Revit Architecture - Detailing - RTC Events RAC Detailing... · Revit Architecture - Detailing 17. Drafting viewsDrafting views • Drafting Views are separate views not based on

Revit Architecture - Detailingg

Glenn CunningtonG C g

Who am IWho am I• I’m an Architect (and have spent over 15 years working with CAD)• I’m an Associate Director at Humphrey & Edwards

– Mid sized (15 heads) Architectural Practice working principally in commercial, retail,Mid sized (15 heads) Architectural Practice working principally in commercial, retail, hospitality and residential projects

– We currently have our first major ($10 million + construction value) projects under construction which have been exclusively designed, developed and documented using Revit.

– We are currently documenting a, relatively complex, $90 million project exclusively using R itRevit.

• My pre-Revit experience was principally using AutoCAD and Microstation• I switched to Revit about 3 years ago

– I was principally drawn to Revit because it offered an “integrated” design andI was principally drawn to Revit because it offered an integrated design and documentation solution

• I have always had a keen interest in CAD, BIM etc. and specifically in regard to how these tools can best be implemented to improve the way in which we practice our architecturewhich we practice our architecture.

2Revit Architecture - Detailing

What I’d like to doWhat I d like to do• Talk broadly about the way we use the Revit platform in our practice to

(hopefully) improve the quality and efficiency of our documentation and detailingdetailing.

• Dispel the misconception that model driven CAD packages don’t “generally” facilitate accurate and efficient detailing.

• Demonstrate that detailing using Revit has a number of significantDemonstrate that detailing using Revit has a number of significant advantages, including that:

– The model provides a central repository for all project information– Coordination is integral to the process of detailing

O i ti i i ti i ti t i d t di f th j t d– Organisation is imperative assisting to improve understanding of the project and reduce errors.

– Workflow is logical (generally)– Tools can be customised and manipulated to maximise efficiency– These factors combine to ultimately improve the quality and consistency of your

detailing


OverviewOverview• Documentation workflow

– Careful consideration and planning is imperative to maximise your productivity• Standards

– Establish practice standards• 2D vs 3D? The great temptation

– What you model and what you draw will impact on the efficiency of your workflow• Detail componentsp

– Create a library of standard components• Drafting tools

– The Revit drafting tools are simple, comprehensive and versatile• Detail viewsDetail views

– Drafting views– Call-out views– Legend views

• Dimensions and annotations• Dimensions and annotations– Annotating your views


Documentation WorkflowDocumentation Workflow• Plan your detailing to compliment the project workflow

– Consider what is required, when– Stage deliverables to suit the project requirements and available resources!Stage deliverables to suit the project requirements and available resources!– Layer detail into the project incrementally– The longer you can keep your project as simple as possible the better!

• Extent of detailing and documentation– Carefully consider what is actually required to communicate the required intent

• Integrated documentation– Remember that REVIT allows you to simply integrate 3D representations,

renders, scanned sketches etc into your documentationrenders, scanned sketches etc into your documentation• Level of detail required

– Consider the level of detail required and document to that level



Integrated detailing

StandardsStandards• Establish your own customized project template files

– Design your project templates to reflect your office standards– Develop a variety of templates tailored to suit different project types. E.g. base building and interiors.

• Within your project template set up standards for everything:y p j p p y g– Object styles– View templates– Text styles– Line Styles

Filled regions– Filled regions– Printer settings– Materials– Sheets– Schedules– Commonly used system families (e.g. wall, floor, roofs and stairs)– Common families (e.g. doors, windows, etc.)– Annotations (including arrow heads, dimension styles and loaded tags)

• Leverage Data from previous projects by saving out standard arrangements into the practice library.

• Maintain the practice library, standards, templates, etc.


StandardsStandards• Your templates can become,

practice standards– We keep an “example” template p p p

file and a “master” template file for each template

– The “example” template file includes views which provide a graphic representation of the standards used in the template for reference (E.g. linetypes and filled regions). This file becomes the office standardoffice standard.

– The “master” template file is exactly the same file with all the superfluous views removed… This is the file that is actually used tois the file that is actually used to start a new project.


StandardsStandards• REVIT provides an extensive

standard detail library– Since Version 9.0 it now includes

over 500 detail components• The standard library can be

accessed through:C:\Documents and Settings\All– C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\RAC 2009\Metric Library\Detail Components

– The library is organised intoThe library is organised into directories by CSI (Construction Specifications Institute) division


2D vs 3D? The great temptation2D vs 3D? The great temptationWe’re all constantly perplexed by this very real conundrum! When to model? and when to just draw?

– It’s so tempting to model… But it takes more time… But you might recoup that time through improved convenience in the future… But you might not!

