Tutorials mep metenu

Revit MEP
Metric Tutorial
April 2008

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Contents
Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Chapter 1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Using the Tutorials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Accessing Training Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Understanding the Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Navigating the User Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Performing Common Tasks in Revit MEP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Express Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Chapter 2 Express Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Creating a Supply Air System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Creating a Secondary Supply Air System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Creating Ductwork for the Secondary Supply Air System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Creating the Primary System Ductwork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Adding the Primary System Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Inspecting and Color Coding the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Creating Electrical Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Creating Lighting Circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Creating Switch Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Tagging Lighting Fixtures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Creating Power Circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Balancing Electrical Loads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Developing Your MEP Designs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Chapter 3 Mechanical Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Planning Mechanical Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
v

Placing Spaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Creating Zones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Assigning a Color Scheme to Zones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Performing a Heating and Cooling Loads Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Chapter 4 Mechanical Systems: Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Designing Air Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Placing Air Terminals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Using a Schedule as an Air Systems Design Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Creating Secondary Supply Air Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Using Views to Validate Duct Geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Drawing the Primary Supply Air Duct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Sizing the Primary Duct: Velocity Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Assigning a Color Scheme to Duct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Sizing the Secondary Air System Duct: Equal Friction Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Inspecting Air Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Placing Air Conditioning Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Completing the Supply Air Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Checking Air Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Chapter 5 Mechanical Systems: Piping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Designing Piping Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Creating Piping Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Placing Radiators and a Boiler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Creating the Piping Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Creating Pipe Runs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Resolving Pipe Interference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Connecting the Boiler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Sizing the Pipe Runs: Friction & Velocity Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Placing Circulator Pumps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Inspecting Piping Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Checking Piping Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Chapter 6 Electrical Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Planning Electrical Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Preparing the Electrical Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Defining Required Lighting Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Assigning Space Color Fills According to Required Lighting Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Creating a Space Schedule to Check Required Lighting Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Designing the Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Adding Lighting Fixtures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Placing Lighting Switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Placing Power Receptacles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Creating Power & Lighting Usage Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Placing Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Creating Power Circuitry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Creating Lighting Circuitry and Wires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Creating Switch Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Creating Multi-Circuit Wire Runs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Checking Your Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Defining Circuit Loads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Chapter 7 Plumbing Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Planning Plumbing Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Preparing the Plumbing Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Configuring Plumbing and Piping Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Designing Plumbing Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
vi | Contents

Add Plumbing Fixtures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Begin Creating the Sanitary System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Connecting Sinks to the Sanitary System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Refining the Sanitary Stack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
Refining the Urinal Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Adding Vents to the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
Create the Cold Water System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386
Create the Hot Water System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394
Chapter 8 Fire Protection Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 401
Designing Fire Protection Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 401
Starting the Fire Protection Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402
Placing Sprinklers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 406
Connecting the Sprinklers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 427
Completing the Fire Protection Wet System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 440
Creating the Fire Protection Dry System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 446
Modifying Pipe Diameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 452
Chapter 9 Creating Revit MEP Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463
Modifying Families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 464
Modifying a Fan Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 464
Modifying Fan Powered VAV Box with Electric Heat Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 469
Modifying Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 477
Modifying a Water Closet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 482
Modifying a Diffuser Annotation Tag Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 485
Modifying a Light Fixture Annotation Tag Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 487
Creating Families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 492
Creating a Light Fixture Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 492
Flange Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 502
Creating an Elbow Pipe Fitting Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512
Creating an Annotation Symbol Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 548
Revit MEP Family Editor Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 555
Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 555
Hosts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 562
Templates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 562
Lookup Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 562
Parameter Mapping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 563
Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 564
Light Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 565
Part Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 565
Documenting Your Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 569
Chapter 10 Adding Views and Sheets to a Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 571
Creating Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 571
Duplicating Plan Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 571
Creating Elevation and Section Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575
Creating Callout Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 582
Modifying View Tag Appearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 588
Setting Visibility and Graphics Options in Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 591
Creating a View Template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 592
View Range and Plan Regions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 595
Using Filters to Control Visibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 598
Masking Portions of a View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 600
Working with Visual Overrides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 603
Creating Drawing Sheets in a Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 608
Creating Drawing Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 608
Contents | vii

Adding Views to Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612
Modifying the Building Model from a Sheet View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 617
Creating and Modifying a Title Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 618
Chapter 11 Tagging and Scheduling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 623
Tagging Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 623
Sequentially Placing and Tagging Rooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 623
Tagging Doors and Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 629
Tagging Other Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 633
Defining Schedules and Color Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 636
Creating a Window Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 637
Adding Project Parameters to a Window Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 642
Creating a Unit-Based Door Schedule with a Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 644
Creating a Room Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 646
Scheduling Rooms from a Program List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 648
Creating a Room Color Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 654
Creating a Material Takeoff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 662
Scheduling Shared Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 665
Creating a Shared Parameter File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 665
Adding Shared Parameters to a Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 667
Placing, Tagging, and Scheduling a Family with Shared Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 670
Scheduling Uniformat Assembly Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 674
Scheduling Uniformat Assembly Codes and Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 674
Exporting Project Information with ODBC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 676
Exporting Schedule Information to Microsoft Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 676
Chapter 12 Annotating and Dimensioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 679
Changing the Base Elevation of a Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 679
Relocating a Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 681
Dimensioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 686
Creating Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 686
Creating Automatic Wall Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 695
Controlling Witness Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 697
Creating an Office Standard Dimension Type from Existing Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . 702
Creating Text Annotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 705
Adding Text Notes to the Floor Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 706
Chapter 13 Detailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 713
Creating a Detail from a Building Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 713
Detailing the View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 714
Adding Detail Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720
Adding Text Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 724
Creating Detail Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 726
Adding Keynotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 728
Creating Line-based Detail Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 730
Modifying a Keynote Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 735
Creating a Drafted Detail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 736
Importing a Detail into a Drafting View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 737
Creating a Reference Callout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 737
Creating a Detail in a Drafting View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 739
Chapter 14 Finishing the Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 755
Using Note Blocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 755
Creating a Note Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 755
Using Drawing Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 761
Creating a Drawing List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 761
Using Legends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763
viii | Contents

Creating a Symbol Legend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763
Creating a Component Legend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 767
Using Revision Tracking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 772
Setting Up a Revision Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 772
Sketching Revision Clouds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 774
Tagging Revision Clouds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 776
Working with Revisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 777
Importing from Other Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 783
Importing Image Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 784
Importing Text Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 784
Importing Spreadsheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 785
Chapter 15 Using Dependent Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 787
Using Dependent Views in Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 789
Using Dependent Views for Floor Plan Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 789
Using Dependent Views for Elevation Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800
Using Advanced Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 805
Chapter 16 Grouping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 807
Creating, Modifying, and Nesting Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 807
Creating and Placing a Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 807
Modifying a Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 815
Nesting Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 819
Working with Detail Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 822
Creating a Detail Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 822
Using Attached Detail Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 825
Saving and Loading Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 828
Saving and Loading Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 828
Chapter 17 Sharing Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 831
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 831
Using Worksharing in a Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 832
Understanding Worksharing Fundamentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 832
Enabling Worksharing and Setting Up Worksets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 836
Working Individually with Worksets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 840
Using Worksets with Multiple Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 843
Borrowing Elements from the Worksets of Other Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 848
Chapter 18 Creating Multiple Design Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 853
Creating Multiple Design Options in a Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 853
Creating the Structural Design Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 854
Creating the Roof System Design Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 864
Managing Design Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 871
Chapter 19 Project Phasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 875
Using Phasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 875
Phasing Your Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 876
Using Phase-Specific Room Tags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 882
Chapter 20 Linking Building Models and Sharing Coordinates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 885
Linking Building Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 886
Linking Building Models from Different Project Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 886
Repositioning Linked Building Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 895
Controlling Linked Building Model Visibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 898
Contents | ix

