Revit MEP Ess - drh2.img.digitalriver.comdrh2.img.digitalriver.com/.../Company/adsk/files/pdf/AOTC_Revit_MEP... · You also learn how to create electrical designs, system piping and

1

Chapter

1

Designing SystemsChapter 1:

In this chapter, you learn how to create HVAC models by using gbXML data and adding mechanical and piping connections. You also learn how to create electrical designs, system piping and plumbing, and fire protection sprinkler systems in a building model.

Objectives

After completing this chapter, you will be able to:

■ Add mechanical equipment and piping connections to create HVAC designs. ■ Lay out and create system piping. ■ Create and size a plumbing system. ■ Create and size a fire protection sprinkler system.

Sample Chapter

Autodesk® Intellectual Property

Not Valid for Sale or R

esale

2 ■ Chapter 1: Designing Systems

Lesson: Preparing HVAC Models for Design

Overview

This lesson describes how to use the color fill, export Green Building XML (gbXML), and import gbXML features to prepare HVAC models for design.

Exporting a gbXML saves time and effort by automatically transferring data from your project to a third-party analysis tool. By subsequently importing the analysis data to your project, you can define your design values based on engineering calculations.

The following illustration shows color-filled rooms based on engineering data that is calculated by a third-party application. The rooms and areas that do not receive adequate airflow are colored differently. This helps you determine the potential rework areas required in your HVAC design.

Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

■ Identify the process of analyzing an HVAC design. ■ Identify the steps in the process of creating room color fills. ■ Identify the steps in the process of exporting gbXML to a third-party analysis application. ■ State the recommended practices for exporting gbXML. ■ Identify the steps in the process of using imported gbXML data. ■ State the recommended practices for using imported gbXML data to color-fill rooms. ■ Use room color fills to show the use of particular rooms in a plan.

Sample Chapter



esale

Lesson: Preparing HVAC Models for Design ■ 3

■ Export building energy load and space information in the gbXML format to analyze the information in a third-party application.

■ Use the gbXML import function to automatically populate the calculated airflow value for the rooms in your building model.

■ Create a graphical representation of the imported gbXML analysis information in your building model.

Process of Analyzing HVAC Designs

There are recommended tasks that you do to analyze HVAC designs. The processes described here are specific to each job scenario and are not necessarily linked to each other. Rather, each process illustrates the concept of how to use this software to do the tasks that you might encounter in your job as an HVAC engineer to analyze and improve your design.

Process: Analyzing HVAC Designs

The process for analyzing HVAC designs is shown in the following illustration.

The following steps list the tasks you do to analyze HVAC designs. The steps also outline the software processes for accomplishing these tasks and list the software features you use for each process.

Engineering Task Software Process Software Feature

Color rooms according

to their function

1. Create a new view.

2. Create a color scheme.

3. Apply the color scheme to your model view.

■ Color Fill tool

Export project

information to a third-

party application for

engineering analysis

1. Edit the gbXML settings.

2. Set room and area settings.

3. Set airflow and energy analysis properties for selected rooms.

4. Export the information to gbXML.

■ Project Information dialog box

■ Room and Area Settings dialog box

■ Mechanical airflow properties

■ Energy analysis properties■ Export gbXML function

Sample Chapter



esale


Process of Creating Room Color Fills

You use room color fills to show how different rooms in a building model are used. This is important for you as a systems design engineer so that you can properly design the heating and cooling loads for particular loads.

For example, when you use a room type color scheme, the rooms in a building model are colored to identify conference rooms, offices, open spaces, men’s and women’s washrooms, and mechanical rooms. Based on this information, you can identify the rooms that have greater cooling and heating load requirements because of their capacity to hold a large number of people, such as conference rooms.

You can use existing color schemes for color fills, or you can customize your own. When you create your own color scheme for a project, it is recommended that you add your color scheme to a base template to ensure that it is available in future projects.

Process: Creating Room Color Fills

The process of creating room fills is shown in the following illustration.

Use imported calculated

engineering values to

update design values

1. Import a gbXML file.

2. Update the model based on gbXML data.

■ Import gbXML function■ Mechanical airflow

properties■ New schedule function

Use imported calculated

engineering values to

analyze current values

1. Add a shared parameter to your project.

2. Create a schedule using the new parameter that is based on imported values.

3. Create a color scheme based on imported values.

4. Apply color scheme.

■ Shared Parameters dialog box

■ Project Parameters dialog box

■ New schedule function■ Color Fill tool


Sample Chapter



esale


The following steps describe the process for creating room color fills.

1. Create a new view:

■ Duplicate an existing view.■ Rename the duplicate view copy.

2. Create a color scheme:

■ Duplicate an existing color scheme.■ Rename and edit the color scheme copy.

3. Apply the color scheme.

Sample Chapter



esale


Process of Exporting gbXML

Green Building XML is a schema used by engineers and architects to transfer building characteristics and performance data between databases, applications, and analysis tools. You use the export gbXML function to export building energy load information and building space information to third-party program analysis applications such as Green Building Studio. This saves you the effort of entering the information in the analysis application because the information is automatically exported to it.

NOTE: Embedded analysis and interoperability with IES Virtual Environment are the new features of Revit® MEP 2008. Once you activate this third-party application, you will be able to subject your model to a full suite of IES sustainable design analysis tools, such as MEP Heating and Cooling Loads tool, without separate gbXML export and import.

Process: Exporting gbXML

The process of exporting gbXML is shown in the following illustration.

The following steps describe the process of exporting gbXML.

1. Edit the gbXML settings:

■ Specify the building type.■ Enter a zip code.

2. Set room and area settings.

Sample Chapter



esale


Guidelines for Exporting gbXML

Follow these recommended best practices while exporting gbXML.

■ Ensure that gbXML options are set correctly for the project you are working on under Project Information.

■ Ensure that room and area settings are properly configured so that you get an accurate calculation for that area.

■ Override default people or electrical heat loads in the Energy Analysis section of room properties if necessary.

■ Ensure that airflow and analysis properties are applied to the rooms that you want to analyze.

3. Set airflow and energy analysis properties for selected rooms.

4. Export the building energy load and space information.

Sample Chapter



esale


Process of Using Imported gbXML Data

Before you import a gbXML file to your project, calculated property values, such as calculated airflow for a room, are all set to zero because no calculations have been made. By importing a gbXML file, the calculated fields are automatically populated with the results from the third-party tool analysis. Based on these values, you can update your building model.

You can also use the color fill feature to map some of the imported gbXML information to a graphical representation in your building model. For example, you can use color fill to identify rooms that do not meet airflow requirements as calculated by the third-party analysis application. Based on the color fill results, you can then make changes to the design plan.

Process: Using Imported gbXML Data to Update the Building Model

The process of using gbXML data is shown in the following illustration.

The following steps describe the process for using gbXML and using the imported values to update your building model.

Import Relevant DataWhen you import gbXML data, select only the design values and results that are applicable to your design need to avoid overpopulating your project with unnecessary data.

1. Import a gbXML file.

2. Update the building model using the gbXML data.

Sample Chapter



esale


Process: Using Imported gbXML Data to Color-Fill Rooms

The process of using gbXML data to color-fill rooms is shown in the following illustration.

The following steps describe the process for using imported gbXML data to visually identify rooms that do not meet airflow requirements.

1. Create a new airflow parameter.

2. Add the parameter to your project.

Sample Chapter



esale


3. Create a schedule for the airflow parameter.

■ Select the desired schedule fields.■ Add conditional formatting.

4. Create a color scheme for the airflow parameter.

5. Apply the color scheme to your project.

Sample Chapter



esale


Guidelines for Using Imported gbXML Data to Color-Fill Rooms

Follow these recommended best practices while using imported gbXML data to color-fill rooms.

■ Schedule data imported from gbXML to easily analyze and track information.■ Select the correct discipline and type when you create a shared parameter to ensure that the

parameter is available when working within that discipline.■ Use conditional formatting in a schedule to highlight problem areas. This helps you to easily locate

and sort specific problems.■ Update a shared parameter manually after any changes are made to the model. This helps avoid

any inconsistencies between linked data.■ Use color fill to visually identify areas where design values do not meet calculated values.

Sample Chapter



esale


Exercise: Use Room Color Fills

In this exercise, you use room color fills to show the use of particular rooms in a plan.

This scenario specifically looks at rooms in the basement. However, you do not want to change the basement, so you create a new view for room types. You set up a scheme to control room colors by duplicating an existing scheme that assigns colors by zone. You rename this scheme and edit it so that the rooms are colored by room type.

You do the following:

■ Create a new view. ■ Create a color scheme.

Create a New View

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 1: Designing Systems. Click Exercise: Use Room Color Fills.

1. Open c_mech_colorFill.rvt. The file opens to the 1ST FLOOR plan view.

2. In the Project Browser:

■ Right-click B1 BASEMENT.■ Click Duplicate View > Duplicate.■ Right-click Copy of B1 BASEMENT.■ Click Rename.

3. In the Rename View dialog box:

■ For Name, enter B1 BASEMENT ROOM

TYPES.■ Click OK.

Sample Chapter



esale


Create a Color Scheme

1. On the Design Bar, Drafting tab, click Color Scheme Legend.

2. In the view window, click anywhere to place the legend.

3. In the Choose Color Scheme dialog box:

■ Verify that for Color Scheme, Scheme 1 is selected.

■ Click OK.

4. In the view window, select the legend.

5. On the Options Bar, click Edit Color Scheme.

6. In the Edit Color Scheme dialog box:

■ Under Schemes, right-click Scheme1 and click Duplicate.

■ In the New Color Scheme dialog box, enter Room Style and click OK.

■ Under Scheme Definition, for Title, enter Scheme Legend 1.

■ For Color, select Room Style.■ Click OK in the Revit dialog box that

shows the warning message. Notice that the legend is updated with the new color values.

7. Click OK to close the Edit Color Scheme dialog box.

8. Close c_mech_colorFill.rvt without saving any changes.

Sample Chapter



esale


Exercise: Export gbXML Data to an External Application

In this exercise, you export building energy load and space information so that you can analyze the information in a third-party application.

You begin by setting up the gbXML settings to specify the building type and the zip code. By entering the zip code, you specify which building standards apply to your analysis. These standards can vary across the country, based on geographical location.

Next, you specify that you want the software to compute the room volumes as part of the information that is exported for analysis. The volume is important because when you are considering heating and cooling loads, it is the volume of each room that you need to heat and cool, not just the 2D area.

The last items that you set up before exporting your building model information are the airflow and energy analysis settings for selected rooms. In this scenario, you specify values for a conference room and for an auditorium. You specify that you want to base the supply airflow on actual values, which are airflow values based on the number of diffusers in a room and the airflow through those particular diffusers. For energy analysis, you specify that the room is to be analyzed for heating and cooling, that the room is a conference center seating area, indicating the number of people that can be seated in the room, and that you want to base the power and lighting loads on actual values. You enter average sensible heat gain and latent heat gain values, and then you export the information of the model to gbXML.

While not part of this exercise, you can also open the exported gbXML file in a third-party analysis application. When you select a room to review its values, you see that many of the values are prefilled automatically because they are imported directly from the gbXML file.


■ Set room and area settings. ■ Set airflow and energy analysis properties for a conference room.■ Set airflow and energy analysis properties for an auditorium.■ Export the building energy load and space information.


Sample Chapter



esale


Set Room and Area Settings

Set Airflow and Energy Analysis

Properties for a Conference Room


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 1: Designing Systems. Click Exercise: Export gbXML Data to an External Application.

1. Open c_mech_export_gbXML.rvt. The file opens to the B1 BASEMENT floor plan.

2. Click Settings menu > Project Information.

3. In the Element Properties dialog box, under Energy Analysis, for Energy Data, click Edit.

4. In the Type Properties dialog box, under Type Parameters:

■ For Building Type, select Convention Center.

■ Click OK and close both dialog boxes.

5. Click Settings menu > Room and Area Settings.

6. In the Room and Area Settings dialog box, Room Calculations tab:

■ Under Calculations, select the Compute Room Volumes check box.

■ Click OK.

1. Zoom in on the Conference Room B123 on the plan view.

2. Select Conference Room B123 on the right end.

3. On the Options Bar, click Element Properties.

4. In the Element Properties dialog box, under Instance Parameters, Energy Analysis:

■ For Condition Type, select Heated and Cooled.

■ For Room Type, select Audience/Seating Area - Convention Centre.

■ For People, click Edit.

5. In the People Loads dialog box:

■ Select Specify Values.■ For Number of People, enter 40.■ For Sensible Heat Gain per Person,

enter 215.■ For Latent Heat Gain per Person,

enter 185.■ Click OK and close both dialog boxes.

