Fundamental Family Building Concepts and Processes for creating Families in Revit.

1. TMA * The Mendicant Architect
“The Answer for All Things BIM”
Fundamental Family Building
Concepts
The Essentials of Revit Families
Darrell Smith, AIA, CDT
The Mendicant Architect
11011 Domain Drive, Suite 8450 * Austin, Texas 78758
(512) 970-8975 * d.smith@tma-bim.com

2. Who is The Mendicant Architect?
Darrell Smith, AIA, CDT
• Education
 Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Texas – Austin – 6/1995
• Certifications
 Licensed Architect – TBAE #18320 – 10/2003
 NCARB Certified - #57954 – 12/2000
 C.S.I. – Construction Document Technologist – 04/2005
 AIA Member – 02/2009
 Autodesk Certified Associate & Professional for Revit Architecture, Revit Structure, Revit MEP,
and Navisworks since 2007 (2010 for Navisworks).
• Experience
 Practiced Architecture for 9 years.
 Worked as Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing Designer for 2 years.
 Provided Revit, Navisworks, and other BIM related software, Training, Mentoring, Content and
Template Creation, and Consulting since 12/2006.
 Trained over 700 Architects, Interior Designers, Structural & MEP Engineers, Contractors, Sub-
Contractors, & Manufacturers.
 Implemented BIM in over 200 AEC Firms.
 Provided training for UT School of Architecture, ITT Tech, Del Mar College, and Autodesk
University.
 Revit Beta Tester since 2007, Navisworks Beta Tester Since 2010
 Founded the Mendicant Architect – 03/2010
 Co-Founded AARUG (Austin Area Revit User Group) – 11/2011
The Mendicant Architect
TMA * “The Answer for All Things BIM”

3. Fundamental Family Building Concepts
Essential Family Concepts
• Element Variations
• Element Definition Hierarchy
• Family Template Types
Family Creation Steps
• Family Setup
• Define Structure
• Define the Geometry
• Define the Parameters
• Define the Visibility
• Define Controls, Connections, and Lighting
• Create Types, Type Catalogs, and Lookup Tables
• Lock and Load
Setting Family Standards
• Revising Template Families
• Creating a System of Parts
Final Rules of Thumb
• General Do’s and Don’ts

4. Essential Family Concepts
Element Variations
• Annotations
 Datum
o Levels
o Grids (Project Environment Only)
o Reference Planes
o Reference Lines (Family Environment Only)
o TIP – Concept of a Square Plate / Infinite Plate but Finite Graphics
 Other Annotations (Tags, Text, Detail Lines and Components, View
Symbols, and other 2D or View Specific Content, etc.)
• Views
• Objects (3D Content)
 Hosts
o Built In Place Objects (e.g. Walls, Floors, Ceilings, roofs, Stairs,
Beam Systems, Ducts, Pipes, etc.)
 Components
o Pre-manufactured Objects (e.g. Windows, Doors, Cabinets,
Beams, Trusses, Diffusers, Plumbing Fixtures, Lights, Furniture,
etc.)

5. Essential Family Concepts
Element Definition Hierarchy
• Systems (MEP Specific)
• Categories
 Sub-Categories
• Families
 System
 Component
 In-Place
• Types
• Instances

6. Essential Family Concepts
Family Template Types
• Annotation Families
• Annotation Symbols
• Detail Component Families
• Profile Families
 Generic, Hosted, Mullion, Rail, Reveal, Stair Nosings, etc.
• Modeled Families
 Hosted
o System Family Based (Wall, Ceiling, Floor, Roof, etc.)
o Work Plane Based
o Face Based
o Adaptive
 Unhosted
o Free Standing / Generic
o Line Based
o Pattern Based
• Lighting Families
• Nested Families

7. Family Creation Steps
Family Setup
• Pick the Correct Template
 TIP - This step is critical and cannot be corrected later in some cases.
• Define the Category and Settings
 Category
 Work Plane Based
 Always Vertical
 Shared
 OmniClass Number

8. Family Creation Steps
Define Structure
• Lay out Reference Planes
 Tip – Planes / Lines have a Positive Side (Right Hand Rule)
 Defines Origin (X, Y, Z)
 Name the Reference
o Tip – Critical if Plane Needs to be used as a Work Plane
 Is Reference
o Strong Reference
o Weak Reference
o Not a Reference
o Defined Reference (Top, Bottom, Center (Top/Bottom), etc.)
 Wall Closure
• Lay out Reference Lines
 Lock Ends
o TIP – Direction Matters
• Dimension as Required
 Add Parameters or Lock Dimension
• Flex the Model …. OFTEN

9. Family Creation Steps
Define the Geometry
• Add Geometry and Lock it to References
 Solids (Extrusions, Blends, Revolves, Sweeps, & Swept Blends)
 Voids (Extrusions, Blends, Revolves, Sweeps, & Swept Blends)
 Model Lines
 Symbolic Lines
 Nested Families
o Connect Nested Families and Nested Family Parameters to Host
Parameters
o TIP - Lock to the Insertion Point / Origin of the Nested Family
o TIP – To Share or Not to Share
• Cut and Join the Geometry
• Add Formulas
 TIP – This is the Magic Talent of a Skilled Family Creator
• Flex the Model …. OFTEN