Managing Linked Building Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 900
Sharing Coordinates Between Building Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 903
Acquiring and Publishing Coordinates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 903
Relocating a Project with Shared Coordinates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 905
Working with a Linked Building Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 908
Managing Shared Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 910
Scheduling Components of Linked Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 911
Customizing Project Settings and Templates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 915
Chapter 21 Modifying Project and System Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 917
Modifying System Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 917
Modifying General System Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 917
Specifying File Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 919
Specifying Spelling Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 921
Modifying Snap Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 922
Modifying Project Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 925
Creating and Applying Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 925
Creating and Applying Fill Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 929
Controlling Object Styles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 931
Modifying Line Patterns and Styles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 934
Modifying Annotations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 939
Specifying Units of Measurement, Temporary Dimensions, and Detail Level Options . . . . . . 941
Modifying Project Browser Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 942
Creating an Office Template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 945
Choosing the Base Template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 945
Modifying Project Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 946
Loading and Modifying Families and Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 951
Modifying Views and View Templates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 953
Modifying Import/Export Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 956
Setting up Shared and Project Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 957
Creating Named Print Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 959
x | Contents

Introduction
This introduction helps you get started with the Revit MEP 2009 tutorials and presents the fundamental concepts of the
product, including:
■ how Revit MEP works.
■ the terms used when working with the product.
■ how to navigate the user interface.
■ how to perform some common tasks in the product.
Using theTutorials
In this lesson, you learn how to use the Revit MEP tutorials, including where to find the training files and
how to create a new Revit MEP project from a template file.
The Contents tab of the Revit MEP Tutorials window displays the available tutorial titles. Expand a title for
a list of lessons in the tutorial. Expand a lesson title for a list of exercises in the lesson.
NOTE You may find it helpful to print a tutorial to make it easier to reference the instructions as you work in Revit
MEP. The tutorials are also available in PDF format by clicking Help menu ➤ Documents on the Web in Revit MEP.
AccessingTraining Files
Training files are Revit MEP projects, templates, and families that were created specifically for use with the
tutorials. In this exercise, you learn where the training files are located, as well as how to open and save
them.
Where are the training files located?
Training files, by default, are located in C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication
DataAutodeskRME 2009Training. Training files are grouped into 3 folders within the training folder:
■ Common: generic files often used to teach a concept. These files are not dependent on imperial or metric
units. Common file names have a c_ prefix.
1
3

■ Imperial: files for users working with imperial units. Imperial file names have an i_ prefix.
■ Metric: files for users working with metric units. Metric file names have an m_ prefix.
NOTE Depending on your installation, your training folder may be in a different location. Contact your CAD
manager for more information.
IMPORTANT Content used in the tutorials, such as templates and families, is located and accessed in the training
files location. Although this content may be installed in other locations on your system, all content used in the
tutorials is included in the training files location to ensure that all audiences access the correct files.
What is a training file?
A training file is a Revit MEP project that defines a building information model and views of the model that
are used to complete the steps in a tutorial. Many tutorials include a Training File section that references
the training file to be used with the tutorial. In other tutorials, you create a project from a template, rather
than opening an existing training file.
Open a training file
1 Click File menu ➤ Open.
2 In the left pane of the Open dialog, scroll down, and click the Training Files icon.
3 In the right pane, double-click Common, Imperial, or Metric, depending on the type of training
file.
4 Click the training file name, and click Open.
Save a training file
5 To save a training file with a new name, click File menu ➤ Save As.
In many cases, the work you do in a project during a tutorial exercise becomes the starting point
for the next exercise. In many tutorials, you create a project or modify an existing project, save
the changes, and use the saved version of the file to begin the next exercise or lesson.
6 Complete the information in the Save As dialog:
■ For Save in, select the folder in which to save the new file.
You can save the file in the appropriate Training Files folder or in another location. Note
where you save the file so you can open it for additional exercises as required.
4 | Chapter 1 Introduction

■ For File name, enter the new file name.
A good practice is to save the training file with a unique name after you have made changes.
For example, if you open c_settings.rvt and make changes, you should save this file with a
new name such as c_settings_modified.rvt.
■ For Files of type, verify that Project Files (*.rvt) is selected, and then click Save.
Create a project from a template
7 To create a project from a template, rather than using an existing training file, click File
menu ➤ New ➤ Project.
8 In the New Project dialog, under Create new, select Project.
9 Under Template file, verify the second option is selected, and click Browse.
10 In the left pane of the Choose Template dialog, click Training Files, and open MetricTemplates.
11 In the Choose Template dialog, review the Revit MEP templates.
Templates are available for specific building types: commercial, construction, and residential.
Each template contains predefined settings and views appropriate for the corresponding building
type. For most tutorial projects, you will use the default template, and customize the project as
necessary.
12 Select DefaultMetric.rte, and click Open.
13 Click OK.
Understanding the Basics
In this lesson, you learn what Revit MEP is and how its parametric change engine benefits you and your
work. You begin with the fundamental concepts on which Revit MEP is built. You learn the terminology,
the hierarchy of elements, how to navigate the user interface, and how to perform some common tasks in
the product.
What is Revit MEP 2009?
The Revit MEP platform for building information modelling is a design and documentation system that
supports the design, drawings, and schedules required for a building project. Building information modelling
(BIM) delivers information about project design, scope, quantities, and phases when you need it.
In the Revit MEP model, every drawing sheet, 2D and 3D view, and schedule is a presentation of information
from the same underlying building model database. As you work in drawing and schedule views, Revit MEP
collects information about the building project and coordinates this information across all other
representations of the project. The Revit MEP parametric change engine automatically coordinates changes
made anywhere—in model views, drawing sheets, schedules, sections, and plans.
Understanding the Basics | 5

What is meant by parametric?
The term parametric refers to the relationships among all elements of the model that enable the coordination
and change management that Revit MEP provides. These relationships are created either automatically by
the software or by you as you work. In mathematics and mechanical CAD, the numbers or characteristics
that define these kinds of relationships are called parameters; hence, the operation of the software is
parametric. This capability delivers the fundamental coordination and productivity benefits of Revit MEP:
Change anything at any time anywhere in the project, and Revit MEP coordinates that change through the
entire project.
The following are examples of these element relationships:
■ The outside of a door frame is a fixed dimension on the hinge side from a perpendicular partition. If you
move the partition, the door retains this relationship to the partition.
■ Windows or pilasters are spaced equally across a given elevation. If the length of the elevation is changed,
the relationship of equal spacing is maintained. In this case, the parameter is not a number but a
proportional characteristic.
■ The edge of a floor or roof is related to the exterior wall such that when the exterior wall is moved, the
floor or roof remains connected. In this case, the parameter is one of association or connection.
How does Revit MEP 2009 keep things updated?
A fundamental characteristic of a building information modelling application is the ability to coordinate
changes and maintain consistency at all times. You do not have to intervene to update drawings or links.
When you change something, Revit MEP immediately determines what is affected by the change and reflects
that change to any affected elements.
Revit MEP uses 2 key concepts that make it especially powerful and easy to use. The first is the capturing of
relationships while the designer works. The second is its approach to propagating building changes. The
result of these concepts is software that works like you do, without requiring entry of data that is unimportant
to your design.
Element behavior in a parametric modeler
In projects, Revit MEP uses 3 types of elements:
■ Model elements represent the actual 3D geometry of the building. They display in relevant views of the
model. For example, walls, windows, doors, and roofs are model elements.
■ Datum elements help to define project context. For example, grids, levels, and reference planes are datum
elements.
■ View-specific elements display only in the views in which they are placed. They help to describe or
document the model. For example, dimensions, tags, and 2D detail components are view-specific elements.