The settings for the selected room are saved.

Sample Chapter



esale


Set Airflow and Energy Analysis

Properties for an Auditorium

Export the Building Energy Load and

Space Information

1. Zoom in on Auditorium B130 in the plan view.

2. Select Auditorium B130.


4. In the Element Properties dialog box, under Instance Parameters, Energy Analysis:

■ For Condition Type, select Heated and Cooled.

■ For Room Type, select Audience/Seating Area - Auditorium.

■ For People, click Edit.

5. In the People Loads dialog box:

■ Select Specify Values.■ For Number of People, enter 150.■ For Sensible Heat Gain per Person,

enter 200.■ For Latent Heat Gain per Person,

enter 130.■ Click OK and close both dialog boxes.

1. Click File menu > Export > gbXML.

2. In the Save As dialog box:

■ For File Name, enter c_export_gbxml.■ Click Save.

NOTE: Close the warning message about room bounding elements not exported.

3. In Windows® Explorer, locate the exported XML file.

4. Right-click the XML file. Click Open With > XML Editor to review it.

5. Close c_mech_export_gbXML.rvt without saving any changes.

Sample Chapter



esale


Exercise: Use Imported gbXML Data to Update Airflow

In this exercise, you use the gbXML import function to automatically populate the calculated airflow value for the rooms in your building model.

Based on the calculated airflows, you can edit the design airflow value of each diffuser in two ways. The first method is to edit the design airflow property of each diffuser to meet the required capacity for the room. The second method, which is recommended, is to create an air terminal schedule. From the schedule, you can edit the design airflow value of each diffuser where the calculated value is greater than the current design value.


■ Import a gbXML file.■ Update a single air terminal based on calculated

values.■ Update all air terminals based on calculated

values.

Import a gbXML File

Update a Single Air Terminal Based on

Calculated Values



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 1: Designing Systems. Click Exercise: Use Imported gbXML Data to Update Airflow.

1. Open c_mech_import_gbxml.rvt. The file opens to the B1 BASEMENT floor plan.

2. Click File menu > Import/Link > gbXML.

3. In the Open dialog box:

■ Select c_mech_import_gbxml.xml.■ Click Open.

4. In the Select Data to Import from the gbXML File dialog box, click OK to import all data from the gbXML file.

1. In the Project Browser, under Floor Plans, double-click B1 BASEMENT HVAC DUCTWORK.

2. In the view window:

■ Right-click Conference Room B123.■ Click Element Properties.

Sample Chapter



esale


Update All Air Terminals Based on

Calculated Values

3. In the Element Properties dialog box, under Mechanical - Airflow, notice that the Actual Supply Airflow (750 CFM) is lower than the Calculated Supply Airflow (790 CFM). Click OK.

4. Select the top diffuser in Conference Room B123.

5. On the Options Bar, for Flow, enter 400 CFM.

6. In the view window, click anywhere to deselect the air terminal.

7. Right-click Conference Room B123. Click Element Properties.

8. In the Element Properties dialog box, under Mechanical - Airflow, notice that the Actual Supply Airflow is now raised to 775 CFM. Click OK.

1. Click View menu > New > Schedule/Quantities.

2. In the New Schedule dialog box:

■ Under Category, select Air Terminals.■ For Name, enter Terminal Flow.■ Click OK.

3. In the Schedule Properties dialog box, Fields tab:

■ Under Available Fields, select Flow.■ Click Add.■ Under Select Available Fields From,

select Room.

4. Under Available Fields:

■ Select Room: Actual Supply Airflow. Click Add.

■ Select Room: Calculated Supply Airflow. Click Add.

■ Select Room: Name. Click Add.■ Select Room: Number. Click Add.

5. Click Move Up or Move Down to order the fields as shown.

6. Click OK.

7. In the Terminal Flow schedule, adjust the numbers in the Flow column so that the numbers in the Room: Actual Supply Airflow column are equal (or are greater than) the numbers in the Room: Calculated Supply Airflow column. Your values can be different from values shown in the graphic.

8. Close c_mech_import_gbxml.rvt without saving any changes.

Sample Chapter



esale


Exercise: Use Imported gbXML Data to Color-Fill Rooms

In this exercise, you create a graphical representation of the imported gbXML analysis information in your building model.

You begin by creating a shared parameter for this project called Design Check to contain airflow information. You add the parameter to the project and associate it with rooms. Then you create a schedule for the parameter. In the schedule, you add a calculated field that shows the difference between the actual supply airflow and the calculated supply airflow. The calculated supply airflow is imported to your project from a gbXML file. A negative result indicates that a room does not have enough airflow. To highlight these instances, you add conditional formatting so that all negative values are backfilled red.

Finally, you create a color scheme and apply it to your building model because the color scheme is based on the Design Check value. This value is identical to the calculated value of the difference between the actual and the calculated supply airflow, and the color scheme reflects the imported gbXML data. The result is a visible cue to where design improvements need to be made.


■ Create a new airflow parameter.■ Add the parameter to your project.■ Use imported gbXML data to create an airflow schedule.■ Create a color scheme based on imported gbXML data.


Sample Chapter



esale


Create a New Airflow Parameter

Add the Parameter to Your Project

Use Imported gbXML Data to Create an

Airflow Schedule


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 1: Designing Systems. Click Exercise: Use Imported gbXML Data to Color-Fill Rooms.

1. Open c_mech_importColor.rvt. The file opens to the Terminal Flow schedule view.

2. Click File menu > Shared Parameters.

3. In the Edit Shared Parameters dialog box, click Create.

4. In the Save As dialog box:

■ Select Desktop as the location to save the file.

■ Create a New Folder and name it Fill on Import Data.

■ Double-click the Fill on Import Data folder.

■ For File Name, enter params.txt.■ Click Save.

5. In the Edit Shared Parameters dialog box, under Groups, click New.

6. In the New Parameter Group dialog box:

■ For Name, enter Mechanical.■ Click OK.

7. In the Edit Shared Parameters dialog box, under Parameters, click New.

8. In the Parameter Properties dialog box:

■ For Name, enter Design Check.■ For Discipline, select HVAC.■ For Type of Parameter, select Air Flow.■ Click OK and close both dialog boxes.

1. Click Settings menu > Project Parameters.

2. In the Project Parameters dialog box, click Add.

3. In the Parameter Properties dialog box, under Parameter Type:

■ Click Shared Parameter.■ Click Select.

4. In the Shared Parameters dialog box, under Parameters:

■ Select Design Check.■ Click OK.

5. In the Parameter Properties dialog box:

■ Under Categories, select the Rooms check box.

■ Click OK and close both dialog boxes.

1. Click View menu > New > Schedule/Quantities.

2. In the New Schedule dialog box:

■ Under Category, select Rooms.■ For Name, enter Design Check.■ Click OK.

3. In the Schedule Properties dialog box, Fields tab, under Available Fields:

■ Select Actual Supply Airflow. Click Add.■ Select Calculated Supply Airflow.

Click Add.■ Select Design Check. Click Add.■ Select Name. Click Add.■ Select Number. Click Add.

Sample Chapter



esale


Create a Color Scheme Based on

Imported gbXML Data

4. Click Move Up or Move Down to order the fields as shown.

5. Click Calculated Value.

6. In the Calculated Value dialog box:

■ For Name, enter Meets Calculated.■ Click Formula.■ For Discipline, select HVAC.■ For Type, select Air Flow.■ For Formula, enter Actual Supply

Airflow - Calculated Supply Airflow.

7. In the Calculated Value dialog box, click OK.

8. In the Schedule Properties dialog box, under Scheduled Fields (In Order):

■ Select Design Check.■ Click Move Down.■ On the Formatting tab, under Fields,

click Meets Calculated.■ Click Conditional Format.

9. In the Conditional Formatting dialog box:

■ For Field, select Meets Calculated.■ For Test, select Less Than.■ For Value, enter 0 CFM.■ Click Background Color.

10. In the Color dialog box:

■ Under Custom Colors, select red.

■ Click OK and close all three dialog boxes.

The schedule shows red backgrounds on all negative CFM numbers in the Meets Calculated field.

1. In the Design Check column, for each row, enter the same value as shown in the Meets Calculated column.

Sample Chapter



esale


2. In the Project Browser, under Floor Plans:

■ Right-click B1 BASEMENT.■ Select Duplicate View > Duplicate.■ Right-click Copy of B1 BASEMENT.

Click Rename.

3. In the Rename View dialog box:

■ For Name, enter B1 BASEMENT Design

Check.■ Click OK.

4. On the Design Bar, Room and Area tab, click Color Scheme Legend.

5. In the view window, click above the drawing to place the legend. Click OK in the Choose Color Scheme dialog box.

6. In the view window, select the legend that you have placed.

7. On the Options Bar, click Edit Color Scheme.


■ Under Category, right-click Scheme 1.■ Click Duplicate.■ For Name, enter Design Check.■ Click OK.■ For Title, enter Design Check Legend.


■ For Color, select Design Check.■ Click OK in the Revit dialog box.■ Select By Range.■ Under At Least, change the value to

0 CFM. Notice that the Less Than field updates to 0 CFM.

■ Click OK. Notice the change in the color fill pattern in the drawing.

10. Close c_mech_importColor.rvt without saving any changes.

Sample Chapter



esale

Lesson: Creating HVAC Designs ■ 23

Lesson: Creating HVAC Designs

Overview

This lesson describes how to add mechanical equipment and piping connections to create HVAC designs.

Using the Revit MEP tools for creating an HVAC design is an efficient way to verify that there are no interfering components in your design and that the design values meet regulated engineering standards. You can use conditional formatting in a schedule to verify that the equipment you place in your design has the correct properties. Ductwork routing solutions are proposed and implemented automatically. You can use a variety of tools to inspect your system, checking for interference and for proper values. Also, you can use the automated tools for laying out piping so that you can focus on the high-level design, investigating specific details only when necessary.

The following illustration shows the ductwork and a highlighted duct run in an HVAC design.

Objectives


■ Identify the steps in the process of creating HVAC designs. ■ Identify the steps in the process of adding air terminals and a VAV box to your building model. ■ State the recommended practices for adding mechanical parts. ■ Identify the steps in the process of creating a supply system in your building design. ■ Identify the steps in the process of inspecting a duct system. ■ State the recommended practices for inspecting mechanical systems. ■ Identify the steps in the process of routing piping.

Sample Chapter



esale


■ State the recommended practices for routing piping.■ Identify the steps in creating duct routing for a return system.■ Add mechanical parts to your building design.■ Create a supply system to your building design.■ Create duct routing for a return system.■ Inspect a system.■ Route piping.

Process of Creating HVAC Designs

There are recommended tasks that you perform to create HVAC designs. The processes described here are specific to each job scenario and are not necessarily linked to each other. Rather, each process illustrates the concept of how to use this software to do the tasks that you might encounter in your job as an MEP engineer to add an HVAC design to your building model.

Process: Creating HVAC Designs

The following table lists the engineering tasks you perform to create HVAC designs. It also outlines the software processes for accomplishing these tasks and lists the software features you use for each process.

Engineering task Software process Software feature

Add air terminals

and a VAV box

1. Add an air terminal.

2. Add a VAV box.

3. Analyze and update airflow.

■ Visibility/Graphics Overrides dialog box

■ Air Terminal tool■ Offset property■ Flow property■ Align tool■ Copy tool■ Mechanical Equipment tool■ Terminal Flow Schedule

Add an air supply

system

1. Create a supply system.

2. Automatically route air terminals.

3. Size the ducts.

■ Draw Duct command■ Create Air Supply System tool■ Edit System tool■ Add to System tool■ Select Equipment tool■ Duct tool■ Draw Flex command■ Convert to Flex tool■ Split tool■ Sizing tool

Sample Chapter



esale


Process of Adding Mechanical Parts

When you add VAV mechanical equipment and air diffusers to your drawing, they are added as nonhosted elements. This means that they are added at zero (0) elevation by default. These elements are displayed, regardless of the cut plane in plan views. As a result, no matter what elevation you assign to these elements, they are always displayed in plan views. However, the ceiling elements necessary for aligning air terminals are not displayed. For this reason, you also work with ceiling views when adding air terminals.

Process: Adding Mechanical Equipment

The process of adding mechanical parts is shown in the following illustration.

Create duct

routing for a

return system

1. Place a return air duct route.

2. Adjust the duct route in a section view.

■ Duct tool■ Section tool

Inspect a system 1. Add a shared parameter to your project.

2. Create a schedule for the new parameter based on imported values.

3. Create a color scheme based on imported values.

4. Apply color scheme.

■ Interference Check tool■ Interference Report dialog box■ Split tool■ Routing Solutions tool■ Default 3D view■ Hide Object view display setting■ Dynamically Modify View tool■ Inspect tool

Route piping 1. Draw the pipes.

