Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Modeling MEP Equipment
With the rising popularity of building information modeling (BIM), more
and more manufacturers are providing their products for use in a virtual
model environment. This can be very useful when you get to the stage in
your design where you can specify the exact equipment to be used. Early
in the design, however, you may not know what equipment will be used.
Furthermore, you may not yet have done calculations that would determine
the size of the equipment needed.
AllofthisboilsdowntoaneedforMEPequipment families thatarerealistic
in size and function but also parametrically editable to compensate for
changes in the design of both the project and the systems used. These
families need to be flexible enough to handle the seemingly constant change
that occurs early in the design process, but they also need to have the
functionality to represent their intended purpose accurately.
Some of the resistance to adopting a BIM approach for designing a project
stems from the fact that too much information is required early on that
is not known in a typical project environment. Having usable equipment
families can alleviate some of that concern and allow you to move forward
with your design processes.
Hosting Options
Whenplanningforafamily,thereareplentyofthingstoconsider.Oneofthe
first is how the family will be placed into a project model. Is the equipment
inline with duct or pipe? Does the equipment require a building element to
which it will be attached? Knowing the answers to these types of questions
will help you start with the right family template so that the equipment you
create can be used properly in your projects.
Generally speaking, there are three hosting family behaviors: generic, face
based,andobjectbased.Thegenericfamiliesarethemostcommonfamilies,
and they are not constrained to any adjacent geometry; instead, they are
constrained to the level they are placed on. Face-based families are
commonly used as grills, diffusers, plumbing fixtures, and so on. In order to
place those families, you need to have a present host (wall, floor, counter,
and so on). The host can be either in your MEP model or in any Revit-linked
files. Object-based families are almost never used in Revit MEP. This is
because they require the physical presence of the host in your model and