There are 2 types of model elements:
■ Hosts (or host elements) are generally built in place at the construction site. For example, walls and roofs
are hosts.
■ Model components are all the other types of elements in the building model. For example, windows,
doors, and cabinets are model components.
There are 2 types of view-specific elements:
■ Annotation elements are 2D components that document the model and maintain scale on paper. For
example, dimensions, tags, and keynotes are annotation elements.
■ Details are 2D items that provide details about the building model in a particular view. Examples include
detail lines, filled regions, and 2D detail components.
This implementation provides flexibility for designers. Revit MEP elements are designed to be created and
modified by you directly; programming is not required. If you can draw, you can define new parametric
elements in Revit MEP.
In Revit MEP, the elements determine their behavior largely from their context in the building. The context
is determined by how you draw the component and the constraint relationships that are established with
other components. Often, you do nothing to establish these relationships; they are implied by what you do
and how you draw. In other cases, you can explicitly control them, by locking a dimension or aligning 2
walls, for example.
Understanding Revit MEP 2009 terms
Most of the terms used to identify objects in Revit MEP are common, industry-standard terms familiar to
most architects. However, some terms are unique to Revit MEP. Understanding the following terms is crucial
to understanding the software.
Project: In Revit MEP, the project is the single database of information for your design—the building
information model. The project file contains all information for the building design, from geometry to
construction data. This information includes components used to design the model, views of the project,
and drawings of the design. By using a single project file, Revit MEP makes it easy for you to alter the design
and have changes reflected in all associated areas (plan views, elevation views, section views, schedules, and
so forth). Having only one file to track also makes it easier to manage the project.
Level: Levels are infinite horizontal planes that act as a reference for level-hosted elements, such as roofs,
floors, and ceilings. Most often, you use levels to define a vertical height or story within a building. You
Understanding the Basics | 7

create a level for each known story or other needed reference of the building; for example, first floor, top of
wall, or bottom of foundation. To place levels, you must be in a section or elevation view.
Level 2 work plane cutting through the 3D view with the corresponding floor plan
next to it
Element: When creating a project, you add Revit MEP parametric building elements to the design. Revit
MEP classifies elements by categories, families, and types.
Category: A category is a group of elements that you use to model or document a building design. For
example, categories of model elements include walls and beams. Categories of annotation elements include
tags and text notes.
Family: Families are classes of elements in a category. A family groups elements with a common set of
parameters (properties), identical use, and similar graphical representation. Different elements in a family
may have different values for some or all properties, but the set of properties—their names and meaning—is
the same. For example, 6-panel colonial doors could be considered one family, although the doors that
compose the family come in different sizes and materials.
Families are either component families or system families:
■ Component families can be loaded into a project and created from family templates. You can determine
the set of properties and the graphical representation of the family.

■ System families include walls, dimensions, ceilings, roofs, floors, and levels. They are not available for
loading or creating as separate files.
■ Revit MEP predefines the set of properties and the graphical representation of system families.
■ You can use the predefined types to generate new types that belong to this family within the project.
For example, the behavior of a wall is predefined in the system. However, you can create different
types of walls with different compositions.
■ System families can be transferred between projects.
Type: Each family can have several types. A type can be a specific size of a family, such as a A0 title block
or a 910 x 2110 door. A type can also be a style, such as default aligned or default angular style for dimensions.
Instance: Instances are the actual items (individual elements) that are placed in the project and have specific
locations in the building (model instances) or on a drawing sheet (annotation instances).
Navigating the User Interface
One of the advantages of Revit MEP is its ease of use, specifically its clear user interface. The Revit MEP
window is arranged to make navigation easy. Even the toolbar buttons are labeled, making it easy to
understand what each button represents. Revit MEP uses standard Microsoft® Windows® conventions. If
you have used any other product that follows these conventions, learning Revit MEP is much easier.
In the following illustration, the user interface is labeled. In the steps that follow, you navigate and become
familiar with the user interface.
Navigating the User Interface | 9

Start a new project
1 On the Standard toolbar, click (New).
This creates a new project based on the default template.
The Title Bar
2 Place the cursor at the top of the user interface.
The title bar contains the name of the project and the view that is currently open.
By default, new projects are numbered consecutively until saved with a new name. In addition,
the Level 1 floor plan view is the default open view.
TIP The view opened and the view names are dependent on the template on which the project is
based.
The Menu Bar
3 The menu bar across the top of the window includes standard menu names such as File, Edit,
and View. Click View menu ➤ Zoom.
Many of the commands have shortcut keys, which are listed on the menu. For example, the
shortcut key for Zoom in Region is ZR. While working in the drawing area, you type the required
key combination to perform the command.
Another time-saving tool for selecting commands is to place the cursor in the drawing area and
right-click. A shortcut menu displays a list of available commands, depending on the function
you are performing and what is currently selected.
The Toolbar
4 Click Window menu ➤ Toolbar.
There are several toolbars across the top of the window beneath the menu bar. The toolbar
buttons represent common commands. You can control the visibility of the toolbars and turn

the text labels on or off using the Window ➤ Toolbar menu. You can use the toolbar grips to
resize and move each toolbar.
The Options Bar
5 Click Modelling menu ➤ Wall.
The bar beneath the toolbars contains wall design options. The Options Bar is context-sensitive
and varies depending on the tool or selected component.
6 Click Modelling menu ➤ Door.
The design options available on the Options Bar are now applicable to doors. On the left side
of the Options Bar, a door type is specified.
The Type Selector
7 The drop-down list on the left side of the Options Bar is called the Type Selector. Select the
drop-down list to view the list of doors.
The Type Selector is a context-sensitive drop-down list. When you select the Door tool, the Type
Selector displays a list of doors available in the project. The list of elements in the Type Selector
is identical to the elements listed in the Families branch of the Project Browser under the
respective category.

8 Click Modelling menu ➤ Wall.
9 In the Type Selector, select the drop-down list to see the walls that are available.
You can use the Type Selector in 2 ways:
■ You can select an element type before you add the element to the building model. For
example, when you add a door, the door type that displays in the Type Selector is the door
type that will be added to the building model.
■ You can use the Type Selector to change an element type after it has been added to the
building model. In the drawing area, you can select any element and then change its type
using the Type Selector.
The Design Bar
10 Click Window menu ➤ Design Bars.
The Show Design Bars dialog displays.

The Design Bar is located on the left side of the interface, immediately below the Type Selector.
There are 10 tabs in the Design Bar, containing buttons grouped by function. You can control
which tabs display by selecting them in the Show Design Bars dialog.
11 Click OK.
Each tab contains frequently used commands that are also available from the menu bar.
■ Basics tab: commands for creating most basic building model components
■ View tab: commands for creating different views in the project
■ Modelling tab: commands to create model elements
■ Drafting tab: commands for adding annotation symbols and creating sheet details for
construction documents
■ Rendering tab: commands for creating rendered images
■ Site tab: commands for adding site components and producing site plans
■ Massing tab: commands for creating conceptual designs with masses
■ Room and Area tab: commands for making room and area schemes and plans
■ Structural tab: commands for adding structural components to the project
■ Construction tab: commands for creating construction industry information
To access the commands in a tab, click the tab in the Design Bar. The respective commands
display on the Design Bar.