2. Size the pipes.

3. Tag the pipes.

4. Edit the pipes in a section view.

■ Draw Pipe command■ Layout Options dialog box■ Sizing tool■ Tags tool■ Section tool

Engineering task Software process Software feature

Sample Chapter



esale


The following steps describe the process for adding air terminals and a VAV box to your building model.

1. Add air terminal:

■ Add an air terminal.■ Set its elevation and flow.■ Align the air terminal on the ceiling grid.■ Make enough copies of the air terminal to

meet the room’s calculated flow requirement.

2. Add VAV box:

■ Add the VAV box.■ Set its elevation.

3. Analyze and update airflow:

■ Manually update values from the schedule as needed.

■ Apply conditional formatting to identify problem areas.

Sample Chapter



esale


Guidelines for Adding Mechanical Parts

The process of adding mechanical parts in Revit MEP involves placing the objects in 3D space and attributing information to them. The following guidelines will help you get parts and information into the MEP model and use the information attributed to them to improve your design.

■ Set the offsets (elevations) to equipment when you place them in your design.■ When possible, copy existing equipment to inherit properties such as Elevation and Type. This

saves time because you do not have to enter similar information for multiple objects.■ Schedule information that will be useful in the design process, regardless of whether that

information will ultimately become part of the documentation.■ Use conditional formatting in the schedules that you create to identify design problems.■ Update equipment properties in the schedule views to quickly update multiple components

without having to select and edit the components in the drawing.

Process of Creating a Supply System

There are two specific features that add efficiency to your process when you need to add a supply system to your design:

■ An automatic system creation function that you can use to define a supply system from existing mechanical components, such as air terminals and VAV units.

■ An automatic routing function that not only proposes a number of routing solutions for your supply system but also adds the required parts for whichever solution you select.

After you create a system, you add all system components to it and then use the automatic routing tools to review possible routing solutions. You can explore the possible routing solutions by using the Previous Solution and Next Solution buttons on the Options Bar. You can make adjustments after using automatic routing if you do not receive the ideal set of connections and ducts.

Process: Creating a Supply System

The process of creating a supply system is shown in the following illustration.

Sample Chapter



esale


The following steps describe the process for creating a mechanical air supply system in your building design.

1. Create supply system.

2. Automatically route air terminals:

■ Review proposed solutions.■ Select desired solution.■ Correct routing errors, if necessary.■ Add transitions, if necessary.

Sample Chapter



esale


Process of Inspecting a System

You can use several tools to inspect your design, including the Interference Check tool, standard views, and the Inspect tool.

After adding supply and return systems to your design, you can run an interference check of ducts that verifies only that there is no interference between the duct runs. Any problems found by the interference check are reported in an interference report. By selecting each of the reported interferences, you can see where each interference occurs in the view drawing.

After you correct any reported problems, you can select the interfering duct runs and review them in a 3D view to visually check that none of the ducts collide with each other.

You use the Inspect tool to identify critical duct paths from noncritical paths. You can also use it to graphically review duct information such as flow, static pressure, pressure loss, total pressure, and excess pressure at any given point in the system.

Process: Inspecting a System

The process of inspecting a system is shown in the following illustration.

3. Size the ducts.

Sample Chapter



esale


The following steps describe the process for inspecting a system.

1. Run interference check:

■ Run an interference check.■ Highlight problem areas.■ Correct interference problems.

2. Check for interference:

■ Check for interference using a 3D view.■ Rotate the model to inspect the ducts.■ Correct any interference problems in

plan view.

3. Inspect system:

■ Inspect the system using the Inspect tool.■ Observe critical flow path.■ Review flow and pressure information.

Sample Chapter



esale


Guidelines for Inspecting a Mechanical System

Use the following guidelines to identify spatial coordination issues and inspect the properties of a mechanical system.

■ Run an interference check to highlight conflicts graphically.■ Use 3D views to visually identify problem areas or to identify areas that need further analysis.■ Use the Inspect tool to highlight problems with a critical path and to review pressure information.

Process of Routing Piping

When you route piping, your primary goal is to lay out the pipe runs to establish the desired connections between pieces of mechanical equipment. Because many of these piping tasks are automated, you can model your piping systems without distraction. For example, rather than calculating invert elevations, you can add a tag that automatically indicates the invert elevation at any point along a pipe. As another example, rather than spending your effort ensuring that all your pipes are properly connected to equipment, you can use the sketching aids to place your piping and connections with precision.

Process: Routing Piping

The process of routing piping is shown in the following illustration.

The following steps describe the process for routing piping.

1. Draw the pipes.

Sample Chapter



esale


Guidelines for Routing Piping

By following these guidelines, you can use the pipe layout automation available in Revit MEP most effectively.

■ When you lay out pipes, ensure that options such as Rise and Run are properly set to account for the appropriate sloping of the run.

■ Use the automatic pipe-sizing tools with the desired sizing-calculation method to size pipes.■ Use tags to communicate design intentions.

2. Size the pipes.

3. Tag the pipes.

4. Edit the pipes in a section view.

Sample Chapter



esale


Process of Creating Duct Routing in a Return System

You can route return air ducting through a building using both plan and section views. You use a plan view to route the return air duct. You use a section view to adjust the layout of vertical risers and complex duct-routing solutions.

When your ductwork is complete, you return to plan view to see the hidden-line representation of the ductwork. You verify that there are no collision problems and that the route is visually acceptable.

Process: Creating Duct Routing for a Return System

The process of creating duct routing for a return system is shown in the following illustration.

The following steps describe the process for creating a return system in your building design.

1. Place a return air duct route.

Sample Chapter



esale


2. Edit the duct in a section view.

Sample Chapter



esale


Exercise: Add Mechanical Parts

In this exercise, you place air terminals and a VAV box in a building model. Then you use a schedule to review and update the flow information.

You want to place air terminals in one of the conference rooms. You open an existing ceiling plan view of this model because you want to see the ceiling elements as you place and align the air terminals. None of the HVAC devices are displayed in this view. You need to turn on the visibility of air terminals so that air terminals within the cut plane of the ceiling plan are displayed. You add the first air terminal and enter an offset value to give the air terminal elevation.

To determine the maximum flow for this air terminal, you look at the properties of the room in which you placed the air terminal. The supply airflow as specified indicates what this room requires to meet the design cooling and heating loads. Therefore, you set the maximum flow for the air terminal and then add three more air terminals in this room to meet the design criteria.

Next, you place a VAV box next to some existing ductwork. The VAV box is another nonhosted element. Therefore, you also need to set its elevation. Finally, you use a schedule to obtain additional information about your design and update the information, if necessary.

To identify problems with the design, you add conditional formatting to your schedule.


■ Add an air terminal.■ Set the elevation and flow of the air terminal.■ Align the air terminal.■ Copy the air terminal.■ Add a VAV box.■ Analyze and update airflow.


Sample Chapter



esale


Add an Air Terminal

Set the Elevation and Flow of the

Air Terminal


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 1: Designing Systems. Click Exercise: Add Mechanical Parts.

1. Open i_mech_diffuser_layout.rvt (m_mech_diffuser_layout.rvt). The file opens to the B1 BASEMENT HVAC DUCTWORK floor plan.

NOTE: The metric dataset graphics will look slightly different throughout the exercise.


■ Expand Ceiling Plans.■ Double-click B1 BASEMENT CLG PLAN

(B1 BASEMENT).

3. In the View window, enter VG.

4. In the Visibility/Graphic Overrides dialog box:

■ On the Model Categories tab, under Visibility, select the Air Terminals check box.

■ Click OK.

5. On the Design Bar, Mechanical tab, click Air Terminal.

6. Select Rectangular Diffuser - Round Connection : 24x24 - 12 Neck (M_ Rectangular Diffuser - Round Connection : M_600x600 - 250 Neck) from the Type Selector list.

7. In the view window, click at a point in the lower-left Conference Room B121, as shown. The exact location is not critical.

NOTE: The air terminal is placed, but it does not appear in this view. Close the warning that informs you of this if it displays.

8. Press ESC twice to end the Air Terminal tool.

1. In the Project Browser, under Floor Plans, Double-click B1 BASEMENT HVAC DUCTWORK.

2. In the view window, select the air terminal you have just placed.


Sample Chapter



esale


Align the Air Terminal

4. In the Element Properties dialog box:

■ Under Constraints, for Offset, enter 8' 0" (240).

■ Click OK.

5. In the view window, select Conference Room B121.



■ Under Mechanical - Airflow, notice that Specified Supply Airflow is 600 CFM (235.0 L/s).

■ Click OK.

8. In Conference Room B121, select the air terminal.

9. On the Options Bar, for Flow, enter 150 CFM (60 L/s).

1. In the Project Browser, under Ceiling Plans, double-click B1 BASEMENT CLG PLAN (B1 BASEMENT).

2. Zoom in on the air terminal that you added in Conference Room B121.

3. On the Tools toolbar, click Align.

4. Select the vertical reference line as shown.

5. Select the left edge of the air terminal to align it with the reference line.

6. Select the horizontal reference line at the bottom of the upper-left light fixture.

Sample Chapter



esale


Copy the Air Terminal

Add a VAV Box

7. Select the top edge of the air terminal to align it with the reference line.

8. Press ESC twice to end the Align tool.

1. In the view window, select the air terminal.

2. On the Edit toolbar, click Copy.

3. On the Options Bar, select the Multiple check box.

4. In the view window, select the upper-right corner of the air terminal.

5. Select the lower-right corner of the light fixture in the upper-right corner of the room.

6. In the view window, add two more instances of the air terminal as shown. Select the lower right corner of the light fixture directly below the previous fixture, and then select the midpoint of the fixture in the middle to the left of the room.

7. Press ESC to end the Copy tool.

1. In the Project Browser, under Floor Plans, double-click B1 BASEMENT HVAC DUCTWORK.

2. In the view window, notice that there is some preliminary ductwork in the Main Hall.

3. On the Design Bar, Mechanical tab, click Mechanical Equipment.

4. On the Options Bar, from the Type Selector list, ensure that Parallel Fan Powered VAV : Size 3 - 12 Inch Inlet (M_Parallel Fan Powered VAV : M_Size 3 - 250 mm Inlet) is selected.

Sample Chapter



esale


Analyze and Update Airflow

5. Press SPACEBAR 3 times to rotate the VAV box till it takes the desired orientation. Click at a point in the Main Hall by the two doors as shown.

6. Press ESC twice to end the Mechanical Equipment tool.

7. In the view window, select the VAV box.



■ Under Constraints, for Offset, enter 10' 7" (300 mm).

■ Click OK.


■ Expand Schedules/Quantities.■ Double-click Terminal Flow.

2. In the Terminal Flow schedule, for Utility Room B120, Mark 11, under Flow, enter 300 CFM (150 L/s).

Notice that the Actual Supply Airflow value of the room increases to 700 CFM (265 L/s), which is now greater than its Calculated Supply Airflow (Specified Supply Airflow) value, 661 CFM (255 L/s).

3. Right-click the view window. Click View Properties.

4. In the Element Properties dialog box, under Other, for Fields, click Edit.

5. In the Schedule Properties dialog box:

■ On the Formatting tab, under Fields, select Room: Actual Supply Airflow.

■ Click Conditional Format.

6. In the Conditional Formatting dialog box:

■ For Test, select Less Than or Equal To.■ For Value, enter 0 CFM (0 L/s).■ Click Background Color.

7. In the Color dialog box, under Custom Colors, select red.

8. Click OK and close all dialog boxes. In the schedule, notice that the cells that have Actual Supply airflow value less than or equal to zero appear with a red background.

9. Close all files without saving changes.

Sample Chapter



esale


Exercise: Create a Supply System

In this exercise, you add a supply system to your building design.

You begin by connecting a VAV box to the main duct route. Next, you create a mechanical system out of the existing mechanical components. From the mechanical system, you can apply the software’s automatic routing feature, which proposes various duct route solutions. After selecting the desired solution, the software automatically converts the proposed duct route to actual ducts and fittings. When you do this in a second room, you find that there are errors that result from the automatic routing. After correcting each of these errors, you split a duct to add a duct transition at that point. Finally, you size the ducts.


■ Connect a VAV box to the existing ductwork.■ Create an air supply system.■ Automatically route air terminals in room B122.■ Automatically route air terminals in room B123.■ Add a transition.■ Size the ducts.


Sample Chapter



esale


Connect a VAV Box to the

Existing Ductwork

Create an Air Supply System


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 1: Designing Systems. Click Exercise: Create a Supply System.

