an internal interference checking tool that allows users to select different categories of

elements to see if they intersect. After you have selected the categories, Revit creates an

interference report based on the entire project. Navigating this list of clashes can be time

consuming if the correct views are not available.


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Defining the clash detection check Interference Report

Create a clash detection view for each level in the model. These clash detection views should

have all the model categories visible (or at least the categories you are checking). If you are

utilizing working views in your projects, these views would work as well. If you want to review

the entire models clashes, be sure to open all the floor plan views and have them live in the

background. Go to the Interference report , select a clash and select the Show button. Revit will

be able to easily open up the view and highlight the clash that was selected.

Sometimes you only want to review a specific area for clashes. To do this, window select all the

elements in the area. With elements selected, select the interference check button and define

the interference check categories. Notice that the “Categories from” reads Current selection, not

Current Project. Only the selected categories will show up in this list.


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Now your interference report should have a shorter list of clashes to review and you won’t have

to navigate to a different view at all.

Select the Show button to highlight the selected clash.

defining the autodesk revit® mep workflow process

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