ID: 125 From Start to Finish: Electrical How-to

for Revit MEP Projects 1:00PM-2:00PM

MEP Intermediate

Short Description:
Session Description: Do you feel like you are just scratching the surface with Revit MEP for Electrical projects? If so this course
is for you. This course is designed to show you how to use Revit MEP from start to finish on a project for Electrical design.
Revit MEP is a very powerful production and design tool but a lot of that functionality is underused because of the lack of out of
the box families, parameters and schedules.
I will show you how to make better models, streamline documentation, and produce better schedules on your Electrical Revit
project with lots of how-tos and live demonstrations.
Some of the features we will focus on will be:
Design Phase Considerations
General Electrical Considerations

o Settings
o Equipment / Fixtures / Devices
o Parameters
Device Schedule Usage & M/P Coordination
Circuiting / Panel Schedules / Load Analysis
Calculations o Photometric o Power Density
Tips / Tricks / and Problems
This class is based around Revit MEP users who are looking to leverage the full capabilities of the software or gain
understanding of tools they have no yet worked with.

About the Speaker

Joe Kerfoot, P.E.

Project Experience:
Healthcare, Education, Commercial and Residential.
15 Fully Revit projects, ranging in size from 20,000 to 200,000sf.
Over three years of dedicated Revit experience
6 years of experience in the consulting industry
Responsible for company standards and educational procedures for 3 firms

Outline Options
New Revit Workflow:

Other Ideas:

1. How To Learn
General Electrical

Session 1

Session 3

Introduction to BIM and Revit

Platform

Power Circuits

Panelboard

User Interface and

Terminology

Creating Electrical Distribution

Systems

Project Setup

Modifying and Editing

Commands

Spaces and Zones

Device Layout
Schedules
Circuiting
Panel Schedules
Families
2. SD
3. DD
4. CD
5. Advanced

Session 2

Session 4

6. Demonstration

Utilizing Schedules as a
Design Tool

Sheets

Drafting Views

Panelboard

Legends

Lighting Fixtures

Worksets and Worksharing

Circuits

Switch Systems

7. Template
8. Training
9. Workflow
10. Quality Control
11. Families
12. Schedules
13. Your Standards
14. Your Defaults

Philosophy: Common MEP Naming Convention

General Explanation of naming conventions applies to below list unless special case indicated below:
Family Names
Grouping Titles

Electrical Productivity Pack

Filters

www.cadtechnologycenter.com

Project Parameters
Legend Titles
_.@_ for Generic used my all disciplines
_@_ for Discipline
@=

g for Generic; b for BIM Manager; c for Coordination; e for Electrical; m for Mechanical; p for Plumbing; t for Technology

Browser Organization
Views:

Group by (Phase / Discipline / Sub-Discipline)

Sheets:

Group by (Phase / Sheet Category

SYS or Sub Discipline Variables:

Electrical Systems:
PWR; LTG; FIRE; ROOF; UNIT; RISER; GRD; COM; SITE; DETAIL NOTES
Mechanical Systems:
M-HVAC; M-DUCT; M-PIPE; M-UNIT; M-RISER; M-DETAIL; M-NOTES
P-WASTE; P-DOM; P-STORM; P-UNIT; P-RISER; P-FP; P-DETAILS; P-NOTES

Philosophy: Common MEP Naming Convention

View Titles:
#_SYS_IND for Independent Views (# is for Floor)
#_SYS for Dependent Views
Detail View Titles:
_@_#_SYS_DESCRIPTION (# for number for detail in system)
Shared Parameters
_@_S_
Additional Phasing Convention:
View Templates
View Titles
Schedules Convention:
_@_ for Schedules on Sheet
_@ W_ for Working Schedules not on Sheets
Special Application Naming Convention:
Annotation Families:

_@_tag SYS NAME

Work sets:
Architectural and other consultants linked as separate work set with an x before the link description.

