Fabrication Parts - Change Specification/Material/Gauge

[cpoompan]

Revit does not allow the user to change the specification or Material of Fabrication parts once placed in the drawing. This requires each service to be built with a single spec/material. This has not been the workflow in CADmep/EST or CAM where we have typically been able to use changespec and multiple item properties to change gauges and materials.

If the Revit workflow is going to require each service to specify type, material, and specification. We currently have 7 service types (Supply air, Exhaust air, Return air, outside air, etc....), 9 Material types (Galvanized, paint lock, SS 304, SS316L, etc....), built at 16 different pressure classes +/-1" WG, +/-2" wg, +/-4" wg, 4 different welded classes, etc....). So the math would be 7x9x16 =1008 systems. I realize not all of these combinations would be required but from the outside, this seems like a mass amount of services.

As for specifications, we would have to set a single specification for each service. So we would need to break these up to contain a single material for each specification. So 9 material types x 16 pressure classes = 144 specifications.

By allowing access to change at least the material/gauge I think we cant cut these numbers down drastically. 7 system types x 16 pressure classes would only be 112 services (much more manageable) and 16 pressure classes. (since we could now include multiple materials in each pressure). 

[itaccounts]

 Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Don't hold your breath. Autodesk can't handle anything that doesn't require clear cut rules that apply globally. That's why with all the talk of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence being able to do things people can 't, our industry is still stuck with software that can't do what we need without manual workarounds, human intervention and overrides. 

A service should have a standard specification and material but either or both should be able to overridden as needed. It's actually quite common. Spinning up separate services for this purpose creates another level of database management and administration and degrades reporting abilities as you now have multiple services that actually represent a single system. 

[Novybec-YD]

Imagine if, like me, you have to be able to send MAJ file in both metric and imperial to the shops... because some only work in metric and some only in imperial.

Back in the days, I built my services and specs with one material per spec and service because I didn't know better. Then I discovered that building it efficiently was to have multiple materials and shapes in the same spec. That was the way to go.

 Now, we're back 10 years! I'll have to do it all over again. I can already hear the cad guys whining...

[kimberly_fuhrman-jones]

Accepted:

Congrats! We think this is a great idea, so we've decided to add it to our roadmap. Thanks for the suggestion!

To follow the progress of features in development, please see the Revit Public Roadmap and join the Revit Preview Release to participate in feature testing. (Note that Accepted Ideas may not be immediately available.)

The Factory

[Novybec-YD]

While at it, if you find a way of having the same access to Stiffeners...?

Thanks

[kimberly_fuhrman-jones]

Apologies for the confusion! This Idea has been partially implemented in Revit 2025. There is still more work to be done!