Use the same Weight Per Foot parameter across all OTB structural steel families.

[becca3186]

It would be nice if the Out of the Box structural steel families all used the same Weight Per Foot parameter. 

Currently when I go to pull a quick steel tonnage number off the models, there are three parameters I have to look for or cross-map in revit families to pull tonnage off a structural revit model. W, Wt, and Nominal Weight. 

Most of the shapes in the main Steel folder use the regular W shared parameter that's been there forever. Its just a number and isn't even in the right lbsf/ft units so i have to use calculated formulas to translate it.

Then there is the dreaded Wt parameter in the Joist families... which isnt even a shared parameter to begin with! So have to map that one regardless.

And now with the newer AISC 14.1 folder is the Nominal Weight parameter that if you want to schedule you have to be brighter than the average bulb and make sure to switch your "Select available fields from:" drop down to Section Shape (which is not intuitive AT ALL), but oooo look at all this REAL INFORMATION!! 

Can we get this fancy, yet hidden, built in section shape Nominal Weight parameter added to ALL the other steel families? Or atleast send out a public service announcement to people to start using/updating with the AISC families as that's the route Revit seems to be going with the connection enhancements? (i mean, if that IS the intended route?) and then in a couple years don't even send out the old families? 

[lionel.kai]

Many other parameters also need to be "fixed" to be consistent (Width and Height, for example). However, while they ARE schedulable, the problem is that the Section Shape parameters are NOT taggable - please also vote for Using Built-In Parameters in Schedules and Tags and Tag any OOTB parameter.

[becca3186]

@lionel.kai Yes!! great comment, and I voted! 

[MichaelWSullivan]

Add an inherent parameter, consistent within all steel families to provide the automatic weight of any steel element based on it's linear length in a consistent format for scheduling. (i.e. kg per m or lbs per foot) Currently we use a shared parameter within our families and a calculated formula within the schedules. When Revit families are updated per version, as is the case with the addition of Steel Connections in which families were updated from RST2016 to Certified Families in RST2017 and now combined in RST2018 as nominal weigh ,the shared parameter must be re-added to the families and individual members when loading new sizes. It would be useful for overall scheduling but also for selecting individual beams or columns and immediately knowing their weights for specific design of deadloads or pointloads etc.

[becca3186]

Coming from the contractor side of things, I see models from a lot of design firms and since everyone up to this point has had to add a parameter to get this consistency as you describe MichaelWSullivan , it makes it super hard to me to have standardized scheduling templates and I always have to hunt down the way that specific firm did it. I just want it magically automatic. 

[lionel.kai]

Other properties that need to be consolidated/standardized: Make a common "Material" property

[KEBillings]

 I could use a little help please in getting the schedules to work with the AISC 14.1 steel shapes.  Example please?  Thank you.

[Aaron485]

I don't even see the "Section Shape" in the pull down list when I try to do schedules.  Has anyone found a way to use the W or Nominal Weight for AISC families in schedules?

[lionel.kai]

@Aaron485 I have "Section Shape: Nominal Weight" in mine (in Revit 2018.3). Are you scheduling Structural Framing or something else? Could you provide more details? Or maybe submit to Autodesk support...

[Aaron485]

@lionel.kaiI am using Revit 2019, and I have tried both schedules, Material Takeoff & Schedules/Quantities.  Another user thinks they may have changed things in 2019 but they have to look so I am waiting to hear.

[lionel.kai]

@Aaron485 Mine works fine in 2019.2 and 2020.0.1:

1. New Schedule/Quantities...
2. Category: Structural Framing
3. Fields tab: Select available fields from: Section Shape

[Anonymous]

 Hi @lionel.kai

Section form: Nominal weight does not show values in the schedule, can you help me?