1. Open i_mech_supply_system.rvt (m_mech_supply_system.rvt). The file opens to the B1 BASEMENT HVAC DUCTWORK floor plan.


2. Zoom in on VAV-5 above Conference Room B122.

3. Select the VAV-5 box.

4. Right-click the grip at the top of the unit. Click Draw Duct.

5. On the Options Bar, in the Type Selector list, ensure that Round Duct : Galvanized - Takeoff Based is selected.

6. On the Options Bar, verify that D is 12" (300 mm).

7. Connect the VAV-5 box to the main duct.

8. Press ESC to end the Draw Duct command.

1. Select one of the air terminals in Conference Room B122.

2. On the Options Bar, click Create Supply Air System.

Sample Chapter



esale


Automatically Route Air Terminals in

Room B122

3. Select the same air terminal again, and on the Options Bar, click Edit System. In the drawing, notice that everything except the selected air terminal is grayed out. The air terminal is currently the only component in the system.

4. On the Design Bar, Edit System tab, click Add to System.


6. CTRL+select the other three air terminals in the room.

7. On the Options Bar, click Finish. In the drawing, notice that none of the four air terminals in the room are grayed out. They are all part of the system.

8. On the Design Bar, Edit System tab, click Select Equipment.

9. Select the VAV-5 unit that you connected earlier to the main duct.

10. In the Select Connector dialog box:

■ Select Connector 1 : Supply Air : Rectangular: 14" x 11".

■ Click OK.

NOTE: In the metric dataset, VAV box content recognizes the intended connector automatically. Therefore, you do not get the Select Connector dialog box.

11. On the Design Bar, click Finish System.

1. Move the mouse over any air terminal in Conference Room B122 so that it appears highlighted.

2. Press TAB to display the temporary lines that indicate the proposed duct routing for the system.

3. With the proposed routing system still displayed, select the air terminal.

4. On the Options Bar, click Layout Path.

Sample Chapter



esale


Automatically Route Air Terminals in

Room B1235. On the Options Bar:

■ Ensure that Network is selected from the Solution Type list.

■ Click Next Solution. In the drawing, the proposed routing changes.

6. On the Options Bar, click Next Solution until solution 6 of 6 of the proposed duct routing paths is displayed.

7. On the Options Bar, click Settings.

8. In the Duct Conversion Settings dialog box:

■ Ensure that Main is selected.■ From the Duct Type list, select Round

Duct : Galvanized.■ Select Branch.■ Ensure that Round Duct : Galvanized -

Takeoff Based is selected from the Duct type list and that Flex Duct Round : Flex - Round is selected from the Flex Duct type list.

■ Ensure that Maximum Flex Duct Length is 6' 0" (180 cm).

9. Click OK to close the dialog box.

10. On the Design Bar, Layout Paths tab, click Finish Layout. The ducts and fittings for the system are automatically placed.

1. In the view window, place the cursor over any of the air terminals in Conference Room B123.

2. Press TAB to display the temporary lines for the proposed duct routing.

3. With the proposed duct routing still displayed, select the air terminal.

4. On the Options Bar:

■ Click Layout Path.■ From the Solution Type list, select

Perimeter.■ Click Next Solution until Solution 4 of 4

is displayed.■ Change Inset value to 4' 0" (120).■ Click Settings.

5. In the Duct Conversion Settings dialog box:

■ Select Main.■ From the Duct Type list, select Round

Duct : Galvanized.■ Select Branch.

Sample Chapter



esale


Add a Transition

Size the Ducts■ Ensure that Round Duct : Galvanized - Takeoff Based is selected for Duct Type.

■ Ensure that Flex Duct Round : Flex - Round is selected from the Flex Duct type list.

■ Ensure that Maximum Flex Duct Length is 6' 0" (180 cm).


7. On the Design Bar, click Finish Layout. The ducts and fittings for the system are automatically placed.

1. Scroll down to the lower wall of Conference Room B123.

2. On the Tools toolbar, click Split.

3. Select a point on the main duct after the takeoff for the second terminal in Conference Room B123. The exact location is not critical.

4. Press ESC twice to end the Split tool.

1. Move the cursor over the split duct and press TAB three times. The entire duct run is highlighted. Click to select the ductwork.

2. On the Options Bar, click Sizing.

3. In the Duct Sizing dialog box, ensure that:

■ In the Sizing Method list, Friction is selected.

■ Under Sizing Method, Only is selected.■ Click OK. The ducting is automatically

fitted and sized. Notice the duct transitions at the point where you split the duct.

4. Close all files without saving.

Sample Chapter



esale


Exercise: Create Duct Routing for a Return System

In this exercise, you create the duct routing for a return air duct system for your building design.

You begin by placing a new duct run. You enter a sufficient offset value to the duct so that it can clear an existing duct in the Utility room. At the end of the duct run, you enter another offset value so that the software places the duct run through the building. Then you use the Section tool to make sure that the duct is appropriately positioned. You make a slight adjustment to the duct placement and increase its offset so that it reaches the fifth floor.


■ Place a return air duct route.■ Edit the duct in a section view.

Place a Return Air Duct Route



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 1: Designing Systems. Click Exercise: Create Duct Routing for a Return System.

1. Open i_mech_return_system.rvt (m_ mech_return_system.rvt). The file opens to the B1 BASEMENT HVAC DUCTWORK floor plan view.


2. On the Design Bar, Mechanical tab, click Duct.

3. On the Options Bar, verify that:

■ In the Type Selector list, Rectangular Duct : Galvanized - Takeoff Based (Rectangular Duct : Galvanized - Takeoff Based) is selected.

■ Width is 75" (1900 mm).■ Height is 14" (350 mm).■ Offset is 10' 6" (320 mm).

Sample Chapter



esale


4. In the view window, click at points (1) through (6) as shown in the illustration to place a duct rout. When you place the first point, the Select Connector dialog box is displayed. In the dialog box, ensure that Connector 2 : Other Air : Rectangular : 75"x22" @ -9' -4" (1900mm x 600mm @ -282.5) is selected and click OK. Place the points at the following distances:

■ Point 1, Centered on Connector 75" x 22" @ 5' 5" Other Air (1900 x 600 @ 167.5 Other Air).

■ Point 2, 6' 0" (180 mm) left of point 1.■ Point 3, 16' 0" (480 mm) down from

point 2.■ Point 4, 55° (70°) down and 5' 6" (250

mm) left from point 3.■ Point 5, 16' 0" (670 mm) down from

point 4.■ Point 6, 6' 6" (170 mm) left from point 5.

5. After Selecting the last point, on the Options Bar:

■ For Offset, enter 30' (915 mm) to run the duct up through the building.

■ Click Apply.

6. Press ESC to end the Duct tool.

7. Move the cursor over part of the duct run that you just added. Press TAB to highlight the entire run and verify its placement.

Sample Chapter



esale


Edit the Duct in a Section View

1. Click View menu > New > Section.

2. In the view window, place two points as shown to position the section toward the duct that you have added.


■ Move the cursor over part of the duct that you have drawn.

■ Press TAB.■ Select the highlighted duct run.

4. Double-click the section head to open the view.

5. In the section view, notice that the duct run is highlighted in red because you selected it from the plan view.

NOTE: The metric dataset opens with the Detail Level set to Medium.

6. On the View Control Bar, click Detail Level > Medium.

NOTE: Metric users skip this step.

7. In the section view, notice that the duct run now shows width.

8. Zoom in on the elbow at the base of the duct. Verify that the duct does not interfere with the wall.

Sample Chapter



esale


9. Pan to and zoom in on the top of the duct near the second floor.

10. Select the duct.

11. Select the offset dimension to edit the Edit Start Offset parameter.

12. Enter 69' 6" (2120 mm) to extend the duct vertical riser up to the fifth floor. Press ENTER.

13. Enter ZF to fit the entire section view in the window.

14. Move your cursor over the duct to verify that it now reaches up to the fifth floor.


Sample Chapter



esale


Exercise: Inspect a System

In this exercise, you run an interference check, use a 3D view to check for interference, and use the Inspect tool to inspect a system.

You begin by generating an interference report for all the ducts in your project. By selecting individual items in the report, you can see where the interference problems occur. One of these problems is along the main duct run. You can remove the interference problem by lowering this run. To do so, you split the run and lower the south end of the run. Then you use the Routing Solutions tool of the software to reconnect the duct.

Then you change to a 3D view to look at the previously interfering duct runs. You see that there is still a slight interference between the 8-inch duct and the main duct. You change back to plan view and move the 8-inch duct out of the way to resolve this problem. Finally, you use the Inspect tool to review information about the system. You identify the critical flow path of the system and observe the flow and pressure information in each of the duct segments.


■ Run an interference check.■ Remove reported interference conditions.■ Check for interference using a 3D view.■ Remove an observed interference condition.■ Use the Inspect tool to inspect a system.


Sample Chapter



esale


Run an Interference Check

Remove Reported Interference

Conditions


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 1: Designing Systems. Click Exercise: Inspect a System.

1. Open i_mech_inspection.rvt (m_mech_inspection.rvt). The file opens in the B1 BASEMENT HVAC DUCTWORK floor plan.


2. Click Tools menu > Interference Check > Run Check.

3. In the Interference Check dialog box:

■ Select the Ducts check box in both columns.

■ Click OK.

4. In the Interference Report dialog box, from the first pair of ducts interference, select Ducts : Rectangular Duct : Galvanized - Takeoff Based - Mark 357 : id718184 (Ducts : Rectangular Duct : Galvanized - Takeoff Based - Mark 290 : id 712502).

Notice that in the View window, the interfering section of ducting is highlighted in red.

5. In the Interference Report dialog box, from the second pair of ducts interference, select Ducts : Rectangular Duct : Galvanized - Takeoff Based - Mark 356 : id718179 (Ducts : Rectangular Duct : Galvanized - Takeoff Based - Mark 106 : id 583140).

In the View window, notice that the interfering section of ducting is highlighted in red.

6. In the Interference Report dialog box, click Close.

1. Zoom in on the rectangular duct as indicated in the following illustration.

Sample Chapter



esale


2. Select the duct.

3. On the Tools toolbar, click Split.

4. On the Options Bar, select the Delete Inner Segment check box.

5. Select the duct on the north side.

6. Select the duct on the south side.

The duct is split apart.

7. Press ESC twice to end the Split tool.

8. Select the south section of the duct.

9. On the Options Bar, for Offset, enter 9' 0" (275).

In the view window, the duct run is changed to hidden linework, indicating that it is now below the other ductwork in the plan.

10. CTRL+select the north and south segments of the original duct run.

11. On the Options Bar, click Routing Solutions.

12. On the Options Bar, click Next Solution until Solution 2 of 3 is displayed.

Sample Chapter



esale


Check for Interference Using a 3D View

13. On the Options Bar, click Finish. In the view window, the Solution 2 routing solution is inserted to reconnect the duct.

1. Move your cursor over the indicated duct run. Press TAB to highlight the entire run. Select the duct run.

2. Move your cursor over the indicated 8" (290) duct run. Press TAB to highlight the entire run. CTRL+select the duct run. Both duct runs are selected.

3. Move your cursor over the indicated branch duct run to the right of the first duct run selected. Press TAB to highlight the entire run. CTRL+select the duct run. All three duct runs are selected.

4. In the Project Browser, under 3D Views, double-click {3D}.

Sample Chapter



esale


Remove an Observed

Interference Condition

Use the Inspect Tool to Inspect a System

5. On the View Control Bar, click Temporary Hide/Isolate > Isolate Element.

A 3D view of the selected duct runs is isolated.

6. Zoom in to where the three duct runs meet.

7. On the Tools toolbar, click Dynamically Modify View.

8. In the Dynamic View dialog box, click Spin.

9. Drag the cursor in the view window to rotate the view of the selected duct runs. Notice that the 8" (290 mm) duct run appears to interfere with the main duct run where the elevation drops.

10. Close the Dynamic View dialog box.

1. Click Window menu > i_mech_inspection.rvt - Floor Plan: B1 BASEMENT HVAC DUCTWORK (m_mech_inspection.rvt - Floor Plan: B1 BASEMENT HVAC DUCTWORK) to return to the previous view.

2. Select the 8" (290) duct run.

3. Drag the 8" (290) duct northward out of the way of the other two branch duct runs.

1. Pan to the middle of the plan.

Sample Chapter



esale


2. Select a duct that is connected to a system, as shown.

3. On the Options Bar, click Inspect.

4. On the Design Bar, System Inspector tab, click Inspect.

The critical duct path is displayed in red while the noncritical paths are displayed in blue.