TIP You can control the visibility of each tab by right-clicking on the Design Bar and selecting the
tab from the shortcut menu.
The Project Browser
12 To the right of the Design Bar is the Project Browser. In the Project Browser, select Views (all).
You can use the Project Browser to quickly manage the views, schedules, sheets, reports, families,
and groups of your current project:
■ Right-click in the browser to add, delete, and rename views, families, and groups.

■ The browser is organized by view type (floor plans, elevations, 3D), family category (doors,
walls, windows), and group name. Expand or collapse the browser list by clicking the + or –
next to the name.
■ To open a view, double-click its name.
■ You can also drag and drop from the browser into the drawing area, making it easy to add
a family or group to the project or add a view to a sheet.
■ The browser is dockable, so you can reposition it by dragging the Project Browser title bar
to a new location.
13 In the Type Selector, scroll through the sorting options available for the Project Browser.
14 Click Settings menu ➤ Browser Organization.
You can create and modify Project Browser organization schemes for views and sheets. After
creating a browser organization scheme, you can instantly change the sorting within the Project
Browser by selecting the scheme in the Type Selector.
15 In the Browser Organization dialog, click Cancel.
The Status Bar
16 On the Basics tab of the Design Bar, click Wall.
17 Place the cursor near the center of the drawing area. Do not click.
The cursor displays as a pencil.

In the bottom left corner of the window, the status bar provides information regarding what
you should do next. In this case, it tells you to "Click to enter wall start point."
TIP The tooltip that displays is identical to the note in the status bar.
18 On the Design Bar, click Modify to end the Wall command.
You can control the status bar visibility from the Window menu. The status bar also provides
information, in conjunction with tooltips, regarding selected elements in a view. When you
place the cursor over an element, it highlights and the status bar displays the element name.
19 Place the cursor over the elevation symbol arrow on the left side of the drawing area.
The elevation symbol consists of two parts: the main symbol and the elevation directional arrow
(a triangle). Make sure you place the cursor over the elevation directional arrow. It highlights
when the cursor is over it.
In the status bar, notice that the name of the highlighted element is Views : Elevation : West.
20 Press TAB, and notice that the highlighted element switches to the main elevation symbol,
Elevations : Elevation : Elevation 5.
When attempting to select a specific element in a complex or crowded view, you can use the
status bar and TAB to switch between elements and select the desired element.
Revit MEP 2009 Help
21 Click Help menu ➤ Revit MEP 2009 Help.
Help is available online at all times during a Revit MEP session. You can use this tri-pane, HTML
help window to search for information and quickly display it to read or print. There are several
tools that help you find information. You can select a topic on the Contents tab, find a keyword
on the Index tab, search for all instances of a word or phrase on the Search tab, or save commonly
used pages on the Favorites tab.

In addition, context-sensitive help is available for many parts of the user interface. You can
access context-sensitive help in the following ways:
■ Dialogs: Many dialogs include Help buttons. Click the Help button, and the topic specific
to the dialog opens. If no Help button displays, press F1 for context-sensitive help.
■ Windows: From any window, press F1 for help.
■ Toolbar: From the toolbar, click on the Standard toolbar, and then click a specific menu
command or button for help. You can also press SHIFT+F1.
■ Tooltips: To see tooltips, rest the cursor over the Toolbar button until the tooltip displays.
TIP You can control the level of tooltip assistance using Settings menu ➤ Options.
22 Close the Revit MEP Help window.
Performing CommonTasks in Revit MEP
In this exercise, you learn to perform some of the common Revit MEP tasks that are included in the tutorials.
After you are familiar with these tasks, it will be easier to work in Revit MEP and focus on the lessons of each
tutorial.
Use zoom commands to adjust the view
In the tutorials, you are instructed to use a zoom command to adjust the viewable area in the window. For
example, you may be asked to zoom to a specific region of a view or to zoom to fit the entire building or
floor plan in the view. Understanding how to adjust the view will make it easier to work with the building
model in the window.
There are several ways to access zoom options. In the following steps, you open a training file and practice
adjusting the view with the different zoom commands.
1 Click File menu ➤ Open.
2 In the left pane of the Open dialog, click Training Files, and open Metricm_Cohouse.rvt.
The 3D isometric view displays:
3 Click View menu ➤ Zoom to display the zoom menu.
Performing Common Tasks in Revit MEP | 17

The zoom menu lists the zoom options and their shortcut keys.
4 Click Zoom Out (2x).
In the drawing area, the view zooms out from the building model.
5 On the View toolbar, click the drop-down menu next to the Zoom command to display the
zoom options.
NOTE Clicking the Zoom icon itself activates the Zoom In Region command.
6 Click Zoom To Fit.
The view of the building model is sized to fit the available window.
7 Click in the drawing area, and type the shortcut ZR to zoom in on a region.
The cursor becomes a magnifying glass.
8 Click the upper left corner and lower right corner of the region to magnify; this is referred to
as a crossing selection.
When you release the mouse button, the view zooms in on the selected area.

9 If you use a mouse that has a wheel as the middle button, you can roll the wheel to zoom the
view. Use the wheel mouse to zoom out to see the entire building again.
If you do not have a wheel mouse, use a zoom menu command or the toolbar option to zoom
out.
NOTE As you zoom in and out, Revit MEP uses the largest snap increment that represents less than
2mm in the drawing area. To modify or add snap increments, click Settings menu ➤ Snaps.
Zoom is also available using SteeringWheels. SteeringWheels provide 2D and 3D navigation
tools.
10 To display SteeringWheels, on the View toolbar, click .
The Full Navigation wheel displays in the drawing area.
As you move the mouse, the wheel follows the cursor around the drawing area.
11 Move the cursor over the Zoom wedge of the wheel so that it highlights.
12 Click and hold the mouse button.
The cursor displays a pivot point for the Zoom tool.
13 Drag the cursor down or left to zoom out.
14 Drag the cursor up or right to zoom in.
You can change the pivot point by releasing the mouse button, moving the wheel to the desired
location, and then using the Zoom tool again.
For more information about SteeringWheels, click the pull-down menu on the Full Navigation
wheel, and click Help. To define settings for SteeringWheels, click Settings menu ➤ Options,
and click the SteeringWheels tab.
15 To exit the wheel, press ESC.

Resize elements using drag controls
16 In the Project Browser, expand Views (all), expand Floor Plans, and double-click 2nd Flr. Cnst.
When drawing or modifying a building model, it is important to understand how to adjust the
size of components in the drawing area. Small blue dots, called drag controls, display at the
ends of selected lines and walls in a plan view. Similar controls, referred to as shape handles,
display along the ends, bottoms, and tops of selected walls in elevation views and 3D views.
17 Type ZR, zoom in on the upper-left corner of the floor plan, and select the wall, as shown.
Notice the small blue dots that display at both ends of the wall. These are the drag controls.
18 Click and drag the left control, moving the cursor to the left horizontally, to lengthen the wall.
19 Click in the drawing area to deselect the wall.
Move an element
20 Scroll the view down so you can see the couch and table in the floor plan.
21 Select the Craftsman02 table, and on the Tools toolbar, click (Move).

Some commands, such as Move and Copy, require 2 clicks to complete the command. After
selecting the element to move, for example, click to specify the starting position, and click again
to specify the ending position. In this case, you want to move the table closer to the wall.
22 Click the lower-left endpoint of the table.
23 Click next to the lower wall, as shown.
The table moves down, and the lower-left corner is placed at the move endpoint.
Another way to move an element is to select it and drag it to a new location.
24 Select the plant, and drag it on top of the table.