• The answer is always dependant on the circumstances of the project. We ask our-selves these questions, in consideration of the actual documentation requirements of a particular project:

– Does the element appear in more than one place? – Does the element appear in more than one view?– Does the element appear at more than one scale?– Is the set-out of the element critical (e.g. structural columns, beams, etc.)?Is the set out of the element critical (e.g. structural columns, beams, etc.)?– Will modelling the element improve the integrity of the project?– Will modelling the element improve the legibility of the documentation?– Will modelling the element add unnecessarily to the overhead of the project?– Is there value in the process of modelling that will assist with the design development of the project?

Is there potential to use the model (or family component) in future projects?– Is there potential to use the model (or family component) in future projects?• More easily said… But, try to limit over capitalising on your time spent on the creation of

redundant detail! – Remember that detail can be incrementally layered into a project.



Leveraged 3D components… streamline documentation


3D Coordination

Tame your projectTame your project• Your model is a valuable resource… Maximise its quality and utilise it to its fullest

extent!– Manage the level of detail

E th t t f ili (W ll fl f d ili ) i t t– Ensure that system families (Wall, floor, roofs and ceilings) are consistent.• Work with the software to utilise its functions to best suit your needs.

– Ensure that project families (Doors, windows, etc.) are the appropriate type, correctly orientated and sufficiently developed to suit your project requirements.

– Take time to ensure the accuracy and reliability of your model.Take time to ensure the accuracy and reliability of your model.– Where at all possible… Avoid patching 3D elements! Unless, of course, it is absolutely

necessary.– Use grids, levels, reference planes and lines to establish and maintain relationships between

elements… But, of course, taking care not to “over constrain” your model!– Minimise locked relationships in a project. Only do so when there is a specific reason.– Pin reference information to avoid accidental bumps…– Attach walls, columns to roofs, floors and beams. Let Revit maintain these relationships for

you.


Detail ComponentsDetail Components• Establish your own standard library of

Detail Components to suit your project requirements

Typical Detail Components can be pre– Typical Detail Components can be pre-loaded into your Project Templates.

• Note that detail components can be parametric.

• And detail components can include• And, detail components can include “Identity Data” such as “Type Comments” or “Keynotes”.

• Accordingly they can be tagged once placed into your views to assist toplaced into your views to assist to expedite annotation and ensure consistency.

• Catalogue your component library (within a dedicated project or template(within a dedicated project or template file) for reference and ease of maintenance.



Detail Component Catalogue


Repeating Detail Catalogue

Drafting tools Additional drafting tools include:Drafting tools• Under the Drafting Tab, Revit provides a

versatile range of drafting tools that are “generally” simple and intuitive to use! Including:

– Dimension

• Linework tool• Hidden line tool• Reference planes

– Label your reference planes– Avoid attaching dimensions to them– Adjust their 3D extents to suit their

f– Spot dimension– Text– Grid– Level– Reference Plane– Scope Box

specific requirements.

Scope Box– Keynote (advanced)– Tag– Room Tag– Tag all not tagged– Symbol

L d C t– Legend Component– Colour fill– Detail lines– Detail group– Detail component– Repeating detailp g– Insulation– Filled region– Revision cloud (advanced)


Drafting viewsDrafting views• Drafting Views are separate views not based on the building model• Consequently there is no parametric linkage to and they do not update with the

building model• The drafting tools can be used to compose a drafting view, principally using:

– Detail components– Detail lines– Filled regions

• Use Display Order with Filled Regions– Repeating details– Insulation– Add a “break line” detail component

Add di i d t ti t it– Add dimensions and annotation to suit• I use drafting views as a kind of sketch book.• Also it can be convenient to export a drafting view to an independent project file. (E.g.

to take a few details on the laptop to site for resolution).• Import scanned images (e.g. sketches), other CAD files• Referencing to other views, legends etc.



2D detail prepared for expediency


Cladding Setout diagram (Drafting View)


Levels & Lift services diagram (Drafting View)

Drafting viewsDrafting views• You can Import and Export Drafting Views to a file. In this manner you can create a

library of standard details and/or detail sheets).– Alternatively it the import/export function allows details to be prepared independently from

the project file and re-loaded back into the projectthe project file and re-loaded back into the project.• Exported (Drafting) Views can be saved, opened and edited independently just like

any other REVIT file– This can be a useful way of developing details in 2D independent of the Building Model.

• To export a Drafting View• To export a Drafting View– Right-click on a Drafting View in the Project Browser– Select: Save to New File– Save the new file into your “well organised” detail library

T i t D fti Vi• To import a Drafting View– Activate the View in which you want to paste the Drafting View

• Note that you can insert 2D details into most views, including plan and section, as well as drafting views… And of course the 2D detail elements will scale to suit the view in which they are inserted!