5. Move your cursor over any section of the system to review its flow and pressure information.

6. On the Design Bar, click Finish Inspector.


Sample Chapter



esale


Exercise: Route Piping

In this exercise, you use the Revit MEP piping tools to insert the chilled water piping for an air handling unit.

The risers and the connections to the air-handling units are already defined in the drawing. You draw pipes to connect the two risers to the two air-handling unit connections. You add a negative rise to the pipes so that the pipes can drain towards the air-handling unit to facilitate cleaning.

Then you use the Sizing tool to make sure that the pipes are appropriately sized. You also add invert elevation tags to identify the lowest elevation of the pipe at selected locations.

Finally, you add a section to examine the pipes more closely for interference. In the section view, you notice that the upper pipe interferes with an existing duct above it. By lowering the pipe, you remove the interference.


■ Draw the pipes.■ Tag the pipes.■ Edit the pipes in a section view.

Draw the Pipes



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 1: Designing Systems. Click Exercise: Route Piping.

1. Open i_mech_piping.rvt (m_mech_piping.rvt). The file opens to the B1 BASEMENT HVAC PIPING floor plan view.

Sample Chapter



esale


2. Zoom in on the pipe risers.

3. Select the shorter pipe.

4. Right-click the Drag grip on the right. Click Draw Pipe.

5. On the Options Bar, click Options.

6. In the Layout Options dialog box:

■ For Slope Rise, enter -1/8(-1).■ Click OK.

7. Draw the pipe up 40' (1340 mm) and then to the right, aligning it with the first air-handling unit connection.

8. Select the connection to connect the pipe.

9. Select the connector on the second riser.

10. Draw the pipe up 40' (1340 mm) and to the right, aligning it with the second air-handling unit connection.

Sample Chapter



esale


Tag the Pipes

Edit the Pipes in a Section View 11. Select the connection to connect the pipe.

12. Right-click the view window. Click Cancel to end the Draw Pipe command.

1. On the Design Bar, Piping tab, click Tag > By Category.

2. On the Options Bar, click Tags.

3. In the Tags dialog box:

■ Under Category, verify that Invert Elevation Pipe Tag (M_ Invert Elevation Pipe Tag) is selected in the Pipes list.

■ Click OK.

4. Select the pipes at various locations to place invert elevation tags.

1. EnterVG.

2. In the Visibility/Graphic Overrides dialog box:

■ On the Annotation Categories tab, under Visibility, select the Sections check box.

■ Click OK.

3. Click View menu > New > Section.

4. Select two points as indicated in the following illustration to place the section.

5. Press ESC to end the Section tool.

6. Double-click the section head.

Sample Chapter



esale


7. In the section view, zoom in on the area indicated in the following illustration.

8. On the View Control Bar, click Detail Level > Fine.

9. Select the upper pipe. Notice that it interferes with the duct above it.

10. On the Options Bar, for Offset, enter 8' 0" (260).

11. In the section view, notice that there is now some clearance between the upper pipe and the duct above it.


Sample Chapter



esale

Lesson: Creating Electrical Designs ■ 59

Lesson: Creating Electrical Designs

Overview

This lesson describes how to add electrical devices and create circuits to create electrical designs.

Working with a set of software tools and processes specifically designed for electrical systems is a practical way to add electrical designs to your building projects. Many of the electrical design processes are automated, such as wiring electrical components to create circuits and balancing electrical distribution across loads. Using other standard software tools, such as conditional formatting in schedules, you can quickly review your electrical designs and identify problem areas.

The following illustration depicts electrical design for multiple conference rooms, in which lights are placed and wired.

Objectives


■ Identify the steps in the process of creating electrical designs. ■ Identify the steps in the process of adding electrical devices to your design. ■ State the recommended practices for adding a device. ■ Identify the steps in the process of creating electrical and power circuits. ■ State the recommended practices for creating circuits. ■ Identify the steps in the process of assigning load information and redistributing loads on a panel. ■ State the recommended practices for setting up an electrical distribution. ■ Identify the steps in the process of creating a lighting-fixture family. ■ State the recommended practices for creating a lighting-fixture family. ■ Add electrical devices in the model. ■ Create lighting and power circuits. ■ Set up an electrical distribution system. ■ Create a new lighting-fixture family type.

Sample Chapter



esale


Process of Creating Electrical Designs

There are recommended tasks that you do to create electrical designs. The processes described here are specific to each job scenario and are not necessarily linked to each other. Rather, each process illustrates the concept of how to use this software to do the tasks that you might encounter in your job as an MEP engineer to add an electrical design to your building model.

Tasks and Tools

The following table lists the engineering tasks you do to create electrical designs. It also outlines the software processes for accomplishing these tasks and lists the software features you use for each process.


Add electrical devices 1. Add light fixtures.

2. Add junction boxes.

3. Add light switches.

4. Add receptacles.

■ Light Fixture tool■ Copy tool■ Device tool

Create circuits 1. Create lighting circuits.

2. Create power circuits.

■ Create Power Circuit tool■ Select a Panel for the Circuit

tool■ Edit Circuit tool■ Add to Circuit tool■ Generate Arc Type Wiring

tool■ Move Vertex grip■ Wire tool

Rebalance load

distributions

1. Assign load information to panels.

2. Rebalance loads on panels.

■ Select a Panel for the Circuit■ Edit Circuits on Panel■ Edit Circuits dialog box■ Circuit Properties

Add a new lighting-

fixture type

1. Copy an IES file to the IES directory.

2. Create a new lighting-fixture family type.

3. Assign a new lighting-fixture type to existing lighting fixtures.

4. Analyze lighting in the rooms that use the new lighting-fixture family.

■ IES file■ Type Properties dialog box■ Tags■ Room Lighting Analysis

schedule

Sample Chapter



esale


Process of Adding Electrical Devices to Your Design

Lighting fixtures, light switches, and power devices are all hosted elements; you can add a lighting fixture only to a ceiling grid, you can add a light switch only to a wall, and you can add a receptacle only to a wall or a floor. In contrast, a junction box is not a hosted element. You need to add an offset value to its properties to give it elevation.

Process: Adding Electrical Devices to Your Design

The following steps describe the process for adding electrical devices to your design.

1. Add light fixture:

■ Snap to ceiling grid.■ Copy light fixture to add multiple

instances.

2. Add junction box:

■ Add offset (elevation).

3. Add light switches.

Sample Chapter



esale


Guidelines for Adding Electrical Devices

The following guidelines help you lay out electrical devices in your floor plans properly.

■ Make hosts available while adding a device that is a hosted element. This helps you in placing the device properly in the model. For example, when you add a light fixture, there should be a ceiling grid in the drawing to host the light fixture. If there is no ceiling grid, you cannot place the light fixture.

■ Set the Offset property when you add nonhosted elements to define the elevation of the element.■ Copy the nonhosted devices that are placed with proper offset. This copies the offset data along

with the device.■ Add devices in a view for which the visibility graphics are set to display them.

Process of Creating Circuits

Using Revit MEP simplifies the process of adding wiring to electrical lighting and power diagrams and creating circuits within those diagrams. When you select an electrical device, such as a lighting switch, the Option Bar is populated with circuiting tools. Using these tools, you can create a circuit and select a panel for the circuit from a context-sensitive list of panels, that is, the panels listed for a lighting circuit are different than the panels listed for a power circuit.

Once a circuit is created, you can move your cursor over any of the circuit elements and press TAB to display the temporary wiring. You can automatically convert this temporary wiring to actual wiring and then adjust the placement of wires.

Process: Creating Circuits

The following steps describe the process for creating electrical and power circuits.

4. Add receptacles.

1. Create a lighting circuit:

■ Generate wiring.■ Adjust wiring.

Sample Chapter



esale


Guidelines for Creating Circuits

By following certain guidelines, you can create and place wires in electrical circuits accurately. You can also check for erroneous wiring in electrical circuits by following these guidelines.

■ Use the autolayout tools to quickly place wires in your design.■ Check for erroneous wiring after using the autolayout tools.■ Connect multiple circuits together to automatically add the required number of home run arrows.■ Use the Show Devices tool to ensure that all desired devices are circuited.

Process of Setting Up an Electrical Distribution

When you review the loads assigned to a panel, you want the loads to be as equally distributed as possible across the phases. From the Edit Circuit dialog box, you can automatically rebalance the loads on a panel by shifting the circuits on the panel to different circuit numbers. In this dialog box, you can also manually move, insert, and delete circuits on a panel.

Process: Setting Up an Electrical Distribution

The following steps describe the process of setting up an electrical distribution.

2. Create a power circuit:

■ Generate wiring.■ Remove multiple home runs.■ Create a multicircuit home run.

1. Assign load information to a panel.

2. Rebalance the loads on the panel.

Sample Chapter



esale


Guidelines for Setting Up Electrical Distribution Circuits

By following certain guidelines, you can set up the electrical distribution system in a structural plan.

■ Verify that you have assigned all electrical components to panels when you configure an electrical distribution system.

■ Use the system browser to check for panel assignments.■ Use the Rebalance Loads tool in the Edit Circuits dialog box to improve the distribution

across loads.■ Rebalance the loads again, if necessary after adding electrical components.

Process of Creating a Lighting-Fixture Family

The design values for lighting fixtures are stored in International Electrical Standard (IES) files. When you create a lighting-fixture family, you associate the family with an IES file. During the automated lighting analysis, the data in the associated IES file of the lighting-fixture family is used for calculations.

By default, all IES files are stored in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\ Revit Systems\IES. You can change this default directory by editing the revit.ini file.

Process: Creating a Lighting-Fixture Family

The following steps describe the process for creating a lighting-fixture family.

1. Copy your IES file to the IES directory of the software.

2. Create a new family fixture type:

■ Assign an IES file.■ Enter a description.■ Assign a mark type.

3. Assign a new lighting-fixture type to existing lighting fixtures.

Sample Chapter



esale


Guidelines for Creating a Lighting-Fixture Family

The following guidelines assist you in creating a lighting fixture family that you can use for analyzing room lighting levels.

■ Retrieve the appropriate IES data from the lighting manufacturer of the light fixture that you want to use and place it in the IES directory that is specified in the revit.ini file.

■ Use the Duplicate feature to create similar families with minor differences.■ Use implied windowing with the Filter Selection tool to easily select many lighting devices

simultaneously so that you can change their type.■ Tag devices so that you can easily identify them in drawing plans.■ Create a schedule to determine if adequate lighting is provided in the rooms in your drawing.

4. Analyze room lighting in rooms that use the new lighting-fixture family.

Sample Chapter



esale


Exercise: Add Electrical Devices

In this exercise, you add electrical devices to the model.

You begin by adding light fixtures to the ceiling plan in your design. Light fixtures do not automatically snap to the ceiling grid upon placement. Therefore, you first place the light fixture on the ceiling grid and then move it to its correct position. Then you copy the light fixture to add multiple instances of it.

Next, you add a junction box. A warning message is displayed explaining that the junction box is not visible in the ceiling plan view because it is not a hosted element. You need to switch to a lighting plan view so that you can see the junction box and add an offset to its properties.

Finally, you place light switches and power devices in your design.


■ Add light fixtures. ■ Add a junction box.■ Add switches.■ Add receptacles.

Add Light Fixtures



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 1: Designing Systems. Click Exercise: Add Electrical Devices.

1. Open i_elec_devices.rvt (m_elec_devices.rvt). The file opens to the B1 BASEMENT ELECTRICAL POWER floor plan.

NOTE: The metric graphics may differ from the imperial ones throughout the exercise.

2. In the Project Browser, under Ceiling Plans, double-click B1 BASEMENT CLG PLAN (B1 BASEMENT).

3. On the Design Bar, Electrical tab, click Light Fixture.

NOTE: If you do not see the Electrical tab on the Design Bar, right-click the Design Bar and click Electrical.

4. On the Options Bar, from the Type Selector list, ensure that Troffer Corner Insert - Hosted : 2x4 2Lamp (M_Troffer Corner Insert : M 600x1200 2Lamp) is selected.

5. Select a point in conference room B121 to place the light fixture.

6. On the Design Bar, Electrical tab, click Modify.

7. Select the light fixture you just placed.

8. On the Edit toolbar, click Move.

Sample Chapter



esale


Add a Junction Box9. Select the upper-left corner of the light fixture.

10. Select an intersection point of ceiling grid lines near the upper-left corner of the room to snap the light fixture to the ceiling grid.



13. Select the upper-left corner of the light fixture.

14. Select the indicated grid line intersections to place eight new light fixtures.

15. Press ESC to end the Copy tool.

1. On the Design Bar, Electrical tab, click Device.

2. On the Options Bar, from the Type Selector list, select Junction Box Sample 1 (M_Junction Boxes - Load : Junction Box Sample 1).