How to Learn: Outline

1.1 General Electrical
.1 Tutorials
.2 General Calculations
.3 General Electrical Settings
.4 General View Templates
.5 Items Needing Development
.6 Revit Electrical Families
.7 View Template Filters

1.2 Device Layouts

.1 Placing Devices
.2 Electrical Fixtures
.3 Electrical Equipment
.4 Lighting Devices
.5 Lighting Fixtures
.6 Fire Alarm Devices
.7 Special Systems
.8 Conduit and Busways

1.4 Circuiting
.1 General Circuiting
.2 To Edit Existing Circuits

1.5 Panel Schedules

.1 General Panel Schedules
.2 Electrical Settings
.3 Load Classifications
.4 Demand Factors
.5 Panel Schedules

1.6 Families
.1 General Family Editing
.2 Special Family Settings
.3 Copying from Web
.4 Manufacturer Revit Families

1.3 Schedules
.1 General Schedules
.2 Electrical Device Schedules
.3 Electrical Equipment Schedules
.4 Lighting Fixture Schedules
.5 Lighting Device Schedules
.6 Feeder and Transformer Schedules
.7 Embedded Schedules
.8 Schedule Formulas

How to Learn

General Electrical: Tutorials

YouTube Training:
There are a lot of individual training videos on YouTube at the kink below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdKDH5ZHBZY
Just make sure that you search Revit MEP when on YouTube.
Autodesk Tutorials:
http://docs.autodesk.com/RVTMPJ/2011/ENU/landing.html

How to Learn

1.1

General Electrical: General Calculations

Panel board Load Analysis: Refer to Panel Schedules section.
Panel board Phase Balancing: Refer to Panel Schedule section.
Wire Sizes per voltage drop: This is done automatically. Revit will find the longest distance between devices and source based on the Max
voltage drop set in the electrical settings. Refer to Electrical Settings documents.
Lighting Fixture Quantities: This will need some development. Using the space schedule, you can create an imbedded schedule to schedule the
light fixtures in the space. Then you can define a parameter for each of the spaces that is associated with the ComCheck space
classifications. You can group the spaces and automatically count the fixtures in each type of space for quickly entering into ComCheck.
The thing to confirm is that the fixtures are actually mounted inside of the space. You may need to adjust the space height as the default is
8.
Electrical Equipment Starter Sizes: This would require some development, but the starter selection can be automatically calculated similar to
the standard excel schedule for mechanical equipment.
Electrical Equipment Fuse and Disconnect Sizes: This would require some development, but the fuse and switch selection can be
automatically calculated similar to the standard excel schedule for mechanical equipment.
Point to point Short Circuit: This is a rudimentary Point-To-Point calculation family that is in the template file. This family does not take into
account transformer let-thru or large motor contributions. This is only used for simple system calculations.
bimproductivity.com

How to Learn

1.2

General Electrical: General Electrical Settings

The electrical settings should be set and default in the template file.
Go to Manage Tab > then MEP Settings >
There are 3 Important Sections:
Electrical Settings
Load Classifications
Demand Factors
Theses Sections are detailed in other documents.

How to Learn

1.3

General Electrical: General View Templates

The view templates are instrumental in maintaining consistency of views.
There are a few electrical default view templates set up in the template file.
Ensure that you set the view templates the way that you want. If there are temporary modification that are needed, use VG, but then go back and
Apply Default Template to Current View when you are finished.
These view templates are used to control the project browser organization and the typical visibility in the views.
When adding new views to the project, ensure that you map these view to the appropriate view template.

How to Learn

1.4

General Electrical: Items Needing Development

There is one thing that is currently not functioning in the current panel schedule load analysis.
The connected and calculated panel totals will not exclude the smaller of Heating or Cooling loads.
This can be developed, but has not been at present.
You would need to modify the panel schedule template and add below the Total Est. Demand.
Add Non-Coincident Heating/Cooling:
Then, use calculated value Name: HeatingCoolingNC; Discipline: Electrical; Type: Current
Formula if(heating estimated demand current > cooling estimated demand current, cooling estimated demand current, heating estimated demand
current)
Then add new total Total Est. Demand NC
New folrmula is total estimated demand current previous formula

How to Learn

1.5

General Electrical: Revit Electrical Families

Keep them Separate

How to Learn

1.6

General Electrical: View Template Filters

The filter to controls the color of the wires relative to the Panel name associated with that panel.
The filter to controls the color of the devices or equipment relative to the shared parameter for the panel branch that the family should
be fed from.

