Fast design for technical shaft layout with "level to level" family.

[Anonymous]

Hi there,

we are renovating a social housing project, two mid-rise building with 9 building levels.

I have to model 4 identical technical shafts, mirrored 2 by 2.

Now there's something on my list of to-do's for a long time.

Is there a way to build a parametric family in Revit, very likely "level to level" type, for fast modelling of the different components of the shaft?

My experience is that Revit is not keen of hosting system families within other families. Nevertheless I think it would be valuable to have this available in early design stage of a project.

Something similar to a generic elevator family.

 Does anyone have such family, how does it work, and can I have a look?

 Please consider that Mep is the field of Bim where I have the least experience, so if my question is trivial because of another existing well known practice….here is my excuse.

Kind regards,

Willem.

[hakanern]

Maybe it will be useful for your project, please check the attached family.

[Kevin.Lawson.PE]

Yes, you are correct, Revit will not nest system families into loadable families.  I'm guessing your shaft will have lots of pipe and duct (both system families).  I have gotten around this by making round/rectangle extrusion families to simulate duct and pipe, but they won't show up in schedules and you can't attach accessories to them. 

I think what you want to do here is create a group with all of your shaft elements in it.  This way you only have to update one shaft and all of the other shafts will update. 

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2019/EN...

[Anonymous]

Hi Hakahern,

that's indeed how to get started, thank you for the feedback.

Kind regards,

Willem

[Anonymous]

Hi Klawson,

thank you for the feedback.

I will start with an empty shaft like the one from Hakahern, and then fill it up with families as the one you described.

As it's a tool for "internal use", the fact that they are not the genuine system families doesn't mind.

The Mep engineer will do this afterwards, starting from scratch.

As a general contractor, I want to be able to look into the future, and see what a shaft Layout will show up.

I can relate this shaft to my own schedules, which describe the buildings in a functional way, in relation to MEP.

e.g. The choice for a central source of heat or  satellites, the surface of roof to be drained, the ventilation scheme, etc.

The focus is the relation between the system which is being considered, and the space it takes in a shaft…..If I do it  properly, it can become self-learning.

I am familiar with groups, but as a general contractor we do not draw complete buildings in an early design.

If you want to share your families, I would be happy to look at it.

Kind regards,

Willem

[hakanern]

You are welcome, suitable for beginners can be improved after...