3. Select a point in the upper-right corner of Conference Room B121 to place the junction box.

NOTE: A Warning box in the lower-right corner of the application window indicates that the junction box is not visible in this view. Close the Warning box.

4. In the Project Browser, under Floor Plans, double-click B1 BASEMENT ELECTRICAL LIGHTING (B1 BASEMENT ELECTRICAL LIGHTING PLAN).

5. Select the junction box you just placed.

NOTE: For metric users, the junction box may not be visible in this view. In the drawing, click at the point approximately where you placed the junction box.


7. In the Element Properties dialog box, for Offset, enter 10' 3" (310 cm). Click OK.

Sample Chapter



esale


Add Switches

Add Receptacles


2. On the Options Bar, from the Type Selector list, select Three Way Switch : 277V Three Way (M_Lighting Switches : M_Three Way).

3. Select a point on the front wall by one of the doors, as shown, to place the first switch.

4. Select a point on the back wall by the door, as shown, to place the second switch.

5. Press ESC twice to end the Device tool.

1. In the Project Browser, under Floor Plans, double-click B1 BASEMENT ELECTRICAL POWER.


3. On the Options Bar, from the Type Selector list, select Duplex Receptacle : Single (M_Receptacle : M_Standard).

4. Select insertion points on the front and back walls of the conference room to place two wall receptacles.

5. Press ESC twice to end the Device tool.


Sample Chapter



esale


Exercise: Create Lighting and Power Circuits

In this exercise, you create lighting and power circuits.

First, you select a switch and create a lighting circuit for it. After you select a panel, you select the lighting fixtures and an additional switch to add devices to the circuit. After reviewing the temporary wiring, you generate wiring for the circuit. You use grips to adjust the placement of wires.

Next, you work on the power wiring of your plan. You select a receptacle and create a power circuit for it. Again, you select a panel and then select the other receptacles that you want to add to this circuit. You review the temporary wiring and generate wiring for the circuit. You generate wiring for two more circuits that are already existing in your drawing. Finally, you delete their home runs so that you can create a multicircuit home run from these three circuits.


■ Create a lighting circuit. ■ Adjust circuit wiring.■ Create a power circuit.■ Remove multiple home runs.■ Create a multicircuit home run.

Create a Lighting 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 1: Designing Systems. Click Exercise: Create Lighting and Power Circuits.

1. Open c_elec_circuits.rvt. The file opens to the B1 BASEMENT ELECTRICAL LIGHTING floor plan.

Sample Chapter



esale


Adjust Circuit Wiring

2. In Conference Room B121, select the switch on the front wall.

3. On the Options Bar, click Create Power Circuit.

4. On the Options Bar, click Select a Panel for the Circuit.

5. On the Options Bar, for Panel, select LP-1.

6. On the Options Bar, click Edit Circuit.

7. On the Design Bar, Edit Circuit tab, click Add to Circuit.


9. CTRL+select the other switch and all the lighting fixtures in Conference Room B121.

10. On the Options Bar, click Finish.

All the lighting fixtures and switches in Conference Room B121 are added to the new circuit.

11. On the Design Bar, click Finish Circuit.

12. Move your cursor over any of the devices in Conference Room B121. Press TAB. The temporary wiring is displayed.

13. With the temporary wiring still displayed, select the device over which you are moving the cursor to select the temporary wiring.

14. On the Options Bar, click Generate Arc Type Wiring.

15. In the view window, notice that permanent wiring is created. Press ESC to end the wiring tool.

1. Select the wiring between the front and middle row of lights.

Sample Chapter



esale


Create a Power Circuit

2. Select the Move Vertex grip on the center lighting fixture in the front row. Drag it to the light fixture to its right.

3. Making sure the wiring is still selected, select the Move Vertex grip on the center lighting fixture in the middle row. Drag it to the light fixture to its right.

4. Select the Move Vertex grip on the wiring. Drag it to the right.

5. Press ESC to deselect the wire.

6. Select the home run that is pointing toward the door in Conference Room B121.

7. Select the Move Vertex grip on the home run arrow. Drag it to the junction box.

1. In the Project Browser, under Floor Plans, double-click B1 BASEMENT ELECTRICAL POWER.

2. In Conference Room B121, select the power receptacle at the front of the room.

3. On the Options Bar, click Create Power Circuit.


5. On the Options Bar, for Panel, select PP-1.

6. On the Options Bar, click Edit Circuit.

7. On the Design Bar, Edit Circuit tab, click Add to Circuit.

8. On the Options Bar, ensure that the Multiple check box is selected.

Sample Chapter



esale


Remove Multiple Home Runs

9. CTRL+select the three other power receptacles in Conference Room B121.

10. On the Options Bar, click Finish. All the power receptacles in Conference Room B121 are added to the new circuit.

11. On the Design Bar, click Finish Circuit.

12. Move your cursor over any of the power receptacles in Conference Room B121. Press TAB. The temporary wiring is displayed.

13. With the temporary wiring still displayed, select the power receptacle over which you are moving the cursor to select the temporary wiring.

14. On the Options Bar, click Generate Arc Type Wiring. The permanent wiring is created.

15. Press ESC to end the wiring tool.

1. Pan to the right to view the entire Service Hall B124.

2. Move your cursor over any of the power receptacles in the long hallway of Service Hall B124. Press TAB.

The temporary wiring is displayed.

3. With the temporary wiring still displayed, select the power receptacle over which you are moving the cursor to select the temporary wiring.

4. On the Options Bar, click Generate Arc Type Wiring.

Sample Chapter



esale


Create a Multicircuit Home Run5. Pan up and move your cursor over the power receptacle in Main Hall B125 in front of Conference Room B122. Press TAB.

6. Repeat steps 3 and 4. The permanent wiring is created.

7. Select the home run from the circuit.

8. Press DELETE.

9. Select the home run in Conference Room B122.

10. Press DELETE.

1. Zoom in to the power receptacle at the back of Conference Room B121.

2. On the Design Bar, Electrical tab, click Wire.

3. Select the back of the receptacle in the service hall.

4. Select the back of the other receptacle at the back of Conference Room B121.

5. Zoom out to view all of Conference Room B121.

6. Zoom in to the power receptacle at the front of the conference room.

Sample Chapter



esale


7. Select the back of the receptacle at the front of the conference room.

8. Select the back of the receptacle in Main Hall B125.

9. Zoom out to see all of Conference Room B121. Notice that all three power circuits are now connected to a single home run and that there are now three home run arrows.


Sample Chapter



esale


Exercise: Set up an Electrical Distribution System

In this exercise, you set up an electrical distribution system and rebalance its load.

First, you assign load information from power panel PP-1 to transformer T-1 so that the power panel now receives power from the transformer. Then you assign the load information from transformer T-1 to lighting panel LP-1. When you look at the circuits on this panel, you notice that the circuit that you just added is named Utility B120. To give it a name that better describes what circuit it is serving, you change the circuit name to Transformer T-1. You also update the trip amperage accordingly.

Then, you rebalance the loads on the circuits in panel PP-1 so that the load variance is reduced to 220 VA. All of the wiring is updated as a result.

Next, you assign the receptacle to PP-1. With this new load, you again rebalance the loads on PP-1.

You complete this exercise with one last redistribution. You rebalance the loads to redistribute them because there is a vast difference in the loaded values for the LP-1 panel.


■ Assign PP-1 load information to panel T-1. ■ Assign T1 load information to panel LP-1.■ Update load information on panel LP-1.■ Rebalance loads on panel PP-1.■ Assign receptacle load information to panel

PP-1.■ Rebalance loads on panel PP-1 with the new

receptacle load.■ Rebalance loads on panel LP-1.

Assign PP-1 Load Information to Panel T-1



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 1: Designing Systems. Click Exercise: Set Up an Electrical Distribution System.

1. Open c_elec_distribution.rvt. The file opens to the B1 BASEMENT ELECTRICAL POWER floor plan.

2. In the drawing, select power panel PP-1.

3. On the Options Bar, for Distribution Sys, verify that the value is 120/208.


5. On the Options Bar, for Panel, select T-1.

6. On the Options Bar, click Edit Circuits on Panel.

7. In the Edit Circuits dialog box:

■ Notice the load names.■ Click Update All Names. The load names

reflect the name of the room or rooms in which each load is located.

■ Click OK.

8. Press ESC to deselect power panel PP-1.

Sample Chapter



esale


Assign T1 Load Information to Panel LP-1

Update Load Information on Panel LP-1

Rebalance Loads on Panel PP-1

Assign Receptacle Load Information to

Panel PP-1

1. In the drawing, select transformer T-1.

2. On the Options Bar, for Distribution Sys, verify that the value is 480/277.


4. On the Options Bar, for Panel, select LP-1.

5. Press ESC to deselect transformer T-1.

1. In the drawing, select light panel LP-1.



■ Notice the load names.■ Click Update All Names. The load names

reflect the room or rooms in which each load is located and a new entry, Lighting Utility B120, is added. This load represents the transformer T-1 that was just added to this lighting panel.

■ Under Load Name, rename Lighting Utility B120 to Transformer T-1.

■ For Transformer T-1, under Trip, enter 100A to update the amperage for this circuit.

■ Click OK.

4. Press ESC to deselect light panel LP-1.




■ Notice that the load across the three phases varies from 1800 VA to 3240 VA.

■ Click Rebalance Loads. The load across the phases now varies from 2340 VA to 2700 VA. The loads are better balanced.

■ Click OK.

1. In the Utility B120 room, select the receptacle by power panel PP-1.

2. On the Options Bar, click Circuit Properties.

3. In the Element Properties dialog box, for Circuit Number, verify that Value is unnamed. The receptacle is currently not assigned to a panel. Click OK.


5. On the Options Bar, for Panel, select PP-1.

6. Press ESC to deselect the receptacle.

Sample Chapter



esale


Rebalance Loads on Panel PP-1 with the

New Receptacle Load

Rebalance Loads on Panel LP-1




■ Notice the load names.■ Click Update All Names. The receptacle

load is added as the entry Power Utility B120.

■ Under Load, notice the load distribution across the phases.

■ Click Rebalance Loads. The load distribution is better balanced across the phases.

■ Click OK.

4. Press ESC to deselect power panel PP-1.

1. In the drawing, select light panel LP-1.



■ Notice the load names.■ Click Update All Names. The load name

Transformer T-1 is replaced by the load name Lighting Utility B120 because this is the name for the room in the drawing.

■ Under Load, notice the load distribution.■ Click Rebalance Loads. The load

distribution is better balanced across the phases.

■ Click OK.

4. Press ESC to deselect light panel LP-1.


Sample Chapter



esale


Exercise: Create a New Lighting-Fixture Family Type

In this exercise, you create a new lighting-fixture family type, assign the new lighting-fixture type to existing lighting fixtures, and analyze the lighting values.

When this design was originally laid out, you used a generic lighting-fixture type. Your client has now chosen a specific lighting fixture for the conference rooms. Therefore, you need to create a new lighting-fixture family. Then you replace the current lighting fixtures in the conference room with the new lighting-fixture type. You duplicate the existing lighting-fixture type and edit it to reflect the new fixture features because the new lighting-fixture type is similar to the current one. You assign it the type mark E as well as a new IES file.

After all the lighting fixtures in the conference rooms are updated to the new type, you make sure that all lighting fixtures are tagged, and then generate a lighting-analysis schedule. This schedule displays calculated results based on the assigned IES file for this lighting-fixture family type. The results indicate that you need to edit some of the lighting fixtures to increase their average estimated illumination.


■ Create a lighting-fixture family. ■ Assign a new lighting-fixture type.■ Analyze room lighting.

Create a Lighting-Fixture Family



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 1: Designing Systems. Click Exercise: Create a New Lighting-Fixture Family Type.

1. Open c_elec_fixture_family.rvt. The file opens to the B1 BASEMENT ELECTRICAL LIGHTING floor plan.

2. Navigate to the folder where you saved your courseware datasets.

3. Move the E6841.ies file from this folder to the folder that contains your application’s IES files. This is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\ Autodesk\RME 2008 \IES. If not, use the IES folder defined in revit.ini.

4. Zoom in to Conference Room B122.

5. Select a lighting fixture.


7. In the Element Properties dialog box, click Edit/New.

8. In the Type Properties dialog box, click Duplicate.

9. In the Name dialog box: ■ Enter 2x4 2 Lamp 12 Cell Parabolic.

■ Click OK.

10. In the Type Properties dialog box, under Electrical - Lighting, for IES Data File Name, enter E6841.

11. Under Identity Data:

■ For Description, enter 2x4 12 Cell

Parabolic.■ For Type Mark, enter E.