How to Learn

1.7

Device Layout: Placing Devices

Before hosting and placing the devices, check the Properties window to insure that you are placing the correct device that you want to.
Once the devices has been placed, check the Constraints section of the properties window. This is were you would indicate the TAG,
mounting height, of the branch that the device is placed on.

How to Learn

2.1

Device Layout: Electrical Fixtures

_e_tag PWR DEV Circuit
This is used if you want to have the circuit number placed adjacent to the
receptacle.
_e_tag PWR DEV Description
This is used for a general description of the fixture (misc. open for whatever).
_e_tag PWR DEV EM Branch
This is controlled by the checkbox of the fixture properties (Critical = C, Life
Safety = LS).
_e_tag PWR DEV Equipment
This is a Mechanical formatted tag that is used when associating with
Mechanical/Plumbing Equipment.
_e_tag PWR DEV Mounting
This is a tag to indicate the Mounting Height. It is controlled in the properties of
the device.
This tag does not reflect the true mounting height in the model, just a tag.
_e_tag PWR DEV Special Equipment
This is used for tagging special equipment (Copier, Fax, Ref., or Medical
Equipment) anything that has a special load.

DO NOT USE TEXT!!!!

How to Learn

2.2

Device Layout: Electrical Equipment

Disconnects/Starters are used for powering the associated Mechanical / Plumbing Equipment.
Panel boards or Transformers, you must define the Primary Distribution System as indicated below before you can start circuiting.
For Transformers only, you will also need to select the Secondary Distribution System from the properties window.
The default tag for this equipment is the Panel name.
When placing these, the only additional information that you need to provide would be the branch from the checkboxes in the properties window
(Critical, Life Safety, and Equipment).

How to Learn

2.3

Device Layout: Lighting Devices

How to Learn

2.4

Device Layout: Lighting Fixtures

How to Learn

2.5

Device Layout: Fire Alarm Devices

How to Learn

2.6

Device Layout: Special Systems

How to Learn

2.7

Device Layout: Conduit and Busway

How to Learn

2.8

Schedules: General Schedules

The parameters in the schedules should be set and mapped for all of the families. Refer to
family editing and parameters documents for more information.
There are view templates for working schedule and sheet schedules. Refer to View Template
documents.
Working Schedules:
The working schedules are intended to show all appropriate information and sort by the tag.
They are intended to itemize every instance and used as the primary input schedule.
Sheet Schedules:
The sheet schedules are scheduling the same information as the working schedules.
They do not itemize every instance and have some parameters hidden.
Note: The primary think to consider is the Electrical Data parameter. This information must
be correct for proper circuiting and can only be adjusted by changing other parameters
(e_S_VOLTS, e_S_POLES, e_S_ACTUAL WATTS).
Note: The Load Analysis will only function is the correct e_S_LOAD CLASS parameter has
been correctly defined.

How to Learn

3.1

Schedules: Electrical Device Schedules

The Electrical Devices are scheduled in the SPECIAL EQUIPMENT SCHEDULE

Fill out the appropriate information for each device. If it is not tagged then it will be considered General Use.
You should be able to edit all the parameter information until the device has been circuited.
Some parameters will have a window for selection like e_S_LOAD CLASS.
Confirm that the schedule is properly filled out prior to circuiting and use this schedule while circuiting.

How to Learn

3.2

Schedules: Electrical Equipment Schedules

The Electrical Equipment (Disconnects and Starters) are scheduled in the MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT SCHEDULE and filtered per the
e_S_SCHEDULE KEY parameter that has the default value of DISC/START.
Fill out the appropriate information for each device.
You should be able to edit all the parameter information until the device has been circuited.
Some parameters will have a window for selection like e_S_LOAD CLASS.
Confirm that the schedule is properly filled out prior to circuiting and use this schedule while circuiting.

