Architecture and MEP Elements Management

[anthony_iskandar]

I know this maybe depends on each company working structure.

But my situation is we are just 2 people working together in a construction company. And we need to handle all things together, Structure, Architecture, and Mechanical Electrical Plumbing.

We decided to separate the Structure Architecture Revit file, and MEP Revit file. And we linked SA file into MEP file, not vice versa.

We put the water closet, lavatory, kitchen sink on SA file, should be correct, right?

The confusion is where should we put the drainage, on SA file or MEP file?

The drainage position may be flexibly changed according to where the pipe is not clashed, isn't it? Is it better to put it on MEP file, but it won't be seen on SA Revit file, which isn't good for floor tiling start positioning.

[barthbradley]

Why did you break up your Project in the first place? 

[anthony_iskandar]

To avoid big file size, because I'm new in Revit, and I'm really new in MEP, so I thought separating MEP from SA is a good practice, and the company also approved this separation method.

[ToanDN]

You can link the SA file in the MEP file to coordinate locations of fixtures with utilities.  Or place fixtures in the MEP file and link the MEP in the SA file to coordinate finishes.  It is a two-way street.

[anthony_iskandar]

What is an usual way of practice? Where do you put the drainage, SA or MEP? A common one?

[barthbradley]

When you say "drainage" what are you referring to specifically? 

Regarding breaking up the Model into Disciples, that's unnecessary. If the file becomes so big that it is busting at the seams, then break it up then - not now.   Frankly, I doubt seriously that you'll ever need to break it up.  You have described yourself as a small, multi-discipline construction firm.  

[anthony_iskandar]

Oh, sorry, the drainage I mean is a floor drain.
Because we also need to model the landscape, MEP detailed family, that's why I'm afraid about the file size.

[barthbradley]

The only reason we are having this conversation now is because you are breaking up the Project into disciplines before you even know what goes where. You're hamstringing yourself right out of the gate.  Keep everything in one Project. You'll thank me later. You can always break the Project up later if need be.  Breaking up is not hard to do - no matter what Neil Sedaka says.  😉