12. Click OK to close the Type Properties dialog box.

13. Click OK to close the Element Properties dialog box.

14. Press ESC to deselect the fixture.

Sample Chapter



esale


Assign a New Lighting-Fixture Type

Analyze Room Lighting

1. Zoom out to view Conference Rooms B121, B122, and B123.

2. Select all of the lighting fixtures in the conference rooms by drawing a selection window.

3. On the Options Bar, click Filter Selection.

4. In the Filter dialog box:

■ Click Check None.■ Select the Lighting Fixtures check box.■ Click OK.

5. On the Options Bar, from the Type Selector list, select Troffer Corner Insert - Hosted : 2x4 2 Lamp 12 Cell Parabolic.

6. Press ESC to deselect the lighting fixtures.

1. Zoom in to Conference Room B121.

2. On the Design Bar, Basics tab, click Tag > By Category.

3. On the Options Bar, clear the Leader check box and click Tags.

4. In the Tags dialog box, for Lighting Fixtures:

■ Verify that Lighting Fixture Tag : Standard is loaded.

■ Click OK.

5. Select each lighting fixture in Conference Room B121.

6. In the Project Browser, under Schedules/Quantities, double-click Room Lighting Analysis.

7. In the schedule, notice that calculated results for the rooms in which the average estimated illumination does not meet the required standard are displayed with a red background.


Sample Chapter



esale


Lesson: Creating System Piping

Overview

This lesson describes how to lay out and create system piping.

You create supply and return piping for mechanical systems. 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.

Objectives


■ Describe system piping. ■ Identify the steps in the process of creating a piping system. ■ State the recommended guidelines for creating a piping system. ■ Create a hydronic supply piping system.

Base-mounted pump connected to supply and return piping

Sample Chapter



esale

Lesson: Creating System Piping ■ 81

About System Piping

Revit MEP 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. Piping modeled using Revit MEP piping components can be checked for interferences against other systems and scheduled for quantity and analysis purposes.

Definition of 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 the 3D representation of the connections and transitions between various sections of 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 type pipe fitting families specified in the type properties of that system are automatically inserted to create the piping run.

The following illustration shows the type properties of a typical chilled water system.

Sample Chapter



esale


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 in determining these properties for a given pipe run are found 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.

The following illustration shows the Pipe Sizing dialog box.

Piping Design Bar and Tools

The Piping Design bar provides tools for placing the mechanical equipment to be piped and for placing the pipe, pipe fittings, and accessories. The Piping Design bar also provides tools for creating schedules of piping components.

When you activate the Piping tool, the Options Bar displays various options that you can use on the pipe. You can specify the system type, level, size, offset, and slope here prior to placing the piping in your MEP model.

Sizing Method Description

Velocity only Pipe is sized based on the velocity specified in the Pipe Sizing dialog box.

Friction only Pipe is sized based on the allowable friction as specified in the Pipe Sizing dialog box.

Velocity and Friction Pipe is sized to meet both the velocity and allowable friction, as specified in the Pipe Sizing dialog box.

Velocity or Friction Pipe is sized to meet either velocity or allowable friction specified in the Pipe Sizing dialog box.

Sample Chapter



esale


Pipe Slope Tool

When inserting piping into your MEP model, you can specify a slope for that pipe using piping layout options. Then you can use the Layout Options Bar to slope a pipe based on a total rise and run or with a specified rise per specified length of the pipe.

Auto Connect Setting

The Auto Connect option on the Options Tool Bar 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 uncheck the Auto Connect option.

Example of a Piping System

The following illustrations depict various types of piping systems.

The following illustration shows the floor plan view of chilled water piping to the cooling coil of an air handling unit.

The following illustration shows the supply and return hot water piping for a series of perimeter radiation units.

Sample Chapter



esale


The following illustration shows the 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.

Process: Creating a Hydronic Supply Piping System

The process for creating hydronic supply piping system is shown in the following illustration.

The following steps list the tasks that you perform to create a hydronic supply piping system.

1. Place the mechanical equipment in a view.

Place mechanical equipment to be piped in a view.

Sample Chapter



esale


Guidelines for Creating a Piping System

It is recommended that you follow certain guidelines when creating a piping system.

■ Select the appropriate pipe type for the installation you have in mind. Using the wrong pipe type for a given installation may result in the wrong pipe type being actually installed.

■ Create hydronic systems to automate the process of pipe routing and track system data for sizing and analysis.

■ 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.

2. 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 from the Options Bar.

3. Automatically route system piping.

Automatically route the system piping by selecting the Layout Path button from the Options Bar. Specify pipe main routing and use the arrows on the Design Bar to cycle through potential solutions.

4. Specify the liquid in the system.

Specify the liquid in the system and the solution concentration, if appropriate, by selecting System Properties from the Design Bar.

5. Save the changes.

Save the changes and finish creating the system.

Sample Chapter



esale


Exercise: Create a Hydronic Supply Piping System

In this exercise, you create, lay out, and size a hydronic piping system.

You are placing an air-cooled chiller outside the basement of a building. This chiller will discharge to a base-mounted pump, which will circulate the chilled water throughout the building.


■ Place mechanical equipment.■ Specify the element properties of the mechanical equipment.■ Create a hydronic supply system.■ Edit piping system properties.■ Size the piping system.

Place Mechanical Equipment



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 1: Designing Systems. Click Exercise: Create a Hydronic Supply Piping System.

1. Open i_creating_a_piping_system.rvt or m_creating_a_piping_system.rvt. The imperial file opens to the Basement Piping floor plan, and the metric file opens to the 1-Mech floor plan.

2. On the Design Bar, Piping tab, click Mechanical Equipment.

3. On the Options Bar, from the Type Selector list, select Air-Cooled Chiller : Standard (M_Air-Cooled Chiller : M_Standard).

4. Press SPACE three times to rotate the chiller in place and click to place the chiller outside the Basement Mechanical Room. (For metric users, place the chiller in the bottom room.)

Sample Chapter



esale


Specify the Element Properties of the

Mechanical Equipment

Create a Hydronic Supply System

Edit Piping System Properties

NOTE: In the metric version, the rooms in the plan view are not marked.

5. From the Type Selector list, select Base Mounted Pump : Model 4x6 (M_Base Mounted Pump : M_Model 100 x 150).

6. Press SPACE to rotate the pump and click to place it in the lower-right corner of the Pump Room (For metric users, place the pump in the upper room on the right).

7. On the Design Bar, Piping tab, click Modify.

1. In the view window, select the air-cooled chiller.


3. In the Element Properties dialog box, under Instance Parameters:

■ Under Mechanical (Dimensions), for PipeRadius, enter 4" (100 mm).

■ Under Mechanical (Mechanical - Loads), for Flow, enter 200 GPM (12.5 L/s).

■ Click OK.

4. In the view window, select the base-mounted pump.


6. In the Element Properties dialog box, under Instance Parameters, Mechanical:

■ For Pump Flow, enter 200 GPM (12.5 L/s).

■ Click OK.

7. On the Design Bar, Piping tab, click Modify.

1. In the view window, CTRL+ select the base-mounted pump and air-cooled chiller.

2. On the Options Bar, select Create Hydronic Supply System.

3. On the Options Bar, click Layout Path.


■ Verify that in the Solution Type list, Network is selected.

■ Select the first layout solution.

NOTE: You can click Next Solution to cycle through various potential solutions.

5. On the Design Bar, Layout Paths tab, click Finish Layout to insert the piping.

1. In the view window, select the air-cooled chiller.

Sample Chapter



esale


Size the Piping System

2. On the Options Bar, click Edit System.

NOTE: If the Select a System dialog box is displayed, leave the default system selected and click OK.

3. On the Design Bar, Edit System tab, click System Properties.

4. In the Element Properties dialog box, under Instance Parameters, Mechanical:

■ From the Fluid Type list, select Ethylene Glycol.

■ For Fluid Temperature, enter 48°F (9°C).■ For Fluid Percentage, enter .70.■ Click OK.

5. On the Design Bar, Edit System tab, click Finish System.

1. Move your mouse over a piping element of the system and press TAB. The attached piping run appears grayed out.

2. Select the pipe run over which you are moving the mouse. The pipe run is highlighted in red.

3. On the Options Bar, select Sizing.

4. In the Pipe Sizing dialog box:

■ Ensure that And is selected under Sizing Method.

■ 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.

NOTE: If the Revit error dialog box is displayed, click Cancel to close the dialog box.

5. Close all files without saving changes.

Sample Chapter



esale

Lesson: Creating Plumbing Systems ■ 89

Lesson: Creating Plumbing Systems

Overview

This lesson describes how to create and size a 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 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


■ 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 plumbing sanitary system.

Sample Chapter



esale


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

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.

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. The System Browser provides a quick and easy way to track plumbing fixtures and components that are not assigned to any system.

Mechanical parameters of a plumbing pipe, including fixture unit total

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

Sample Chapter



esale


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 also edit plumbing fixture settings by creating a copy of the fixture. A copied plumbing fixture can also be used in other projects.

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

Partial listing of available plumbing fixture families

Sample Chapter



esale


Plumbing Pipe Slope

You can slope a plumbing pipe by individual pipe section or by pipe run using the Layout Options dialog box. You access this menu by clicking Options on the Options Bar.

You use the Layout Path option to automatically lay out a plumbing system.

In the following illustration, the Slope field is activated on the Options Bar to set a slope for the entire system while using the Layout Path option.

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.

Layout Options dialog box

Sample Chapter



esale


Example of a Plumbing System

Example of typical plumbing type parameters

Typical bathroom layout connected to a plumbing system in plan view

Sample Chapter



esale


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. Select the plumbing fixtures.

Place the plumbing fixtures that you need to pipe in a plan view. Select the plumbing fixtures that you need to assign to the plumbing system.

2. Set the properties for the fixtures.

Use the Edit System and Settings commands on the Options Bar to specify settings such as pipe type, plumbing elevation for main and branch plumbing pipes, and slope.

NOTE: A downward-sloped pipe requires a negative value like -1/8".

3. Create a plumbing path.

Select the Layout Path from the Options Bar to create a plumbing path and route the system plumbing. Select any one of the routing solutions to specify the main routing method and use the arrows on the Design Bar to cycle through potential solutions.


Save the changes after selecting the desired routing solution. Click Finish System on the Design Bar to save the changes. You can also select the fittings and click the Tee grips to add connections for vents and runouts, if required.

Sample Chapter



esale


Guidelines for Creating a Plumbing System

It is recommended that you follow these guidelines when creating a plumbing system.

■ 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.

■ Create plumbing systems 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.

Sample Chapter



esale


Exercise: Create a Plumbing Sanitary System

In this exercise, you create, lay out, and edit a plumbing sanitary system.

You are laying out the bathroom plumbing for a floor of a residential building.


■ Place plumbing fixtures.■ Create a sanitary plumbing system.■ Manually complete the plumbing run for

the floor.

Place Plumbing Fixtures



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 1: Designing Systems. Click Exercise: Create a Plumbing Sanitary System.

1. Open i_create_plumbing_system.rvt or m_create_plumbing_system.rvt. The file opens to the 2nd Floor Plumbing Mechanical plan view.

2. In the view window, zoom in towards the center bathroom.

3. On the Design Bar, Plumbing tab, click Plumbing Fixture.

4. Select Corner Shower Stall : 32"x34" (M_Corner Shower Stall : 800x850mm) from the Type Selector list.

5. On the Options Bar, select Place on Work Plane.

6. Press SPACEBAR three times to properly orient the plumbing fixture.


■ Align the plumbing fixture with the upper-left corner of the bathroom.

■ Click to place the plumbing fixture.

Sample Chapter



esale


8. Select Vanity Lavatory : 30"x19" ( M_Vanity Lavatory : 750 x 475mm) from the Type Selector list.


■ Press SPACEBAR once to rotate the plumbing fixture.

■ Place the plumbing fixture on the south wall to the right of the mid-point of the wall as shown.

10. Select Flush Tank Water Closet : Standard (M_Flush Tank Water Closet : Standard) from the Type Selector list.

11. On the Options Bar, select Place on Work Plane.


■ Press SPACEBAR three times to properly orient the plumbing fixture.

■ Align the fixture with the lavatory.

■ Click to place the fixture.

13. On the Design Bar, Plumbing tab, click Modify.

14. In the view window, CTRL+select the three plumbing fixtures that you have placed in the bathroom.


16. In the view window, click the end point at the upper-right corner of the north bathroom wall to specify a start point.

Sample Chapter



esale


17. In the view window, zoom in towards the upper-right corner of the second room below the bathroom.

18. To place a copy of the selected fixtures:

■ Place the cursor so that the square at the centerline of the wall end point is highlighted.