How to Learn

3.3

Schedules: Lighting Fixture Schedules

The Lighting Fixtures are scheduled in the LIGHTING FIXTURE SCHEDULE

Fill out the appropriate information for each fixture.
You should be able to edit all the parameter information until the fixture has been circuited.
Some parameters will have a window for selection like e_S_LOAD CLASS.
Confirm that the schedule is properly filled out prior to circuiting and use this schedule while circuiting.

How to Learn

3.4

Schedules: Lighting Devices Schedules

The Lighting Devices are scheduled in the LIGHTING DEVICE SCHEDULE

This schedule is primarily only used for trouble shooting the e_S_LOAD CLASS parameter when the Load Analysis on the Panel Schedule has
additional classifications that you are not expecting.
You should be able to edit all the parameter information until the device has been circuited.
Some parameters will have a window for selection like e_S_LOAD CLASS.

How to Learn

3.5

Schedules: Feeder and Transformer Schedules

Schedules Keys

How to Learn

3.6

Schedules: Embedded Schedules

Power Density Calculations / Fixture Counts / ComCheck

How to Learn

3.7

Schedules: Schedule Formulas

The following are some sample formulas that use conditional statements.

Addition +
Subtraction -

Simple IF: =IF (Length < 3000mm, 200mm, 300mm)

Multiplication*
Division/

IF with logical AND: =IF ( AND (x = 1 , y = 2), 8 , 3 )

Exponentiation^: x^y, x raised to the power of y

Logarithmlog

IF with logical OR: =IF ( OR ( A = 1 , B = 3 ) , 8 , 3 )

Square rootsqrt: sqrt(16)

Sinesin

IF with Yes/No condition: =IF (Long, 50, 60) where Long is a Yes/No parameter defined as Long = Length > 40

Cosinecos
Tangenttan

Embedded IF statements: =IF ( Length < 35' , 2' 6" , IF ( Length < 45' , 3' , IF ( Length < 55' , 5' , 8' ) ) )

Arcsineasin
Arccosineacos
Arctangentatan
e raised to an x powerexp
Absolute Valueabs

How to Learn

3.8

Circuiting: General Circuiting

How to Learn

4.1

Circuiting: To Edit Existing Circuits

How to Learn

4.2

Panel Schedules: General Panel Schedules

How to Learn

5.1

Panel Schedules: Electrical Settings

How to Learn

5.2

Panel Schedules: Load Classifications

How to Learn

5.3

Panel Schedules: Demand Factors

How to Learn

5.4

Panel Schedules: Demand Factors

How to Learn

5.4

Panel Schedules: Panel Schedules

How to Learn

5.5

Panel Schedules: Panel Schedules

Add Heating and Cooling Non-Coincident Load Calculations:

http://www.screencast.com/users/MartinSchmidADSK/folders/Revit%20MEP/media/017e1720-9b7f-4ac8-a05c-3bba243800b3
Calculate Non-Coincident HVAC Load:
if(HEATING Estimated Demand Current > COOLING Estimated Demand Current, COOLING Estimated Demand Current, HEATING Estimated
Demand Current)
Calculate Total Load - Non-Coincident HVAC Load:
Total Estimated Demand Current - if(HEATING Estimated Demand Current > COOLING Estimated Demand Current, COOLING Estimated
Demand Current, HEATING Estimated Demand Current)