Undo commands
25 On the Standard toolbar, click the drop-down menu next to (Undo).
All changes you make to a project are tracked. The Undo command allows you to reverse the
effects of one or more commands. In this example, you decide that you prefer the table in its
original position.
26 On the Undo menu, select the second item in the list, Move.
Selecting the second item in the list will undo the last 2 actions. All commands are canceled up
to and including the selected command. The table and plant are returned to their original
locations.
NOTE To quickly undo the previous action, on the Standard toolbar, click the Undo command, or
press CTRL+Z.
End a command
27 On the Basics tab of the Design Bar, click Lines.
Some commands, such as the Lines command, stay active or current until you choose another
command or end the current command.
28 Click in the drawing area to start the line, and click again to end it.
Notice that the Lines command is still active and you could continue to draw lines.
29 To end the command, use one of the following methods:
■ Choose another command.
■ On the Design Bar, click Modify.
■ Press ESC twice.
30 Close the file without saving your changes.

Express Workshop
The Express Workshop tutorials focus on specific areas of Revit MEP functionality and highlight powerful features that
are integral to the most common MEP workflows. Each tutorial demonstrates tools you can use to complete tasks that are
common to an overall workflow. When you have finished these tutorials, you will have a basic understanding of Revit
MEP design and documentation tools, as well as some of the best practices that help you efficiently design and develop
an MEP project.
Creating a Supply Air System
In this lesson, you create a supply air system that consists of 2 low pressure, secondary supply air systems
and a primary, high pressure system.
In Revit MEP, an HVAC system is a logical connection between air terminals and HVAC mechanical
equipment. After air terminals and mechanical equipment are placed in a model, you can create supply,
return, and exhaust systems using these components. The systems are used to perform calculations and
analysis, and to place and size ductwork, which is the physical representation of the system.
The model you use in this lesson contains the secondary system Mechanical Supply Air 1. To create Mechanical
Supply Air 2, you place the variable air volume (VAV) box, connect it to existing air terminals, and size the
ductwork. You then create the main trunk line for Mechanical Supply Air 3 and connect it to the 2 secondary
systems. Finally, you add and connect the air handler, creating the primary supply system.
Creating a Secondary Supply Air System
In this exercise, you place a parallel, fan-powered, VAV box in the model. You then define a logical connection
between the VAV box and 4 existing air terminals, creating a secondary supply system.
2
25

At the beginning of this exercise, the model contains one completed secondary supply air system. In this
exercise, you create the logical system shown above on the left.
Dataset
■ Click File menu ➤ Open.
■ In the left pane of the Open dialog, click Training Files.
If necessary, scroll until the folder is displayed.
■ Open the m Express Workshop Supply Air System.rvt file located in the Metric folder.
Display the Mechanical commands
1 On the Design Bar in the lower-left corner of the screen, click the Mechanical tab.
The Mechanical commands are displayed.
2 If the Mechanical tab is not displayed on the Design Bar, right-click the Design Bar, and click
Mechanical.
In this tutorial, when you are instructed to click a command on the Design Bar, you find the
command at the far left of the screen.
Adjust the zoom for the model
3 Type ZE to zoom out to the extents of the model.
26 | Chapter 2 Express Workshop

The entire model displays on the screen.
4 Type ZR, which is the keyboard shortcut for the Zoom in Region command.
The cursor displays as a magnifying glass.
5 Click as shown to specify the upper-left corner of the zoom region.
6 Click to specify the lower-right corner of the zoom region.
The model zooms to the specified area. In this tutorial, when you want to change the area of
the model you are working on, you can enter ZE to zoom out. Then, enter ZR and specify a
zoom region to zoom in.
You can also zoom and pan using the mouse wheel. To zoom in and out, roll the wheel. To pan,
hold the wheel down and drag.
Add a VAV box
7 On the Mechanical tab of the Design Bar, click Mechanical Equipment.
Creating a Secondary Supply Air System | 27

Directly above the Design Bar, on the Options Bar, the Type Selector displays the mechanical
equipment that is pre-loaded in the model.
8 In the Type Selector, select M_VAV - Unit Parallel Fan Powered : Size 3 - 200 mm Inlet.
9 Move the cursor to the area near the interior door of the room between grid lines 3 and 4, but
do not click.
The cursor displays as the VAV box outline.
10 Press SPACEBAR once to rotate the VAV box 90 degrees.
11 Click to place the VAV box in the location shown.
12 On the Design Bar, click Modify to end the command.
13 Right-click the VAV box, and click Element Properties.

14 In the Element Properties dialog:
■ Under Constraints, for Offset, enter 3048.0 mm.
You do not need to enter the units or the decimal point; you can enter just 3048.
This value places the VAV box in the plenum space (between the Level 1 ceiling and the
Level 2 floor.)
■ Under Mechanical - Airflow, verify that SupplyAirFlow is set to 425.00 L/s.
This value is built into the family type for the VAV box. After the system is created, this value
is automatically updated to reflect the supply airflow requirement.
■ Verify that the PrimaryToSupplyRatio is 0.200000 (20%).
This value is built into the family type for the VAV box.
15 Click OK.
16 Press ESC to clear the selection of the VAV box.
Create the system
17 Move the cursor over the leftmost supply air terminal in the model to highlight it.
18 Click to select the air terminal.
19 Move the cursor off the air terminal.
The air terminal turns red, indicating that it has been selected.
20 While pressing CTRL, move the cursor over the supply air terminal to the right, and click to
select it.
Creating a Secondary Supply Air System | 29

21 While pressing CTRL, select the 2 supply air terminals to the right.
When you release CTRL and move the cursor away from the 4 selected air terminals, the air
terminals display in red, indicating that they are selected.
22 On the Options Bar directly above the drawing area, click (Create Supply Air System).
23 On the Options Bar, click (Select Equipment For System).
24 Select the VAV box you just placed.
The red sketch graphics show the logical connection between the components of the system.
You have created a secondary supply air system that includes 4 air terminals and a VAV box.
Verify the elements of the system
26 Select an air terminal that is an element of the system you just created.
27 On the Options bar, click (Edit System).
The Options Bar displays system information such as the system name, the equipment supplying
the system, and the number of elements that make up the system.
Revit MEP automatically named the system Mechanical Supply Air 2. You could change the
name by overwriting it. In this tutorial, however, you leave it unchanged.
28 In the Supply Air : Mechanical Supply Air 2 dialog, click Finish.
Verify the connections between the system elements
29 Move the cursor over an air terminal in the system to highlight it. Do not click.