■ Click to place the fixtures. Verify that the copied fixtures are in line with the bathroom walls. If the fixtures are not copied properly, select and move them to align with the walls.

19. On the Design Bar, Plumbing tab, click Plumbing Fixture.

20. Select Maestro Bath Tub : 36"x66" (M_Maestro Bath Tub : 900 x 1900mm) from the Type Selector list.

21. On the Options Bar, click Place on Work Plane.


■ Press SPACEBAR to rotate the fixture north south as shown.

■ Align the fixture with the lower-right corner of the lower bathroom.

■ Click to place the fixture.

23. On the Design Bar, Plumbing tab, click Modify.

Sample Chapter



esale


Create a Sanitary Plumbing System

1. In the view window, select the shower stall in the lower bathroom.

2. On the Options Bar, click Create Sanitary System.

3. On the Options Bar, click Edit System. Notice that the Design Bar changes to the Edit System tab.

4. On the Design Bar, Edit System tab, click Add To System.

5. In the view window, select all the fixtures that you have placed in both the bathrooms. Do not use the CTRL key to perform this multiple selection.



■ Place the cursor over any plumbing fixture that you have placed.

■ Press TAB to highlight the suggested routing for the plumbing system. Notice the Status Bar that displays the name of the routing, Default Domestic Cold Water in this case.


■ Press TAB until the Status Bar shows the name of the system as Sanitary 1.

■ Click to select the routing solution.

9. On the Options Bar, click Layout Path. The Design Bar changes to the Layout Paths tab with Solutions selected by default.


11. In the Pipe Conversion Settings dialog box:

■ Select Main.■ For Pipe Type, select Pipe Types : PVC.■ For Offset, enter -18" (-450 mm).■ Select Branch.■ For Pipe Type, select Pipe Types : PVC.■ For Offset, enter -18" (-450 mm).

Sample Chapter



esale


Manually Complete the Plumbing Run for

the Floor

12. Click OK to close the Pipe Conversion Settings dialog box.


■ Select Perimeter from the Solution Type list.

■ Click Next Solution to check the various routing solutions. Select the solution 5 of 5.

■ For slope, enter -1/8" (-0.6°).■ Verify that Inset shows 0' 9" (225 mm).

14. On the Design Bar, Layout Paths tab, click Finish Layout.

15. In the view window, select a segment of the plumbing line in the top bathroom as shown. Notice the negative slope.

1. On the View Control Bar, select Detail Level > Fine. Notice that the pipes change to a double line pipe look.

2. In the view window, zoom in towards the elbow on the top.

3. On the View Control Bar, select Detail Level > Medium.

4. In the view window, select the elbow. Notice the plus Tee grips that are shown.

5. In the view window, click the upper Tee grip.

Sample Chapter



esale



■ Select the vertical pipe below the elbow.

■ Right-click the view window.■ Click Create Similar.

7. Click the elbow endpoint, as shown, to start drawing the pipe segment. Zoom in at the elbow to select the location with ease.

8. On the Options Bar, click Options.

9. In the Layout Options dialog box:

■ Ensure that Rise/12" is -1/8" (Slope Angle is -0.6° for metric).

■ Click OK.

10. In the view window, zoom out and place a vertical segment of the pipe.

11. Place a horizontal segment towards the right.

Sample Chapter



esale


12. Place another vertical segment that goes into the chase.


■ For Offset, enter -10' (-3000 mm).■ Click Apply.

14. On the Design Bar, Plumbing Tab, click Modify.

15. In the view window, select the elbow Tee from which you had started drawing the pipe segment. Notice the Flip Fitting arrows that appear on the right.

16. Click the Flip Fitting arrows to rotate the Tee in the correct direction.

17. In the Project Browser, under Views (Discipline), Mechanical, Plumbing, 3D Views, double-click 3D Plumbing to open the view.

18. In the view window, SHIFT+right-click to rotate the 3D model and view the plumbing fixtures that you have placed.


Sample Chapter



esale

Lesson: Creating Fire Protection Systems ■ 103

Lesson: Creating Fire Protection Systems

Overview

This lesson describes how to create and size a fire protection sprinkler system.

Using Revit MEP, you can create various fire protection sprinkler systems, such as upright and pendent, and generate sprinkler piping using the auto layout tools.

Objectives


■ Describe fire protection systems. ■ Identify the steps in the process of creating a fire protection system. ■ State the recommended practices for creating a fire protection system. ■ Create a fire protection system.

Wet and dry fire protection system Sample Chapter



esale


About Fire Protection Systems

You can use Revit MEP to create sprinkler systems, which are an essential component of modern buildings. You can create, lay out, and size the fire protection system and its components by using piping tools.

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 then generate the sprinkler piping by using the auto layout tools or by manually drawing it.

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.

Revit MEP provides a large library of upright and pendent sprinkler heads, which can be placed as elements hosted in the ceiling or as nonhosted elements.

Sprinkler Libraries

You can use a number of sprinkler heads included in the sprinkler library folders. By loading these families in a project, you make them available for placement in the MEP model.

Semi-recessed sprinkler pendent

Partial listing of the available sprinkler families

Sample Chapter



esale


Piping Tools

You can use the various tools on the Fire Protection tab of the Design Bar to place sprinkler heads, sprinkler piping, and pipe accessories.

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.

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

Fire Protection tab of the Design Bar

Sample Chapter



esale


Example of a Fire Protection System

Process of Creating a Fire Protection System

You can create a piping system to associate a number of sprinkler heads. The auto routing tools help you assign sprinklers to a fire protection system and quickly insert piping, connecting the objects that make up the system.

Process: Creating a Fire Protection System

The process of creating a fire protection system is shown in the following illustration.

3D view of a typical run of sprinklers and associated piping

Sample Chapter



esale


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

Guidelines for Creating a Fire Protection System

It is recommended that you follow these guidelines when creating a fire protection system.

■ Place sprinkler piping above pendent type sprinkler heads and below upright sprinkler heads. This is because creating a piping run in the opposite direction will not connect to the sprinkler as intended.

■ Set an elevation for the piping head when using layout tools. This is because the layout tools will not find a solution for piping at an elevation above upright heads or below pendent sprinklers.

■ Do not size sprinklers based on the flow information for individual sprinkler heads. This information is for scheduling, coordination, and analysis purposes only.

1. Select the sprinkler heads.

Locate and select the sprinkler heads to be piped in a view. Use the commands on the Options Bar to create a fire protection system.

2. Edit the sprinkler system.

Use the Edit System command on the Options Bar to activate the edit model. Use the commands on the Design Bar to add more sprinkler heads into the system.

3. Create a layout path.

Use the Layout Path command to automatically route the system piping. You can browse through various solution types and select the most viable solution.


Save the changes to finalize the solution that you selected and finish drawing the fire protection system.

Sample Chapter



esale


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 fire protection piping plan for a small storage area and an exposed loading dock.


■ Place sprinkler heads.■ Create a sprinkler system.■ Lay out the sprinkler piping.

Place Sprinkler Heads



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 1: Designing Systems. Click Exercise: Create a Fire Protection System.

1. Open i_fire_protection.rvt or m_fire_protection.rvt. The file opens to the Level 1 Fire Protection mechanical plan view.

NOTE: The metric graphics look slightly different throughout the exercise.

2. In the view window, zoom in around the Loading Dock area (blank square towards the upper-right corner).

3. On the Design Bar, Fire Protection tab, click Sprinkler.

4. Select Sprinkler-Dry_Pendent-Plane_Hosted : 1/2" Dry Pendent (M_Sprinkler-Dry_Pendent-Plane_Hosted : 15mm Dry Pendent) from the Type Selector list.

5. On the Options Bar, select Place on Face.

Sample Chapter



esale


6. In the view window, place an instance of the sprinkler head towards the upper-right corner of the Loading Dock. Align the instance 6' (1800 mm) from the north and 7' (2100 mm) from the eastern wall.

7. On the Design Bar, Fire Protection tab, click Modify.

8. In the view window, select the sprinkler head that you have just placed.



11. In the view window, click at a point below the sprinkler head to specify the start point for the copy command.

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

13. Place another instance of the sprinkler head 9' 0" (2700 mm) towards the left.


15. In the view window, select the three instances of the sprinkler heads that you have placed.

16. On the Edit toolbar, click Copy. Verify that the Multiple check box is selected on the Options Bar.

Sample Chapter



esale


17. In the view window, place two instances of the shower heads, each 10' 0" (3000 mm) apart.


19. On the Design Bar, Fire Protection tab, click Sprinkler.

20. Select Sprinkler-Pendent-Plane_Hosted : 1/2" Pendent ( M_Sprinkler-Pendent-Plane_Hosted : 15 mm Pendent) from the Type Selector list.

21. On the Options Bar, select Place on Face.

22. In the view window, place two instances of the sprinkler heads towards the lower-right corner of the Storage area.


24. In the view window, select both the instances of the sprinkler heads that you have just placed.

25. On the Edit toolbar, click Copy. Verify that the Multiple check box is selected on the Options Bar.

26. In the view window, place two instances of the selected sprinkler heads towards the left, 12' 0" (3600 mm) apart.


Sample Chapter



esale


Create a Sprinkler System

28. To place two more instances of the sprinkler head:

■ Select any instance of the sprinkler head.

■ Right-click anywhere in the view window, click Create Similar.

■ On the Options Bar, click Place on Face.


■ Place two instances of the shower head as shown.

■ Press ESC twice to end the command.

30. Select both the sprinkler heads that you have just placed. Use the Copy command to copy both the sprinkler heads four times vertically above. Place them 10' 0" (3000 mm) apart and click Modify to terminate the command.

1. In the view window, select any sprinkler head in the Loading Dock.

2. On the Options Bar, click Create Fire Protection Dry System.

3. On the Options Bar, click Edit System. Notice that the Design Bar changes to the Edit System tab.

4. On the Design Bar, Edit System tab, click Add to System.

5. In the view window, select the remaining eight sprinkler heads inside the Loading Dock area.

Sample Chapter



esale


Lay Out the Sprinkler Piping


7. In the view window, select any sprinkler head inside the Storage area. Notice that the Options Bar has a different icon for creating a wet fire protection system. Click Create Fire Protection Wet System.

8. Repeat steps 3 through 6 to associate all the sprinklers in the Storage area to a wet fire protection system.

1. In the Loading Dock area, select a sprinkler head.

2. On the Options Bar, click Layout Path. Notice that there is just one network piping solution for the sprinkler heads.



■ Select Main.■ Verify that the Pipe Type value is Pipe

Types : Standard.■ Verify that the Offset value is 10' 0"

(2900 mm).■ Select Branch.■ Verify that the Pipe Type value is Pipe

Types : Standard.■ Verify that the Offset value is 10' 0"

(2900 mm).


6. On the Design Bar, Layout Paths tab, click Finish Layout.

7. In the Project Browser, under Views (Discipline), Mechanical, HVAC, 3D Views, double-click {3D} to open the view. Notice the new sprinkler system that you have created.

8. In the Project Browser, under Views (Discipline), Mechanical, Fire Protection, Ceiling Plans, double-click Level 1 Fire Protection Plan to open the view.

NOTE: For metric users, open the Level 1 Fire Protection Plan under HVAC, Ceiling Plans.

9. In the view window, select a sprinkler head in the Storage area.

Sample Chapter



esale


10. On the Options Bar, click Layout Path. Click Next Solution to cycle through the suggested network solutions. Notice that for both the network solutions, the suggested piping is not confined to the Storage area.


■ Select Perimeter from the Solution Type list.

■ For Inset, enter 2' 0" (400 mm).■ Click Settings.


■ Select Main.■ Verify that the Pipe Type value is Pipe

Types : Standard.■ For Offset, enter 10' 0" (2900 mm).■ Select Branch.■ Verify that the Pipe Type value is Pipe

Types : Standard.■ For Offset, enter 10' 0" (2900 mm).


14. On the Options Bar, click Next Solution to cycle through the available solutions. Notice that for some solutions, the piping remains within the Storage area. Select solution 2 of 5.

15. On the Design Bar, Layout Paths tab, click Finish layout.

16. In the Project Browser, under Views (Discipline), Mechanical, HVAC, 3D Views, double-click {3D} to open the view. View both the sprinkler systems that you have created from different directions.


Sample Chapter



esale


Chapter Summary

In this chapter, you learned how to create HVAC models by using gbXML data and adding mechanical and piping connections. You also learned how to create electrical designs, system piping and plumbing, and fire protection sprinkler systems in a building model.

Having completed this chapter, you can:

■ Add mechanical equipment and piping connections to create HVAC designs. ■ Lay out and create system piping. ■ Create and size a plumbing system.■ Create and size a fire protection sprinkler system.

Sample Chapter



esale