Bill of Materials and Equipment (BOM) in Autodesk Revit

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Today, an increasing number of engineering and consulting firms choose Revit as their primary tool for design development and documentation. This is largely due to the limitations of traditional documentation methods, which often include prolonged preparation times, a high risk of human error, and difficulties in data integration across disciplines.

Revit addresses these challenges through Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology, which ensures the integration of all model elements and simplifies team coordination. However, despite these benefits, implementing Revit may involve certain challenges, such as:

• Staff training: the need to train employees in using the new software;

• Initial costs: investments in licenses, template customization, and adaptation to the company’s workflow;

• Resistance to change: reluctance from professionals accustomed to traditional tools like AutoCAD or Excel.

Despite these difficulties, companies that successfully implement Revit gain significant advantages: shortened project timelines, improved documentation accuracy, and easier change management — especially important under dynamic client requirements. Thus, Revit becomes an essential tool for modern companies striving to remain competitive in the market.

What is a Bill of Materials and Equipment (BOM) and how is it generated from a Revit model?

A BOM also known as Bill of Materials and Equipment is a detailed list of equipment, products, and materials used in a model and required for the execution of a construction project. This document is an integral part of project documentation, providing complete information about the components used in construction.

The specification typically includes:

• Position numbers to identify each item in the list;

• Quantity of each component, indicating material or product demand;

• Name and type of components, providing insight into their purpose;

• Product code or manufacturer’s unique identifier, helping identify specific products;

• Other relevant characteristics, such as dimensions, materials, units of measurement, and additional notes.

A BOM enables efficient material procurement planning, logistics coordination, and construction oversight. It brings project transparency and reduces the likelihood of errors and overspending. In Revit, specifications can be automatically updated, significantly simplifying the management of large and complex projects.

The Revit model is built on families, which are the building blocks of the structure and form the basis of the BOM. Each family contains a set of parameters, most of which are predefined. However, Revit provides flexible options for adding custom parameters, allowing models to be adapted to specific project requirements and enabling the inclusion of additional information in the BOM essential to project execution.

As a result, to accurately count model elements, it is necessary to create — or, if already available, assign — shared parameters to both families and the overall model. This ensures accurate tracking of all components and their integration into the specification.

 

Here are the main parameters used as examples in this article:

• BOM_Chapter – defines the structure of the BOM (usually hidden).

• BOM_Count – reflects the actual count or length of an instance. It can combine lengths and quantities in a single column.

• BOM_Discipline – identifies the discipline or section the element belongs to.

• BOM_ID – corresponds to the catalog product code.

• BOM_Manufacturer – indicates the element’s manufacturer.

• BOM_Name – contains the instance name.

• BOM_Note – allows adding comments or notes to an element.

• BOM_Type – specifies the instance type.

• BOM_Units – denotes the unit of measurement (e.g., “m”, “pcs”).

• BOM_Weight – shows the weight of the instance.

These parameters provide a detailed description of each item in the specification, facilitating efficient organization and usage of model data.

If the Revit template already includes standard families used across all projects, Journals can be utilized to quickly assign parameters to them. This is a convenient and effective tool for optimizing family configuration processes.

 

After adding all necessary parameters to families and placing them in the model, you can create a custom specification layout. Use the "Schedules" tool found on the View tab of the ribbon. For counting items measured in units, use the Multi-Category schedule and select the appropriate parameters. At the same time, elements such as cable trays or pipes, measured in meters, require separate specification creation and setup.

 

As a result, a BOM will be generated that fully reflects the adjustments and settings applied during its creation. It will become a vital tool for project follow-up, offering convenient access to key model data. This enables modifications or updates to be made at any time, adapting the specification to new requirements or changes in the project. Such an approach ensures flexibility, efficiency, and accuracy in model data management.

 

Learn more about generating specifications in Revit and optimizing modeling workflows in our course Autodesk Revit 2025: Electrical Basic. We provide in-depth instruction on working with family parameters and specification settings tailored specifically for electrical projects. Join us to master efficient practices and enhance your qualifications!