– File (Menu) > Insert From File > 2D ElementsFile (Menu) Insert From File 2D Elements– Select the File to import (from your “well organised” detail library)


Drafting viewsDrafting views• Details from consultants and/or manufacturers can

be imported from other CAD packages (e.g. AutoCAD)

• To import a detail:– Activate the view in which you want to import the detailActivate the view in which you want to import the detail

to (typically a plan, section or drafting view)– File (Menu) > Import/Link > CAD Formats– Within the Import/Link dialogue set:– Scaling to millimetre (typically)– Layer/Level Colors to Black and white (typically)– Place and move the detail to suit Your imported detail– Place and move the detail to suit. Your imported detail

should be to scale if the import settings were correct… But check it with the Tape Measure.

– You can Query the imported detail to identify layers. And to hide them if necessary (E.g. to hide the original dimensions or text)

• Pick the detail and select Query form the Option Bar– You can Explode the detail and edit the line-work from

within REVIT• Pick the detail and select: Full Explode or Partial

Explode from the Option Bar• Partial explode is analogous to exploding nested

blocks in AutoCAD• The exploded elements (e.g. lines, hatch patterns The exploded elements (e.g. lines, hatch patterns

etc. will convert to REVIT elements and can be edited accordingly)


Callout ViewsCallout Views• Can be generated in plan, and section

– To set up a Call Out Detail• Use the model as an underlay• Set up call out views from plans and sections

S t id d l l i ibilit i Hid t ti• Set grid and level visibility using Hide annotation in view

– Draft over the model underlay using: • Hidden Line Tool• Line work Tool• Detail components• Detail lines• Filled regions

– Use Display Order with Filled Regions to mask the model as necessary

• Repeating details• Insulation

– Structural details can be imported from your consultant’s CAD files

– The model can remain as an underlay or be turned off once the detail is complete

– To turn off model categories• Right click > View Properties > Visibility > Select

tick box: Show model categories in this view• Beware that Detail Items are categorised as a

Model Category. So where a detail incorporates detail items, this category will need to be turned on to display.


Callout ViewsCallout Views• Adjust extents and break-lines• To reference a similar view.

– Use your drafting tools to embellishUse your drafting tools to embellish your callout details

• Use the linework tool to work over the model.

• Use detail lines to add detail.• Use filled regions to obscure

superfluous detail.– E.g. ground

• Rooms can be Taggedgg• A reference callout does not have a

parametric relationship with the referenced view. Therefore, if you change or resize a referencechange or resize a reference callout, the changes do not affect the original referenced view.


• Dimensioning discipline• Dimensioning discipline– Establish standard dimensioning practice– Always dimension to the object (i.e. take care

selecting what you actually want to dimension to)

• E g if dimensioning to walls ensure that yourE.g. if dimensioning to walls ensure that your dimension attaches to the wall. (Where objects lay on top of each other use tab to select the correct object)

• Dimension to the actual model… [TAB] through to select what you actually intend to dimension!

• Avoid dimensioning to reference planes and d t il li l b l t l !detail lines unless absolutely necessary!

– Don’t use opaque text to amend dimensions or levels

– Dimension in discreet dimension strings with a consistent hierarchy (eg. Overall, gird, wall, external column external detail aperturesexternal column, external detail, apertures (windows, etc.), internal walls.

– Use preset styles.• Set up different styles, for example, for:

– Setout– Grid

A hit t l– Architectural• E.g. Use “set-out” and “architectural styles” (“set-

out” to dimensions, levels, site lines, and “architectural” to walls, windows, and all other architectural details)


• Dimension parameters• Dimension parameters– Beside the typical parameters you

might like to consider:• “Witness line control” (“Fixed to

Dimension Line” or “Gap toDimension Line or Gap to Element”)

• Custom “Centreline Symbol”• Set a “Dimension Line Snap

Distance”• Modifying the dimension format

– Adding Text to Dimension Values• You can add supplemental text

above, below, or to the left or right f t di i lof a permanent dimension value.

You can also replace permanent dimension values with text. See Overriding Dimension Text and Replacing Permanent Dimension V l ith T tValues with Text.


SummarySummary• Focus on productivity

– Use the available tools to your best advantageT k th ti t t bli h t d d• Take the time to establish your standards– It will take time… But the effort will pay off

• Don’t be afraid to use drafting tools to work over the model to add detaildetail– After all, this is how you would normally document and detail a project

• However, always maintain the model integrityAvoid using drafting tools to correct (or quick fix) your model– Avoid using drafting tools to correct (or quick fix) your model.

• Embrace the technology– Some aspects of REVIT may not be exactly as you think that you would

like E g revisions legends etc However in order to maximiselike. E.g. revisions, legends, etc. However, in order to maximise productivity, I would generally be recommend that you embrace the technology… work with it to make it work for you!


Th k !Thank you!

Questions?

Glenn Cunnington