Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 9
Creating Logical Systems
Creating and managing systems is the key to getting the Autodesk
®
Revit
®
MEP 2015 software to work for you. Systems represent the transfer of
information between families. They are available for any ductwork or
pipework system type you may have in your model. Electrical systems are
also a part of Revit MEP and are discussed in Chapter 14, “Circuiting and
Panels.”
In this chapter, you will learn to do the following:
• Create and manage air systems
• Create and manage piping systems
• Configure duct connectors
Why Are Systems Important?
Systems
are the logical connection between elements in the model. They
are the link between the air terminal, the variable air volume (VAV) box,
and the air handler, and they represent an additional layer of information
above the physical connections made with ducts and pipes, the engineering
information. Without systems, ducts and pipes act only as connections
between two points. Systems are needed to generate the bigger picture and
allow you to manage the elements on a building-wide level. Systems enable
you to build more than just a three-dimensional model, they enable the
engineering to be included in the model as well. You can create systems to
representsupply,return,andexhaustairaswellasplumbing,fire-protection,
and hydronic piping. You can also create new system types to represent other
uses of ducts and pipes outside the predefined types included in Revit MEP
2015.
Systems also aid in the documentation of a model. Because the systems
link elements, and their engineering data, across the entire model, tags and
other properties can be managed quickly and accurately. One example of
this is using a pipe tag that includes not only the size but also the system
abbreviation and, if needed, flow rate, velocity, or friction loss within the