30 Press TAB.
The sketch graphics highlight, showing the logical connection between the components of the
system.
31 Move the cursor off the air terminal.
Next, you complete the secondary system by adding ductwork.
Creating Ductwork for the Secondary Supply Air System
The model now contains the logical connection for Mechanical Supply Air System 2, the secondary supply
air system shown below on the left. In this exercise, you create the physical connection for the system, the
ductwork.
Dataset
Continue to use the dataset you used in the previous exercise, m Express Workshop Supply Air System.rvt.
Specify the layout
1 Select an air terminal in the system you created.
2 On the Options Bar, click (Layout Path).
3 On the Options Bar, for Solution Type, select Network.
A network layout solution displays with main segments in blue and branch segments in green.
Creating Ductwork for the Secondary Supply Air System | 31

4 On the Options Bar, click (Show Next Solution) to display other suggested network
solutions.
5 Click until the network solution shown below displays.
Specify the layout path settings
6 On the Options Bar, click Settings.
Configuring the layout path settings is usually a one-time process unless you need to change
them during the project. The layout path settings determine the behavior and appearance of
the ductwork and piping for mechanical, piping, plumbing, and fire protection systems, thus
maintaining the consistency of these systems within the project.
7 In the left pane of the Duct Conversion Settings dialog, select Main.
8 In the right pane of the Duct Conversion Settings dialog:
■ Under System Type: Supply Air, for Duct Type, verify that Round Duct: Tees is selected.
■ Verify that Offset is 3048.0 mm.
9 In the left pane of the Duct Conversion Settings dialog, select Branch.
■ Under System Type: Supply Air, for Duct Type, verify that Round Duct: Tees is selected.
■ Verify that Offset is 3048.0 mm.
■ Verify that Flex Duct Type is set to Flex Duct Round : Flex - Round.
■ Verify that the Maximum Flex Duct Length is 609.6 mm.
10 Click OK.
11 On the Design Bar, which is located to the far left of the drawing area, click Finish Layout.
Revit MEP automatically creates and initially sizes all of the ducts and fittings required to connect
the components of the system.
12 If the ductwork displays in wireframe instead of with shading, click View menu ➤ Shading with
Edges, or click in an empty part of the drawing area, and type SD.
Check the connectivity of the system
You can check the connectivity of ducts and fittings using the TAB key.
13 Highlight a segment of the newly created ductwork by moving the cursor over it. Do not click.
You will use TAB to examine the hierarchy of the system components.

14 Press TAB.
The branch to which the duct is connected highlights.
15 Press TAB again to highlight the next level of connections.
16 Press TAB until the entire hierarchy of connected ducts, fittings, and equipment is highlighted.
If the entire network does not highlight, the system has not been created properly, and a
disconnection exists at the point where the highlighting stops. A disconnection will negatively
impact calculations involving this system.
17 Click to select the highlighted system.
18 On the Options Bar, click (Filter Selection).
19 In the Filter dialog:
■ Click Check None.
■ Select Duct Fittings.
■ Select Ducts.
■ Select Flex Ducts.
20 Click OK.
Size the duct system
21 On the Options Bar, click Sizing.
Revit MEP supports 4 of the most common sizing methods: Friction, Velocity, Equal Friction,
and Static Regain.
22 In the Duct Sizing dialog:
■ Under Sizing Method, select Friction, and enter .065 Pa/m.
■ Verify that Only is selected.
■ Under Constraints, for Branch Sizing, select Calculated Size Only.
23 Click OK.
The ductwork is sized using the friction method at .065 Pascals per meter of ductwork. The
ductwork is automatically updated with all the necessary fittings.
Verify the sizing
25 In the system you created, select the segment of duct shown.
Creating Ductwork for the Secondary Supply Air System | 33

26 On the Options Bar, click (Element Properties).
27 In the Element Properties dialog, scroll to Mechanical - Airflow.
The Flow value of 235.00 L/s matches the required flow for the air terminal.
28 Click OK.
29 Press ESC to clear the selection.
30 Select the segment of duct shown.
32 In the Element Properties dialog, scroll to Mechanical - Airflow.
The Flow value of 470 L/s is the sum of the 2 air terminals.
33 Click OK.
Verify the calculated airflow value for the VAV box.
35 Select the VAV box in the system.
In the Element Properties dialog, under Mechanical - Airflow, the adjusted SupplyAirFlow value
of 940 L/s for the VAV reflects the supply airflow values calculated for the system.
37 Click OK.
Next, you create the ductwork for the primary system and connect it to the 2 secondary systems.
Creating the Primary System Ductwork
In this exercise, you create the main trunk line for the primary system and connect the 2 secondary systems.

Dataset
Create the primary air duct
1 On the Design Bar, click Duct.
2 On the Options Bar:
■ In the Type Selector, select Round Duct : Taps.
■ For D:, select 300 mm.
This specifies the duct diameter.
■ For Offset, select 3048 mm.
The cursor displays as a pencil.
3 To start the duct run, click near the door in the room to the left of the secondary systems, in
the location shown by the pencil.
4 Click in the location shown to end the first segment of ductwork.
5 Move the cursor past the rightmost VAV, and click to place the second segment of ductwork
and end the run.
6 Press ESC twice to end the command.
The ductwork and the proper fittings are automatically created.
Creating the Primary System Ductwork | 35

7 If your trunk line does not match the above illustration and you want to draw it again, do the
following:
■ On the toolbar above the Options Bar, click (Undo) to undo the last segment of duct.
■ Click again to undo to first section of duct.
■ Draw the main trunk line again, as described above.
Add an end cap
Before you size the ductwork for a system, you must place end caps on all open ends of the ductwork except
for the end that connects to the air source. This determines airflow direction and ensures accurate duct
sizing.
8 Type ZR, and specify a zoom region at the end of the trunk line.
The model is zoomed to the end of the duct.
9 On the Design Bar, click Duct Fitting.
10 In the Type Selector, select Round Duct Endcap : Standard.
11 Place the cursor over the end of the duct to display an endpoint snap point.

12 Press TAB until the point snap graphic shown below displays.
In addition to the graphic at the cursor, the type of snap point is also identified in the tooltip
and on the status bat at the lower-left corner of the screen.
13 Click to place the end cap.
This connects the end cap to the ductwork, closing the right end of the duct run.
15 Type ZP to zoom to the previous view.
Connect one secondary system
You will use 2 methods of drawing a duct from a VAV box to the trunk line. First, you use the Connect Into
tool to automatically draw the duct.
16 Select the leftmost VAV.
17 On the Options Bar, click (Connect Into).
18 In the Select Connector dialog, select Connector 0 : Supply Air : Round : 200 mm : Primary Air
Connector.
19 Click OK.
20 Select the primary air duct.
Ductwork is automatically created to connect the VAV to the primary air flow supply with a tap
connection.
Creating the Primary System Ductwork | 37

Connect the other secondary system
Next, you manually draw the connecting duct.
21 Type ZR, and zoom in on the rightmost VAV box.
22 Select the VAV box.
23 Right-click the 200 mm inlet supply connector, and click Draw Duct.
24 Click on the center of the primary duct in the location where the intersection snap (an X)
displays.
The ductwork is created with a tap connection.

26 Type ZP to zoom to the previous view.
Next, you add and connect the air handler for the primary system.
Adding the Primary System Equipment
In this exercise, you place an air handler and connect it to the main trunk line to complete the high pressure,
primary system.
Dataset
Place the air handler
1 On the Design Bar, click Mechanical Equipment.
2 In the Type Selector, select Air Handler : Metric.
3 Move the cursor to the location shown. Do not click.
The cursor displays as the air handler outline.
4 Press SPACE BAR as needed to rotate the air handler 90 degrees. Do not click.
Adding the Primary System Equipment | 39

5 Move the air handler to the location shown.
6 Click to place the air handler.
Create a vertical section of duct
8 Move the cursor over an edge of the air handler to highlight it.
9 Click to select the air handler.

The connectors on the top of the unit are displayed. These are the connectors for the air handler
supply, return, intake, and exhaust. The connectors on the front of the unit, for the hydronic
supply and return, are also visible.
10 Move the cursor over the 609.6 mm x 609.6 mm supply connector.
11 Right-click the connector, and click Draw Duct.
12 On the Options Bar:
■ In the Type Selector, select Rectangular Duct/Radius Elbows Tees.
■ Under Offset, select 3048 mm.
■ On the Options Bar, click (Apply Current Offset).
A vertical section of duct is created.
13 Press ESC.
14 In the Project Browser, which is located directly to the left of the drawing area, expand
Mechanical ➤ 3D Views.