How to Learn

5.5

Families: General Family Editing

Shared Parameters
e_S_ACTUAL WATTS

Electrical

e_S_BRANCH

Visibility

e_S_DESCRIPTION

Electrical

e_S_LOAD CLASSIFICATION

Electrical

e_S_MNTG. HEIGHT

Contraints

e_S_MOUNTING

Electrical

s_S_PANEL BRANCH

Electrical

e_S_POLES

Electrical

e_S_SCHEDULE KEY

Electrical

e_S_TAG

Contraints

e_S_VOLTS

Electrical

How to Learn

6.1

Families: Special Family Settings

Specific Families will require special settings to function.
e_S_BRANCH = if(CRITICAL, "C", if(LIFE_SAFETY, "LS", if(EQUIPMENT, "EQ", "N")))
This parameter is used to change the color and filter of the families during the DD phase and then used as a quality control check when circuiting
in the CD phase.
e_S_SCHEDULE KEY
This parameter is used by the schedules to sort and filter the appropriate equipment into different schedules.
Disconnect and Starter Families = DISC/START
Transformer Families= XFMR
Panelboard = PNL
e_S_PANEL BRANCH
Applies to Electrical Equipment (Panelboards, Transfromers, and Transfer Switches)
e_S_PANEL BRANCH = if(CRITICAL, "CRITICAL", if(LIFE_SAFETY, "LIFE SAFETY", if(EQUIPMENT, "EQUIPMENT", "NORMAL")))
Fire Alarm Devices:
This family has a visibility parameter to control the viewing of the area of coverage for the candela value.
Lighting Devices: Occupancy Sensors
This family has a visibility parameter to control the viewing of the area of coverage of the specific sensor.

How to Learn

6.2

Families: Copying from Web

How to Learn

6.3

Families: Manufacturer Revit Families

Acuity Brands Lighting (http://www.acuitybrandslighting.com/BIM)
Beta-Calco (http://www.betacalco.com/news/news-detail.php?id=31)
Cashman CAT Generators (http://www.cashmanequipment.com/BIM.htm)
Cooper B-Line (http://www.cooperbline.com/engineer/BIM/index.asp)
Eaton (http://www.eaton.com/EatonCom/Markets/Electrical/Tools/BuildingInformationModelBIM/DownloadableBIMFiles/index.htm)
Focal Point (http://www.focalpointlights.com/resources/BIM.html)
Hubbell (http://www.arcat.com/bim/clients/hubbell.html?coid=33138)
alternate site (http://www.hubbelllighting.com/resources/bim_files.php)
Kenall Lighting (http://www.kenall.com)
Lightolier (http://www.lightolier.com/resources/downloads.jsp#BIM)
Lutron (http://seek.autodesk.com/search/lutron?source=SearchBox)
Philips Day-Brite (http://www.daybrite.com/day-brite/BIMDownload.cfm)
Philips Ledalite (http://www.ledalite.com/service/revit)
Q-Tran (http://www.q-tran.com/3d-revit-files)
Siemon (http://www.siemon.com/us/download/bim.asp)
Visa Lighting (http://www.visalighting.com/site/res...ling-files-bim)
WattStopper (http://wattstopper.com/products/bim-resources.html)
Misc
Autodesk Seek (http://seek.autodesk.com)
CADdetails.com (http://www.caddetails.com/2004/product.asp?itm=3dcontentlisting)
RevitCity.com (http://www.revitcity.com)
Reed Construction SmartBIM (http://smartbim.reedconstructiondata.com)
Not free Revit MEP families
Andekan (http://andekan.com)
CADworks BIMXchange (http://www.cadworks.net/Revit.htm)
Mono-Systems Electrical fixtures (http://smartbim.reedconstructiondata.com/ObjectFinder.aspx#area=2&id=1775|ElectricalFixtures)

How to Learn

6.4

Schematic Design (SD) Phase

All Revit Projects: Yes there is work to be done in SD Phase to define efficient project workflow.
1.

Per Project Standards (Internally Defined):

a)

Define Drafting Standards Are there Sheets based Annotations / Notes or placed in working view?

b)

What Template files does it need minor (or major) modifications?

c)

Is this a Revit Server Project for sharing outside of office?

d)

Who will be project BIM Manager?

e)

(Natural) Family Planning?

i.

Make obvious family additions/deletions.

ii.

What symbols will be used for Life-Safety,

Critical and GFCIs and receptacles of various
heights.

iii.

Are Panel Schedules sufficient?

iv.

Families need to be created?

v.

Tags to be created?

f)

Are Device/Equipment Schedules sufficient?

g)

Do Legends & Details need to be put into Revit

Model?

h)

Do we need AutoCAD X-Refs linked in?

SD

Schematic Design (SD) Phase

2.

Per Project Standards (Externally Defined):

a)

Establish interface with client and consultant BIM managers

i.

Critical relationship at beginning of project

b)

Establish timelines and methods for model updates

c)

Define who updates (BIM Manager) and were to

d)

Will the files be purged

e)

Issue / Revision Schedule format?

f)

View Creation / Modification

i.

RCPs necessary?

ii.