10. Family Creation Steps
Define the Parameters
• Parameter Types
 Project
 Family
 Shared vs. Unshared
 Shared Parameter File Location (Universal vs. Project)
o TIP – Do Not Create Twice / Transfer (Unique Parameter ID’s)
• Parameter Options
• Dimensional (If not Already Created)
o Angular
o Radial
o Arc Length
o Aligned / Linear
 TIP – Create an Offset Plane to allow Negative Values
 Material
 Visibility of Geometry
 Nested Family Types
 Formula Driven Calculations and Lookup Tables
 Additional Information

11. Family Creation Steps
Define the Visibility
• By Geometry Visibility Parameters
 TIP – Parameter can be Formula Driven to perform Automatically
• By Subcategories
 TIP – Add any New Subcategories to the Project Template as well (and
Define their Line Weights and Line Patterns in Object Styles in Both
places, immediately when they are created in a family. View Templates
will then need to be updated to be consistent and account for them.
• By Detail Level
 Coarse
 Medium
 Fine
• By View Orientation
 Plan / Reflected Ceiling Plan
 Left / Right (Section / Elevation)
 Front / Back (Section / Elevation)
• TIP – If Information is Only needed in Specific Views (Plan but not RCP
e.g.), multiple visibility control settings may be required (Subcategories in
combination with View Orientation e.g.).

12. Family Creation Steps
Define the Controls, Connections, and Lighting
• Controls
 Mirrored
 Rotational
 One Way
 Bidirectional
• Connections
 HVAC Ducting
 Electrical Power
 Plumbing / Piping
 TIP – Create Geometric Host when Connection is not centered on a
face or when its location varies.
• Lighting

13. Family Creation Steps
Create Types, Type Catalogs, and Lookup Tables
• Create Lookup Tables
• Create Types
• Create Type Catalogs (Preferred)
 TIP – Type Catalogs can now be created Automatically from Types
Lock and Load
• Save the Family to a Library
 Project Library
 Office Standard
o TIP – Create a designation in the name for Standards vs. Project
Specific Families
• Load into The Project
 Override Parameters?
• Review Project Library Families at the End of the Project to Evaluate which
ones become Office Standards.

14. Setting Family Standards
Revising Template Families
• Add / Remove / Transfer Parameters
• Add / Remove Reference Planes
• Add / Remove Dimensions
• Revise Units and Other Settings
• TIP – To Revise a Template, Simply rename it to an * .RFA file format and
rename it back when it is complete to an *.RFT
System of Parts
• Create Fundamental Parts which can be nested into larger Families.
 Creates Efficiencies in Memory
 Creates Efficiencies in Modeling Time
 Creates Consistency in Schedules

15. Final Rules of Thumb
General Do’s and Don’ts
• TIP - The Process Order Is Not Critical Between the Initial Setup and Lock
and Load.
• TIP – DO NOT Insert AutoCAD into Revit as a shortcut.
 If you must bring in AutoCAD Content, NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER,
EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER,
EVER.... EXPLODE AutoCAD Files in Revit …. EVER!!!!
 TIP – Pre-Explode, Purge and Clean AutoCAD files prior to Import
• TIP - Define a Naming Convention Early
 Shared Parameters (Macro to Micro)
 Family Names
o TIP – Include Source, CSI? / Category, Macro to Micro
Description, Version, and Creator?
 Project Files and Folders
o TIP – Include Project #, Description, Version, and Central/Local
Designator.
• TIP - KISS – Keep it Simple Stupid (Yes, I said it!!)
 Four Kinds of Bad Models
o Unconnected, Under-modeled, Over-modeled, and Imbedded
with AutoCAD.

16. And Remember…
The model is only as smart as the designer.

17. TMA * The Mendicant Architect
“The Answer for All Things BIM”
Fundamental Family Building
Concepts
The Essentials of Revit Families
Questions?
Darrell Smith, AIA, CDT
The Mendicant Architect
11011 Domain Drive, Suite 8450 * Austin, Texas 78758
(512) 970-8975 * d.smith@tma-bim.com

18. TMA * The Mendicant Architect
“The Answer for All Things BIM”
• TMA Connection Websites
 TMA Website - http://www.aiaaustin.org/firm_profile/tma-mendicant-architect
 Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/TMAmendicant
 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/reg/signup?invitationID=1777746373&sharedKey=-TieEQRR
• AARUG Connection Websites
 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/AARUG-Austin-Area-Revit-User-4164429?trk=myg_ugrp_ovr
 Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/groups/295245327172346
• Austin BIM Group Connection Website
 LinkedIn – Coming Soon!!
Darrell Smith, AIA, CDT
The Mendicant Architect
11011 Domain Drive, Suite 8450 * Austin, Texas 78758
(512) 970-8975 * d.smith@tma-bim.com