15 Double-click 3D HVAC.
The vertical section of duct you just created is visible.
16 Close the 3D HVAC view.
Attach a rectangular duct
17 Select the vertical duct you just created.
18 Right-click the center point of the duct, and click Draw Duct.
19 Move the cursor to the right, past the end of the primary duct, and click.

Create the main system logical connection
21 While pressing CTRL, select the leftmost VAV box, and then select the rightmost VAV box.
22 On the Options bar:
■ Click (Create Supply Air System).
■ Click (Select Equipment for System).
23 Select the air handler.
The sketch graphics show the logical connection between the components.
24 Press ESC.
In the Element Properties dialog, under Mechanical - Airflow, notice that the value for
SupplyAirFlow is 15486.96 L/s. This is the capacity of the air handler.
27 Click OK.
28 Click in an empty part of the drawing area to clear the selection.
Connect the ductwork
29 On the Tools toolbar located above the Options Bar, click (Trim/Extend).
30 On the Options Bar, verify that (Trim/Extend to Corner) is selected.

31 Select the 609.6 mm x 609.6 mm rectangular supply duct by clicking a point on the duct between
the air handler and the primary trunk line.
32 Select the primary 300 mm round duct.
The ducts are trimmed and connected with the proper fittings.
In the Element Properties dialog, under Mechanical - Airflow, the value for SupplyAirFlow has
been updated based upon the primary to supply ratio you specified in the element properties
of the 2 VAV boxes.
36 Click OK.
View the system components
38 On the Design Bar, click System Browser.
The System Browser is a tool that displays a hierarchical, discipline-specific list of all the
components in the model. Elements are listed by the system they belong to. Elements that do
not belong to a system are listed as unassigned elements.
The browser displays 3 mechanical systems: the primary system that you just created, the
secondary system that you created in an earlier exercise, and the secondary system that was
already in the model when you opened it.
39 In the System Browser, expand Mechanical (3 systems).
40 Expand any Supply Air system to view its HVAC components.
41 When you are done, close the System Browser.

Next, you inspect the system and color code the ductwork.
Inspecting and Color Coding the System
In this exercise, you inspect part of the system you created. You then add a legend to automatically color
code the ductwork based on specific calculated values.
Dataset
Inspect the completed supply air system
1 In the Project Browser, expand Mechanical ➤ 3D Views, and double-click 3D HVAC.
2 Select a section of a secondary system.
3 On the Options Bar, click (System Inspect).
The selected system maintains its appearance; the other systems are displayed in half tone.
4 On the Design Bar, click Inspect.
5 Move the cursor over a section of the system.
Inspecting and Color Coding the System | 45

The inspection tag describes the section that is being inspected, including flow, static pressure,
and pressure loss. The flow arrows indicate flow direction; the red arrows indicate critical flow
path.
6 On the Design Bar, click Cancel Inspector.
7 Close the 3D HVAC view.
Place a legend and color code the ductwork
Color coding the ductwork provides a quick, visual indication of a system’s air flow.
8 On the Design Bar, click Duct Color Scheme Legend.
9 Click in the drawing area to place the legend to the left of the air handler.
10 In the Choose Color Scheme dialog, under Color Scheme, select Duct Color Fill - Flow.
11 Click OK.
The legend is added and the ductwork is automatically color coded based on the actual flow
values.
Delete the legend and remove color coding from the ductwork
12 Select the legend.
13 On the Options Bar, click .
14 In the Edit Color Scheme dialog, under Schemes, select none.
15 Click OK.

The color is removed from the ductwork, and the color scheme is removed from the legend.
The legend remains selected.
16 On the Standard toolbar at the top of the window, click (Delete) to delete the legend.
17 Click File menu ➤ Close.
18 When prompted to save the model, click No.
You have completed the first Express Workshop lesson, Creating a Supply Air System.
Creating Electrical Systems
In this lesson, you create electrical systems (including lighting circuits, power circuits, and switch systems)
by establishing logical connections between electrical components. After creating the logical connections,
you create the physical connections between the components: the wiring. You then automatically balance
the electrical loads on a panelboard.
The model already contains the electrical components you use to create the systems, including power panels,
lighting fixtures, junction boxes, receptacles, and switches.
Electrical settings have already been specified for the model. Wiring types (including material, temperature
rating, and insulation type), voltage definitions, distribution systems, and demand factors have been defined.
As you create circuits, Revit MEP ensures that components are compatible with the specified voltages and
distribution systems.
Creating Lighting Circuits
In this exercise, you create 2 lighting circuits using lighting fixtures, junction boxes, and a 480V panelboard
that have already been placed in the model. One circuit connects the 4 lighting fixtures on one side of a
room in the model; the other circuit connects the 4 lighting fixtures on the other side of the room.
You use the System Browser to view the created circuits.
Dataset
■ Click File menu ➤ Open.
■ In the left pane of the Open dialog, click Training Files.
Creating Electrical Systems | 47

If necessary, scroll until the folder is displayed.
■ Open the m Express Workshop Electrical Systems.rvt file located in the Metric folder.
Display the Electrical commands
1 On the Design Bar in the lower-left corner of the screen, click the Electrical tab.
The Electrical commands are displayed.
2 If the Electrical tab is not displayed on the Design Bar, right-click the Design Bar, and click
Electrical.
In this tutorial, when you are instructed to click a command on the Design Bar, you find the
command at the far left of the screen.
Adjust the zoom for the model
3 Type ZE to zoom out to the extents of the model.
The entire model displays on the screen.
4 Type ZR, which is the keyboard shortcut for the Zoom in Region command.
The cursor displays as a magnifying glass.

5 Click as shown to specify the upper-left corner of the zoom region.
6 Click to specify the lower-right corner of the zoom region.
The model zooms to the specified area. In this tutorial, when you want to change the area of
the model you are working on, you can enter ZE to zoom out. Then, enter ZR and specify a
zoom region to zoom in.
You can also zoom and pan using the mouse wheel. To zoom in and out, roll the wheel. To pan,
hold the wheel down and drag.
Create a lighting circuit
7 Move the cursor over the lighting fixture in the upper-left corner of the large room in the model.
The lighting fixture highlights.
8 Click to select the lighting fixture.
Creating Lighting Circuits | 49

9 Move the cursor off the lighting fixture.
The lighting fixture turns red, indicating that it has been selected.
10 While pressing CTRL, move the cursor over the lighting fixture below the selected lighting fixture,
and click to select it.
11 While pressing CTRL, select the 2 lighting fixtures that are located immediately to the right of
the previously selected 2 lighting fixtures.
When you release CTRL and move the cursor away from the 4 selected lighting fixtures, they
display in red, indicating that they are selected.
12 On the Options Bar directly above the drawing area, click (Create Power Circuit).
The red sketch graphics show the created circuit, which is the logical connection between the
elements.
13 On the Options Bar, click (Select a Panel for the Circuit).
14 Select lighting panel LP-1.

The red sketch graphics show the logical circuit with the home run pointing toward the selected
panel.
15 Press ESC to clear the sketch graphics.
Create a second lighting circuit
16 Place the cursor above and to the left of the 4 lighting fixtures on the right side of the room,
and then drag diagonally to create a selection window that includes all 4 lighting fixtures as
shown.
17 When you release the mouse button, all the elements within the window are selected.