How many floor plans?

iii.

Working views vs. Sheet Views?

iv.

Scope Boxes?

g)

Title Block / Key Plan format?

h)

Special formatting for sheet lists?

i)

i.

Will we have sheet list on our plans?

ii.

Will the architect automatically pull our sheet list to their file?

Default Plot settings/sheet size?

SD

Design Development (DD) Phase

DD Phase should be bulk of work effort if project is managed properly.
1.

Hosting Activities (hors doeuvres optional):

a)

Lighting Fixture Selection and Hosting

i.

Select View and Room

ii.

Select fixture and host to ceiling grid

iii.
b)

a.

Flip across host plan (prior to hosting)

b.

Rotating on axis (Prior to hosting)

c.

Changing type (after hosting)

Tag Lighting Fixtures

Lighting Device Selection and Hosting

a.

Switches

DD

Design Development (DD) Phase

2.

Electrical Gear Selection and Hosting:

a)

Gear Selection and Hosting

i.

ii.

Transformers hosted to Floor

a.

Flip across host plan (prior to hosting)

b.

Rotating on axis (Prior to hosting)

c.

Changing type (after hosting)

Panel Boards hosted to Wall

a.

Flip across host plan (prior to hosting)

b.

Rotating on axis (Prior to hosting)

c.

Changing type (after hosting)

iii.

Gear Tagging

iv.

Create Panel Schedules and Place on Sheets

DD

Design Development (DD) Phase

3.

Electrical Device Selection and Hosting:

a)

Electrical Device Selection and Hosting

i.

ii.

iii.

Receptacles hosted to Walls

a.

Flip across host plan (prior to hosting)

b.

Rotating on axis (Prior to hosting)

c.

Changing type (after hosting)

Disconnect Switches hosted to Wall

a.

Flip across host plan (prior to hosting)

b.

Rotating on axis (Prior to hosting)

c.

Changing type (after hosting)

Electrical Device Tagging

DD

Design Development (DD) Phase

4.

Schedule Management (Most Important Part of ALL!!!!!):

a)

Lighting Fixture Schedules

b)

Electrical Equipment Schedules

c)

Electrical Device Schedules

d)

Place Schedules on Sheet for Review

DD

Construction Documents (CD) Phase

CD Phase should be focused on confirming assumptions from DD for layouts, loads, and schedules, then circuiting, and finally QC if project is
managed properly.
1.

Powering Electrical Gear:

a)

Power Equipment
i.

Generate Wires

ii.

Circuit Modification

iii.

b)

a.

Delete Wires and Regenerate

b.

Modify Circuits by Combining

c.

Modify Circuits by Removing

Tagging
a.

Tag Wire Size

b.

Tag Home Runs

Review Panel Schedules / Analysis for Confirmation

CD

Construction Documents (CD) Phase

2.

Powering Lighting Fixtures / Devices:

a)

Power Lighting Circuits

i.

Generate Wires

ii.

Circuit Modification

iii.

b)

a.

Delete Wires and Regenerate

b.

Modify Circuits by Combining

c.

Modify Circuits by Removing

Tagging
a.

Tag Wire Size

b.

Tag Home Runs

Review Panel Schedules / Analysis for Confirmation

CD

Construction Documents (CD) Phase

3.

Powering Electrical Devices:

a)

Power Electrical Devices

i.

Generate Wires

ii.

Circuit Modification

iii.

b)

a.

Delete Wires and Regenerate

b.

Modify Circuits by Combining

c.

Modify Circuits by Removing

Tagging
a.

Tag Wire Size

b.

Tag Home Runs

Review Panel Schedules / Analysis for Confirmation

CD

Advanced Options
4.

Advanced Options (Project Standards):

a)

Review Load Classifications and Analysis

b)

Concealed Conduit

c)

Voltage Drop

d)

Tick Marks

5.

Feeder / Conduit Routing????

6.

NO WIRES!!!!! MAKE FOR FASTER PRODUCTION!!!!!

ADVANCED

DEMONSTRATION

DEMONSTRATION

QUESTIONS?
Contact Joe Kerfoot
888.455.9580
jkerfoot@saenzbury.com