Modeling Structural Wall Assemblies- Structural wall cores only?

[emilys27ZKX]

I am starting to build out some standard families for my company's content library. While some of the structural elements are pretty straightforward, I've come to a halt with wood framed walls. Currently our firm only 2D drafts using CAD backgrounds and our drafters either ask for the backgrounds to be exported from Revit showing only structural wall cores or they manually delete any non-structural wall layers in CAD. 

We want to eventually switch over to Revit so I've been trying to think of the best way to approach this. I'm considering just modeling the the stud/structural sheathing in our internal wall assemblies. When I copy monitor the design model over into our template then I can essentially just replace the architects walls with our structural framed walls. I'd retain the fire rating, wall function (interior or exterior) and general sizing information in the type name. 

I'd love to understand from anyone else's perspective if this makes sense or if there would be any possible issues down the line by only including structure layers. The only issue I can maybe see is if there is a structural façade like brick that would then have to be manually offset from any exterior studs? I am the only person at my company using Revit currently so I don't really have anyone to bounce ideas off of internally.

Thank you!

[jay_colcombe]

This is a tricky one as I have been fortunate to see some third party timber framing softwares and albeit very impressive in their framing capabilities they have to do a lot of leg work to the linked architectural Revit model to make it work as their design/arrangement engine needs.

If you we’re to simply use the core elements of structural walls this would be a good starting point but you will struggle to get like for like with what you do now with base Revit as Copy/Monitor will simply bring them walls in when you swap them out you have to manually input the Architects Family Type Parameters such as fire ratings etc.

there are no top plates or bottom plates so no studs either so you have to place detail items in wall to represent cut timber sections.  Also with party walls the structural elements could be the insulation as it needs to cut into the exterior wall cavity.

I would suggest you first review a 3rd party developer for timber framing and look at some of their webinars “Not YouTube videos” as webinars delve into to process required and not just the marketing gimmicks in animations and videos.

Better still make them work for your money and get them to show where their product fits in with your requirements.

good luck 🍀