■ Select Lighting Fixtures.
■ Click OK.
The lighting fixtures remain selected.
20 While pressing CTRL, click the junction box located among the lighting fixtures to select it.
21 On the Options Bar, click (Create Power Circuit).
The sketch graphics show the created circuit, which is the logical connection between the
elements.

The sketch graphics show the logical circuit with a home run. The components include the 4
lighting fixtures and the junction box.
24 Press ESC to clear the sketch graphics.
Modify a circuit
At this point, you have created 2 lighting circuits.
25 Move the cursor over a lighting fixture in the leftmost circuit so that the lighting fixture
highlights. Do not click.
26 Press TAB to display the circuit.

The circuit includes 4 lighting fixtures.
27 Click to select the highlighted circuit.
28 On the Options Bar, click (Edit Circuit).
29 In the Power : 1 dialog, click (Add To Circuit).
30 Select the junction box located among the lighting fixtures.
31 In the Power : 1 dialog, click Finish.
Verify the modified circuit
32 Highlight the junction box in the circuit and press TAB.

The modified circuit is highlighted.
33 Move the cursor away from the circuit to remove the highlighting.
Display the electrical systems
The lighting circuits you created are called electrical systems in Revit MEP. At this point, only the logical
connections between the elements exist. The circuits become visible when the physical connections, the
wiring, are created. You can display the logical connections using the TAB key, and you can view the system
components using the System Browser.
35 On the Design Bar, click System Browser.
The System Browser is a tool that displays a hierarchical, discipline-specific list of all the
components in the model. Elements are listed by the system they belong to. Elements that do
not belong to a system are listed as unassigned elements.
36 In the System Browser, expand Electrical (7 Systems) ➤ Power ➤ LP-1.
37 Expand the 2 circuits to view their electrical components.
38 When you are done, close the System Browser.
Next, you assign switches to control the lighting fixtures.

Creating Switch Systems
In this exercise, you create switch systems to define switching behavior. The 4 lighting fixtures on the left
of the room are controlled by one switch, and the 4 lighting fixtures on the right are controlled by another
switch. The switches have already been placed in the model.
Dataset
Continue to use the dataset you used in the previous exercise, m Express Workshop Electrical Systems.rvt.
Create a switch system
1 Select the lighting fixture in the upper-left corner of the room.
2 On the Options Bar, click (Create Switch System).
The sketch graphics show the only currently selected component of the system.
3 On the Options Bar, click (Edit Switch System).
All elements in the drawing except the selected lighting fixture display in halftone.
4 In the Switch System dialog, click (Select Switch).
5 Select the switch as shown.

The Options Bar displays the selected switch and the number of lighting fixtures currently
selected (1).
6 In the Switch System dialog, click (Add to System).
7 One by one, select the 3 remaining lighting fixtures on the left side of the room.
As you select each lighting fixture, the Number of Fixtures count on the Options Bar is updated,
and the lighting fixture displays in full tone in the drawing area.
Assign an identifier to the switch
8 In the Switch System dialog, click (Switch Properties).
9 In the Element Properties dialog, under Electrical - Lighting, for Switch ID, enter A.
The identifier A is assigned to the switch for reference purposes.
10 Click OK.
11 In the Switch System (A) dialog, click Finish.
Verify the switch system
12 Move the cursor over the switch to highlight it.
13 Press TAB.
The switch system highlights.
Creating Switch Systems | 57

14 Move the cursor away from the switch system to remove the highlighting.
Create a second switch system
15 Drag to draw a selection window that includes the 4 lighting fixtures on the right side of the
room.
■ Select Lighting Fixtures.
■ Click OK.
The selection is filtered. The 4 lighting fixtures remain selected.
18 On the Options Bar, click (Create Switch System).
19 On the Options Bar, click (Edit Switch System).
20 In the Switch System dialog, click (Select Switch).
21 Select the switch as shown.
Assign an identifier to the switch
22 In the Switch System dialog, click (Switch Properties).
23 In the Element Properties dialog, under Electrical - Lighting, for Switch ID, enter B.
The identifier B is assigned to the switch for reference purposes.
24 Click OK.
25 In the Switch System (B) dialog, click Finish.

Verify the switch system
26 Move the cursor over the switch and press TAB to highlight the switch system.
Next, you define lighting fixture types and tag the lighting fixtures.
Tagging Lighting Fixtures
In this exercise, you define the lighting fixture types for the room. Then, you add a tag to each lighting
fixture that identifies its type and the switch that controls it.
The lighting requirements for the left side of the room are different from the lighting requirements for the
right side of the room, so each side of the room requires a different lighting fixture type.
Dataset
Tag the lighting fixtures
1 On the Design Bar, click Tag ➤ By Category.
2 On the Options Bar, clear Leader.
3 Select the upper-left lighting fixture.
The lighting fixture is labeled with an automatically generated tag.
Tagging Lighting Fixtures | 59

The bottom part of the tag displays the identifier (A) for the switch that controls the lighting
fixture. The top part of the tag displays the identifier for the lighting fixture type, which you
have not yet defined.
4 One by one, select the remaining 7 lighting fixtures in the room.
The selected lighting fixtures are tagged.
5 Press ESC to end the command.
Create a new lighting fixture type
6 Select the upper-left lighting fixture.
7 On the Options Bar, select (Element Properties).
8 In the Element Properties dialog, click Edit/New.
9 In the Type Properties dialog, click Duplicate.
10 In the Name dialog:
■ Enter M_600x1200 3Lamp A.
■ Click OK.
11 In the Type Properties dialog, under Identity Data, for Type Mark, enter A.
12 Click OK.
13 In the Element Properties dialog, click OK.

The top part of the tag for the lighting fixture with the new type (M_Troffer Corner Insert :
M_600x1200 3Lamp A) is automatically updated to display type mark A.
Change the type for some lighting fixtures
15 On the Tools toolbar, click (Match Type).
The cursor displays as an eyedropper.
16 Select the lighting fixture shown to specify the lighting fixture type to be matched.
17 Select the other 3 lighting fixtures on the left side of the room.
For each lighting fixture, the type is changed, and the tag is updated.
Change the type for the remaining lighting fixtures
19 While pressing CTRL, select the 4 lighting fixtures on the right side of the room.
20 On the Options Bar, in the Type Selector, select M_Troffer Corner Insert : M_600x1200 3Lamp
B.
The 4 selected lighting fixtures are changed to the specified type, and their tags are automatically
updated.
Tagging Lighting Fixtures | 61

Turn off the tags
22 Click View menu ➤ Visibility/Graphics.
23 In the Visibility/Graphics Overrides dialog, on the Annotation Categories tab, scroll to Lighting
Fixture Tags.
24 Clear Lighting Fixture Tags.
25 Click OK.
The lighting fixture tags are no longer displayed in the model.
Next, you create electrical circuits with wiring.
Creating Power Circuits
In this exercise, you use electrical receptacles and a 208 volt panelboard that have already been placed in
the model to create 2 electrical circuits with arc type wiring. One circuit connects 2 electrical receptacles in
a small room, while the other connects the 8 receptacles in the adjoining large room. You then connect the
2 circuits to create a multi-circuit home run.
Dataset
Create a power circuit with wiring
1 While holding down CTRL, select the 2 receptacles in the small room.

2 On the Options Bar, click (Create Power Circuit).
The sketch graphics show the logical created circuit.
4 Select power panel PP-1.
The sketch graphics show the created circuit home run.
Creating Power Circuits | 63

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